Living in London

Highlights, Tips & Travel

London Highlights

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I first moved to London about ten years ago and have recently returned to live here again. I’ve lived in the Docklands, Stratford, Crouch End and Ladbroke Grove. London is vast and with so much to take in, it’s easy to let this city overwhelm you but some careful planning is all that’s needed. It’s difficult to know where to start with a list of London "highlights", especially if time is an issue and you only have a few days to spend here, but I’ll give it a go!A picnic on Primrose Hill in summer, a walk over Hampstead Heath in any season, the view of Tower Bridge from London’s Living Room at London City Hall, the Kyoto Garden in Holland Park, eating a Harrods Cornish pasty in Hyde Park, g...Read More

I first moved to London about ten years ago and have recently returned to live here again. I’ve lived in the Docklands, Stratford, Crouch End and Ladbroke Grove. London is vast and with so much to take in, it’s easy to let this city overwhelm you but some careful planning is all that’s needed. It’s difficult to know where to start with a list of London "highlights", especially if time is an issue and you only have a few days to spend here, but I’ll give it a go!

A picnic on Primrose Hill in summer, a walk over Hampstead Heath in any season, the view of Tower Bridge from London’s Living Room at London City Hall, the Kyoto Garden in Holland Park, eating a Harrods Cornish pasty in Hyde Park, going to an outdoor festival in Hyde Park, checking out one of London’s many Casque Marque pubs, the Arab Hall at the Leighton House Museum, the British Museum, walking along the South Bank from Waterloo to the Tate Modern museum and the view of St. Paul’s Cathedral from the south side of the Millennium Bridge, eating a chorizo and rocket sandwich at Borough Market, losing yourself in the Notting Hill Carnival, seeing a concert at the Royal Albert Hall, shopping, drinking and eating along Brick Lane, having a glass of champagne at St. Pancras railway station, a morning coffee in Covent Garden before the crowds arrive, the view of Westminster from across the Thames, an after-work visit to Vinopolis, the London Eye on a clear day, walking through Soho at night, a beer at a riverside pub at Strand-on-the-Green, wandering around the Natural History Museum, the view over London from Alexandra Palace, catching a film at the NFT or a concert at Brixton Academy, signing up for a "London Walks" tour, custard pie and coffee at O Porto Café on Golborne Road, dinner at the Riverside Studios terrace overlooking Hammersmith Bridge, Fish and Chips at The White Horse, Parsons Green, the list is literally endless.
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Quick Tips

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A trip to London does require some careful planning, otherwise you may find yourself spending a lot of time (and money) on public transport. Invest in a lightweight map. That way you can mark off places of interest without having to haul a big guidebook around every day. Familiarise yourself with the layout of the city and plan on focusing on only one or two areas in a day rather than trying to cover lots of ground. Some places may not look very far away from one another on a map but traveling around London is tiring and time consuming. It’s definitely worth pacing yourself as it will make for a more enjoyable experience overall. If you want a more contemporary London experience, arm your...Read More

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Best Way to Get Around

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Londoners may moan about their public transport system but there is certainly no end of options for getting around. The choice ranges from the expansive underground tube train system to double-decker buses to Thames boats to the controversial rickshaws that patrol the streets of Soho by night.Depending on where you’re traveling from, it’s worth looking into buying an Oyster card before you leave for the UK. You can load it with credit before you leave and will save you the hassle (and expense of paying UK pounds) of buying one when you’re in London. The Oyster card will allow you travel on the underground, the buses, some of the overground trains and I believe on the Thames ferries too. I...Read More

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Restaurants, Pubs & Cafes

Albion Caff

Restaurant | "The Albion Revisited"

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It had been about eight months since we last went to The Albion on Boundary Street and having talked it up to some friends, we felt a return visit was long overdue. Still as popular as ever and maintaining it’s reservation-less system, we arrived at around 11.30am on a Saturday morning hoping that would be time enough to get a table for four by midday. Our plan worked. We were seated at 12pm and by 12.30pm almost all the tables were taken. The cafe itself has changed little. Planks of freshly baked bread and cakes are proudly displayed at the kitchen counter and the menu remained largely the same. We ordered drinks: a pot of tea, a Meantime lager called ‘Union’, an orange juice and an elde...Read More

It had been about eight months since we last went to The Albion on Boundary Street and having talked it up to some friends, we felt a return visit was long overdue. Still as popular as ever and maintaining it’s reservation-less system, we arrived at around 11.30am on a Saturday morning hoping that would be time enough to get a table for four by midday.

Our plan worked. We were seated at 12pm and by 12.30pm almost all the tables were taken. The cafe itself has changed little. Planks of freshly baked bread and cakes are proudly displayed at the kitchen counter and the menu remained largely the same. We ordered drinks: a pot of tea, a Meantime lager called ‘Union’, an orange juice and an elderflower cooler. At the same time we ordered a selection of breakfasts: granola, a bacon sandwich and two full ‘Albion’ breakfasts.

It was with the ordering that my feelings of dissatisfaction started to surface. Both my husband and I asked if it was possible to substitute the black pudding (part of the full breakfast). Our waiter seemed unfazed and asked us what we would like instead. Then about five minutes later he returned to our table apologetically and said that no substitutions were allowed. Now I’m not blaming our waiter (I sensed he may have been new in the job), but for a place that’s serving a full English breakfast at £10 I would really expect to get any substitute I damn well pleased. I had only asked for extra beans after all!

Our food arrived in good time although I had to ask where our drinks had disappeared to and they were brought over after the food.

The Albion breakfast consists of bacon, sausage, black pudding, baked beans, grilled tomato, mushrooms, eggs and toast. Each item is far better quality that you would find in your average greasy spoon but with portions being on the small side (one tiny wholewheat slice of toast – no butter, no jam) and with no substitutions, I did question how their breakfast delivers value for money. In 2009, The Albion won Time Out’s award for ‘Best New Cheap Eats’. Less than two years later I can’t help but feel that fame has gone to their head and they went and raised the prices when no one was looking. Either that or they’re surreptitiously trying to ration what the customers eat.

Whatever the reason, I won’t be rushing back for breakfast at The Albion. Paying over £25 for two meagre breakfasts, tea and OJ should qualify for a ‘rip off’ award. Read Less

Member Rating 2 out of 5 on March 13, 2025

Albion Caff
2-4 Boundary Street
London, England E2 7DD
+44 020 7729 1051

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Albion Caff

Restaurant | "Brunch at The Albion"

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Below The Boundary Hotel is The Albion, a bright, neat café and bakery on the dividing line of the boroughs of Hackney and Tower Hamlets. Close to Brick Lane, Hoxton Square and Spitalfields Market, The Albion is in an excellent starting point for exploring London’s east end shops and street markets.The first thing that grabs the attention is the sumptuous display of baked goods in and around the shop, which customers have to walk through in order to access the café. If that doesn’t whet your appetite nothing will. Passing slowly through the shop we reached the counter and it was then that panic set in, as we immediately regretted not making a reservation. Luckily a helpful wait...Read More

Below The Boundary Hotel is The Albion, a bright, neat café and bakery on the dividing line of the boroughs of Hackney and Tower Hamlets. Close to Brick Lane, Hoxton Square and Spitalfields Market, The Albion is in an excellent starting point for exploring London’s east end shops and street markets.

The first thing that grabs the attention is the sumptuous display of baked goods in and around the shop, which customers have to walk through in order to access the café. If that doesn’t whet your appetite nothing will.

Passing slowly through the shop we reached the counter and it was then that panic set in, as we immediately regretted not making a reservation. Luckily a helpful waiter pushed two narrow Ikea-like tables together and the two of us sat shoulder to shoulder, counting our blessings. The arrangement felt not unlike being at a row of desks in a classroom but it gave us a good view of other meals as they were delivered to neighbouring tables. I soon realized that like the shop, the furniture set up was another smart move. Each dish that passed by our noses looked delicious, including the plates of devilled kidneys and I’m not the biggest fan of abdominal cavity organs.

The breakfast menu read like a ‘best of British’ list, with kippers, muffins, toast with marmalade, bacon and eggs and plenty more besides to choose from. I went for a breakfast bap and my husband opted for a coronation chicken sandwich. We both ordered caffe lattes and sat admiring the minimalist décor: sunflowers in pale ceramic jugs, smooth exposed brick columns and white tile walls.

Our sandwiches arrived in all their glory, fillings crammed inside fluffy white, freshly baked rolls. I alternated coffee cup sips with mouthfuls of herby sausages, bacon and a perfectly fried egg. I was convinced that even the most stalwart greasy spoon diners would be converted after trying The Albion’s breakfast bap. It’s £6 but worth every penny. The chicken coronation mix also looked freshly prepared and for once was not drowned in mayonnaise and was swept up in the blink of an eye.

Our brunch finished, we lamented the fact that we had no room left to try one of their giant cookies. For only £1 you can eat a chocolate chip cookie the size of a Frisbee but for us that would have to wait until our next visit. Read Less

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on July 8, 2025

Albion Caff
2-4 Boundary Street
London, England E2 7DD
+44 020 7729 1051

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The Angel Inn

Restaurant | "A Questionable Special Offer for Food and Wine"

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The Angel Inn is located not too far from where we live but this was our first time trying their food menu. We decided to redeem a £20 voucher, which entitled us to two main courses and a bottle of red or white wine.We arrived around 6pm on a Friday night and already The Angel was busy with noisy after-work drinkers ready to celebrate the weekend. We moved away from one particularly vocal crowd, leaving a sunken sofa for a small table surrounded by about fifteen chairs. After some furniture rearranging we sat down to enjoy our merlot-cabernet blend (the white option was Chardonnay). It is difficult to describe The Angel Inn. To be honest, I actually quite like the place, I’m ju...Read More

The Angel Inn is located not too far from where we live but this was our first time trying their food menu. We decided to redeem a £20 voucher, which entitled us to two main courses and a bottle of red or white wine.

We arrived around 6pm on a Friday night and already The Angel was busy with noisy after-work drinkers ready to celebrate the weekend. We moved away from one particularly vocal crowd, leaving a sunken sofa for a small table surrounded by about fifteen chairs. After some furniture rearranging we sat down to enjoy our merlot-cabernet blend (the white option was Chardonnay).

It is difficult to describe The Angel Inn. To be honest, I actually quite like the place, I’m just not sure why. The service is slow but the staff is friendly and good humoured. The springs in the sofas expired long ago and there is the anomaly of a miniature aquarium behind the bar. But there is a nice mix of young and old and no one seems too bothered that this Highgate pub is a little rough around the edges.

With our voucher, our food choices were limited to about five main courses, including fish and chips, handmade burger and sausages and mash. I chose the roasted root risotto and my husband ordered the breaded chicken breast with Serrano ham, barbecue sauce and cheddar. Our food took quite a long time to arrive and although we weren’t in a hurry, we did chase up our order with one of the bar staff. The wine was pretty lacklustre, a watery sharp blend that is probably best reserved for something like sangria.

The food wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great. I was immediately suspicious as the rocket atop my risotto, and the watercress clump on my husband’s dish, were both limp and a day or three past their prime. The risotto was creamy and crunchy but could have done with a few more roasted roots to qualify as more than a carrot risotto. The chicken breast was helped by its smoky sauce and although it was served with a smattering of chips, we still felt hungry after clearing both plates. I will definitely go back to The Angel Inn, but I’m not sure I’ll be eating there again any time soon.

For those not local to Highgate, The Angel Inn is accessible by bus or on foot from Archway tube station (head straight up Highgate Hill) or walking from Highgate tube station along Southwood Lane, which joins Highgate High Street at the opposite end. Read Less

Member Rating 2 out of 5 on January 16, 2025

The Angel Inn
37 Highgate High Street
Highgate, London N6 5JT
020 8341 5913

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The Betjeman Arms Pub

Restaurant | "Not So Much Roomy, but a Pub Full of Rooms"

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We had just about two hours for lunch at St. Pancras Station on a Sunday. A friend was en route from the station to Heathrow Airport and with the recent overhaul at the new Eurostar terminal, eateries are now quite plentiful at St. Pancras. There’s a noticeable continental influence from Le Pain Quotidien, Paul and Carluccio’s but we decided to keep it British and plumped for the Betjeman Arms. Tucked away in the far corner on the upper concourse, we were momentarily convinced that the pub was closed but at 11.30am, it was a little on the early side for Sunday lunch. Leaving the great expanse of the Barlow Train Shed, as it also known, I fully expected the pub to be equally light and roomy...Read More

We had just about two hours for lunch at St. Pancras Station on a Sunday. A friend was en route from the station to Heathrow Airport and with the recent overhaul at the new Eurostar terminal, eateries are now quite plentiful at St. Pancras. There’s a noticeable continental influence from Le Pain Quotidien, Paul and Carluccio’s but we decided to keep it British and plumped for the Betjeman Arms.

Tucked away in the far corner on the upper concourse, we were momentarily convinced that the pub was closed but at 11.30am, it was a little on the early side for Sunday lunch. Leaving the great expanse of the Barlow Train Shed, as it also known, I fully expected the pub to be equally light and roomy as well and so to be honest, I was slightly disappointed that it was not. Don’t get me wrong, the interior is clean, attractive and attention to detail is evident, it’s just that the many divisions of space within the pub creates a less sociable atmosphere which I think is something of a shame in such an iconic railway station. The bar area has two somewhat awkwardly shaped sections, with very high, wide benches and tables while the dining rooms at the back seem to cater for a more refined crowd.

We wove our way to the bar in search of a table and found the last bench and table seats going. Whilst they were fairly comfortable I felt like a large child sitting in a giant doll’s house. I’m not 100% sure what the service procedure is at this pub as we went to the bar to order but then ended up getting table service which seemed slightly bizarre but then the place does tout itself as a gastropub.

The bar menu offers standard fare as well as a few fancier options. We ordered two BLT sandwiches (the sandwich ‘special’ that day) and fish and chips. Perhaps because we got in before the main lunch rush, our food was served spectacularly fast and arrived even before our drinks. The BLT was excellent and everything, down to the wholegrain bread tasted extremely fresh. The chips we ordered weren’t brilliant but our friend seemed to enjoy his plate of fish and chips and even finished off the crushed / mushy peas.

A trip to the toilets proved to be an adventure. Besides being quite far from the bar, the toilet doors are somewhat hidden so you have to keep your eyes peeled. Either that you or just keep pushing the ‘wall’ and hope it gives way at some point. I imagine it being either amusing or infuriating to someone who is intoxicated.

As it was taking some time to get anyone’s attention to ask for our bill, my husband went to the bar and paid instead. However on our way out, we were chased down by another staff member who thought we were leaving without paying. I explained to him that we had settled the bill with the bartender but he still looked rattled.

I know very little about the pub’s namesake, Sir John Betjeman, but I wonder if the poet would approve of this place. The service was fine and the food was good enough but I still couldn’t help feeling that the interior feng shui of this place was just a little bit off kilter. Read Less

Member Rating 2 out of 5 on November 22, 2025

The Betjeman Arms Pub
Unit 53, St. Pancras International Station
London, England NW1 2QP
+44 020 7923 5440

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Capri Ristorante Pizzeria

Restaurant | "An Italian Tragedy in Highgate"

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If you do an online search for the Capri restaurant on Archway Road, you will find plenty of glowing reviews. Archway Road is a fairly dreary and unattractive highway so any proprietor setting up shop along it is in for a challenge. However it is my understanding that Capri has existed for a number of years now and has a loyal following. The restaurant is small and its walls are decorated with an assortment of Fiat 500 trinkets and a mishmash of posters, postcards and banknotes. Directly opposite the tiny serving area are two posters of Pamela Anderson. In one she’s wearing some sort of see-through garment, which made me worry a little about the focus of the person preparing and serving th...Read More

If you do an online search for the Capri restaurant on Archway Road, you will find plenty of glowing reviews. Archway Road is a fairly dreary and unattractive highway so any proprietor setting up shop along it is in for a challenge. However it is my understanding that Capri has existed for a number of years now and has a loyal following.

