CITY GUIDE: London
I’ve been having quite the love affair with London as of late.
Even though most of my visits over the past six months have been work related, I’ve been able to prioritize extra days so that I can take the time to discover the different neighborhoods, try new restaurants and visits family and friends. Throughout the past few visits, I’ve been able to accumulate a decent list of places I’ve tried — from local hideouts and trendy spots to a few tourist traps, here is my shortlist of favorite London eateries and hotels I’ve stayed at so far.
To see my full list, go HERE.
WHERE TO EAT
THE BARBARY. 16 Neal's Yard, London WC2H 9DP. .
The Barbary has been on my list for my quite some time and finally, during my last visit, I was able to pop in on a quiet Sunday afternoon. Situated at the end of the alleyway of Neal’s Yard in Covent Garden sits this little eatery serving delicious Israli cuisine. Step in, take a seat at the kitchen bar and just watch as the magical energy unfolds before your eyes. My recommendations are always about the full experience. To start, order a glass of wine, the plate of peppers served with zhug and harissa, an order of the savoury arayes and if you’re really hungry, throw in a Jerusalem bagel and baba ghanoush. When it comes time to explore Land, Sea, and Earth on the menu, you can’t go wrong with the Octopus Mashawsha and Cauliflower Jaffa Style, but take the recommendations from the chef as they come. If there’s room, enter Heaven with the hashcake.
CHISOU. 31 Beauchamp Pl, Chelsea, London SW3 1NU. Phone: 020 3155 0005.
Sushi isn’t necessarily my go-to meal in London, but when you’re craving sushi, Chisou is at the top of the list. For a place like Chisou, you can skip all the usual Japanese accoutrements like edamame, miso soup, etc and go straight to the fish — whether you choose sashimi or nigiri, this is what you come here for.
COPITA. 27 D'Arblay St, Soho, London W1F 8EP. Phone: 020 7287 7797.
A late lunch at Copita before my evening flight was the perfect way to end my trip. If your obsession with Spanish cuisine runs as deep as mine, you’ll love this tapas bar in Soho. I wanted to try everything on the menu, but the solo dining always presents a bit of an obstacle. I still landed on five dishes though, so not too bad. The menu serves the Spanish classics like bravas, iberico and croquettes, and the real wins on the menuincluded the Truffled Goat’s Cheese with Almond & Honey, Presa Iberica and the King Prawns.
DUCKSOUP. 41 Dean St, Soho, London W1D 4PY. Phone: 020 7287 4599.
Ducksoup came highly recommended when I asked around. With their endless list natural wines and a menu filled with simple yet elevated dishes, I could easily see why everyone was raving about this place. I ordered nearly everything that caught my eye, but for starters it was all about a crisp glass of orange wine, an order of the labneh and of course, cured lamb fillet and salted turnips. I tried so many things on this menu I barely remember what to recommend, but they change their menu every season and they have weekly specials so it doesn’t really matter what I say, except that you’ll love it.
KILN. 58 Brewer St, Soho, London W1F 9TL.
Whenever I mention Kiln, the initial response almost always includes the word “love”. It only took about three failed reservation attempts, but I finally made my first visit to the famed Thai grill on the last hour of lunch. I went with my friend Mo, a seasoned Kiln diner, and let him take the lead with ordering — Aged Lamb & Cumin Skewers, Slow Grilled Chicken Soy x2, Jungle Curry of Halibut, Turnip and Radish Salad and Wild Ginger & Beef Neck Curry from Burma.
THE MAYFAIR CHIPPERY. 14 N Audley St, Mayfair, London W1K 6WE. Phone: 020 7741 2233.
Must-have meal: Fish and chips with a beer. I can do this any day in London with just about anyone. This quaint little fish and chips shop in the heart of Mayfair was fulfilled all my wildest cravings for this quintessential English dish. With loads of snacks to start the meal – prawn cocktail, oysters, salt & pepper squid, etc - followed by the most perfect golden, crispy fish and chips.
POLPETTO. 11 Berwick St, Soho, London W1F 0PL. Phone: 020 7439 8627.
Step into Polpetto and you’ll immediately feel a heartwarming sensation. The Ventian joint is part of the Polpo family has a menu that changes daily (so you won’t find it online) – this by the way is the number selling point when if you’re trying to get me to go anywhere. We went when the restaurant just opened fpr its lunch service, avoiding any possibility of any crowd. On the menu that day? Fresh hand-cut tagliatelle with wild mushroom and pecorino sardo, and of course had to go with a classic – smoked burrata, heritage heirloom and basil.
WHERE TO STAY
ARTIST RESIDENCE. 52 Cambridge St, Pimlico, London SW1V 4QQ. Phone: 020 3019 8610. Stayed at this cozy 8-room hideout in Pimlico earlier this year and absolutely loved it. Each room is uniquely decorated with original fixtures, and the the location outside the center of the city makes it a perfect departure from the bustling noise of the city.
BLAKES HOTEL. 33 Roland Gardens, Kensington, London SW7 3PF. Phone: 020 7370 6701. I have yet to stay at Blakes Hotel, but it’s come highly recommended and through my ongoing research a.k.a stalking on Instagram, I’ve developed somewhat of an obsession for their interior decor.
HOXTON HOLBORN. 199-206 High Holborn, Holborn, London WC1V 7BD. Phone: 020 7661 3000. I love the Hoxton Hotel chain and especially love how central this location is. I can travel east or west without it feeling like a total trek and best of all, it’s just a short walk to all my favorite restaurants.
KETTNER’S TOWNHOUSE. 29 Romilly St, Soho, London W1D 5HP. Phone: 020 7734 5650. Located in the heart of Soho, this hotel is normally my go-to. It’s central to everything, the service is phenomenal and I love every corner of the decor in their rooms.