Here are my top London restaurant picks from August/September 2019:
For Brunch: Half Cup (King’s Cross & Barbican)
Category: London
London: My February Restaurant Picks
Bar Douro:
As far as I can remember, I don’t think I have ever been to a Portuguese restaurant before in the UK, let alone a Portuguese tapas restaurant. Located at Flat Iron Square, Bar Duoro did not disappoint. Small in size, this place is the perfect spot for a couple or small group, who enjoy great wine and sharing plates.
London at Christmas
With Christmas fast approaching, and the festive season officially underway, here are a few fun and Christmasy things to do in London over the coming weeks:
Ice skating at Somerset House:Every year Somerset House turns it’s main square into an ice rink. Tickets can be bought in advance (which I would recommend) or on the day. The setting is absolutely beautiful and I would definitely recommend popping into The Savoy Hotel after, for a drink/cocktail.
Ice skating at Natural History museum: Another beautiful ice rink in London is at the Natural History Museum. The building itself is spectacular and when you add the ice rink and Christmas trees, its simply magical. I would recommend booking tickets in advance for this, as demand is high. Click here to book.
London: My September/October Restaurant Picks
Emilias Pasta
Right on the water at St Katherines Dock, this hidden gem is the perfect restaurant for small groups or a party of two. Producing homemade, Italian pasta, the food is absolutely delicious and very reasonably priced! Not only that, but St Katherines Dock is the prettiest location, hidden away in the heart of central London. You can also book this restaurant, however seats outside/by the water are served on a first come first served basis.
Continue reading “London: My September/October Restaurant Picks”
Things to do in London
Often it can be hard to think of non-traditional/non-tourist activities to do in London, so I have complied a list of fun and different things to do in London, whilst also including some of the more traditional, tourist attractions.
London Activities:
Day trip to Brighton (check out my blog post on this)
Day trip to Oxford (check out my blog post on this)
Luxury cinemas (Electric Cinema, Curzon at Mondrian Hotel, Everyman Belsize Park, Olympia Cinema Barnes)
Shopping (Oxford Street, Sloane Square/Kings Road, Covent Garden, Canary Wharf, Westfield)
Afternoon Tea (Check out my Ultimate Brunch List post for the list of afternoon tea spots)
Food markets (Check out my Ultimate Brunch List post for the list of markets)
Bottomless Brunch (Check out my Ultimate Brunch List post for the list of bottomless brunch places)
Tourist Activities:
London Eye
Tower of London
Buckingham Palace
Kensington Palace
Hyde Park
Big Ben
Covent Garden
The Shard
Camden Town
Westminster Abbey
Hampton court
The Churchill War Rooms. They were used or recreated in the movie the Darkest Hour.
Galleries and Museums
Saatchi Gallery
Imperial War Museum
Victoria and Albert museum
The British Museum
The Tate Modern
The Portrait Gallery
The Ultimate London Dinner List
For the past few weeks I have been trying to compile the Ultimate London Dinner List, with all the best restaurants (for dinner) across London. Each of these restaurants has been tried and tested, by either myself or friends, and includes everything from cheap and cheerful to Michelin star (marked with an *). Enjoy!
French:
The Orrery (Modern take on traditional French dishes) Marylebone
Margaux (French) Kensington
Leroy (French Small plates) Shoreditch
Nac (French Bistro) Mayfair
Le Boudin Blanc (Rustic Gallic Food, French cuisine) Mayfair
Italian:
Sorella (Italian) Clapham
Bernardi’s (Italian) Marylebone
Flour & Grape (Italian/Pasta) London Bridge
Padella (Pasta) London Bridge
Bocco di Lupo (Italian) Soho
Popolo (Italian) Shoreditch
Da Corradi (Italian) Mayfair
Tapas:
Jose (Tapas) London Bridge
Pizarro (Tapas) London Bridge
Cambio de Tercio (Tapas) Earls Court
Capote y Toros (Tapas) Earls Court
Hispania (Spanish Tapas) Bank
Barrafina (Spanish Tapas) Soho, Covent Garden, Drury Lane *
Mediterranean:
Peyote (Mediterranean) Mayfair
Brawn (Mediterranean small plates) Shoreditch
Liman (Mediterranean) Angel
Indian:
Benares (Michelin Star Indian restaurant) Mayfair*
Bombay Bustle (Indian) Mayfair
Bombay Brasserie (Indian) Kensington
Kricket (blend British ingredients & Mumbai-inspired flavours.) Soho
Dishoom (Indian) Shoreditch, Kensington, Carnaby, Covent Garden, Kings Cross
British:
Tanner & Co (Old English food with a modern edge) London Bridge