The restaurant is small and its walls are decorated with an assortment of Fiat 500 trinkets and a mishmash of posters, postcards and banknotes. Directly opposite the tiny serving area are two posters of Pamela Anderson. In one she’s wearing some sort of see-through garment, which made me worry a little about the focus of the person preparing and serving the food.

Tacky posters aside, the place was busy so we assumed that there must be some weight behind Capri’s online reputation. I ordered a pizza with salami, artichokes, mushrooms and olives and my husband ordered a chili penne pasta. The food was brought up from the basement by way of what looked like a homemade dumb waiter. The ropes rattled up and down, making plates of food appear in an instant.

Our pizza and pasta were brought out in what seemed like less than five minutes. In some cases I would be impressed by such quick service but truly authentic Italian dishes cannot be prepared that fast. Our suspicions were soon confirmed. The penne pasta was drizzled with what must have been tinned tomatoes and my pizza was constructed using bland, undercooked pizza dough, topped with a mixture of fresh and not so fresh vegetables. The two meals were remarkable only in that they lacked fresh tomatoes, seasoning and traditional Italian herbs.

The half bottle of house red was below average but only tasted as good as it did because the food tasted so bad. I didn’t finish my pizza and although my husband finished the penne, he lamented the fact that there are people out there who have been to the Capri Ristorante and take this to be authentic Italian fare.

The service was fine but far from the cheerful and familiar welcome we had expected from other visitors comments. Of course this was our first (and only) visit but the reception from the waitress was on the verge of cold and once we had finished our meals we were ignored for about fifteen minutes. Needless to say we weren’t tempted to order anything more. I was fairly convinced that everything on their dessert menu would come from a freezer box and almost wanted to order something to prove myself right.

If you’re looking for well-priced, great Italian food, head to The Ripe Tomato in Notting Hill. I am so disappointed by Capri that I feel compelled to mention one place in London that does Italian food right! Read Less

Member Rating 1 out of 5 on January 23, 2025

Capri Ristorante Pizzeria
256 Archway Road
London, England N6 5AX
020 8341 7327

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The Charles Lamb Pub and Kitchen

Restaurant | "Recommended for Sunday (not Saturday) Lunch"

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A couple of streets back from Islington’s busy Upper Street and close to the Regent’s Canal is the lovely Charles Lamb pub. We first wandered into this residential local late in the afternoon in search of a Sunday lunch but sadly all the tables were taken. We would have waited but most groups looked settled and there were more than a handful of people already circling in nervous vulture fashion.We stayed for a drink but eyed up the hearty Sunday roasts that were coming out of the kitchen and vowed to return. Unfortunately for us, we decided to go back on a Saturday, when the lunch dishes are a lot less exciting. The venison meatballs and a steak sandwich would probably satisfy most hungry ...Read More

A couple of streets back from Islington’s busy Upper Street and close to the Regent’s Canal is the lovely Charles Lamb pub. We first wandered into this residential local late in the afternoon in search of a Sunday lunch but sadly all the tables were taken. We would have waited but most groups looked settled and there were more than a handful of people already circling in nervous vulture fashion.

We stayed for a drink but eyed up the hearty Sunday roasts that were coming out of the kitchen and vowed to return. Unfortunately for us, we decided to go back on a Saturday, when the lunch dishes are a lot less exciting. The venison meatballs and a steak sandwich would probably satisfy most hungry patrons but looking for something a little lighter, we ordered a mushroom stroganoff and a pan-fried plaice instead. The chunky slices of rustic bread with chive butter went down well, as did the creamy cappuccino and pint of Darkstar Hophead. Our food arrived in good time and the chestnut mushroom stroganoff was a pleasingly hearty bowl, with chunks of carrot within and a small green salad balanced on top.

The plaice though, was rather less impressive. Now I know it’s a flatfish, but this fish was basically skin, bone and not much more. Peeling away the scales revealed such a tiny amount of meat it probably took more energy to dissect than it did to consume. Underneath was a mountain of beetroot gratin, which frankly was just a layer of sliced beetroot. The dollop of tomato-ey salsa did nothing to save this dish and if I were the chef, I would swiftly ditch the idea of beetroot gratin (forever) and check the meat to bone ratio on future fish purchases.

Otherwise The Charles Lamb is a picture perfect city pub. It is clean, cosy and has a comfortable old-school feel that many gastro pubs aspire to but lack. Old London maps hang on the walls in the small dining room to the right of the bar. In the bar area itself, daylight filters through long windows giving the wooden benches and well trodden floorboards a sunny glow.

They have a good selection of real ales, offering local and smaller brewery beers on tap and they are not afraid to be adventurous with their wine list either. The English and French food menu is listed on blackboards and changes regularly. They also make a point of keeping food at or under the £12 mark, which is nice to see for a pub in such a good location. Although The Charles Lamb is not visible from the high street, it is barely a five-minute walk from Angel tube station.

For Sunday lunch (which we will endeavour to go for next time), it is highly advisable to arrive at 12pm when the pub opens. They do not take reservations and seating is quite limited and not really ideal for groups bigger than four. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on February 26, 2025

The Charles Lamb Pub and Kitchen
16 Elia Street
London, England
020 7837 5040

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Cote Soho

Restaurant | "Soho Steak Frites at Cote"

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I must have walked past Cote a hundred times. Smack bang in the middle of Soho’s Wardour Street, Cote is in a prime location for picking up hungry travellers or indeed, locals. But like many things that are under your nose, it took a foreign friend to point out this recession-friendly French restaurant. We showed up late on a Saturday night, a party of four with no reservations. Cote is a big restaurant. From the outside the façade spans two buildings. When we rocked up the place was busy, so busy in fact that I doubted that we would get a table. They did fit us in though in the back room at what looked like the last free table in the place. Later on, when I went to the toilets I found th...Read More

I must have walked past Cote a hundred times. Smack bang in the middle of Soho’s Wardour Street, Cote is in a prime location for picking up hungry travellers or indeed, locals. But like many things that are under your nose, it took a foreign friend to point out this recession-friendly French restaurant.

We showed up late on a Saturday night, a party of four with no reservations. Cote is a big restaurant. From the outside the façade spans two buildings. When we rocked up the place was busy, so busy in fact that I doubted that we would get a table. They did fit us in though in the back room at what looked like the last free table in the place. Later on, when I went to the toilets I found that there was even more seating downstairs and even that area looked pretty full.

The big attractions at Cote are the food and the price. I’m not going to pretend that they will win any Michelin stars in the near future but the food is very good and when we got the bill, the total cost was actually well below what I would have expected. We shared four starters, each had a main course, shared three desserts and got through two bottles of wine and three Armagnacs. All of this came in at well under £50 a head and that included tip. Speaking of tips, if you want your money to go even further, between 3pm-7pm on weekdays and 12pm-6pm on weekends they do offers of two courses for £9.95 or three courses for £11.90.

Annoyingly I don’t remember all the starters we ordered but I do recall one being asparagus and a second was grilled tiger prawns. The giant asparagus were incredibly tender and not at all woody as some varieties tend to be. Whatever the others were I do know that all four dishes were roundly polished off before the main courses arrived.

I am not a big steak fan but I have a weird habit of ordering Steak-Frites when I’m at a bistro-style French restaurant. There is something unexplainably simple and satisfying about a chargilled minute steak with thin, crispy fries to soak up the beef juice. Cote’s effort did not disappoint. A friend ordered some creamed spinach to go with his main and for some reason this tasted great with my French fries. Slightly unhealthy I know but it tasted great.

To add to the gluttony we ordered dessert, sharing a crème brulee, chocolate mousse, a cheese platter and if I remember correctly, a chocolate brownie. I have to say the desserts were excellent. If there is one area where many restaurants disappoint it is with desserts. Cote does the French proud though and like the plates that came before, the dessert platters were wiped clean.

The staff at Cote are courteous and upbeat and they seem to strike the right balance between being quick and affable.

While I’m not the biggest fan of chain restaurants but I would go back to Cote again. Besides Soho they also have branches in Chiswick, Covent Garden, London Bridge, Kensington, Parsons Green, Richmond and Wimbledon. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on July 13, 2025

Cote Soho
124-126 Wardour Street
London, England W1F 0TY
+44 20 7287 9280

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Duke of Sussex

Restaurant | "Spanish Food and Sunday Roast under the Angels"

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The Duke of Sussex is another pub that’s a bit off the beaten track. If you’re taking a trip out in this direction, chances are that you’d be headed to Chiswick High Street or down to the river. The Duke of Sussex, however, is a worthy diversion. On the corner of South Parade and Beaconsfield, it has a nice view of Acton Green Common on one side, and an ugly petrol station vista on the other. Fortunately, what it lacks in outward view it makes up for inside.The front room is dominated by a proscenium bar, serving a decent selection of ales and wines. Spain is the surprise theme here on the wine list and the menu and there’s a good choice of Spanish and Portuguese wines. Small wooden tables...Read More

The Duke of Sussex is another pub that’s a bit off the beaten track. If you’re taking a trip out in this direction, chances are that you’d be headed to Chiswick High Street or down to the river. The Duke of Sussex, however, is a worthy diversion. On the corner of South Parade and Beaconsfield, it has a nice view of Acton Green Common on one side, and an ugly petrol station vista on the other. Fortunately, what it lacks in outward view it makes up for inside.

The front room is dominated by a proscenium bar, serving a decent selection of ales and wines. Spain is the surprise theme here on the wine list and the menu and there’s a good choice of Spanish and Portuguese wines. Small wooden tables with what look like old school chairs line the perimeter of the room and one extremely long table at the head of the bar provides seating for sixteen. Gilt framed black and white photos are dotted along the walls but for really impressive ornamentation, you need to get a table in the back dining room. The focal point in this room is possibly one of the grandest skylights in a London eatery. Outlined by faux-candle chandeliers, a frieze of golden cherubs hold strings of flowers below small arched windows, the light from which creates a rather fitting halo above their heads.

For a more informal experience, you can eat in the bar area, but if you want the full gastropub experience then bag a booth or table in the dining room. Reservations here are recommended especially on Sundays, when affluent couples with yelping "cherubs" of their own reign the room.

On Sunday, you can order a traditional roast dinner and during the week you’ll find one or two other familiar dishes such as fish and chips. For the most part though, Spanish is the featured cuisine. On a quiet Friday lunch run, I tried out their vegetable paella, which was served up in its own cast iron pan. A bright festival of saffron rice, it was coloured with orange squash, tomatoes, red peppers, aubergine and green peas. However it was noticeably lacking the seafood ingredient for me and was also a little on the oily side. That said, it’s a chunky, tasty vegetarian dish and probably makes a nice change to the usual veggie options.

The menu alternates fairly often and on a previous visit I tried a hearty dish of Spanish lentils with chorizo, which was surprisingly simple and delicious. I’ve also had their fish and chips, which include impossibly thick potato wedges and a side of tartare sauce and mushy peas.

The Duke of Sussex seems to have a little something for everyone. With superior pub food and seating for many, it’s great for a family meal or an evening out with friends where you can sidle up to a radiator in the winter or hang out in the garden in the summer. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on March 14, 2025

Duke of Sussex
75 South Parade - Chiswick
London, England W4 5LF
+44 20 8742 8801

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Fernandez & Wells Cafe

Restaurant | "Coffee and Cake in Soho"

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A miniature Spanish empire is spreading across Soho in the form of Fernandez & Wells. Walk by St. Anne’s Court and you will find their espresso bar. Peak around the corner on Lexington Street and you’re face to face with their food and wine bar. So far I have only managed to visit the Beak Street café but I’m keen to find out how the sister stores check out. Fernandez & Wells big achievement is creating a space that manages to feel both intimate and peaceful. No mean feat for somewhere that is so close to the madness of Regent Street and Piccadilly. Carnaby Street is only about a five second walk away. The long narrow café has limited counter-side seating by way of meta...Read More

A miniature Spanish empire is spreading across Soho in the form of Fernandez & Wells. Walk by St. Anne’s Court and you will find their espresso bar. Peak around the corner on Lexington Street and you’re face to face with their food and wine bar. So far I have only managed to visit the Beak Street café but I’m keen to find out how the sister stores check out.

Fernandez & Wells big achievement is creating a space that manages to feel both intimate and peaceful. No mean feat for somewhere that is so close to the madness of Regent Street and Piccadilly. Carnaby Street is only about a five second walk away.

The long narrow café has limited counter-side seating by way of metallic stools but coffee and sandwiches are obviously available to go as well. Although it is a lovely place to eat in, on sunnier days it can also be quite nice to get take out and enjoy a mini-picnic in nearby Golden Square.

Both times I have stopped in at the weekend. There is usually a steady stream of customers coming and going but there have always been seats available and a few newspapers to hand for browsing.

On their website, they state that their aim is to ‘serve a really excellent cup of coffee’. Their simple coffee menu is chalked up on the blackboard offering espresso, latte and stumpy (I’ve yet to try one) amongst others. Pride of place in the display realm are homemade cakes and ciabatta, baguette and croissant sandwiches. They often have small samples out of the latest baked goods. Last Sunday was a yummy plum cake although the Chelsea buns and clementine cake looked delicious too.

We ordered iced coffees, a salchichon and comte baguette and an English ham and cheddar with piccalilli sandwich. They toast to order if you prefer and also offer to add olive oil, salt and pepper.

While the sandwiches look beautiful there was (for me anyway) a lack of vegetables. I know many people love the meat and cheese combo but the ham and mature cheddar wasn’t a good pairing for my palate. I was thinking wistfully about how much better the sandwich would have been with lettuce and tomato instead of half a pound of cheese but it was partially my fault. The mature cheddar was a little too sharp for my tastes and felt like it was going to rip through the roof of my mouth.

The iced coffee was excellent and devoid of any fake sugary or creamy additives common to other coffee outlets serving summer concoctions. I have also had their regular latte and that is also very good, although nearby Flat White and the Milk Bar may have an edge on the local coffee market.

Fernandez & Wells is a great place for a coffee and cake stop and in spite of the minimalist decor, there’s something reassuringly comfortable about the place. I haven’t been able to put my finger on it yet but the dark, shabby floorboards and bare, cracked whitewash walls may have something to do with it. In fact the only items of colour in the café are the sandwiches and cakes. It keeps the customer’s focus in the right place I suppose. Read Less

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on July 14, 2025

Fernandez & Wells Cafe
73 Beak Street
London, England W1F 9SR
+44 20 7287 8124

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Fifteen London

Restaurant | "Pasta, Panzanella and Peach Schnapps Heaven"

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I had been curious to try out this restaurant ever since watching the 2002 series ‘Jamie’s Kitchen’, which documented the birth of the restaurant and the turbulent journey of Oliver’s fifteen trainee chefs. The restaurant houses a Trattoria and a Dining Room. We managed to get same-day reservations at the more informal Trattoria although the only time available was at 8.30pm so it’s definitely advisable to book ahead. We arrived early and sat on bar stools opposite the open kitchen, sipping on glasses of Prosecco and a Negroni. From here we could get a good look at the meals going out, not that we really needed visual cues to whet our appetite, as by that time we were already suitably hung...Read More

I had been curious to try out this restaurant ever since watching the 2002 series ‘Jamie’s Kitchen’, which documented the birth of the restaurant and the turbulent journey of Oliver’s fifteen trainee chefs. The restaurant houses a Trattoria and a Dining Room. We managed to get same-day reservations at the more informal Trattoria although the only time available was at 8.30pm so it’s definitely advisable to book ahead.

