Upstairs at The George

Having lunch at a cozy pub on a Sunday afternoon is the cherry on top to a perfect weekend in London. This is no secret, and the reason why sometimes it is rather difficult to score a table on one of the many lovely pubs in town, especially if you want to eat at The George, the newly refurbished Victorian corner pub near Oxford Circus tube station.

The George isn’t your conventional pub. It has many hidden secrets, and we adored it for it.

Downstairs, you can enjoy craft beers, ask ales and seasonal cocktails. A local for the locals, but consider them with refined palate and a few pounds in their pockets.

Upstairs, things escalate. This 18th century, grade II listed pub features an English Sparkling Wine Bar on the first floor, among two other rooms: the main dining room and the cellar.

The Sparkling Wine Bar Room is cozy and perhaps will fill up to 6 people in it. It is powder pink and full of glam, perfect for a date with your lover or a catch up drink with some friends.

The Dining Room is classic with a modern twist. Majestic. Velvet sofas and Redel glassware. I am all in. Prior to its revamp, this very first-floor use to be the living quarters of the landlords. Now it probably sits around 8-10 tables for lunch and dinner.

The Cellar use to be the upstairs bedrooms and has now been reconverted into a walk-in fridge purely for wine and champagne. What else could one ask for?

WHY should you go? Because it is not only gorgeous spot, it is a great location and both food and wine were exceptional. Needless to say the service was on point. Be prepared to spend some £££, though!

WHAT will you get? Timeless pub classics with a focus on seasonal ingredients. Every dish is made to perfection and will give you an explosion of flavors at every mouth bite. Having said that, we were delighted with the Seafood bar and had Oysters, scallops and crab as starters and indulged on a beautiful beef roast followed by icecream to top it off.

WHEN should you go? Anytime really, but I do love a leisurely Sunday lunch.  The George is opened from 12-11pm every day, and Fridays and Saturdays it closes at midnight.

WHERE is it? 1 D’arblay St, W1F 8DG London

Bon appetit careless readers,

TCB xx

The Barbary Next Door

5 years ago I told you about my absolute favorite restaurant in London, The Barbary.

This week, I come to you with even better news, they now have a sister, and it’s even better than the first child.

The Barbary Next Door has opened, as the title says, next door to The Barbary. Even a more intimate space than its original restaurant, this foods of the world venue is catering for 10 lucky adventurers.

We had the opportunity to test this out this week and we were instantly in love.

WHY? Let me start with the service. From the moment we walked in, we felt welcomed. The bartenders, the waiters and the cooks, they all seem to have a great time working there and they transmit that to us with their service. They provided us with great detail about the food and wine we were about to try and provided us with lots of suggestions, something that we appreciated.

In an era were hospitality staffing is suffering, getting this kind of service was a great plus.

But let’s talk about the star of the night, the food.

WHAT SHOULD YOU GET? All the food was otherworldly, and even better, inexpensive. A menu meant to be shared, with lots of African, Middle Eastern and Iberian influences. We had all of the snacks on offer, the pita bread, the oysters, the quail eggs. What a great start. All of it followed with Afghan bread and an assortment of savory dips that we couldn’t stop eating until they were fgone.

Then we tried the fresh seabream sashimi paired with a citric salad that worked marvels. To top it up, we had what was probably the best grilled chicken we’ve tried in a year and an oxtail tagine to round things up.

Are you bought in yet? Then here the logistics:

WHERE TO FIND IT: : 16A Neal's Yard, London WC2H 9DP

OPENING HOURS: Tuesday to Saturday from 5 to 11pm. Happy Days!

Enjoy careless readers,

TCB xx

Sucre, Argentinean SteakHouse

Argentinean Chef Fernando Trocca has opened its first restaurant out of Argentina, and let me tell you, it’s really good.

WHY? Because it has all the things you would like in a night out in town.

A beautiful dining space, calling out Buenos Aires left right and center with big ceilings and chandeliers made of wine decanters. A great music system. Excellence service and even better food. On top of it all, a terrific cocktail “Abajo” (which means downstairs in Spanish, and where the bar is located). In here, live music and DJs are on play for to drink and dance away the night.

