London is known for some of the best food in the world. From meat pies to fish and chips and cask ale, we had a quick three days to take it all in. I mean who needs sleep right? So just wanted to share our journey eating and drinking through London with you!
Our fight arrived in London around midnight, which means we did not get to the SoHo district until around 1am, so we started our journey with late night eats at Balans Soho Society Café, which is open 24 hours.
The first drink we were introduced to in London was the Porn Star.... DELICIOUS...
DAY ONE:
After exploring Westminster Abbey and watching the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace we headed to Harrod's Department store for lunch and a traditional afternoon tea. We browsed through the racks and got lost until we stumbled upon Pizzeria & Canti Prosecco Bar.
All the delicious pizzas are freshly prepared and cooked in wood-fired ovens. The Canti Prosecco bar where we sat, serves up a variety of premium and sparkling wines, from crisp Sparkling Rosé to fruity Bellinis.
On the Fourth Floor, and formerly known as The Georgian Restaurant, The Harrods Tea Rooms offers all-day dining , a decadent cake table, and afternoon tea complete with finger sandwiches.
Afterwards, we of course needed a nap if we were going to continue our adventures. After-all it was just 5am at home. After we refreshed we took an Uber to Hackney.
There has been a Cock tavern in central Hackney since the 1650s, this latest incarnation having been built by Truman's in the 1930s. They have an excellent selection of ciders and cask beer.
Right around the corner is The Old Ship Hackney. It is a Hackney pub, bar, kitchen and 10-room hotel offering delicious food, craft beer, cocktails and boutique accommodation in the heart of East London.
At the Ship they like to keep their food simple. They are known for their fresh free-range chicken, brined for 24 hours then marinated in special seasoning for another 24, finished off on a flame-grill rotisserie and served with homemade sauces. We had drinks (including another porn star), halloumi sticks, wings, and a salad.
We decided to explore the neighborhood a little more and walked by Scout and did a double take at the door.
Scout was awarded number 28 in the world for the 50 BEST AWARDS. With a focus on minimal waste to ensure its conscious sustainable operation that shouts from the roof top how incredible the produce from the British isles is. Scouts menu changes daily adapting to seasonal produce from foragers, farmers and growers alike.
From foraged ingredients to house ferments to a zero waste food offering, Celebrating Great British produce with inventive unforgettable cocktails.
To wrap up our day we went to OSLO Hackney to see Will Hoge play. Situated next door to Hackney Central Station on Amhurst Road, Oslo is a daytime hub to meet and greet, and a night time destination for socializing, eating and enjoying an array of music.
We did try to go to the Crobar (aka Iron Maiden Bar) near where we were staying, but it was to crowded, with people spilling into the street. I think it would be a great hang.
DAY TWO:
This day started a little rough to be honest. An 8am breakfast reservation at the Parlour was probably not the best choice after the long day before. But, we made it and it did perk us right up! We had a nice walk through Carnaby Street and made a mental note to return after dark. Sketch Parlour Breakfast is a hotspot for glamorous breakfasts.
A magical forest and chairs wearing ballet shoes. sketch is the creation of restaurateur Mourad Mazouz and celebrated chef Pierre Gagnaire. Get your Instagram ready!
sketch’s fabulous Parlour is more casual and affordable!
It is located at 9 Conduit Street, Mayfair, W1S 2XG. Nearest station is Oxford Circus and we’d advise making a reservation.
Next up, we walked through oxford and piccadilly circus to St Paul’s Cathedral, over Millennium Bridge, to Shakespeare’s Globe. If we had more time we would have also visited Tate Modern which is four art galleries together and 900-year-old Clink Prison. But like I said we were struggling a little that morning.
For lunch we stopped in The Market Porter. It is a traditional alehouse next to Borough Market with beers on tap and delicious food. Seriously, I still dream about the Pie of the Day.
It was a completely homemade beef pie with mash potatoes, spring greens, and gravy. I have never had anything more tasty!!
Located next to London Bridge, Borough Market is London's most renowned food and drink Market.
As London’s oldest food market, it has been serving the people of Southwark for 1,000 years.
Padella is a foodie's dream. Offering fresh pasta, they have won multiple awards since it opened in 2016. It is know to have long lines, though we did not experience one and were sat right away on the patio area. It is also affordable (pasta dishes start at £4).
The Borough Market was by-far my favorite. I could spend all day here just sampling cheese, meat, and spices.
After we headed over to the Tower of London, crossed back over London Bridge, and stumbled upon the Vinegar Yard where we did a little shopping.
For Dinner went to China Town, which was right near SoHo where we stayed. The Golden Phoenix was AMAZING! Why can't I get crispy beef in Tennessee?! And the fresh buns.. WOW!