We arrived early and sat on bar stools opposite the open kitchen, sipping on glasses of Prosecco and a Negroni. From here we could get a good look at the meals going out, not that we really needed visual cues to whet our appetite, as by that time we were already suitably hungry.

Our table was ready right on time so we took our seats and decided on some starters to share. The menu is Italian but offers much more than the usual pizza and pasta fare and changes daily. We ordered Panzanella and a couple of salads. The Panzanella is a Tuscan tomato and bread salsa with Vin Santo (a sweet Tuscan wine) marinated anchovies. We offset this with a lighter salad of goats cheese, watermelon and shaved ricotta. We had a third salad with rocket and some other since forgotten ingredients but all three were delicious and we quickly cleared the plates.

Following the antipasti, you can choose either a Primi or Secondi dish (or both if you’re insanely hungry). My friend and myself debated for a while but if you plan on having three courses (as we did) I would highly recommend going something on the more moderate Primi menu and augmenting with a vegetable side dish.

We ordered the homemade pappardelle with a rich Welsh mountain lamb ragu, shaved parmesan and flat leaf parsley, the ravioli of braised rabbit, mascarpone and black olives in a light butter broth and my husband ordered a larger Secondi chicken dish (again, regrettably I don’t remember the details). I had the ravioli but tried the other two dishes and all three were excellent. The pasta tasted as pasta doesn’t usually taste – fresh and perfectly al dente. The meat was juicy but not at all oily and all the vegetables (a side of Italian green beans with chili and garlic) tasted like they had been picked minutes before hitting the pan.

The only criticism I did have of the restaurant staff is that they were very slow to provide water refills. After sharing a bottle of red wine and finishing off my pasta I was left feeling pretty thirsty for a good while. I had to ask two or three times at one point, which was a little annoying when our server decided to wrap cutlery instead of wait tables for a while in our full view. Apart from that though the service was very friendly and enthusiastic and it genuinely seemed like the staff were enjoying themselves as much as the customers. Visually it’s a very pleasing place to be. Located close to Old Street tub station, the interior is red brick walls, warehouse windows, wooden floors, a dash of pink neon at the bar and a splash of gold overhead from the large chandelier discs.

To finish with we ordered three desserts to share and I got a glass peach schnapps, which was made at an English farm. I definitely wish I’d made a note of where because it was absolutely delicious and the perfect fruity pairing especially for the silky pannacotta.

I would highly recommend dinner at Fifteen although I have heard that it also has an excellent reputation for its breakfast service. Whatever time of day you choose, reservations are almost certainly a pre-requisite and its popularity is well deserved.
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Member Rating 5 out of 5 on November 22, 2025

Fifteen London
15 Westland Place
London, England N1 7LP
0203 375 1515

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Ginger & White

Restaurant | "Ginger & White and all Things Nice"

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I have been to Ginger & White about a handful of times now, possibly more. It has a magnetic quality for my coffee-loving husband but even I must admit an affection for the place. Even when we have no plans to go to Hampstead we seem to invent a reason, just so we can stop at Ginger & White for coffee and a cupcake, muffin or slow roasted pork sandwich, or all four (just kidding). Despite being hidden away from Hampstead High Street along the pretty Perrin’s Court, do not underestimate the popularity of Ginger & White. The café is small, with a large communal table taking up most of the main area inside. This table in particular is popular with families as kids can scribble awa...Read More

I have been to Ginger & White about a handful of times now, possibly more. It has a magnetic quality for my coffee-loving husband but even I must admit an affection for the place. Even when we have no plans to go to Hampstead we seem to invent a reason, just so we can stop at Ginger & White for coffee and a cupcake, muffin or slow roasted pork sandwich, or all four (just kidding).

Despite being hidden away from Hampstead High Street along the pretty Perrin’s Court, do not underestimate the popularity of Ginger & White. The café is small, with a large communal table taking up most of the main area inside. This table in particular is popular with families as kids can scribble away in colouring books and fling cupcake crumbs around with abandon.

At the back is a saggy sofa next to shin high coffee tables and looking out onto Perrin’s Court is a shop front counter where diners can people watch. On a sunny day Ginger & White almost doubles in capacity as outdoor seating is available on the pedestrian-only alley. They have heaters on during the colder months but that doesn’t do much to help green-eyed coffee-lovers peering through at the lucky few inside.

Square Mile beans from East London runs through their machine to produce some of the best coffee drinks in London. England as a whole isn’t renowned for its coffee prestige but this Brit-Australian outfit is doing things to change an age-old perception.

The only criticism I have of Ginger & White is the cramped entrance, where disgruntled waiters constantly have to fight patrons to get in and out of the kitchen. The counter is overloaded with cookies, cakes, brownies and sponges in an arrangement that would impress a professional artist so it’s difficult not to ogle the display. Add to the fact that half the customers are trying to wrestle giant buggies through the door and you have an area ripe for collision.

This is a minor criticism though as once you bag a seat at Ginger & White, the food that’s served is impeccably British and elevates breakfast and brunch to new levels. Soft boiled eggs with soldiers are a favourite with young and old, as is the fish finger and tartare sauce bap.

On our last lunch outing, we tried the ‘Wicks Manor pork slow roasted and studded with garlic and fennel with aioli’. It was as good as it sounds and should win some sort of sandwich award, if any exist. So robust and filling was it that I don’t think I would be too disappointed if someone served up one in place of Christmas dinner one year. Read Less

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on July 9, 2025

Ginger & White
4a-5a Perrins Court
London, England NW3 1QS
+44 20 7431 9098

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The Haberdashery

Restaurant | "Seasonal Sensations and Homebaked Cakes"

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The Haberdashery is brand new to Crouch End as of 25th November, 2009. In what some would say is a brave move opening a new business in an area already full of good eateries, The Haberdashery is dressed to impress. Painted in gentle eggshell blue and lime white, the simplicity of design at this café ensures that all eyes are drawn towards the baked masterpieces on display in the window and beside the counter.Bread, muffins and cakes are all baked in store and set out in pretty terracotta flowerpots and on delicate china plates. The menu is also thankfully simple. On a cold and wet November day, the specials board consisted of four hot soups: pumpkin and nutmeg, spicy tomato, sweet potato a...Read More

The Haberdashery is brand new to Crouch End as of 25th November, 2009. In what some would say is a brave move opening a new business in an area already full of good eateries, The Haberdashery is dressed to impress. Painted in gentle eggshell blue and lime white, the simplicity of design at this café ensures that all eyes are drawn towards the baked masterpieces on display in the window and beside the counter.

Bread, muffins and cakes are all baked in store and set out in pretty terracotta flowerpots and on delicate china plates. The menu is also thankfully simple. On a cold and wet November day, the specials board consisted of four hot soups: pumpkin and nutmeg, spicy tomato, sweet potato and parsley and Chinese leaf and haricot beans. I ordered the pumpkin soup, a deep Fortnum and Mason bowlful that comes with a pot of their bread of the day, which for me was olive. The bread was quite doughy with a hint of salt and a strong yeasty flavour. With the dots of olive and white complexion it had the appearance of a fruit scone. The soup followed shortly, tasting and looking more like a carrot based stock than pumpkin. They could have been a little more liberal with the nutmeg too but overall it was delicious and absolutely perfect for a wild winter’s day. Overhead warm orange lights added further cosiness to the café’s busy ambience.

For drinks we ordered a caffe latte and my husband tried the Pitfield Bitter. The owners have obviously made an effort to connect with local businesses and markets. Pitfield is an Essex based brewery and they regularly attend the nearby Alexandra Palace Sunday farmers market, which is where the owner came across them. In addition, their teas are sourced from Muswell Hill purveyor W. Martyn.

Other dishes on the lunch menu included Swedish meatballs and a pumpkin gnocchi. It is nice to see attention to detail not only in their décor but also in creating such a winsome, seasonal menu. The sandwich list included rare beef, ham and brie, chicken and a vegetarian option. My husband ordered the mustardy ham and brie in a baguette, which came with a side clump of bull’s blood leaves. The sandwich was fresh and tasty but for £5 should have been larger and the salad was very dry and sadly lacking any dressing.

I sipped on my bowl of coffee as we contemplated the cake line up in the shopfront. The coffee and thick hot chocolate are served in wide breakfast bowls, perfect for French-style pain au chocolate dunking if you stop in for breakfast. We zoned in on the handsome Victoria sponge, as did several other people as by the time we got our order in, only one slice remained. The homemade cake was very sugary and along with the rest of the café, reminiscent of times gone by when individual ingredients were less blended and could actually be identified.

By the cash register they have created a sweet shop counter, complete with American bonbons, lollipops, marshmallows and Christmas candy canes. If they ever put in a fireplace and a sofa I might go in and never leave.
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Member Rating 5 out of 5 on November 29, 2025

The Haberdashery
22 Middle Lane
London, England N8 8PL
020 8342 8098

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Hafez

Restaurant | "Persian Food Perfection in Notting Hill"

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I have been going to Hafez for more years than I care to remember. On my last visit, I found out that they have been open 25 years. With the economic downturn hitting so many small businesses I do hope that Hafez remains unaffected because this Persian restaurant really is a little gem in the back streets of Notting Hill. While in recent years they’ve updated the décor, the food has always been consistently good and very reasonably priced. I’m rarely able to decide which dish to have and I’m always torn between the juicy lemon chicken kebabs, the succulent ghaimeh badamjun stew (with lamb and aubergine), and the hearty ghormeh sabsi.We went with two friends, one of whom is vega...Read More

I have been going to Hafez for more years than I care to remember. On my last visit, I found out that they have been open 25 years. With the economic downturn hitting so many small businesses I do hope that Hafez remains unaffected because this Persian restaurant really is a little gem in the back streets of Notting Hill.

While in recent years they’ve updated the décor, the food has always been consistently good and very reasonably priced. I’m rarely able to decide which dish to have and I’m always torn between the juicy lemon chicken kebabs, the succulent ghaimeh badamjun stew (with lamb and aubergine), and the hearty ghormeh sabsi.

We went with two friends, one of whom is vegan but she had no difficulty ordering from the largely meaty menu. Fortunately hummus, baba ghanouj, tomato based stews with aubergine and yellow lentils and fresh salads are available to order and all dishes come with rice, chips or salad (I’d recommend the saffron rice every time). We ordered hummus to start with. This comes with a square dish of flat Persian nan (bread). It’s a lot thinner than it’s Indian cousin and perforated for easy tearing and sharing. They also do plates of herbs (tarragon, mint) with goat’s cheese, spring onions and radishes which is another personal favourite but with the main courses always being so filling I didn’t feel the need to over-indulge on the starters.

I ordered badamjun for my main course, which is a tomato-based stew with split yellow peas and baby aubergines. I heaped the badamjun on top the bed of buttery saffron rice and had little trouble finishing up the whole meal in about ten minutes flat. I had a 7up to wash it down but they have a decent wine and beer menu if you want something a little stronger. My husband picked the fesenjun, a chicken dish cooked in a walnut and pomegranate sauce. He swears by it and I’ll have to take his word for it as I have a nut allergy and have never tried it myself. I have had the kebabs in the past and they’re also delicious. They have an aroma and taste of being cooked on an outdoor grill and usually come with a juicy chunk of onion or tomato. If you’re in a big group the mixed kebab is a good way to get an overview of Persian cuisine at its best.

The service is usually quite good at the start of the meal at Hafez. It’s a very small restaurant so if you have a group larger than four, it’s probably worth calling ahead to make a reservation. For some reason they do seem slow in bringing the bill so if you’re in a hurry then you may need to do some arm waving to get the waiter’s attention. If you’re lucky with the weather then you may also be lucky enough to grab one of the very few outdoor tables overlooking Leinster Square.

They have a small selection of sweets although as many of these contain pistachio and I'm allergic I have to miss out. It is nice to sip a glass of black tea afterwards though, to wash all the loveliness of a perfectly cooked Persian meal down.
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Member Rating 5 out of 5 on November 22, 2025

Hafez
5 Hereford Rd
London, England W2 4AB
+44 020 7221 3167

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The Holly Bush Pub

Restaurant | "Step Back in Time in this Pretty Hampstead Pub"

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Close to Hampstead tube station and tucked into one of the prettiest London neighbourhoods (and, I’m guessing, most expensive) is the picturesque and popular Holly Bush pub. The charm of this pub is its history. The building originally served as a stable block in the mid 1600s when Hampstead was still a country town. Somehow, original features such as etched glass windows, old oak floorboards and wooden panels are still in situ and in good but happily worn condition. Glass lamps hang overhead and yellowed wallpaper giving the place a warm, orange glow. On rare quiet moments when the armed benches with shabby leather seats wait patiently for thirsty travelers, you sort of wish the furniture could tell ...Read More

Close to Hampstead tube station and tucked into one of the prettiest London neighbourhoods (and, I’m guessing, most expensive) is the picturesque and popular Holly Bush pub. The charm of this pub is its history. The building originally served as a stable block in the mid 1600s when Hampstead was still a country town. Somehow, original features such as etched glass windows, old oak floorboards and wooden panels are still in situ and in good but happily worn condition. Glass lamps hang overhead and yellowed wallpaper giving the place a warm, orange glow. On rare quiet moments when the armed benches with shabby leather seats wait patiently for thirsty travelers, you sort of wish the furniture could tell stories of the centuries gone by.

Venture deep into the pub and you find multiple rooms. At the back of the pub there are a couple of smaller nooks as well as a larger room with a giant table that can probably sit twenty or more. Upstairs is a more formal dining room. I don’t know if this room is open every evening but it is certainly popular on Sundays although all tables upstairs and down are available for reservations and booking is strongly recommended for groups and for Sunday lunch.

Drinks at the Cask Marque Holly Bush include draft ales from England, Germany, Belgium, France along with Ireland’s most famous export, Guinness. There’s also a good list of wines available by the glass and bottle. Lunch and dinner is available every day and the menu changes regularly. According to their website, meat, fish, fruit and vegetables are sourced from local and ethically responsible and organic suppliers.

On my last visit I shared a cheese board starter with a friend. The three cheeses were a Cornish yarg, a cheddar and a blue cheese. I had never heard of yarg before but it is a lovely light, creamy cheese, a bit like a mild brie. For the main course I had a butternut squash and truffle risotto, which was also excellent. Sadly, they were all out of the toffee and pumpkin cheesecake we ordered so instead we opted for their crumble of the day, plum and ginger. As with the risotto, it was perfect for the season and rounded off an excellent pub meal.