WHAT SHOULD YOU GET? This is an Argentinean restaurant so in our humble opinion, you MUST try empanadas, the steak and the Malbec. It really is a simple formula, but if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it? The restaurant specializes in open fire cooking so you are in it to win it with a grilled rib eye steak. So big, you’ll have to share. Yum. I suggest you stay for at least one cocktail at Abajo. I won’t spoil the surprise, but their drinks have a little extra je ne sais quois that you won’t find elsewhere in London. Beware though, these come at the steep price of 17 pounds.

The food menu is fairly reasonable price-wise, we paid 45gbp per person with a bottle of wine for two to share.

WHERE IS IT? 47B Great Marlborough St, London W1F 7JP

WHEN IS IT OPEN? eeeeevery day guys! Both for lunch (12 -2,30pm) and dinner (5-10,30pm). Abajo is also open until 2am.

Let this party get started!

TCB xx

Ave Mario

Is there something more religious than a good dish of pasta? For the people behind Ave Mario, the new Italian from the Big Mamma Group, this is of biblical matter. 

From the splash of colours to the Sicilian crockery, the provocative neon lights and Raffaela Carra on repeat, this is one of our new favourite spots in the city. 

As we walk into this Italian extravaganza, we can´t help but think of the exuberance and OTT culture that we associate with Italians. And let’s be honest, we love it. 

The decor and music is on point, the waiters are local Italians and so is the people behind the kitchen and the food, let me tell you, is delicious. 

Big and tasty portions are on offer, and we particularly loved the truffled pasta and spinach pizza, but you won’t be disappointed by any dishes here. Save some space for dessert as you’ll be impressed by the gigantic stracciatella gelato on display, amongst many other goodies. 

If you are feeling hungry and would like to party, there’s also a set menu for 50gbp available. You’ll have food come afterwards, but you will a happy bunny nevertheless. Treat yo selves!

Now on to the serious deets…

Where is it? 15 Henrietta St, London WC2E 8QG,

Average price with a glass of vino? 40 GBP per person (including service)

When can you go? As many times as you like Monday to Sunday from 12:30-3pm and 5-10.30pm

Enjoy my careless readers, 

TCB xx

Arome, our favorite bakery in town

If there is one positive thing that lockdown has brought to us, it is the beauty and craft behind London bakeries. If it weren’t for the paramount of sweet choices we got given during this though period, I don’t know what I would have done. For that, I thank you all.

And for today, I want to praise one bakery in particular. Arome in Covent Garden. A patisserie focused on perfecting french bakery together with Asian ingredients. Miso glaze, Japanese BBQ sauce and bonito flakes are some of the ingredients that you may find mixed in with the classic croissant or even pain au chocolat.

WHY SHOULD YOU GO THERE? The mixture of french patisserie with Asian notes makes this place an essential stopover. There’s plenty of variety to choose from, and it caters both sweet and savory tooth. More over, the coffee on offer has La Marzocco stamp of approval, with in a world of coffee addicts, it’s like getting a star of excellence. For non-coffee addicts like us, there’s also matcha and other teas on offer.

WHAT SHOULD YOU GET?

As previously said, there’s a lot of goodies on offer. Our favorites call for the sausage and cheese croissant covered in Japanese BBQ sauce and the pistachio chocolate escargot. The crackling sound of these pastries is like an addiction, and every bite is a sensorial trip to wonderland. And this is just the beginning, as their offering will have you coming back for more for weeks on end.

WHEN CAN YOU GO? Every day except Mondays, from 8AM to 5PM. You can also shop online!

HOW MUCH? It is not a cheap bakery but you wouldn’t expect it to be! Their craft makes each pastry delicatessen and worth every single penny.

WHERE IS IT? 9 Mercer Street The Yards, London WC2H 9QJ

Now it’s time to put your walking shoes on, bike there and enjoy it!