Lamberts (modern British) Balham
Magpie (Modern British) Mayfair
The Ivy (Modern British Food) Multiple Locations
Drayton Arms (British gastropub) Earls Court
Bumpkin (British) South Kensington
Kitty Fishers (Modern British with Spanish twist) Mayfair
Plot (Modern British small plates)Tooting Market
The Dairy (Small-plate dining from seasonal Modern English/European menu amid vintage chic of bar/bistro.) Clapham Common
Randall & Aubin (Seafood, Oysters, Modern British) Soho
Frog by Adam Handling (continues Adam’s signature British style and combines technical savvy with the freshest, highest quality seasonal produce) Covent Garden
Steak:
Gauchos (Steak) Multiple Locations
Hawksmoor (Steak) Covent Garden
Foxlow (Steak) Balham
Hixter (Chicken/Steak) Bankside
Arlo’s (Steak) Balham
North Africa:
Barbury (North African) Neals Yard Covent Garden
Morito (Spanish/North African Tapas) Clerkenwell
Asia:
Bull in a China Shop (Asian infused eatery) Shoreditch
Sushi Samba (Japanese-Brazilian-Peruvian sushi) Moorgate
Go (Vietnamese) South Kensington
Pidgin (Asian Inspired 4 course menu) Hackney*
Moroccan:
Tagine (BYOB Moroccan) Balham
Momo (Couscous, tagines and lamb dishes in colourful setting filled with furnishings from a Moroccan souk.) Mayfair
Peru:
Chicama (Peruvian, does not serve meat) Kings Road, Chelsea
Pachamama (sister restaurant of Chicama, serves meat, also Peruvian)
Turkish:
Oklava (Turkish sharing plates) Shoreditch
Ruya (Turkish) Mayfair
Other:
Caravan (A bit of everything) Kings Cross, Exmouth Market, Bankside, Fitzrovia
Palomar (Modern fare from Jerusalem meets a variety of international influences) Soho
The Manor, Clapham
La Bodega Negra (Mexican food) Soho
The Ned, City of London
The Hospital Club (Private Members Club)
Black Roe (Hawaiian-inspired raw fish &seafood dished, plus grilled meats) May
Asia de Cuba (Asian influence on Cuban cuisine) Covent Garden
Casual and Chilled:
Radio Alice (Pizza) Clapham Common
Pho (Vietnamese) Multiple Locations
Franco Manca (Sourdough Pizza) Multiple Locations
Eco (Pizza) Clapham Common
The Pepper Tree (Thai food) Clapham Common
Kaosarn (Asian BYOB) Brixton
Markets:
POP in Brixton
Dinerama in Shoreditch
Mercato in Elephant and Castle
FlatIron Square
Boxpark Shoreditch
The Ultimate London Brunch List
Brunch is genuinely my favourite meal of the day! Since I moved to London, I am always looking for new places to try. I am also constantly being asked by people when they visit, where are the best places to go! So I decided to compile a list of all the brunch places I know/have been to in London, and divided them by location. Some of these were also recommended to me by fellow Londoners! Each place has a click through to the restaurant’s website for more information.
There is also a list on food markets, afternoon tea and bottomless brunch spots! Enjoy!
Markets:
Borough Market (London Bridge)
Maltby Street Market (London Bridge)
Broadway Market
Greenwich Market
Brixton Market
Flea at Flat Iron Square
Portobello Market
Brunch Spots:
Tanner & Co (London Bridge)
The Breakfast Club (London Bridge & Battersea Rise)
Lantana (London Bridge, Shoreditch, Fitzrovia)
Bad Egg (Moorgate)
Duck & Waffle (Moorgate)
The Dayrooms Cafe (Notting Hill, Holborn)
Eggsbreak (Notting Hill)
Electric Diner (Notting Hill)
Daylesford Notting Hill)
Granger & Co (South Kensington)
L’ETO (South Kensington, Soho, Brompton, Belgravia, Mayfair)
Tom’s Kitchen (Chelsea)
The Ivy (Chelsea, Covent Garden)
Bluebird (Chelsea)
Ethos (Fitzrovia)
Dalloway Terrace (Fitzrovia)
Attendant ( Fitzrovia, Clerkenwell, Shoreditch)
Megan’s (Fulham, Parsons Green)
BY CHLOE (Covent Garden)
Balthazar (Covent Garden)
26 Grains (Neals Year, Covent Garden)
Dishoom (Covent Garden, King’s Cross, Shoreditch, Carnaby, Kensington)
MILK (Balham)
Foxlow (Balham)
Brickwood (Balham, Clapham Common, Tooting Market)
Minnow (Clapham Common)
No.32 (Clapham Common)
Flotsam & Jetsam (Wandsworth Common)
No. 11 Pimlico Road (Victoria)
No.29 (Battersea Power Station)
Chiltern Firehouse (Marylebone)
Caravan (Bankside, Exmouth Market, Kings Cross)
Bottomless Brunch:
Bunga Bunga (Covent Garden, Battersea)
Asia de Cuba (Covent Garden)
Tanner & Co (London Bridge)
The Piano Works (Farringdon)
Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings (Farringdon/Angel)
Lantana (Shoreditch)
Gaucho Electro (Number of Locations)
Afternoon Tea:
Sketch (Mayfair)
Claridges (Mayfair)
The Connaught Hotel (Mayfair)
The Kensington (South Kensington)
Mad Hatters Tea Party at the Sanderson Hotel (Fitzrovia)
Aimée Rose 