Some pubs are good at certain times of the year but like their food, The Holly Bush changes with the seasons and still manages to retain a comfortable, snug ambience where the old-world interior takes you back in time. On a busy evening it is easy to feel indignant when a table isn’t available because The Holly Bush is definitely a place you want to stay awhile.
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Member Rating 5 out of 5 on November 29, 2025

The Holly Bush Pub
22 Holly Mount
London, England NW3 6SG
+44 20 7435 2982

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Hot Pepper Jelly

Restaurant | "A Bright and Spicy Lunch Spot"

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Along the busy and slightly dirty and tatty Broadway Parade in Crouch End, Hot Pepper Jelly provides a bright and breezy interval. The walls were decorated with colourful artwork of daffodils and tulips. A local art club set an exercise for 5-11 year olds to emulate Van Gogh and to be fair, their efforts were better than some adult stuff I’ve seen at other cafes. Beyond the artwork, the community feel extends to the toilet where leaflets and cards for local businesses are posted on the back of the door. HPJ is a narrow café but the menu is wide. Fortunately as they strive to provide a good variety it doesn’t seem like they’ve compromised on quality. We ordered two iced coffees and as they ...Read More

Along the busy and slightly dirty and tatty Broadway Parade in Crouch End, Hot Pepper Jelly provides a bright and breezy interval. The walls were decorated with colourful artwork of daffodils and tulips. A local art club set an exercise for 5-11 year olds to emulate Van Gogh and to be fair, their efforts were better than some adult stuff I’ve seen at other cafes. Beyond the artwork, the community feel extends to the toilet where leaflets and cards for local businesses are posted on the back of the door.

HPJ is a narrow café but the menu is wide. Fortunately as they strive to provide a good variety it doesn’t seem like they’ve compromised on quality. We ordered two iced coffees and as they blend it with vanilla ice cream, I had to suppress the urge to gulp down the pint in one go. They also serve a variety of tasty-sounding fruit smoothies mixed with yogurt and honey.

The lunch menu offers salads, sandwiches and a variety of pasta. The sandwich order starts with your bread selection, which from memory includes focaccia, panini, tortilla, white bread, wholegrain and I think baguette as well. I went for the BLT on panini and my husband chose an Indian Summer sandwich (chicken, mango chutney and fresh coriander) on focaccia. The large glasses of iced coffee arrived first, topped with a thick layer of cappuccino froth. The sandwiches followed shortly. My BLT was served with a clump of rocket and a drizzle of balsamic along with two other colourful puddles of some reduction I couldn’t identify. One was green and the other orange and it does tell you what they are on the menu. They were quite tangy and went well with the rocket and the ends of the panini, which I used to mop up any remaining dressing.

My panini was good, with fresh lettuce, tomato and perfectly cooked bacon. The only issue I personally had was with the chili mayonnaise. Given the name of the café it’s not easy to escape spicy ingredients but when something is so good as it is, why mess with it? The BLT is predominantly a breakfast or brunch meal and I didn’t really understand the point of or need the kick that the chili mayonnaise offered. They seem quite flexible there though so I imagine asking for it without wouldn’t be an issue.

The Indian Summer disappeared quickly so it must have been good. They also have more traditional sandwiches like tuna mayonnaise and kid-friendly options and portions. If you’re looking for something bigger, then full fry-ups are also on the menu.

Hot Pepper Jelly doesn’t take cards or cheques so do bring cash. Our two sandwiches (one with a side salad) and two iced coffees came to about £14 not including service charge.
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Member Rating 3 out of 5 on November 29, 2025

Hot Pepper Jelly
11 Broadway Parade
London, England N8 9DE
+44 20 8340 4318

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Kalendar

Restaurant | "Informal Dining Al Fresco near the Heath"

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If you happen to find yourself on the east side of Hampstead Heath I would definitely recommend seeking out Kalendar for breakfast, lunch or dinner. We reserved an outdoor table for six on an unusually warm May evening for dinner. Kalendar, and it’s neighbour Café Mozart, both have outdoor seating that extends towards Swains Lane so you can do a spot of people watching while you eat. The reservation probably wasn’t necessary but when the weather is good in London, outdoor tables are coveted so it’s never a bad idea.We ordered a round of beers and mulled over the menu whilst munching on some complimentary bread smudged with olive oil and balsamic. The food at Kalendar is pitched somewhere b...Read More

If you happen to find yourself on the east side of Hampstead Heath I would definitely recommend seeking out Kalendar for breakfast, lunch or dinner. We reserved an outdoor table for six on an unusually warm May evening for dinner. Kalendar, and it’s neighbour Café Mozart, both have outdoor seating that extends towards Swains Lane so you can do a spot of people watching while you eat. The reservation probably wasn’t necessary but when the weather is good in London, outdoor tables are coveted so it’s never a bad idea.

We ordered a round of beers and mulled over the menu whilst munching on some complimentary bread smudged with olive oil and balsamic. The food at Kalendar is pitched somewhere between café and restaurant. They have a list of sandwiches as well an all-day cooked breakfast, which I loved the idea of and a friend of ours actually ordered. The specials included a fish dish and lamb sausages with cous cous and tangine. As tempting as that sounded, I went for the chargrilled lamb cutlets. All their meat is purchased at their neighbouring butcher, Elite Meats. I ordered mine medium and I have to say, it was cooked to perfection. The three cutlets were served up with roasted sweet potatoes and shallots and drizzled in a smooth, freshly prepared gravy.

Asides from the all day breakfast, others at our table ordered the lamb sausage special with its aromatic tangine and two friends ordered the burger and chips. They immediately regretted this not because there was anything wrong with it, but because the burger was absolutely enormous and could have easily fed two people for the price of one. The side of chips was also fit for a giant and after fifteen minutes of eating, both plates looked like they’d barely been touched.

Tree lined Swains Lane heads up towards Highgate Cemetery and at the bottom of the hill ends at Parliament Hill Fields. It is a fairly quiet residential area but there’s a steady stream of locals coming and going from the Tesco Express. Then there are customers at Café Mozart as well as Forks and Corks, which has quite recently reinvented itself as a streetside café as well as being the neighbourhood deli for all things delicious. Along with the newly opened Greek Carob restaurant across the road, Swains Lane is turning into ‘Little Mediterranean’.

As tempting as the dessert case looked we were too full to contemplate it and at 10pm, Kalendar was shutting up shop for the night. Instead we worked off our dinner by walking back up Swains Lane to Highgate. With its spindly metal tables, Kalendar’s cheap-look appearance belies the excellent quality of the food, made all the more pleasing for its quite reasonable price. For two beers and a meal it worked out to be about £15 a head. The service was friendly and although it took a while for the food to come out, it all tasted so freshly prepared and cooked that I didn’t mind in the slightest.
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Member Rating 3 out of 5 on November 29, 2025

Kalendar
15a Swains Lane
London, England N6 6QX
+44 20 8348 8300

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Kentish Canteen

Restaurant | "Fresh and Crunchy Lunch in Kentish Town"

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Kentish Canteen is handily located less than a minute from Kentish Town station and while I haven’t yet been there for dinner, I can definitely vouch for its lunch service. The one page menu manages to serve up a great range of seasonal and regular dishes and the place has a bright, colourful feel that few other places along Kentish Town Road can boast. Staff greet customers at the door but it is the pretty display of cakes, pastries and voluminous bowls of salad opposite the entrance that really make the first impression. Salads are so often relegated to plates of limp Caesar salad but Kentish Canteen makes a feature of them by offering an attractive list of small side dishes or a choice ...Read More

Kentish Canteen is handily located less than a minute from Kentish Town station and while I haven’t yet been there for dinner, I can definitely vouch for its lunch service. The one page menu manages to serve up a great range of seasonal and regular dishes and the place has a bright, colourful feel that few other places along Kentish Town Road can boast.

Staff greet customers at the door but it is the pretty display of cakes, pastries and voluminous bowls of salad opposite the entrance that really make the first impression. Salads are so often relegated to plates of limp Caesar salad but Kentish Canteen makes a feature of them by offering an attractive list of small side dishes or a choice of two as a main course. Each salad costs £3.75 and includes crunchy options such as apple, pear, walnuts and celery with blue cheese or exotic Middle-Eastern influenced charred aubergine with saffron yogurt and pomegranate. On a previous visit one of the salads I ordered came with deep-fried sage leaves, which were a delicious novelty garnish.

On my most recent lunch visit I ordered baked acorn squash with mushroom cheddar barley and homemade tomato sauce. This also came with some crunchy, buttery green cabbage. The combination didn’t quite work as although the tomato sauce was delicious it overpowered the subtle squash and clashed with the mushroom barley. However taken on their own, each vegetable portion tasted fresh, none were over-cooked and only the squash could have done with a touch more seasoning. The mushroom barley was especially flavourful and I probably could have eaten a whole bowl of that with the cabbage.

My husband ordered the homemade beef burger, which is served with the kitchen’s own rightly named ‘fat chips’. The only burger criticism was the generous amount of beetroot relish (only a problem if you don’t like beetroot obviously), but otherwise it was well received.

We both drank Americano coffees, which were excellent. So many cafes and restaurants serve bad coffee so it is great to find a lunch spot where the coffee excellence matches the food. They use Union’s Arabica coffee, a local roaster based in East London and the freshness of the roast is noticeable.

While I haven’t yet ordered from their brunch menu, they serve breakfast items such as eggs benedict, sourdough toast with jam and dry-cured bacon baps from 10am – 4pm. I imagine this is a godsend to any locals who don’t fall into the early bird group.

I was short on time so we skipped dessert but the selection at Kentish Canteen is difficult to pass up. The baked goods on display are rivaled by a tempting dessert list, which usually includes crumbles, ice cream and chocolate pots served in tiny golden glasses.

The service at Kentish Canteen is for the most part well timed and has always been polite and attentive the times I have visited. For some reason they tend to slow down a little after the main courses have been delivered but as the restaurant space is fairly contained, it shouldn’t take too long to get someone’s attention. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on January 28, 2025

Kentish Canteen
300 Kentish Town Road
London, England NW5 2TG
020 7485 7331

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Lord Palmerston

Restaurant | "Great Burger and Chips at Tufnell Park"

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Hidden half way up Dartmouth Park Hill, the Lord Palmerston is a down to earth pub that caters to families as well as friends. About a five-minute walk from Tufnell Park tube station, we stopped in for bunch on a quiet Saturday afternoon. The weekend before we had passed by the pub, which had looked very busy for Sunday lunch but it was a different story on the Saturday and so we felt a little foolish for calling ahead to make reservations. But better safe than sorry I guess.Part of the Geronimo Inns chain, the Palmerston does a decent job of maintaining its individuality. Table service was offered at the bar as well as in the back conservatory room but we took a table at the front of the ...Read More

Hidden half way up Dartmouth Park Hill, the Lord Palmerston is a down to earth pub that caters to families as well as friends. About a five-minute walk from Tufnell Park tube station, we stopped in for bunch on a quiet Saturday afternoon. The weekend before we had passed by the pub, which had looked very busy for Sunday lunch but it was a different story on the Saturday and so we felt a little foolish for calling ahead to make reservations. But better safe than sorry I guess.

Part of the Geronimo Inns chain, the Palmerston does a decent job of maintaining its individuality. Table service was offered at the bar as well as in the back conservatory room but we took a table at the front of the pub, sitting bravely close to three families all with young children in tow.

We ordered a cranberry-lemonade and Adnams Regatta to get us started and looked over the menu and specials board. The brunch menu isn’t bad and I toyed with getting the Gypsy Eggs, apparently a big eggy mess with sausages and anything else the chef can lay his or her hands on thrown in. But I instead opted for ham, egg and chips. I hadn’t had it in ages and figured I couldn’t go wrong with such a simple meal. My husband ordered a beefburger and chips, prompting me to ask if he was feeling ok as he hadn’t eaten beef in about fifteen years.

The Lord Palmerston is nicely decorated without being too clean cut. Long drapes are a muted red, white and blue and match the large union jack hanging over the curved bar. Tall windows on either side brighten up the centre bar, which advertises pork pies and scotch eggs and displays a decent supply of ales and wines.

Out back is a small conservatory and patio garden. There are also additional dining rooms downstairs and up, with the first floor function room being available for private hire. Well-worn wooden floor boards and a traditional brown bar counter provide the earthy tones, while bright red light fixtures and oversized contemporary art offer moments of fun and colour.

The beefburger and chips were excellent, and possibly worth the fifteen year wait. My ham, egg and chips were a bit too plain for my liking though. The ham was almost sandwich quality, so too thin to hold its own against the eggs, which were too crisp around the edges, and the thick cut chips. The eggs were also quite small and I just felt that for £8, they should have provided some flourish to a dish that probably cost all of £1 to produce. Some home made relish and definitely a couple of large, juicy slices of ham would not go amiss. Also the condiment portions are ridiculously small. Mayonnaise, mustard and ketchup came in pots so tiny that after five or six chip dips, it was all gone. They kindly brought us some more but I had a hard time understanding why they felt the need to skimp on the ketchup when both our meals came with chips.

Otherwise the service was fast and friendly and despite not being native English speakers, the staff took the time to answer our questions. Perhaps on Sundays it’s prudent to book a table but for a relaxing Saturday brunch, there’s probably no need. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on August 28, 2025

Lord Palmerston
33 Dartmouth Park Hill, Tufnell Park
London, England 5 1
+44 (0)20 7485 1

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Market Coffee House

Restaurant | "Traditional Doorstep Sandwiches and Great Coffee at Spitalfields Market"

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I have stopped in for lunch at Market Coffee House on more than occasion. The crusty white bread sandwiches and creamy-foamed lattes are too good to pass up, and if you’re in the mood I’m sure the cakes are too. There is a big rush on at lunchtimes but if you’re a small group you can usually find an open table although competition is a little fierce at times. Thankfully they’ve recently extended so seating isn’t as limited as it once was. Orders are placed at the counter and a server brings the food and drink to the table. It’s not a particularly fast turnaround but it is worth the wait. If you’re in search of a traditional doorstep sandwich, insist on the white bloomer bread. We ordered t...Read More

I have stopped in for lunch at Market Coffee House on more than occasion. The crusty white bread sandwiches and creamy-foamed lattes are too good to pass up, and if you’re in the mood I’m sure the cakes are too.

There is a big rush on at lunchtimes but if you’re a small group you can usually find an open table although competition is a little fierce at times. Thankfully they’ve recently extended so seating isn’t as limited as it once was. Orders are placed at the counter and a server brings the food and drink to the table. It’s not a particularly fast turnaround but it is worth the wait. If you’re in search of a traditional doorstep sandwich, insist on the white bloomer bread. We ordered two lattes and two roast ham salad sandwiches, slathered with impossibly large granules of wholegrain mustard.

On Sunday, Spitalfields Market draws in big crowds, which in turn provides big business for the many eating and drinking establishments both in it and around it. Market Coffee House is one of the few non-chain restaurants and definitely has a more established décor and feel to it. It has only been trading since 2001 but step inside, and asides from the modish baristas you’d be forgiven for thinking you’d stepped back in time. The refurbishment has been sensitive to the building’s history, which potentially dates from the late 1600s and uses salvaged oak from the nearby Christchurch built in the 1700s.

We had to wait about ten minutes for our lunch and lattes and it probably took me twice that long to chomp my way through the sandwich. It is delicious but the bread is that thick it does take a while. Other items on the menu include two daily soups, a ploughman’s, salads, bagels, afternoon cream tea, and an authentic Belgian hot chocolate. There are also a number of homemade cakes to peruse while you’re queuing up to place your order. Knowing how tall the sandwiches are I’ve yet to try one but the lemon drizzle cake and sticky gingerbread looked very good last weekend.