TCB xx

Hush Mayfair

A classic in the area, Hush Mayfair has come back to the list of favorites thanks to its beautiful Italian-style courtyard, which will leave you feeling you are in lemon land without leaving London

WHY should you go? Because you have a bar, a restaurant and a beautiful courtyard (with heaters!) inspired in the Italian summer, all in one place. More over, it is tucked away in a mews style street, just a few steps from New Bond Street, so you can come after a workout in the city center or your casual shopping spree in the area. What’s not to like?

WHAT should you get? It was very difficult to choose from this menu as everything sounded so delicious! However, we highly recommend trying a couple of cocktails whilst nibbling on few olives and focaccia and diving into the truffle gnocchi and the roasted aubergine as mains as these did not disappoint by one bit! I don’t think we’ve tried such delicious and fresh gnocchi in years. Their desserts are also worth trying, specially the cheesecake and the lavender creme brulee.

Average price per person: £60 (including a cocktail and two glasses of wine!)

WHERE is it? 8 Lancashire Ct, London W1S 1EY

WHEN is it open? EVERYDAY guys! Everyday, from 12pm to 10pm.

Chameleon

Review Coming Soon! Stay Tuned.

Know Your Dumplings

I'm a sucker for dumplings, what can I say. If there was something I could indulge into every day (aside from bread, fries and ice-cream) that would be dumplings. And it’s a funny story, cause when I first got introduce to these beauties I was not super keen on them. It was during my first ever travel abroad, to Hong Kong. My friends out there took me out for Dim Sum and the westerner/ continental side of me could not cope with the variety and look of these little things. Little did I know these would become my obsession later on…

As a good dumplings lover, I’ve been travelling all over the city to find the absolute best dumplings in town, and here is what I found:

SOHO

Conveniently located off Carnaby St, Ugly Dumpling (1 Newburgh St) is the new kid on the block. It provides all your street food essentials with a twist, including pork belly, aromatic duck, satay chicken and prawn & chive but aaalso what they call “new favorites” which basically is a feast of flavors in a 5-piece dumpling platter. Lamb, harissa & yogurt, cauliflower & potato and halloume & courgette were surprisingly some of my favorites.

Not only they had a great selection on offer but also dessert dumplings! Matcha-filled dumplings bonanza or blueberry jam fried dumplings with clotted cream. I mean, shall I say more?  

CHINATOWN

Dumplings Legend (15-16 Gerrard St) is probably my old time favorite. Whenever I fancy a quick fix or just wanna hang out for a while in the area, this is always a good choice. Despite having tons of people working there sometimes service lacks attention, however quality-price is unbeatable. Also, they are open for business till 2AM pretty much every day. That’s an absolute winner in my dictionary.

Beijing Dumpling (23 Lisle St) is probably the best in Chinatown when it comes to dumplings. Also, who does not love seeing how these are made in front of you?

MARYLEBONE

Royal China (40-42 Baker St) is perfect for Sunday Brunch (that is, Dim Sum), which not only offers dumplings but a wide range of great chinese/ hong-kong cuisine. Unfortunately, they do not take reservations and this place is quite renown by locals (and not so locals), therefore you may need to cue for a bit. The menu selection is vast, so vast you don’t know where to start, but pretty much all dishes are a winner.

HACKNEY

My Neighbours The Dumplings in Homerton/Clapton (165 Lower Clapton Rd) and also Victori Park is definitely one of my recent locals. It holds a sake bar in their basement and the food was simply exceptional. Again, a bit of an Asian mix here, which included gyozas and dumplings and even dumplings with a European twist. Their menu also includes dessert dumplings, which is becoming on of my new favorite things. Argh, so much for that ‘no-sugar’ diet…

SHOREDITCH

Dumpling Shack is a MUST on Saturdays at Spitafields Market. Open everyday for lunch (and at times also in the evening), this little spot possibly delivers one of my favorite dumplings in town. The menu is extremely limited, but what they do they do GREAT. Fried soup dumpling at its best and extremely delicious hand made noodles at the shack next door. What else could you ask for?

