A Day With Lauren

When I think about London, this quote by Samuel Johnson pops into my head:

“…when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.”

I couldn’t agree more. Another London local, Paddington Bear also says: “In London, everyone is different, and that means anyone can fit in.” Which is another favourite quality I feel about this city - just look around the tube and you’ll see all walks of life from the suit, backpacker, student or dame.

I’ve had the privilege of visiting London a few times and even had a working visa there in 2014, which allowed me to really immerse myself in the city and get a sense of life as a local. It’d been 5 years since I was there and I couldn’t wait to get back to a city that feels like another home, embrace a no-plan plan and not be obligated to do all the tourist stuff (been there, done that). I mean, if Liz asked me to pop by for tea, I definitely would.

I know it’s cliche of all of my city guides but I have to start with the food. It’s one of my favourite things to check out in a new place and London has no shortage of restaurants to choose from. I also think that because London is a melting pot of all ethnicity the cuisine is a smorgasbord of different cultures and is always changing. I’ve also come to the conclusion that while in some cities to be a successful restaurant means you have one location tallied with reservations and line ups, in London, if you’re able to open a second or third or SEVENTH location, that means you’ve really made it.

The Food

Dishoom: Reading how Dishoom came to be in 7 locations, it was interesting to understand that it started with the idea of honouring the concept of Irani Cafes of Bombay. In the 1960s there were over 400 and less than 30 remain today. With a focus of bringing people together over food and drink regardless of their background is evident from its warm environment, delicious food meant to be shared and sampled, and authenticity. I’ll definitely need to go back to try more dishes but some favourites that stood out were: Black Daal, Chicken Tikka and Okra Fries.

Andina: Pervuian heaven! Another gem found in the Shoreditch hood that offered up an intimate space good for groups or sitting at the kitchen bar. You definitely need to try the signature pisco sour as well as the ceviche which I’d say it’s most known for. Other must orders were the chicken wings and corn bread. Expect a line up if you’re choosing to walk in, we waited about 45 minutes at 9pm, but worth it! You can grab a dirty martini at the Ace Hotel lobby bar while you wait.

Granger: When I lived in London I actually lived across the street from the Granger in Notting Hill and it was ALWAYS lined up. Didn’t matter if it was Tuesday at 2pm or peak Sunday brunch hour. I was curious to see if the hype had stood the test of time 5 years later and it did. Still lined up almost a block long for Saturday brunch, but the service is excellent and the Nottinghill people watching is enough to pass the time. The burger is epic and a must order, and their brunch has a great menu satisfying the lovers of porridge (me!) to a more traditional English breaky. GO HERE.

Blanchette: With locations found in Shoreditch and Soho, it makes for a perfect spot to indulge in fine French cuisine for brunch, a boozy lunch or before the theatre. When you walk in you’re immediately taken to a French countryside bistro of exposed brick, cozy booths, decades of random knick knacks on the walls and a dripping candle or two. The happy hour offered a great selection of french cheese (obviously) and the service was fantastic - she basically just told us what to order and recommended the monk fish which was a nice light contrast to all the meat and cheese. Adorable spot - will be coming back for brunch for sure!

The Bell & Crown: I’m not sure you can even say you’ve experienced London unless you’ve been to Sunday Roast…in my mind it’s an every Sunday sort of thing that you gather at your local pub (where everybody actually knows your name {insert Cheers line here}) and you be merry and boozy all afternoon. To contrary belief, I have it on accord from the Canadian locals living in London that it’s more of an occasional thing, catch up with old mates or show a visitor how yorkshire pudding is really made. This particular location was a bit of a haul outside the city (but was an invite from true Londoners so happy to make the trek!) - it was SO cute and had river front views. Perfect way to fill an afternoon and be in bed by 8pm.

Sketch: Oh man, anyone who played tea party growing up would fall in love with this place - even if you didn’t, the pink room sucks you in with its violins in the corner, petit fours, a caviar man in a top hat and a bathroom that is likely used more for photo ops than function. I’d heard of this place from a few bloggers I follow and knew I needed to experience this first hand. So naturally, I put on my best beret and had tea with my bestie. It doesn’t get more British than that! Granted it’s a bit of an indulgence, I’d say that the amount of food you got was worth it, not to mention the service and ambiance. Go for it, have your tea and drink it too. They also offer different rooms for dinner and drinks that look nothing short of a page out of Alice in Wonderland. I’d recommend making a reservation though as it’s quite busy!

The Hoods

Shoreditch: Our Air BnB was in the heart of Shoreditch just a block down from the Ace Hotel. My friend actually worked at the Ace Hotel so we already had a baseline that this was an area we wanted to be in. I’d definitely recommend checking out the hotel if even for a coffee or drink in the lobby bar. To keep with all Ace Hotel themes, you’ll find an impressive collection of records and a photo booth to bring you back to your pre-teen days at the mall. The area is also crawling with the best vintage shopping around and the art of Banksy down random alleys and buildings. You could explore this neighbourhood on foot and find any vintage band shirt you’d want, an avacado smoothie or a spin class; something for everyone. It’s also a 10 minute walk to Liverpool street station and kind of follows the rule of 20 minutes to almost any neighbourhood you need to go to.

Notting Hill: I mean I won’t beat a dead horse on this one but it’s just so classic London to me. The architecture, the market, the colours, the fashion. It fills my cup of tea (see what I did there?). Not much had changed since we lived there and we actually were there on a Saturday to see Portobello Road in its prime form.

Hyde Park: I used to run in Hyde Park every day when I lived near there, I’m not even much of a runner but there was something that actually made me enjoy the exercise. The huge pathways made way for bikes, scooters, runners, families, random saxophone players and wildlife. With London being a metropolis of vast grand buildings, there’s something to be said about 350 acres of land in the heart of the city for people to enjoy. Take a book, bring a picnic, feed the ducks or take a paddle in the pond. One of my favourite places.

Kings Cross: This was one area that had really changed since I was last there. I mean, it still is home to the 9 and 3/4 platform to take you to Hogwarts, but its now gained a shopping area called Coal Drops Yard. It’s a perfect mix of food, coffee and shops in a spacious area that even has teeter totters in the middle! It was fun to wander through and be introduced to independent local shops like Bonds (another recommendation from a local!). The store made me almost want to purchase a checked bag to take home all the things but settled on the Earl of East candles that smell unbelievable.

The Shopping, The Culture and In Between

V&A Mueseum: I learnt there was a Christian Dior exhibit on and was so excited to check it out but it was sold out. Sigh, will be back. Goes to show the no-plan plan doesn’t always work. We still checked out a Fashion exhibition that showcased the evolution from the 1800s. There were A LOT of corsets but still interesting to see how the classic pieces remain relevant and current today.

The National Portrait Gallery: My favourite! I’m sure for many. What can I say - I love a good story and every face paints its own. You will find everything from the Dames, Sirs, Jagger and Winehouse. A great pit stop before you catch a show or comedy act in the theatre district.

So now that you know where to eat, drink, and get some culture - there is the question of nightlife (after all the eating). I’m not cool enough to know the night scene, so we were grateful enough to be hanging with locals who suggested a place called ‘The Piano Works’. I knew this was the place for me when I heard Prince being tickled on the ivories. The venue is all live music where the song choice is completely decided by its audience. So naturally you could have a mix of random garbage or everything from Spice Girls, Bowie, Tom Jones and Kendrick Lamar. Expect a line up if you don’t have a guest list, but I promise you won’t be disappointed.

As you can see, London will always be calling for me - would love to know your favourite places about this magical city!