The service is efficient and friendly as long as you accept that it will not be lightening fast. The good reason for this is that the sandwiches are freshly made. The focus is on quality so you’re better off settling down with a newspaper or book for a bit rather than getting impatient. During quieter hours they’re happy for customers to use laptops and stay longer and they encourage table sharing when seats are running short.

Do note that cards are not accepted so do bring cash.
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Member Rating 5 out of 5 on November 22, 2025

Market Coffee House
52 Brushfield Street
London, England E1 6AG
+44 020 7247 4110

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O's Thai Cafe

Restaurant | "Fresh, Yummy and Very Reasonably Priced"

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Close to the clock tower in Crouch End is the bright and funky O’s Thai restaurant, named after owner Somchai Kantavanich, who has the mysterious Thai nickname ‘O’. Kantavanich started doing Thai food just down the road in the Victoria Stakes pub in Muswell Hill in 1993 but just four years later he and a partner had opened their own restaurant.O’s is a popular restaurant and the tables are busy almost every night of the week. The big draws are that the service is fast and friendly, the food is very good and it’s cheap. Two mains and two drinks costs less than £20 and while their website says there is no service charge for tables with less than five people, you will probably want to tip reg...Read More

Close to the clock tower in Crouch End is the bright and funky O’s Thai restaurant, named after owner Somchai Kantavanich, who has the mysterious Thai nickname ‘O’. Kantavanich started doing Thai food just down the road in the Victoria Stakes pub in Muswell Hill in 1993 but just four years later he and a partner had opened their own restaurant.

O’s is a popular restaurant and the tables are busy almost every night of the week. The big draws are that the service is fast and friendly, the food is very good and it’s cheap. Two mains and two drinks costs less than £20 and while their website says there is no service charge for tables with less than five people, you will probably want to tip regardless of how many people are at your table.

Multi-coloured pink hearts light up the shop window at O’s, adding a touch of kitsch to O’s very clean and simple style. Inside there are rainbow panels on one side of the room and specials boards on the other. Small wooden tables are crammed in for maximum capacity so don’t expect a quiet or intimate night out.

For groups bigger than four, reservations are recommended but otherwise the turnover of customers is fairly fast so waiting should be short or non-existent. The staff at O’s is very sweet and friendly. If you are hungry then O’s is perfect because the staff is fast on their feet and food is quick to come out.

According to their website, O sources only fresh ingredients. On a Saturday night, I had the Pad Khing with chicken, vegetables and ginger. The mix of beans, pepper, onions, cauliflower and mushrooms did taste fresh as did the crunchy slivers of ginger. My husband ordered Pad Thai with chicken. The salt, curry powder and chopped peanuts were placed to the side of the dish in delicate mounds, meaning he could add as much as little as he wanted.

Choosing a dish at O’s can be tricky. In addition to their regular menu and a three course set menu they also have an unusually long specials board. They have a list of O’s recommendations and on another visit my husband had the Pad Chu Chee (number 23), which he thought was particularly good and has been recommended by other visitors too. Most dishes come with the choice of meat or bean curd, or for a slightly higher price, king prawn.

All the tables are small, wooden squares and the lack of space can make things tricky if you order multiple dishes. The vase with oversized plastic flower and green frond took up a quite a bit of space so you have to watch where you put your elbows. Also be prepared for the fact that you may have to get up close and personal with some of your fellow diners, being as they will be in very close proximity.

Don’t let this put you off though. Everyone at O’s are there for a good night out and while it can be noisy when full, people are generally in good spirits. This is particularly true on weekend nights. The restaurant is very close to some great spots in Crouch End including The Kings Head (which has a comedy club), the Queens pub and the popular Kiss the Sky bar, making it an ideal place to eat before heading off into the night.
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Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 29, 2025

O's Thai Cafe
10 Topsfield Parade
London, England N8 8PR
+44 20 8348 6898

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Old Dairy (The)

Restaurant | "Sunday Lunch at The Old Dairy"

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If you ever find yourself traveling along the North London overground line you will be lucky for two reasons. The first being that the trains are running (a current rarity at weekends) and the second is that you’ll have the opportunity to alight at Crouch Hill station, the nearest port from which you can reach the Old Dairy Pub.The first bonus about the Old Dairy is that it is huge, meaning that seats are usually easy to come by. However, if a major sports match is on (e.g. the World Cup) or it’s Sunday lunch you had better make sure you either turn up early or call ahead and book a table in their restaurant.The last time I visited was not a happy occasion. This had nothing to ...Read More

If you ever find yourself traveling along the North London overground line you will be lucky for two reasons. The first being that the trains are running (a current rarity at weekends) and the second is that you’ll have the opportunity to alight at Crouch Hill station, the nearest port from which you can reach the Old Dairy Pub.

The first bonus about the Old Dairy is that it is huge, meaning that seats are usually easy to come by. However, if a major sports match is on (e.g. the World Cup) or it’s Sunday lunch you had better make sure you either turn up early or call ahead and book a table in their restaurant.

The last time I visited was not a happy occasion. This had nothing to do with the pub. England were playing Germany in the last sixteen of the 2010 World Cup and that’s all I need to say.

We rocked up about an hour and a half before kick off and bagged one of the last tables with three high backed studded leather chairs. The pub rapidly filled up after we arrived although on a more ordinary Sunday the pace is obviously a bit more sedate.

Orders need to be placed at the bar and as it was a particularly hot afternoon I chose a light Chicken Caesar Salad for lunch and a bottle of chilled Mexican beer. My husband on the other hand went for roast chicken with red pepper stuffing and all the trimmings.

The Old Dairy is a beautiful building and as the name suggests, used to be a working dairy. Built in 1890, the pub has retained appealing features such as exposed brick walls and steel girders but renovations have been done with sensitivity. Skylights let shafts of sun through from above and below them stylish chandeliers illuminate the black wooden galleries and red brick walls.

Outside a series of beautiful etchings resembling paintings of Greek legend illustrate ‘grazing’, ‘milking’, ‘cooling’, ‘delivery’ and ‘butter’. Make sure you take a look at them from the Crouch Hill side as they are works of art in their own right.

Our food arrived in good time. The roast was doused in a decent amount of gravy and came with a Yorkshire pudding and roast vegetables. My salad contained a healthy amount of grilled chicken but also over generous helpings of dressing and anchovies. Had they exercised a bit more restraint with these two ingredients the salad would have been greatly improved.

Overall though the food isn’t bad and the prices are probably average for London. Roasts are £12.50 (beef is £1 more) and my salad was £10.50. We have also eaten in the dining room. The rooms which make up the formal dining area are ideal for groups but reservations are best made for Sunday lunch regardless of the size of your party. There aren’t a great deal of other good pubs nearby so unless you’re up for a trek to Crouch End, about a fifteen minute walk away up and over Crouch Hill, booking ahead is a good idea.

If you want to make a half day of it there is the option of getting the Northern line tube to Highgate station and doing part of the Woodland Park Walk: http://ukirelandtravel.suite101.com/article.cfm/an_easy_woodland_hike_in_north_london
Exit at Crouch Hill and it’s only a short downhill amble to The Old Dairy. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on July 9, 2025

Old Dairy (The)
1-3 Crouch Hill
London N4 4AP
+44 20 7263 3337

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Paradise by Way of Kensal Green

Restaurant | "Fine Food in Fine Surroundings"

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I’m not sure if Paradise qualifies as a pub. Once you step off gritty Kilburn Lane, this place opens up into something of a mansion house that just happens to have a bar, restaurant and a number of rooms both upstairs and down that can accommodate private parties, karaoke, comedy and weekend club nights. While it might sound like Paradise is trying to offer too much, somehow it works. They serve great food, provide a bright bar area for drinks and snacks and at the weekend, people queue out the door to check out the latest DJ upstairs and perhaps more importantly to see and be seen. We booked on a Saturday night for a friend’s birthday. Reservations for the restaurant are a must. Don’t exp...Read More

I’m not sure if Paradise qualifies as a pub. Once you step off gritty Kilburn Lane, this place opens up into something of a mansion house that just happens to have a bar, restaurant and a number of rooms both upstairs and down that can accommodate private parties, karaoke, comedy and weekend club nights. While it might sound like Paradise is trying to offer too much, somehow it works. They serve great food, provide a bright bar area for drinks and snacks and at the weekend, people queue out the door to check out the latest DJ upstairs and perhaps more importantly to see and be seen.

We booked on a Saturday night for a friend’s birthday. Reservations for the restaurant are a must. Don’t expect to get a table if you don’t. Slots are allocated from 7pm – 9.30pm and then a second seating from 9.30pm onwards but be warned, staff brought our bill at 9.15pm as the 9.30pm group were already pawing at the door for our table.

Paradise don’t mess around when it comes to food. Head chef Tim Payne has worked with the likes of Marco Pierre-White and has an impressive CV. The Saturday night menu of our visit was long. We passed on the starters (thinking ahead to dessert already) and looked over cote de boeuf, shepherds pie, roast lamb, chicken fillet, seafood stew, duck breast and more. I opted for the poached haddock with poached hens egg and champ with wholegrain mustard sauce while others at the table went for the chicken fillet, served with a wafer of onion pizza, roast lamb and what our friends described as ‘the best shepherds pie’.

My haddock was very slightly undercooked and I slightly regretted the fact (for my fellow diners) that the fish odour was particularly pungent. The egg was beautifully poached and was so soft and perfectly balanced that I daren’t break the yolk until I had almost finished off all the fish and champ. The mustard sauce was very subtle and was a deliciously creamy dressing for the champ. The nice thing about the dish is that it didn’t fill me up too much, meaning that it was one of those rare occasions when I actually had room for dessert.

A few of us ordered dessert wines. I had the Languedoc Muscat de Saint Jean de Minervois which was very sweet and fruity, more so than the paler Sauternes Clos Dady. Almost all of the desserts sounded interesting (an orange mulled wine knickerbockers glory being one) but I opted for the lemon and ginger creme brulee. The cream layer encapsulated both the lemon and ginger flavours but the caramel top layer took some work to crack as it was a few millimeters thicker than most creme brulees I’ve had the good fortune of eating. As a result, I ended up leaving a good portion for fear of breaking my teeth on the crunchy sugar coating.

We had not long finished our desserts and a waitress came over to say that the next group had arrived and would we mind if she brought the bill. We knew that we had to vacate the table at a certain time but were mildly annoyed that she was asking us to leave about fifteen minutes before our time was up. We had a series of three or four wait staff during the course of our meal but this one lady in particular was a little rude and distracted. Earlier in the evening my friend had asked her a question and she had completely ignored him.

Indifferent service aside, it didn’t spoil our overall enjoyment of the evening. I’ve eaten at Paradise a number of times and the food is always excellent and the surroundings verge on exquisite. Indian birdcages and Murano chandeliers hang overhead and rich, floral curtains drop from ceiling to floor. I would definitely recommend making the detour to Kensal Green to eat at Paradise but be sure to book before you go. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on January 30, 2025

Paradise by Way of Kensal Green
19 Kilburn Lane, Kensal Green
London, England 10 4
+44 0208 969 009

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Prince Albert

Attraction | "A Laid-back Pub with Great Food Close to Camden"

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I’ll be honest, the only reason that we came to the Prince Albert is because we had a two-for-one meal coupon. I don’t think we would have found this pub otherwise. It’s very close to both Camden and Kentish Town but tucked away in what seems to be a quiet residential pocket, the Prince Albert turned out to be a wonderful find. On a sunny Saturday evening, most people were sensibly sitting around tables on their outdoor patio. We had been walking all day and as tempting as it was to join the majority, we collapsed on an old leather sofa inside instead. We grabbed a couple of newspapers (hanging beside the front door) and sipped a gin and tonic and a pint of Adnams for the next 45 minutes u...Read More

I’ll be honest, the only reason that we came to the Prince Albert is because we had a two-for-one meal coupon. I don’t think we would have found this pub otherwise. It’s very close to both Camden and Kentish Town but tucked away in what seems to be a quiet residential pocket, the Prince Albert turned out to be a wonderful find.

On a sunny Saturday evening, most people were sensibly sitting around tables on their outdoor patio. We had been walking all day and as tempting as it was to join the majority, we collapsed on an old leather sofa inside instead. We grabbed a couple of newspapers (hanging beside the front door) and sipped a gin and tonic and a pint of Adnams for the next 45 minutes until it was time to ascend to the upstairs dining room. I’m sure that they would have accommodated us for dinner sooner had we asked but to be honest, we were too relaxed downstairs to hurry.

We took our drinks up with us and were seated at a window table overlooking the patio. The dining area upstairs is fairly large but thankfully tables are well spaced so even had the place been full I think it still would have retained it’s relaxing but yet slightly formal air. It’s certainly not formal in the sense that you have to dress up. It’s more to do with the rich rioja-coloured walls and massive gilt framed mirrors, which give the impression that you’re a guest in an Edwardian-era townhouse. The lovely sash windows also added to the elegance and on a good weather day, shafts of sunlight brightened the wide wooden floorboards.

I only made two errors that evening. The first was ordering the Australian Tempranillo (definitely wouldn’t recommend it and I drank the Spanish Rioja thereafter) and the second was not ordering any vegetables with my main meal. Other than that, the service and the food was really very good and despite the explosion of gastro-pubs in the UK, I still think that’s saying something.

We both ordered lamb, which came with a redcurrant-mint sauce and gratin potatoes. The potatoes were small and roasted with drizzles of melted cheese. There were surprisingly good and the cheese was fairly subtle and not too rich at all. The lamb was tender and moist. I’ve found that meat cooked until it’s dry is commonplace in many pubs, especially ones trying to please large Sunday crowds. The gravy sauce didn’t taste much of mint or redcurrant to me but to be honest this was a minor complaint as the meat and potatoes were delicious. As I said before, the only thing I should have done is ordered a side of vegetables to compliment the meal. As a substitute we split a sticky toffee pudding with ice cream (I’m sure there’s one of my five a day in that somewhere.) The dessert was delicious and not too rich or sweet. In fact, I think I may even be able to manage one on my own next time. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on March 14, 2025

Prince Albert
163 Royal College Street
London, England NW1 0SG
+44 20 7485 0270

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Simurgh

Restaurant | "Fair Persian Fare in London's West End"

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I have been to Simurgh twice in the past six months, once for lunch and once for dinner. Given that it is within a stones throw of Leicester Square, it’s probably one of the better and affordable places around. I last visited on a Tuesday night with my husband and a friend and we were seated at a table in the main dining area. They do have seating in the basement but it’s a little dingy so I’m not sure how much I’d enjoy a dining experience downstairs. We ordered a bottle of red wine and a ‘Sini’ for 3 to share along with some Lavash bread. The Sini is essentially a Persian Mezze platter with four samples of Mirza Ghasemi (grilled aubergines in a tomato and garlic sauce), Masto Kheyar (min...Read More

I have been to Simurgh twice in the past six months, once for lunch and once for dinner. Given that it is within a stones throw of Leicester Square, it’s probably one of the better and affordable places around.