Chinatown Favorites

Everybody should know by now how much I love food. And Fashion. It's probably a cultural thing. Spaniards make a big deal about having a meal, it is such an event. Having lunch (brunch, or dinner) means enjoying yourself, chillaxing and having a good time with your friends and relatives. I guess it's not only about food, but what it represents.

Having that in mind, I thought it was about time I mixed both things in a blog post. After all, Fashion & Food are very trendy at the moment. And the filthier the food, the better. For that reason, the lucky winner is Chinatown.

There's something about this neighborhood that reminds me of the good times traveling in Hong Kong and Shanghai. The absolute chaos, the noise, the smell, the ducks displayed at the entrance of the restaurants. That constant vibe that makes you feel the City never sleeps. I LOVE knowing that even if it is 3am in the morning I can turn up in Leicester Sq and indulge a glorious Peking Duck, or dumplings! MMM.

Some have said to me Chinatown is not the same anymore. It used to be the place to go during the video-club boom but it has lost its appeal over the years. And I could agree to some extend, but not entirely. For those who love the Chinese culture and cuisine, Chinatown remains unchanged. Regardless of the smell, the dirtiness and the lesser offers, londoners and tourists still drag themselves to this neighborhood because there's nothing like it anywhere else in the City. Its uniqueness has been maintained.

More over, if you fancy an affordable day out in the City, there's plenty around the area. It is also near Soho, which is always a plus, and there's so many food offerings you will not know where to start. For that, here are my tips:

(1) Café TPT is one of the cheapest eats in the area. I feel for the tourists (and not so tourists) who end up stuck in Prêt à manger or similar chains, paying overpriced meals for not knowing where to go in the area. This is the perfect place for comfort food and great service. Full of local people, which is always a good sign. Budget: 7£-12£ per person

(2) Four Seasons is THE place to go if you fancy peking duck. Never tried anything that good (outside China) before. Budget: 16£-20£ per person

(3) Dumplins Legend is SUPERB if dumplings is what you are after (hence the name of the place). From Limited edition to the old time classics, you'll find every type of dumpling here. Including Xiao Long Bao! Budget: 11£-15£ per person

(4) New World recalls the perfect sunday brunch: Dim Sum. The guys at New World do things properly and you'll be able to experience dim sum as the locals do in China. There are plenty of trolleys going round the tableS showing fresh cooked dishes. You just pick your favourites and indulge a treat! Budget: 12£-17£ per person

(5) Chinatown Bakery for desserts and the infamous Taiyaki. This is more of a japanese-style bakery, where the famous fish-shaped waffle (Taiyaki) comes from. For 2£ you get 4 fresh cream taiyaki, but there's plenty more on offer. From coconut cream buns to any other pastries you can think of.

But in any case, as I said before not all is about food. It doesn't matter where you are or who you are with, fashion is always there. Fashion in the form of art, architecture, food presentation, and of course, clothing.

My outfits vary a lot. One day I can wear as many colours as I can, and do a lot of mixing up (which is fun!) and another be very simplistic. But as George Clinton once said, "Style is whatever you want to do, if you can do it with confidence".

For this occasion, I pumped myself in some ankle boots, an oversize dress and a black blazer to make my outfit more of a statement. Any outfit looks much better with a blazer. And since I was in Chinatown, I've gone for an easy hair-do with some statement earrings.

TCB x

Claridges, A Deluxe Tea Time Experience

It seems difficult to believe we’ve made it all the way to December this year, but here we are, Christmas is upon us! And so we thought it was time to celebrate.

Some traditions never fail, and celebrating life and good times at Claridges should be one of those traditions. Even if it is just to admire their beautiful Christmas tree, a visit to this luxurious hotel in the midst of the London buzz is a serious must.

A symbol of British tradition, style and luxury, the 5 star hotel never fails to deliver. We were lucky enough to squeeze ourselves into one of their last Afternoon Tea of the Christmas season and we were delighted with the outcome. The service, the attention to detail, and the food itself was superb, let me tell you.

