Best cup of chai is chai guys. Go to the Bakehouse in Notting Hill and have with a pain au chocolat. I do like Dishooms one as well. Which I would go to hear King’s Cross. Or Bubala.
i loved this piece from the beginning, but you got me with equating 6 months to a national tour of Cabaret. absolutely lovely work, can’t wait to read more
the veggie new yorker at the de beauvoir deli is still my favorite always-available deli sandwich. BUT, gallo nero II towards stoke newington is also great (stock, sandwiches, AND espressos)
Also basic but whenever my mom’s in town i take her to ottolenghi because she just loves it there. that said - i love to take people to Andu Vegan Ethiopian in dalston and Persepolis in peckham, great for sharing & BYOB! also Sarchnar restaurant on edgeware rd, that’s my true “”””hidden gem””” tho i hate that word. also amazing for sharing. the last 3 are def my must-dos for visitors coz it takes them off the beaten tourist path and also showcases IMO the best part about london, the melting pottiness of it all
oh thank you sooo much this is great. Ottolenghi has also been my reliable out-of-towner meal so far hahah, but I've needed something new! And I've always wondered about gallo nero ii so this gives me a reason to go try! x
I love Italo in Vauxhall for deli style sandwiches and they change every day - I’ve heard great things about Mondo Sando in Peckham but haven’t been yet!
Another gorgeous read! I was going to recommend Rochelle Canteen in Shoreditch before you’d even asked for suggestions and it’s a great one for when the parents are in town. Also it’s now time to enjoy Towpath opening back up on Regents Canal. Both serve beautiful unfussy food, though Towpath will come with the cheaper bill.
Martini is such a hard call. The Connaught if you wanna go full fancy high end central Mayfair (and break the bank) probably also 49 Colebrook row for an elevated speakeasy vibe. Also love the Japanese spot brilliant corners in Dalston for cool, musical infused cocktails.
Bull and last is great Hampstead pub for food; also a really authentic Italian pizza place just by Hampstead tube station and they always chat to me in Italian.
King’s Cross is meh but in coal drops yes there’s a few places (hicce, coal office, and I do actually liek granger and co food although it is a bit Australian corporate’)
Also for parents: the parakeet in Kentish Town. it’s like brat style food but more of a Sunday pub energy.
Oh you rock. This is so great. Feverishly adding all to my Maps. Taking my older sister to Connaught this weekend during her visit for a fancy martini, will report back!
your lovely musings on settling in resonated so much -- moved here from the american suburbs in 2019 and i still love finding new places and corners of the city, now interlaced with all my memories. it's so great!!!! wishing you the best in settling further and further into this place
my recs:
deli/deli sandwich: da mario in highbury. authentic italian deli w amazing sandwiches
chai: i love the one at e5 bakehouse. very spicy, not too sweet
kings x food: the pitted olive is incredible turkish, lotsa food for £12
market stall: black pig in borough market...... worth braving the crowds
fishmonger: jaines + son in stoke newington (go early cuz they sell out)
parent/visitor meal: i take everybody to jolene. great sharing plates, its really cozy, modern + unique take on british food. also st. john's bread and wine (best for parents i think)
oh this is so wonderful, thank you for sharing these!! and how exciting to celebrate 6 years here—and to have the pleasure of finding ‘home’ all over again 🧡
loved reading this, so many great picks here madi!! it sounds like you've had the best 6 months in london, what a wonderful adventure :) the barbican is of course the greatest place in the whole city and toconoco and de beauvoir arms are a couple of my favourite spots too.
ugh the perfect day… i miss when i used to live 5 minutes from there and would go multiple times a week. p.s. two spots not far from KX - dimsum and duck and roti king. they typically have queues but catch them early and they’re so worth it
Food near Kings Cross: walk over to Cafe Deco or Honey and Co, or go to Coal Office in Coal Drops Yard
Best delis - Honey and Spice, De Beauvoir Deli (also v good sandwiches), Panzers, General Store, the Deli Downstairs.
Thank you thank you thank you!!
Best martinis are at The Baring in De Beauvoir, hands down! They do a seaweed one that sounds weird but is really good.
Lifesaver. Thank you!! Seaweed martini sounds unreal mmmm
Best cup of chai is chai guys. Go to the Bakehouse in Notting Hill and have with a pain au chocolat. I do like Dishooms one as well. Which I would go to hear King’s Cross. Or Bubala.
Thank you!!
What a lovely round up / reflection!