I last visited on a Tuesday night with my husband and a friend and we were seated at a table in the main dining area. They do have seating in the basement but it’s a little dingy so I’m not sure how much I’d enjoy a dining experience downstairs. We ordered a bottle of red wine and a ‘Sini’ for 3 to share along with some Lavash bread. The Sini is essentially a Persian Mezze platter with four samples of Mirza Ghasemi (grilled aubergines in a tomato and garlic sauce), Masto Kheyar (mint yogurt with cucumber and garlic), Chicken Oliveh (kind of like a fine potato salad with shredded chicken), and Ghel Ghely (meatballs in a saffron tomato sauce). The serving was perfect for three people and all of the dishes were delicious and the ingredients tasted fresh. The bread was soft and floury and we all freely dipped into the bowls, finishing them all off quite quickly.

For the main courses we ordered the Lamb & Lime and two Lamb Shanks. Most of the meals come with one or more types of rice (the main one being saffron rice) and a small salad. Two of our meals arrived quite quickly but it soon became apparent that one of the Lamb Shanks had been forgotten. I asked the waiter and he seemed genuinely surprised that we were waiting for it, which led me to believe that he hadn’t ordered correctly. It arrived about ten minutes later although he strangely didn’t apologise for the mistake. Fortunately the food was very good and the lamb extremely tender or else I would have been more bothered by the indifference of the waiter. I had to shave the sprinkling of pistachios off the top of my rice (annoying I’m allergic) but their other rice dishes include a dill-infused rice and one cooked with barberries, which are small, dark red berries that have a very sharp flavour but go wonderfully with the mildness of the rice.

Most of the dishes on their menu have the traditional Persian name but they have tried to be creative on a few, such as ‘Holy Chick’ and the dubious ‘Salmon Rashti’. There are also a couple with some suspect ingredients that I have never seen in any Persian recipes, ‘Chicken and Banana’ for one.

There has been some effort to create a Persian environment with replica friezes of Persepolis, coloured lanterns and tealight candles housed in Mosque-like arches. Also encased in similar-shaped arches are rows of wine bottles. I doubt any mullah would approve but it looks pretty.

As I mentioned, the downstairs is less inviting. Also in the basement are the toilets, which are definitely in need of some work as there is clear evidence of damp that both looks and smells quite unsavoury.

By the time we finished our meal the restaurant was full up so they must be doing something right. It is worth making a reservation if there are four or more in your party as it is not a very large restaurant. The service here isn’t outstanding so you may want to pass if you’re looking for a quality dining experience but the food is very good and despite being in the heart of London, it won’t cost you an arm and a leg.
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Member Rating 3 out of 5 on November 22, 2025

Simurgh
17 Garrick Street
London, England WC2E 9BL
+44 020 7240 7811

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Scarsdale Tavern

Attraction | "A Worthwhile Detour off Kensington High Street"

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If you’re wandering along High Street Kensington in search of a pub but want to park yourself somewhere away from the bustle of the shops then The Scarsdale may be the perfect retreat, and it’s barely a minute’s walk from the high street.I’ve been to the Scarsdale a fair few times over the last couple of years and have enjoyed both its winter cosiness and compact summer patio on the corner of affluent Edwardes Square. The food is for the most part substantial and decent but on a visit at the end of 2009 my friends and myself noticed that things had changed. The food wasn’t quite as good as it had been on previous occasions and the ale selection had also changed and not for the better. Afte...Read More

If you’re wandering along High Street Kensington in search of a pub but want to park yourself somewhere away from the bustle of the shops then The Scarsdale may be the perfect retreat, and it’s barely a minute’s walk from the high street.

I’ve been to the Scarsdale a fair few times over the last couple of years and have enjoyed both its winter cosiness and compact summer patio on the corner of affluent Edwardes Square. The food is for the most part substantial and decent but on a visit at the end of 2009 my friends and myself noticed that things had changed. The food wasn’t quite as good as it had been on previous occasions and the ale selection had also changed and not for the better. After a bit of post-pub research, we discovered that the beloved Scarsdale has been taken over by the Fullers chain. Thankfully they saw sense not to mess with the original interior but decided that the food and drinks needed an overhaul.

For two years in a row, we booked a table at the Scarsdale for Christmas lunch and the difference between 2008 and 2009 was quite noticeable. In 2008, tables were adorned with festive crackers and the atmosphere was, thankfully, a world away from the Christmas shopping mania going on in the nearby shops. Fast-forward to 2009 and the crackers were gone, we only had the table for two hours and the service and the food was a far cry from the year before. It was also inexplicably cold inside, despite the fact that we were sat close to the kitchen.

Sad Christmas stories aside, the Scarsdale is still a lovely place to stop in with friends and family. Competition to bag tables in the after work rush and for weekend lunches is quite fierce so if you want to sit, eat and spend some time, it’s worth making a reservation in the back corner of the pub which forms a diminutive restaurant area. Food can be ordered at the bar though and in the summer, the front patio significantly increases the pub’s seating area. There are also two narrow wooden bar shelves at the front of the patio area, providing a handy pint rest for standing patrons.

The Scarsdale’s real draw is its charming Georgian façade and old-school interior. The dark wooden bar is lit by iron-framed lanterns and some of the pretty etched and stained glass windows look like they’ve been there as long as the pub’s dusty floorboards. In spite of any gastronomic shortcomings, the Scarsdale really is a lovely little breathing space for tourists and locals alike. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on March 14, 2025

Scarsdale Tavern
23a Edwardes Square
London, England W8 6HE
+44 20 7937 1811

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The Spaniards Inn

Restaurant | "The Biggest Beer Garden in London?"

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If you are lucky enough to be in North London on a bright sunny day, the Spaniards Inn is probably one of the best London pubs to be at. Not only is it sat on the edge of Hampstead Heath, it also boasts what must be the largest pub garden in the city. Wooden picnic tables stretch out almost as far as the eye can see across a pretty patio. Understandably it’s popular with families and dog walkers but even if you’re not a canine or baby fan, don’t let this put you off, as it’s usually possible to find a corner away from any mayhem. We pulled into the Spaniards on a sunny bank holiday Monday (in England, using ‘sunny’ and ‘bank holiday’ in the same sentence would probably be the start of a jo...Read More

If you are lucky enough to be in North London on a bright sunny day, the Spaniards Inn is probably one of the best London pubs to be at. Not only is it sat on the edge of Hampstead Heath, it also boasts what must be the largest pub garden in the city. Wooden picnic tables stretch out almost as far as the eye can see across a pretty patio. Understandably it’s popular with families and dog walkers but even if you’re not a canine or baby fan, don’t let this put you off, as it’s usually possible to find a corner away from any mayhem.

We pulled into the Spaniards on a sunny bank holiday Monday (in England, using ‘sunny’ and ‘bank holiday’ in the same sentence would probably be the start of a joke but in this case it was actually true). We had no problem finding a table for lunch despite the fact that car park was already full up and the patio was already bustling with the chatter of many large groups and a few barky dogs. Although the pub garden looked a little less well tended than when I visited last year, it’s still a very pleasant place to be and bears some resemblance to a small garden centre.

The pub itself is steeped in history but given that we always sit outside I’ve never had a chance to read up on it (I think there is an abridged account hanging on the wall inside the pub). The ‘1585’ plaque on the front gives you some idea of its age at least and its Spanish heritage apparently comes from either it originally being built as the country house of the Spanish ambassador, or that in the 18th century it was owned by two Spanish brothers who turned the house into a pub. Whichever story holds true, the Spaniards Inn is a now popular spot with all nationalities. A large Indian family sat beside us and all ordered fish and chips but on such a surprisingly warm day, the four of us ordered salads. Two chicken Caesar with tomatoes, one rocket salad with goat’s cheese and one chunky Greek salad with topped with two juicy lamb chops. I was slightly disappointed that the Caesar salad wasn’t made with Romaine lettuce but I did enjoy the thick wholemeal bread croutons, which were rather naughtily fried and dripping with olive oil. We washed it down with pints of cider, bitter (accordingly to their website they have 17 draught lagers on tap) and a glass of Pimms. I also tried one of a ginger and lemonade, which at £1 a pint wasn’t a bad deal and a refreshing non-alcoholic option.

The food menu had a good selection to choose from and they also offer roasts on a Sunday. The food isn’t outstanding but it is decent and not horribly priced at around £8-£9 for a salad. Given that they were so busy the food also came out quite quickly although you do have to take note of your table number before you wander off to the bar to place your order. After our lunch we wandered up the road to Kenwood House for another cheeky drink, but it’s only a ten minute walk and it seemed a shame not to.

www.thespaniardshampstead.co.uk
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Member Rating 5 out of 5 on November 29, 2025

The Spaniards Inn
Spaniards Road
London, England NW3 7JJ
(020) 8731-8406

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Spiazzo

Restaurant | "Crouch End's Own Little Italy"

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Spiazzo Italian Food Hall holds possibly the prime retail position in Crouch End. Bang smack in the middle of the Broadway with the main bus stop just outside, it’s impossible to miss this place as it commandeers the corner of the main street’s only green area, which despite its small size, is a popular resting point for locals in the summer. Summer is Spiazzo’s busy season, when the outdoor seating area is as popular as the diminutive park it borders. However boxy booths inside fill up fast in the winter with chatty families and couples meeting up for a brunch date.The Italian influence can be felt as soon as you enter with a wide deli counter facing the entrance and stockpiles of pasta, ...Read More

Spiazzo Italian Food Hall holds possibly the prime retail position in Crouch End. Bang smack in the middle of the Broadway with the main bus stop just outside, it’s impossible to miss this place as it commandeers the corner of the main street’s only green area, which despite its small size, is a popular resting point for locals in the summer. Summer is Spiazzo’s busy season, when the outdoor seating area is as popular as the diminutive park it borders. However boxy booths inside fill up fast in the winter with chatty families and couples meeting up for a brunch date.

The Italian influence can be felt as soon as you enter with a wide deli counter facing the entrance and stockpiles of pasta, sauces, biscotti and panettone filling every window space. They have recently installed a shiny new pizza oven although I’ve yet to see it working. Pizza boxes are also stacked high in anticipation of take out orders so watch this space.

The service at Spiazzo isn’t highly regarded by too many online reviews that I’ve looked at. However on my last visit (28/02/10) I’m happy to report that the service was fast, efficient and while our waiters weren’t gushing with pleasantries, they certainly weren’t impolite. The restaurant was busy so I’d like to think they were instead focused on getting food and drinks out quickly.

We ordered a panini with chicken escalope, mozzarella and roasted vegetables and a ham and rocket pizza and two drinks. Thankfully Spiazzo doesn’t let that Italian side down and serves decent coffee. We sipped frothy cappuccinos under the watchful eye of an Edward Hopper "Nighthawks" reproduction. The scenario in his painting was a world away from the hive of activity in Spiazzo.

Spiazzo also serves excellent panini and pizzas. The chicken escalope was lightly breaded and deliciously crispy rather than greasy. The small salad on the side was a little limp but with a helping of aubergine and courgette in the sandwich, this was a minor criticism. The pizza was a picture of freshness. The dough looked recently hand-thrown and random bubbles had risen from its time in the oven, after which parmesan, rocket and Parma ham had been scattered liberally all over.

In spite of the generous portions, both the panini and pizza quickly disappeared. Around us, large bowls of pasta kept appearing and although we enjoyed our meals, we did develop a mild case of food envy.

The bill was delivered to our table but you pay at the till at the front of the shop, giving weak-willed customers (like us) the option of picking up a small liqueur chocolate or three on the way out. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on March 5, 2025

Spiazzo
26 The Broadway
London, England N8 9DR
+44 20 8347 6065

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Tapped & Packed

Restaurant | "Perfect Saturday Coffee at No. 26"

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I am hoping it’s only a matter of time until the increasing number of independent coffee shops that have popped up in Soho, Fitzrovia and Mayfair decide to launch a direct attack on the series of bland Oxford Street chain cafés. One candidate to lead such assault would be Tapped & Packed, its store front on Rathbone Place identifiable only by a coffee bicycle and oversized door number. Inside there are clean lines of timber, steel and leather and equally pretty clusters of clocks, teaspoons and pastries. We ordered two small lattes and two flaky croissants with once-hot cheese and ham. The lattes arrived in glasses, topped with a crown of milk bubbles and a coffee coloure...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on January 16, 2025

Tapped & Packed
26 Rathbone Place
London, England W1T 1JD
020 7580 2163

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Texas Embassy Cantina

Restaurant | "Forlorn on the Fourth of July"

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The Texas Embassy occupies one of the most central locations in London. It’s right next to Trafalgar Square, sitting at the intersection of Pall Mall, The Mall and Strand. Sadly, as with so many restaurants surrounded by major tourist attractions, the food and the service is lacklustre to say the least. The restaurant is massive and there is the definite feeling that people only come here because there are always seats available. Our trip to the Texas Embassy was on 4th July. We had hoped that given the significance of the date in American culture, this Tex-Mex cantina would be celebrating the occasion with perhaps a special menu, some live music or other events. There was, however, none o...Read More

The Texas Embassy occupies one of the most central locations in London. It’s right next to Trafalgar Square, sitting at the intersection of Pall Mall, The Mall and Strand. Sadly, as with so many restaurants surrounded by major tourist attractions, the food and the service is lacklustre to say the least. The restaurant is massive and there is the definite feeling that people only come here because there are always seats available.

Our trip to the Texas Embassy was on 4th July. We had hoped that given the significance of the date in American culture, this Tex-Mex cantina would be celebrating the occasion with perhaps a special menu, some live music or other events. There was, however, none of the above, unless you count the fact that they were serving root beer and iced tea cocktails. We passed on the special drinks offer (which weren’t good value for money anyway) and ordered bottles of Negro Modelo and Lone Star, much to the chagrin of our Australian waiter.

The big screen behind the bar broadcast the Wimbledon men’s finals and the country and western music was all but drowned out by the echoey clatter of customers and bar staff. Red, white and blue balloons were strung all around but the opportunity to commemorate 4th July in style had been sadly wasted on the Texas Embassy. It was as if they just couldn’t be bothered.

We ordered a plate of nachos to start with. This was delivered surprisingly fast, alongside a complimentary bowl of chips and salsa. I’ve been to Mexico a few times, and to Texas a couple of times too. All I can say is that any self-respecting Texan or Mexican chefs would probably hang their heads in shame at the food served here. Apart from the lettuce, most ingredients tasted like they had been frozen at one point or another, which obviously didn’t make a good first impression.

As I was rather underwhelmed by the nachos, I decided against ordering a large plate for my main and went for the flautas: seasoned chicken and cheese wrapped tightly in small corn tortillas and flash-fried. One positive aspect about the Texas Embassy menu is that it probably makes for great hangover food. I didn’t have a hangover but after a couple of beers, the mouthfuls of cheese flautas (they skimped a bit on the chicken ingredient) didn’t taste too bad. Others in our party ordered the chicken sandwich (this got decent reviews), the chili con carne (a small bowl of spicy minced meat) and the ribs and flautas. The ribs and flautas are served with a bathtub of barbecue chipotle sauce while the regular flautas get a similar size bowl of ranch dip. None of us opted for the 16oz T-Bone Steak although the £26.50 price gave us a laugh.