We were greeted by their friendly, and whilst we were sipping on a beautiful glass of Perrier and listening to a beautiful piano on the background, we were paraded with the most indulgent set of finger sandwiches, which followed the most beautiful pastries I’ve seen in a long time. They were both pretty and delicious.

As if we didn’t have enough, when were set to go, we were greeted with some goodies to take home, and so my dreamy experience lasted a bit longer.

It was a very Cinderella moment, one that I suggest you experience too.

Stay safe careless readers,

TCB xx

Alto by San Carlo, La Bella Vita at Selfridges

I am not going to lie, I’ve been disappointed a few times when visiting Selfridges' rooftop bar and restaurant for a drink or a bite. I’ve always felt it was lacking a good customer service and food that was up to the standards of the department store. My perception has now changed. Their Italian restaurant, Alto by San Carlo, delivers above and beyond the Italian life that we all want and desire.

WHY should you go? Because you’ll be transported to La Bella Italia. Is there anything else you would aspire to in life? As you get off the elevetor that takes you to this award-winning rooftop, you’ll enter a forest of lemons, which precedes you to this whimsical restaurant, where local produce meets local Italian chefs. Customer service is above and beyond and quality-price is on point.

WHAT should I get? I am a big fan of eating things out I would not get or cook at home. Having said that, I would still pick a couple of Italian staples as a snack for starters, such as the tomato bruschetta, caprese salad or burrata. As a main, I can’t recommend enough the lobster spaghetti. I’m always a bit skeptical when ordering these type of dishes as restaurants tend to provide small portions of lobster. Little did I know that my pasta would come INSIDE the lobster itself! Taste, presentation, quality and quantity was perfection. To round things up, we finished our lunch meal with a delicious tiramisu. Mamma mia!

WHEN to go? Everyday from 12-11pm

WHERE is it? At the top of Selfridges, hun! 400 Oxford St, Marylebone, London W1A 1AB

Average price per person (including a bottle of wine for two and tipping): £45

Don’t miss it. It’s worth every single penny.

Buon Appetito

TCB xx

SeaBird, the rooftop of the year

ROOFTOP VIEWS FROM SEABIRD, LONDON.

Hello seafood lovers out there,

we’ve got great news for you: Seabird.

On top of the newest Hoxton Hotel in Southwark, you’ll find this beautiful rooftop restaurant, which counts with the longest oyster list in the city and the most incredible raw bar.

WHY should you go? Because, without a doubt, you’ll have a great time. Similarly to Madera, Seabird is a very sexy restaurant. Staff is extremely caring and friendly, the wine list is on point and the seafood portions are generous (though pricey, obvs). Also, the views are fenomenal and the fact that you have both indoors and outdoors space is a plus. It kind of felt like being back in NYC.

WHAT will you get? Traditional seafood dishes with a twist. My favorite was the octopus roll in a brioche bun with padron peppers and smoked aioli (yum!) and the scallop ceviche. Needless to say the oyster were fresh and juicy, and meaty! If you are a fan of oysters, this is your place. To finish it of, go for the manchego cheesecake; it’s to die for.

WHERE is it? 40 Blackfriars Rd, SE1 8NY

WHEN can you go? Thursday to Saturday from 11:30 to 11pm and Sundays from 11:30 to 6pm. British timings for ya!

Average price per person (including a bottle of wine for two, and tipping): £70

Madera, You Sexy Mexican Beast!

Madera

The sexiest Mexican Rooftop Restaurant in the city. Don’t miss out!

The venue is called Madera, which means ‘wood’ in Spanish, is on the 35th floor of TreeHouse Hotel, right in front of the BBC Building in Marylebone.. Prices are rather on the steep side, but if you are up for play, this place will certainly deliver.

WHY go? Because the ambiance is fab, there is minimal techno and house bumping whilst you are sipping the nicest tequila or mezcal cocktails (at the steep price of 16GBP a glass) or indulging into a lovely bio wine (around 40GBP a bottle), the stuff is lovely and the food is fantastic. Why wouldn’t you go?