For after dinner drinks we stopped by The Ship. The Ship Pub was next to the legendary Marquee Club, which hosted such bands as The Clash, The Police, The Cure, Joy Devision, Sex Pistols (from the British Punk/New Wave Scene) and others like Rolling Stones, David Bowie, U2 and many more.
Finally we ended the night at Disrepute (D.R.P.). It is a hidden gem of a basement nestled under Kingly Court between Carnaby Street and Beak Street, Disrepute (D.R.P.) Cocktails are presented as a series or short stories, invoking the characters and events from Soho's heydays.
DAY THREE:
For breakfast we had Caffè Concerto. Caffè Concerto is a European style restaurant chain with its headquarters in London, England. It was founded in 1996, and the original branch was on Regent Street. The company runs 18 restaurants in London, and it is established in two countries, the UK and the UAE.
The we took the beautiful walk to the London Eye and the Imperial war museum. Another place I wish we had more time. We walked past Big Ben (Elizabeth Tower) which was under construction and Houses of Parliament. The a quick visit to Winston Churchill’s War Room. Then time for lunch so we went to The Red Lion for lunch.
The Red Lion stands on the site of a medieval tavern – known in 1434 as the Hopping Hall. The tavern passed through various hands and traded under many names in its early years, before it was bought by the Crown in 1531.
Centuries later, with the inn trading as The Red Lion, a young Charles Dickens became a regular visitor. Dickens’ noted that the pub’s landlady was a kind-hearted soul, whose attitude towards him was ‘admiring as well as compassionate’.
Next we waked past Great Scotland Yard. It is a street in the St. James's district of Westminster, London, connecting Northumberland Avenue and Whitehall. It is best known as the location of the rear entrance to the original headquarters of the Metropolitan Police Service of London, giving it the name "Scotland Yard." Off to the Sherlock Holmes' Pub.
Next we went to Covent Garden to check out Cecil’s Court (aka Diagon Alley) and Godwin’s Court (aka Knockturn Alley). We found an awesome pub in between that serves the most delicious gin called Mr. Foggs!
Located on the corner of New Row and St. Martin’s Lane, Mr Fogg’s Tavern lies in the heart of theatre-land. Left by Fogg’s late Aunt Gertrude to her loyal housekeeper Fanny McGee, her home has been transformed into a haven for art-lovers and theatre-folk to enjoy honest British grub and delicious tipples.
Patrons can marvel at the walls and ceilings bedecked with an eccentric array of memorabilia, while sitting back and enjoying a good old cockney singalong. Serving everything from brunch to Sunday lunch, it represents the best of the traditional British public house with a difference.
Great London pubs don't get much more historic than Lamb & Flag. The very first mention of a pub on this site is in 1772, when it was known as The Coopers Arms (the name changed to The Lamb & Flag in 1833). The building's brickwork is circa 1958 and conceals what may be an early 18th century frame of a house, replacing the original one built in 1638.
The pub acquired a reputation in the early nineteenth century for staging bare-knuckle prize fights, earning it the nickname 'The Bucket of Blood,' and the alleyway beside the pub was the scene of an attack on the poet John Dryden in 1679 by thugs hired by John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester, with whom he had a long-standing conflict.
Finally to my favorite pub, The Churchill Arms. The pub is a sort of cathedral of Churchill memorabilia, with pictures, banners, and other odds and ends scattered all over the place. The Churchill Arms was (allegedly) the first pub in London to serve Thai food too. But the most obvious is it's flowers.
Then there is The Champion in Notting Hill. It was once frequented by 1970s rock stars, Queen and The Clash.
There's also a downstairs private bar which the restaurant claims was a favorite of the late Queen star Freddie Mercury.
After that we called it night.
LAST DAY:
We did not have long before we had to head off to Heathrow airport, but we managed to squeeze a ton in. We had breakfast at Bill’s Covent Garden.
Bill’s is tucked away in St Martin’s Courtyard, just off Upper St Martin’s Lane. Bill’s Covent Garden restaurant has plenty of seating across two floors, as well as outside. Think comfortable sofas, pops of colour and unique antiques and treasures chosen by Bill himself. It is open all day and into the night.
Of course we needed one last cask ale before leaving London. We wandered around on our way to get our bags and found The Lyric, a beautiful little Victorian pub.
My last and final stop was the Street Food Union. It was literally two steps out the front door of the Air B and B. Big Bao's serves the best buns I have ever had!! I ate it in the car the entire ride to the airport.
I hope you enjoyed our culinary adventure through London!! Hopefully it gives you some ides for your next trip! Thank you!