Overall the prices are about average for a place of this ilk in central London – not bad but certainly not great for bad-mediocre food. In addition, the service is fairly inconsistent. It was at times very slow but on other occasions our cowboy-costumed waiter would stand over us, rushing us into making a decision or trying to push the 4th July cocktail menu at us. In case you’re wondering, other members of staff were dressed as Wonderwoman, Pocahontas, Davy Crockett and other American heroes past and present. Why a Tex-Mex place decided to humiliate its staff with a theme park dress code is anyone’s guess. The food they have to serve is surely humiliation enough. Read Less

Member Rating 1 out of 5 on July 5, 2025

Texas Embassy Cantina
1 Cockspur Street
London, England SW1Y 5DL
+44 20 7925 0077

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Les Trois Garcons

Restaurant | "The French Perfection of East London"

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Looking a for fancy restaurant for a romantic date? Or somewhere different for a group celebration? Les Trois Garcons is one of the few places I’ve been to in a long while that caters to both scenarios. The only category of diners who may want to steer clear of the fantastic Trois Garcons is vegetarians. To be fair there are a couple of vegetarian options but if you’re an animal lover, you are unlikely to appreciate the menu, or the décor. The restaurant is part Alice in Wonderland, part Cirque du Soleil and part taxidermy exhibition. The menagerie theme may have something to do with the three founders’ French, Swedish and Malaysian heritage but however it came about, it somehow provides a...Read More

Looking a for fancy restaurant for a romantic date? Or somewhere different for a group celebration? Les Trois Garcons is one of the few places I’ve been to in a long while that caters to both scenarios. The only category of diners who may want to steer clear of the fantastic Trois Garcons is vegetarians. To be fair there are a couple of vegetarian options but if you’re an animal lover, you are unlikely to appreciate the menu, or the décor.

The restaurant is part Alice in Wonderland, part Cirque du Soleil and part taxidermy exhibition. The menagerie theme may have something to do with the three founders’ French, Swedish and Malaysian heritage but however it came about, it somehow provides a wonderful setting in which to enjoy a sumptuous two or three course meal.

We arrived at 7pm on a Friday evening (reservations are mandatory and a charge is levied for no-shows) and were politely shown to a table illuminated by a multi-coloured glass butterfly lamp.

Hundreds of crystal strings dripped down overhead and next to bejeweled bulldog and monkey statues and tailored wait staff, I admit that I felt a little underdressed in jeans. Not that the waiters made me feel any less welcome but next time I will try and ensure that I’m not upstaged by a bunch of petrified but glitzy animals.

Courses can be ordered a la carte or from the tasting menu. We skipped the starters (I wanted to save room for dessert) and besides, helpings of artisan bread and an amuse-bouche of sweet horseradish and a shaving of radish atop an oval of toast helped pass the time.

Had we gone for the three-course option, starters included fois gras and what would have been a quintessential fricassee of snails, except that the molluscs hailed from Dorset.

We sipped a flute of rose champagne while deciding on main courses of l’assiette de porc ‘Landroc’ and the day’s special, which on our visit was halibut. The thick slices of pork belly and shoulder arrived in a pool of ginger broth, served with small croquette rectangles of pea and ham. The croquettes were more ham than pea, which made the porcine element perhaps a little overwhelming but it was all still delicious. The belly was tender but the single shoulder piece (which to be honest, they could have omitted) was a little dry and stringy and not half as tasty as the rest.

The halibut was a soft chunk of white delight, drizzled in a mild sauce with a side of buttery kale. We even managed to choose a mild red wine from the Languedoc-Roussillon region that complemented both dishes.

Dessert was not an easy choice but I went for I would describe as my ultimate pick-n-mix. It was something of a dissected mille-feuille with fine puff pastry, crème patissiere, strawberries, strawberry sauce and a dark fruity sorbet scattered neatly around my plate. We also ordered their crème brulee, presented in a shallow round dish with sorbet. Burnt cream doesn’t get much better than at Les Trois Garcons.

With two courses pushing the £40 barrier and three at £45.50, you understand why Les Trois Garcons is best reserved for a special occasion. The food, wonderful service and entertaining interior all make it splurge-worthy though. Even the flush cord in the toilet is a little different. It’s a giant gold chain so chunky that I half expected a nearby church bell to toll when I pulled it. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on May 21, 2025

Les Trois Garcons
1 Club Row
London, England E1 6JX
+44 020 7613 1924

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La Trouvaille

Restaurant | "A French Discovery in the Heart of London"

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If you’re looking for a taste of France in central London, then La Trouvaille may have what you’re looking for. This modest bar and restaurant has somehow managed to steal itself away from the smoke, noise, and shopping mania that takes place on its doorstep along Carnaby and Oxford Streets. I must admit that I had to look up the meaning of "la trouvaille" and it translates as "a discovery" or "bright idea". Indeed on their website, it is introduced as "the brainchild of owners Thierry Bouteloup and Guillaume Siard… together they have formulated a unique blend of knowledge and creativity." This creativity is reflected in their menu as well as in the sophisticated interior décor....Read More

If you’re looking for a taste of France in central London, then La Trouvaille may have what you’re looking for. This modest bar and restaurant has somehow managed to steal itself away from the smoke, noise, and shopping mania that takes place on its doorstep along Carnaby and Oxford Streets.

I must admit that I had to look up the meaning of "la trouvaille" and it translates as "a discovery" or "bright idea". Indeed on their website, it is introduced as "the brainchild of owners Thierry Bouteloup and Guillaume Siard… together they have formulated a unique blend of knowledge and creativity." This creativity is reflected in their menu as well as in the sophisticated interior décor.

Next to the bar, tables are enveloped in crisp, brown paper and tall windows bring in sunlight for a bright, fresh ambience, or streetlight in the evenings for a romantic glow. On a hot summer’s day, the windows were slid wide open, providing an idyllic place to sit sipping a glass of pre-dinner Pimms. With our party of six, the staff was extremely helpful and pushed together a few tables so we could sit together. Many people were also taking advantage of the available outdoor seating and had we known that the main dining area was lacking air conditioning we may have opted for an outdoor table too.

With our drinks all gone, we made our way upstairs where we were the first to be seated at a table overlooked by ornate mirrors and ringed by transparent la marie chairs. Reservations are recommended as there are only about a dozen tables in all and if you’re be thinking that La Trouvaille might be a good option for a romantic evening out, note that the tables are close together so there’s not much privacy. We left before the group arrived but there was also a table set and ready to receive a stag party of nine.

For the dinner menu, you can order three courses for £35 or two courses for £29.50. I decided to save myself for the dessert and skipped the starter. I ordered a roast duckling dish, served with a spring roll and crispy sweet potatoes. The spring roll was far superior to any I’ve had before and was a crunchy complement to the rich, juicy duckling. Despite looking like quite a small portion on the plate it was just the right amount and fortunately left me with enough room for dessert.

On a hot, sticky evening I went for the soupe de fraises with basil ice cream. It was delicious but given that the kitchen is in the bowels of the building, I think the entire dish had become a little bit too soupy on its journey to the table.

The food and wine at La Trouvaille is certainly high quality but it’s a place best saved either for a special occasion or for an evening when you have deep pockets.
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Member Rating 3 out of 5 on November 22, 2025

La Trouvaille
12a Newburgh Street
London, England W1F 7RR
+44 020 7287 8488

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Villandry Restaurant

Restaurant | "Missing: French Gourmet Food at Villandry Bar"

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Housing a bar, restaurant and foodstore, Villandry makes its mark at the north end of Great Portland Street. We had reservations in the bar on a mild, autumnal Friday night and hoped that we were in store for some robust French cuisine. A short walk from Great Portland Street tube station, Villandry’s shop front is colourful and inviting. First impressions walking into the bar are slightly less impressive as the walls are bare and both the floor and ceiling are black. The copper-coloured angled mirror that skirts around the top of the room is a nice feature but otherwise the room is quite dark and lacks real character. I scanned the food menu, but instead of finding a list of French fare, ...Read More

Housing a bar, restaurant and foodstore, Villandry makes its mark at the north end of Great Portland Street. We had reservations in the bar on a mild, autumnal Friday night and hoped that we were in store for some robust French cuisine. A short walk from Great Portland Street tube station, Villandry’s shop front is colourful and inviting. First impressions walking into the bar are slightly less impressive as the walls are bare and both the floor and ceiling are black. The copper-coloured angled mirror that skirts around the top of the room is a nice feature but otherwise the room is quite dark and lacks real character.

I scanned the food menu, but instead of finding a list of French fare, I was confronted with a very limited array of main meals. Penne, mussels, poached salmon, bangers and mash and a range of burgers was all that the bar menu had to offer. That and the most extortionately priced fish and chips I’ve seen so far at £17.50! At that price I hope they use a champagne batter mix.

Feeling underwhelmed by what was on offer, I opted for a safe but what I hoped would be substantial Chicken Caesar Burger. Rather annoyingly you have to order vegetables separately so on top of the £10.50 burger, we had to pay another £3.95 for the chips. I know Marylebone is an upmarket neighbourhood but almost £15 for a burger meal anywhere seems overpriced. We ordered a glass of Rioja and a coke. The waitress served food and drinks to the tables even though we were sat less than a foot from the bar. There is also outdoor seating on the street and some intimate booth tables. Overall the room is very open and seemed like a good place for groups to meet for drinks after work.

The burgers arrived and looked slightly lonely on their white plate. The chips were served separately and I had also ordered a bowl of buttered new potatoes with mint. It sounded good on the menu but in reality I doubted the freshness of the potatoes (they were dry and crumbly) and there was a severe shortage of the mint ingredient, making the potatoes quite bland. The burger was pretty good and seemed fresher than the potatoes at least.

I will say that the service here is very good and we had two servers bringing us ketchup for the fries (you can never have too much ketchup in my eyes). The dessert menu did look quite tempting but being somewhat disappointed with the lack of French flair we skipped it and asked for the bill.

Villandry bar is a place for drinks, not for food. It is a great shame that the ‘gourmet heritage’ talked about on their website seems to have bypassed their bar menu completely. I hope that the food on offer in the foodstore, charcuterie ‘Rapide’ coffee shop and restaurant better encapsulates their vision.
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Member Rating 1 out of 5 on November 22, 2025

Villandry Restaurant
170 Great Portland Street
London, England W1W 5QD
+44 20 7631 3131

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Wagamama

Restaurant | "Popular, Cheap and Tasty Pan Asian "

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A friend from the US came to visit us in London a few months ago and a friend had recommended he eat at Wagamama during his trip. I was impressed that this chain of noodle restaurants had a following abroad but then I went to their website and learnt that as well as their 65 UK restaurants, they also have 37 chains internationally. Zagat readers voted them ‘most popular London restaurant’ in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 so it’s no wonder they have a good reputation at home and abroad.Walking along the South Bank on a Sunday afternoon we were in need of a very late lunch. The row of new restaurants under the Royal Festival Hall (which also includes Giraffe, Eat, Strada) seem to be permanently ...Read More

A friend from the US came to visit us in London a few months ago and a friend had recommended he eat at Wagamama during his trip. I was impressed that this chain of noodle restaurants had a following abroad but then I went to their website and learnt that as well as their 65 UK restaurants, they also have 37 chains internationally. Zagat readers voted them ‘most popular London restaurant’ in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 so it’s no wonder they have a good reputation at home and abroad.

Walking along the South Bank on a Sunday afternoon we were in need of a very late lunch. The row of new restaurants under the Royal Festival Hall (which also includes Giraffe, Eat, Strada) seem to be permanently busy and Wagamama was no exception. We managed to score an outdoor seat by the arches of the Hungerford Bridge. Tables and benches are long and you’re expected to share with other people but it all adds to the canteen-style atmosphere. Your order is chalked up in the middle of the table and there’s a constant buzz about the place, with efficient servers running between the till, the table and the kitchen. It’s definitely not a place you would come to relax.

I went for the Wagamama Ramen and my husband ordered the Chicken Katsu Curry and a large bottle of Asahi beer. I asked for green tea, which is complimentary with meals. Our waitress told us our meals would not be served at the same time but as it was, they arrived within about a minute of each other. The Chicken Katsu Curry is slices of chicken breast deep-fried in panko breadcrumbs served with a neat mound of sticky white rice covered in bright curry sauce. My Ramen noodles came in a vegetable broth with slices of grilled chicken, seaweed and watercress, chunks of fried tofu and a single piece of dory, one prawn and one mushroom. To be fair it does only say "prawn", "mushroom" and "dory" in the singular on their menu so they weren’t lying.

Although the food is served quickly, it’s a nice change from the usual sandwich and burger selection at many chain restaurants and you do feel like you’re getting a healthy, substantial meal for a fairly reasonable price. My Ramen was £7.80 and the curry was £8.25. With the free tea and one beer, it’s about £20 for two people, including tip, which is something of an achievement when eating out in central London. It’s also an good way to introduce children to pan-Asian cuisine. I saw a few families eating here and saw a six year old happily eating his way through a plate of salad and dumplings. I’m not sure if they had ordered a side dish but they do also have a kids menu with some ‘mini’ food options alongside a ‘noodle doodle’ fun page to keep them preoccupied.

Despite not being a fan of chain restaurants, I can see myself going to a Wagamama again. The food was good, substantial and interesting, which is a lot more than can be said for many other chain eateries.
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Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 22, 2025

Wagamama
4A Sreatham St
London, England W1H 9AB
+44 20 7323 9223

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White Horse

Attraction | "A Busy West London Pub with a Big Barbecue"

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A stones throw from Parsons Green tube station in south-west London you will find The White Horse pub, recently voted number 2 in Time Out’s "Top 50 places to drink in London". With such a rating you’re practically guaranteed a great night out.As we turned the corner onto Parsons Green on a Friday evening, we found a pub under siege. On a warm Spring evening, it seemed that half of London had been given the same tip off by Time Out. Once inside, it’s easy to understand the reputation this place has. The pub is enormous and beautifully outfitted. Having a long bar meant that the wait to be served wasn’t too bad considering the ever-growing crowds. Customers spilled out onto the ...Read More

A stones throw from Parsons Green tube station in south-west London you will find The White Horse pub, recently voted number 2 in Time Out’s "Top 50 places to drink in London". With such a rating you’re practically guaranteed a great night out.

As we turned the corner onto Parsons Green on a Friday evening, we found a pub under siege. On a warm Spring evening, it seemed that half of London had been given the same tip off by Time Out.

Once inside, it’s easy to understand the reputation this place has. The pub is enormous and beautifully outfitted. Having a long bar meant that the wait to be served wasn’t too bad considering the ever-growing crowds. Customers spilled out onto the patio and we discovered half way through the evening that a barbecue was in full flow and decently priced burgers and sausage sandwiches were to be had.

Round the back of the pub is a quiet, dedicated dining room although it is possible to get table service for food anywhere in the pub. The menu is hearty and above all, very good quality. On our first visit we ordered the haddock and chips, which were possibly the best I’ve had in London. At £11 it’s pricey for fish and chips but the batter was so light and crunchy that I can highly recommend trying it. I even finished off the dollop of minty, mushy peas, which I’m not usually a fan of.

Other menu items included sausages and mash, and rabbit and crayfish stargazy pie which sounded fascinating (and a bit weird). They also serve smaller bar snacks and sandwiches during the day and have a rotating specials board.

On another evening we ordered the barbecue leg of lamb for two to share. It takes about 30 minutes to prepare and I’m assuming it’s only available when the barbecue is in operation. We were presented with a chunk of meat big enough to feed a family of four and two smaller side plates of chunky chips and a green salad. To be honest, the lamb was somewhat tough and with the meat to vegetable ratio being so uneven I felt that I’d just experienced a feast fit for a caveman (or cavewoman in my case).