WHAT will you get? The menu here is to be shared, so obviously we tried a bit of everything. A bi pico de Gallo (tortilla chips & salsa) whilst we decide what to order and then we went for a couple of starters and two mains. We were stuffed! You definitely don’t need more than that. Our favourites on the menu were the octopus salad, the ceviches (any of them) and the rock signatures (we went for chicken). Despite being full at this point, I’d say .the chocolate cake was also delicioso.

WHERE is it again? 14-15 Langham Pl, Marylebone, London W1B 2QS

WHEN is it open? All week, baby! From 8-11am for breakfast and 6-11pm for dinner. Go crazy.

Average Price per person (including a bottle of wine and tip): £65

Don’t miss out, it’s a banger.

TCB XX

Art Afternoon Tea at The Rosewood Hotel

Art meets Tea

And they both met luxury.

2020 has started with a bang and there are many things to celebrate. In the space of one year, my very good friend Liv has beaten cancer, bought a house and recently got engaged. Could there be any more reasons to celebrate life?

Of course, we celebrated it in style. We put up our fancy shoes and off we went to the Mirror Room at the Rosewood, a 5-star hotel in the middle of the city.

Hard to believe but I’ve actually missed this building by running to get to BoomCycle across the road, which seems kind of crazy now that I’ve stepped foot on it. Truly a beautiful spot.

When you step in this hotel is like you are no longer in the bustling streets of Holborn, but rather in a grand town house waiting for your guests to arrive and your butler(s) to serve you. For better or for worse, this is 2020 and we don’t have butlers anymore, but they do have very attentive staff that treated like real queens during our stay.

The occasion? Afternoon Tea. And not like any other afternoon tea. The hotel has been teamed up with Pastry Chef Mark Perkins to create an artful afternoon tea, changing frequently to match with current exhibitions in the city. We were able to enjoy the last day of Antony Gormley’s afternoon tea, but if you are heading there soon, you’ll be able to indulge into Pablo Picasso’s sweet creations.

WHAT will you get if you go? A three-course menu of afternoon tea, including a set of delicious finger sandwiches (OMG that truffle egg!), two sets of little cakes, scones, truffles and few other surprises on the go. They tend to refill you if you are feeling hungry, but we were barely able to go through the three courses without repeating so we would advise you against it

WHY should you go? If you are into delicatessen patisserie, luxury crafts and incredible settings, this is your thing. Be ready to indulge into the most lavish afternoon tea you have probably ever had (we actually liked it better than The Savoy’s or The Ritz’s). Needless to say you should top that up with a glass of bubbly…R de Ruinart is just excellent.

WHEN should you go? Oh honey, any time! They serve afternoon tea from 12 up until 5ish every day.

Ok, where is it exactly, then? 252 High Holborn, WC1V 7EN, London

Average price for afternoon tea (with a glass of champagne): £75

Bon appetite my loves,

TCB x

Kitty and Friends

Tombo x Sanrio

Tombo Fitzrovia has become Europe’s first ever Sanrio café in the centre of London. Can you believe it? Hello Kitty and Friends, at your doorstep

The small Japanese café that started almost 20 years ago in South Kensington now has at least 3 more restaurants across the city, serving yummy Japanese ingredients in a modern and accessible way.

WHAT? You can get a bit of everything really, from noodles to donburi, sushi or poke bowls. Green tea drinks and desserts are overflowing so if you are a matcha fanatic this is your dream come true.

WHY? If you love Japanese food and culture and all things Kawaii then you have to visit Tombo. Not only their food is quality, but also they go the extra mile with the presentation of their menus. Customer service could be better (clearly a lot to learn from the Japanese here) but overall quality price is pretty good.

From the Sanrio Menu we loved the Hello Kitty Garden Poke, the customized Matcha Latte and of course the Matcha Doriyaki. Sweet Green Tea overload, my friend!

WHEN? Anytime between 11:30 and 9:30pm, except Sundays when they close at 5pm.