I shared today an Italian I love in Kings Cross (and Camden) in case you're still on the hunt for a non-corporate haunt https://laurenkatepowell.substack.com/p/little-black-book-9
Thank you for sharing!! Loved reading about your double-dine-out day — what spontaneous weekends are for!! xx
Ahh thank you! Yes very spontaneous indeed! I happily blame the sun xx
i loved this piece from the beginning, but you got me with equating 6 months to a national tour of Cabaret. absolutely lovely work, can’t wait to read more
hahaha thank you 💕💕 happy to have you here!!
the veggie new yorker at the de beauvoir deli is still my favorite always-available deli sandwich. BUT, gallo nero II towards stoke newington is also great (stock, sandwiches, AND espressos)
Also basic but whenever my mom’s in town i take her to ottolenghi because she just loves it there. that said - i love to take people to Andu Vegan Ethiopian in dalston and Persepolis in peckham, great for sharing & BYOB! also Sarchnar restaurant on edgeware rd, that’s my true “”””hidden gem””” tho i hate that word. also amazing for sharing. the last 3 are def my must-dos for visitors coz it takes them off the beaten tourist path and also showcases IMO the best part about london, the melting pottiness of it all
oh thank you sooo much this is great. Ottolenghi has also been my reliable out-of-towner meal so far hahah, but I've needed something new! And I've always wondered about gallo nero ii so this gives me a reason to go try! x
I love Italo in Vauxhall for deli style sandwiches and they change every day - I’ve heard great things about Mondo Sando in Peckham but haven’t been yet!
saving all of these! Thank you!!!
Dreeeeeaming about that sticky toffee pudding for REAL.....also, of course the sexy restaurant is called BRAT....
I truly think about it thrice weekly
Another gorgeous read! I was going to recommend Rochelle Canteen in Shoreditch before you’d even asked for suggestions and it’s a great one for when the parents are in town. Also it’s now time to enjoy Towpath opening back up on Regents Canal. Both serve beautiful unfussy food, though Towpath will come with the cheaper bill.
Thank you!!! I had a lovely meal at Rochelle in the fall but thank you for the reminder, my folks will love it there. Adding Towpath!
Martini is such a hard call. The Connaught if you wanna go full fancy high end central Mayfair (and break the bank) probably also 49 Colebrook row for an elevated speakeasy vibe. Also love the Japanese spot brilliant corners in Dalston for cool, musical infused cocktails.
Bull and last is great Hampstead pub for food; also a really authentic Italian pizza place just by Hampstead tube station and they always chat to me in Italian.
King’s Cross is meh but in coal drops yes there’s a few places (hicce, coal office, and I do actually liek granger and co food although it is a bit Australian corporate’)
Also for parents: the parakeet in Kentish Town. it’s like brat style food but more of a Sunday pub energy.
Oh you rock. This is so great. Feverishly adding all to my Maps. Taking my older sister to Connaught this weekend during her visit for a fancy martini, will report back!
Hampstead is strangely bereft of decent restaurants, but walk to the Bull and Last - or Cinder is v good.
I’ve been shocked! Adding both to my list. 🙏🏼
your lovely musings on settling in resonated so much -- moved here from the american suburbs in 2019 and i still love finding new places and corners of the city, now interlaced with all my memories. it's so great!!!! wishing you the best in settling further and further into this place
my recs:
deli/deli sandwich: da mario in highbury. authentic italian deli w amazing sandwiches
chai: i love the one at e5 bakehouse. very spicy, not too sweet
kings x food: the pitted olive is incredible turkish, lotsa food for £12
market stall: black pig in borough market...... worth braving the crowds
fishmonger: jaines + son in stoke newington (go early cuz they sell out)
parent/visitor meal: i take everybody to jolene. great sharing plates, its really cozy, modern + unique take on british food. also st. john's bread and wine (best for parents i think)
think that's all i got!!!!! enjoy xx
oh this is so wonderful, thank you for sharing these!! and how exciting to celebrate 6 years here—and to have the pleasure of finding ‘home’ all over again 🧡
loved reading this, so many great picks here madi!! it sounds like you've had the best 6 months in london, what a wonderful adventure :) the barbican is of course the greatest place in the whole city and toconoco and de beauvoir arms are a couple of my favourite spots too.
I worked for 5 hours there the other day and then stayed for dinner .. and then stayed for a movie … and realized I think I could live there?!
ty for reading yasmin 💕💕!!
ugh the perfect day… i miss when i used to live 5 minutes from there and would go multiple times a week. p.s. two spots not far from KX - dimsum and duck and roti king. they typically have queues but catch them early and they’re so worth it
mmmm yumm ok, both added to the map!! TY again!