Another plus point is the wide selection of cask ales and bottled beers. On the first night we stopped in they were pulling wonderfully named pints such as Otters Bitter, Black Prince and White Dwarf. I tried a pint of the Black Prince which was surprising smooth and unsurprisingly, very dark in colour. The White Horse also regularly hosts beer festivals and they’re committed to adding to their already impressive list of beers.

Despite its constant business, The White Horse maintains a very relaxed, friendly atmosphere and is popular with all age ranges. Sink into a saggy sofa with a pint and a plate of fish and chips and you’ll see what I mean. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on March 14, 2025

White Horse
1 Parson's Green
London, England SW6 4UL
+44 20 7736 2115

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World Cafe

Restaurant | "Lunches are Big but Far from Worldly"

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How World Café got its name I do not know. This narrow corner café, set back from the main street of Crouch End’s Broadway serves average food at average prices and catering as it does to the local hordes of mums and toddlers, there’s decidedly little ‘worldly’ about it. The menu is an odd mix of an all-day breakfast (served until 4pm anyway), Spanish tapas and burgers. World Café is always busy so maybe there is something to be said about middle of the road food. We visited on a Sunday afternoon and the service we experienced was fast and friendly. There were a number of solo customers who the staff left alone to their coffees and newspapers, perhaps another reason for its popularity. ...Read More

How World Café got its name I do not know. This narrow corner café, set back from the main street of Crouch End’s Broadway serves average food at average prices and catering as it does to the local hordes of mums and toddlers, there’s decidedly little ‘worldly’ about it. The menu is an odd mix of an all-day breakfast (served until 4pm anyway), Spanish tapas and burgers.

World Café is always busy so maybe there is something to be said about middle of the road food. We visited on a Sunday afternoon and the service we experienced was fast and friendly. There were a number of solo customers who the staff left alone to their coffees and newspapers, perhaps another reason for its popularity.

We ordered a club sandwich and chicken burger and sipped on watery cappuccinos while our order was prepared. The lone coffee drinkers picked at their all-day breakfasts, pored over the day’s news and obliviously chatted on mobile phones, whiling away a cold, windy and rainy November afternoon.

The place has seen better days. The décor is a strange mix of a faded Moroccan restaurant cum community centre cum holistic remedy store. Flyers for local services and events are scattered around, fairy lights are strung across the windows and bad artwork hangs on the sand-coloured walls. Behind the somewhat redundant bar a number of wall mounted optics sit waiting for bottles. There are no bar stools and despite calling itself a café, bar and restaurant, World Café is definitely not a bar and is on thin ice appropriating the restaurant title as well.

Our food arrived and one thing can be said, they do not skimp on portions. The club sandwich was a tower of brown toasted bread, chicken, tomato, lettuce, mayonnaise and hard boiled egg skewered through with a slice of bacon on top. The chicken burger was slightly less impressive and the sesame bread bun looked suspiciously like those that come in a freezer 12-pack. Both came with chips, which were slightly soggy and unexplainably moreish.

Admittedly their cake counter looked quite decent with pasteis de nata, a large homemade carrot cake and other pastries. Specials boards advertised pastas and wines although with a large Oddbins over the road, buying alcohol out may be a safer bet.

World Café isn’t a bad place but it isn’t good either. Our meals with two drinks came to £20. It’s a fine place to relax and read the paper at the weekend, or if you have children in tow, stop in mid-week for a coffee and cake. Otherwise you may want to head back to the Broadway and try one of the better cafes there.
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Member Rating 1 out of 5 on November 29, 2025

World Cafe
130 Crouch Hill
London, England N8 9DY
+44 20 8340 5635

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Sights & Activities

Tower of London

Attraction | "A Wonderful History Lesson for Londoners and Tourists"

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Having lived in London for about five years, on and off, it was probably high time that I visited the Tower of London. It’s one of London’s best-known tourist attractions and it’s for that reason that I kept putting off a trip there. Surely it would be packed out with annoying tourists after all? Not really my idea of a fun day out but we had a friend staying with us and we decided to take a chance and go on the August bank holiday. After lunch at the Market Coffee House near Liverpool Street Station, we caught a bus from Shoreditch High Street to Tower Hill and walked down the riverside to the entrance gate. We were advised that a Beefeater tour was starting in the next ten minutes so we...Read More

Having lived in London for about five years, on and off, it was probably high time that I visited the Tower of London. It’s one of London’s best-known tourist attractions and it’s for that reason that I kept putting off a trip there. Surely it would be packed out with annoying tourists after all? Not really my idea of a fun day out but we had a friend staying with us and we decided to take a chance and go on the August bank holiday.

After lunch at the Market Coffee House near Liverpool Street Station, we caught a bus from Shoreditch High Street to Tower Hill and walked down the riverside to the entrance gate. We were advised that a Beefeater tour was starting in the next ten minutes so we patiently waited just inside the entrance for the tour to begin. The Yeoman Warders, as they are more formally known, (apparently the term ‘Beefeater" is derived from a time when they were permitted to eat beef from the king's table) are required to have served in the armed forces with an honourable record for at least 22 years. The tour is included in the ticket price and lasts about an hour. If you have the time it’s definitely worth going along as it’s an entertaining and informative introduction to the Tower. Our guide took us past Traitor’s Gate, the White Tower, the Bloody Tower, the ravens, and ended at the Chapel Royal of St. Peter ad Vincula.

We began by learning about the draining of the moat. Partly designed to flush out sewage into the tidal River Thames, it never quite fulfilled its purpose and under the Duke of Wellington’s watch in 1845, it was drained, thus eliminating the horrid stench, which must have permeated the area for quite some time.

Much of the Tower of London’s history is gruesome to say the least, so the tour inevitably focuses on those poor souls who were imprisoned or lost their lives there. A few famous names include Anne Boleyn, Sir Walter Raleigh and Guy Fawkes. Anne Boleyn also passed through Traitors’ Gate on her way into the Tower, as did Catherine Howard, the fifth wife of Henry VIII. Inside the walls of the Tower it now seems so tranquil and orderly it’s hard to imagine it as the place of terror and turmoil that it once was.

Walking through the arch under the Bloody Tower our guide pointed out the Tower’s ravens. Apparently Charles II was the first king to insist that the ravens here should be protected and ever since, six ravens must be at the fortress or, according to legend, the kingdom will fall. They have their wings clipped though so there is some coercion in place.

The tour continues up to the Tower Green, the site of executions of either high-ranking or popular individuals whose death would incite strong public opposition. The privacy at the Tower kept out the crowds who could attend public executions at Tyburn (close to present day Marble Arch) and nearby Tower Hill.

Our tour ended at the Chapel Royal of St. Peter ad Vincula, the charming parish church, which dates from 1520. It is also the burial place of Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard and others who were executed at Tower Green. The chapel is still open to the public for Sunday services (Holy Communion at 9.00am and Matins at 11.15am). Entry can be found through the West Gate but if you wish to visit other parts of the Tower afterwards a ticket needs to be purchased.

Our guide announced that the usual long queues for the Crown Jewels were not in evidence that day thanks to the Notting Hill carnival, which was evidently drawing the usual tourist crowds to west London instead that weekend. Venturing inside the Jewel House we found the beefeater to be right as we walked briskly through the holding areas and straight to the display. Nothing can quite prepare you for the dazzling array of crowns, orbs and scepters, which comprise some 23,578 gems. The Imperial State Crown alone is made up of over 2,800 diamonds and hundreds of other precious stones. The exhibition can be viewed by standing on a very slow moving conveyor belt, a sure-fire way to keep visitors moving. If you want to view them a second time, or from the other side though you can as there are two moving walkways on either side of the display cases.

Until mid-January 2010, "An Introduction to Henry VIII: Dressed to Kill" exhibition runs in the White Tower. This phenomenal display of fine armour and weaponry for the king and his horses is also well worth seeing. You get an insight into the physique of the man and the warrior. Used in sport and in battle, the intricacy of some of the armour is outstanding and the sheer scale of some of the pieces makes you wonder how movement was even possible in such suits.

From here we walked along the East Wall Walk where visitors can explore this inner wall and its four towers. Some of the stones in these towers are etched with the names of one-time prisoners and plaques explain the many and varied uses of the towers over the ages.

A visit to the Tower of London is easily a day trip on its own and despite it’s relatively small size, there is so much to explore and read about you will want to get your money’s worth (£16 adult ticket). Tickets can also be purchased online which will save you waiting in line on the day. Food and drinks can be purchased inside the Tower but visitors can also bring their own food for a picnic if the weather permits.
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Member Rating 5 out of 5 on November 22, 2025

Tower of London
Tower Hill
London, England EC3N 4AB
+44 (207) 709 0765

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London City Hall

Attraction | "A Visit to the Mayor of London’s Headquarters"

Quote:

It was by accident last year that I discovered that the London City Hall, home to the Mayor of London and headquarters of the Greater London Authority is open to the public. In recent months, public access has sadly been cut back and it is now only open from 8.30am-6.00pm Monday to Thursday (until 5.30pm on Friday) and for the London Open House weekend.As you enter, bags, keys, loose change and mobile phones have to be handed over for security screening. The City Hall stands, or depending on your view, slouches, beside the magnificent Tower Bridge, directly across the river from the Tower of London. Given its proximity to such tourist magnets it is refreshing to find that the City Hall has...Read More

It was by accident last year that I discovered that the London City Hall, home to the Mayor of London and headquarters of the Greater London Authority is open to the public. In recent months, public access has sadly been cut back and it is now only open from 8.30am-6.00pm Monday to Thursday (until 5.30pm on Friday) and for the London Open House weekend.

As you enter, bags, keys, loose change and mobile phones have to be handed over for security screening. The City Hall stands, or depending on your view, slouches, beside the magnificent Tower Bridge, directly across the river from the Tower of London. Given its proximity to such tourist magnets it is refreshing to find that the City Hall has a free entry policy.

Gravitating first downstairs to a sprawling satellite photograph of London we had fun bumping behinds with other locals, nose to the ground trying to locate their house. We then turned around and headed up and didn’t stop until we got to the tenth floor. Somehow we dodged the security personnel telling people to take the lift up (the procedure being that visitors should take the lift up and walk down). I’m not completely sure why as the ramp wasn’t at all busy and was wide enough for people to pass. From the purple Assembly Chamber we rose skyward, admiring the views out and in all the way.

Designed by Norman Foster and opened in 2002, the core of the City Hall is made up of one long spiral which will not only remind you of the rubbish paper cut-out decorations you used to make as a kid, but will also leave you pining for a set of wheels for the trip down.

On the top floor we ventured into what it known as "London’s Living Room". The room is essentially an open space, which allows access to a balcony that follows the perimeter of the building almost full circle. From here you get quite exceptional views of Tower Bridge, the Thames and the gardens directly below.

As we tumbled back down to earth, we came upon another, final gem of the City Hall – a minute art exhibition, featuring work from notables Tracy Emin, Anish Kapoor and Yinka Shonibare, who’s well-placed "Nelson’s Ship in a Bottle" sat high on a plinth overlooking the Thames.

It is rather unfortunate that the weekend openings have had to be curtailed. The City Hall is a wonderful building to explore and also seemed to serve well as in its multi functions as art gallery, museum, viewpoint and café.
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Member Rating 5 out of 5 on November 22, 2025

London City Hall
The Queen's Walk
London, England
+44 020 7983 4100

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Shopping on Kings Road and Chelsea Embankment Walk

Story/Tip

Quote:

Kings Road in Chelsea actually provides a something of a pleasant shopping experience and one that is much more preferable to the dirt, noise and shopaholic crowds on Oxford Street. Originally a private road, Kings Road allowed Charles II to travel from Hampton Court to his Palace in Whitehall and was opened to the public in the 1830s.Travelling here is fairly easy by way of the Circle or District line to Sloane Square tube station. There are also various buses that serve Sloane Square and continue on through Chelsea. Sloane Square is a slightly intimidating start to any shopping experience as very high-end designer shops circle you and stretch north towards Knightsbridge. Kings Road has i...Read More

Kings Road in Chelsea actually provides a something of a pleasant shopping experience and one that is much more preferable to the dirt, noise and shopaholic crowds on Oxford Street. Originally a private road, Kings Road allowed Charles II to travel from Hampton Court to his Palace in Whitehall and was opened to the public in the 1830s.

Travelling here is fairly easy by way of the Circle or District line to Sloane Square tube station. There are also various buses that serve Sloane Square and continue on through Chelsea. Sloane Square is a slightly intimidating start to any shopping experience as very high-end designer shops circle you and stretch north towards Knightsbridge. Kings Road has its fair share of designer boutiques too but you can find more reasonably priced retailers such as French Connection, All Saints and Diesel.

As we walked west along the road, we came upon the Duke of York Square Food Market, a street market that’s set up every Saturday in front of Patridges, a royally appointed grocers. At the outdoor food market you can find some wonderful culinary delights such as chorizo sandwiches, exotic wraps, fresh coconuts hacked open with a machete, and other stalls selling select cakes, meats, cheeses and bread. Across from Patridges is the glass-fronted and very tempting Gelateria Valerie. We stopped in and picked up a couple of scoops of gelato, one marscapone and one crème brulee although there were many other flavours to choose from. It was a warm day and the few outdoor tables were already taken. The Duke of York Square is relatively small but as the market doesn’t take up the entire area it seemed a shame that there weren’t at least a few benches around for people to sit and enjoy their market lunch, or in our case, dessert.

One thing worth noting is that the Duke of York Square is now home to the new Saatchi Gallery so you can integrate some culture into your visit as well if you choose.

Continuing on along Kings Road we stopped in at a card shop to pick up a birthday card and lamented the presence of the Macdonalds across the road. Nearby at 131-141 Kings Road is Antiquarius, apparently the oldest antiques centre in London. The building originally started as a gentleman's club and pool hall in the 1920s, becoming a nirvana for antiques collectors in the 1960s. We walked through the quaint Chelsea Farmers Market, which seemed quite quiet compared to the main street. Here there are a cluster of restaurants, including Vietnamese and Mexican and at the back, we wandered through a pretty garden centre selling a wide range of plants, pots and garden knick-knacks.

We stopped in at the modest Chelsea Potter pub for our lunch. Nearby the beautiful and renowned Bluebird Restaurant and Epicerie serve high-quality food at any time of the day although you do pay the price for the luxury. You can also pick up produce such as quality cured hams, chutneys, antipasti, cheeses, as well as fruit and vegetables.

For a break from the shops, turn left down Beaufort Road and head towards the river. When you reach Battersea Bridge turn left again and walk up the Chelsea Embankment path towards Chelsea Bridge Road. Asides from the frequent flow of traffic, this short river walk is a relaxing way to get back to Sloane Square. Following the river path you also get to admire the riverside mansions and the grounds of the Royal Hospital at the corner of Chelsea Bridge Road, where we turned left and headed back towards Sloane Square. The Chelsea Physic Gardens are also located along this route although they’re only open to the public on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sundays.

The entire loop (about 2.5 miles) takes about 45 minutes if you walk continuously although there are obviously plenty of distractions to break up your journey.

A great reference if you want to research the shops before your visit can be found at:
http://www.streetsensation.co.uk/kingsrd/kr_intro.htm
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