WHERE? We like the original spot in SouthKen, however Fitzrovia is the one advertising it Tombo x Sanrio café. If you like Kitty, then head to 4 Windmill St, Fitzrovia, London W1T 2HZ

Average price for lunch per person (including dessert, no booze): £15

Itadakimasu~~~~

TCB xx

Churches and Sinners at Mercato Mayfair

Who knew there was a Grade I Listed Church less than 5 minutes walk from Selfridges? I didn’t. And I certainly did not know it was up for grabs to the best bidder, but I am very happy that the people behind Mercato Metropolitano got their hands on it.

WHAT is it then? A beautiful church turned into a Food Market. Underground there’s a well kept cellar serving refined wines and bubbles as well as delicious charcuterie and cheese. On the main floor and upstairs there’s a variety of trade vendors: from hand made pasta and pizza to middle easter pitas, dumplings and a sushi bar. Not to mention the holy German Kraft Beer Stall and the Chacha Cocktail Bar or Badiani’s Gelato, delicious!

WHY should you go?

Because… why the hell not? You are out and about on Oxford St, your shopping has got out of hands and you forgot about the time and now you are famished. This is without a doubt your best choice around! Inexpensive and with a variety of options. Also the gelato on offer is probably one of the best we’ve tried in the city recently. Now that is a big say!

WHERE? St. Mark's Church, N Audley St, Mayfair, London W1K 6ZA, United Kingdom

WHEN? 8am to 11pm most days except for Sundays, when it closes at 10pm. All in all pretty decent timings!

Enjoy!

TCB xx

Sketch and Mad Hatter Meetings

Breakfast at Sketch

#SpanishGalsDoItBetter

It’s 8 o’clock on a Monday Morning, and Patricia and I have decided to kick start our week with a banging breakfast at one of London’s Iconic venues: Sketch.

It is rather unusual for us to wake up this early (we are Spanish, after all) but business calls and we like to confuse people, so why not breaking the routine and go for a fantastic banquet?

Sketch has always been one of my favorite spots in Central London. Tucked away off crazy Regent Street, this gems is to me where fashion meets art and meets food. And here I’ll tell you why.

Views from The Parlour for Breakfast

For starters, the decor is super. It’s like you are visiting an art-gallery inside of several restaurants, bars and a hip egg-shaped toilets.

Sketch consists of the Lecture Room & Library, the Gallery, the Glade, the Parlour, and the East Bar. Personally, I find it very difficult to choose a favorite room. Each one of them has a very different style and that style makes it shine on its own. I love the pink life at The Gallery and the fresh cones with tea are a killer, but then again the Glade and its whimsical yet dark forest style and food are also damn good.

The East Bar is more intimate and dark, probably great for a date and the parlour works fabulously if you want to catch up with friends while offloading yourself from shopping.

Each single detail at each one of the rooms has been thought after, from the waiter outfits down to the cutlery.

Now the food. The food is another level.

At the Lecture Room you can enjoy a Michelin-rated menu (still yet to try) whereas at the Parlour you can enjoy a casual breakfast and all-day menu. The Gallery and the Glade offer high-tea and lunch, respectively.

For the occasion, we dine at The parlour. Tea, coffees and juice were running through the table as we frantically discussed our weekend and the wide selection of eggs (hello tempura scotch egg, I’m looking at you) certainly made our day. Not to mention the pancakes, YUM.

We’ve also had the chance to go for tea at The Gallery (read our review here) and we could not recommend it enought. It will leave you wanting to come back for more tea and scones, the latter are fresh and to die for.

Jewelry from Thomas Sabo Paradise Collection; China from David Shirgley

Finally, the toilets. It’s funny to think that somebody would go to a restaurant just to check out the toilets. But believe it or not, this is what happens. And understandably so. I’ve never encountered such thing, and you should see it with your own eyes. Unisex egg-shaped toilets (with a forest soundtrack whilst you go do your thing, in case you need help), with fish-eye mirrors and bonker lighting. It’s like I’m in Alice in Wonderland all over again. How wonderful.

TCB xx

WHAT WE WORE:

Laura wore:
Uterque Pink Feather Top
Tommy Hilfiger Houndstooth Skirt
J’adior Slingbacks
Delpozo Pink Bag
Thomas Sabo Paradise Collection

Patricia wore:
Zara AW19 Total Look
Thomas Sabo Paradise Collection

Bancone, Pasta's Paradise

Pasta Pasta Pasta

Bancone, the italian that will save you every time

Affordable drinks and home-made pasta in the heart of the West End. Shall I say more?

Bancone is a little gem, really. As the peeps at The Guardian described it: casually orgasmic and deeply affordable, the Italian restaurant succeeds in all marks. Drinks are cheap (a glass of vino for a fiver? I’m SOLD), food is excellent.

WHAT will you get? Pasta, pasta, pasta. If you want pizza, this is not your place. Pasta? As much as you like. The restaurant certainly specializes on delivering the best fresh pasta but also has incredible antipasti. If you ask us, you should definitely try the panelle with smoke duck breast, lardo & whipped anchovies and the cime di rapa (turnip tops) with garlic and chilli. Mouth is watering just reminiscing of it! As for the mains, their Beef shin ‘ossobuco’ ravioli with saffron butter is rich but incredible, and their octopus and nduja with olives is also superb.

Another thing that we really appreciated here was the service. Very attentive peeps; most servers where italian and so were the chefs, which is always a plus.

WHERE is it ? Right next to St Martin In The Fields, by Trafalgar square. More precisely, 39 William IV St, London WC2N 4DD

WHEN is it open? Great news. For once a restaurant in London serves up until 11pm! You can get there closer to the time and still manage to get all the yummy food in the menu. BOOM.

Certainly the perfect spot for pre and post-theatre food. And get this: you can book.

TCB xx

Sweet Catalan Cakes & Bubbles

Ladies and gentlemen, your wishes have been heard. There is a dessert restaurant in London, and by no other than pastry chef Albert Adria. Let me introduce you to Cakes & Bubbles.

WHY should you go? Because even if you are not a sweet tooth, you’ll have a great time. It’s not only about the food (which is obvs amazing) but rather the experience. Sit down and have some bubbles with your friends, while your waiter explains what you are about to indulge into. Needless to say that the chef Adria stamp is a big winner.

WHAT will you get? If you like traditional pastries and sweets, this is not your place. Chef Adria loves to be innovative with its food, and you can see it in each one of his desserts. Our two favorites where the ‘Tickets’ cheesecake, flavored with hazelnut and a white-chocolate rind and the egg flan with dark caramel.

WHEN should you go? Really, anytime is good. This hot spot is looking rather pretty right now due to the Christmas lights, but I bet you it will be as amazing when the festive period is over.   

WHERE? Inside Hotel Café Royal in Piccadilly (70 Regent St, W1B 4DY), super central!

Bella Lina, Pasta At Its Best

Lina Stores

Iconic Italian Deli in Soho opens its own restaurant in the city, with outdoor seats in the heart of the city

Italians have conquered another hood in the city, Soho. OK, not quite literally, but the opening of Lina Stores in Soho has definitely had an impact on my latest restaurant visits. 

The iconic delicatessen store on Brewer St has opened its own pasta and cicceti restaurant on Greek St, and its results are superb.

WHAT/ WHY SHOULD YOU GO? Because it feels truly feels like being in Italy. The restaurant decor is very hip and out of a Wes Anderson movie, and the handmade pasta is to die for.

As the Mediterraneans we are, we like ordering all of the things on the menu and share it between us. That way you get to try most things! For starters, we had the nduja con ricotta and some arancinis; and as soon as we tried these, we knew we were in for a treat. It was very difficult to choose only one pasta dish, so we went for three: the pumpkin, the ragu and the mushroom based. All three SHAMAZING. Obviously, we finished with some cannolis, cause you can’t leave without having one.

WHERE EXACTLY IS IT? 51 Greek St, Soho, London W1D 4EH

WHEN SHOULD YOU GO? Any day of the week except Sundays, from 12-2.30pm for lunch and from 5 til 11pm for dinner

Average price per person (including a bottle of wine, and tipping): £35

Hungry yet? Me too.

TCB xx