Milk Beach

Milk BEACH OUTDOOR TERRACE

Picture this: a hot summer day in London city. The heat is on and the spirits are high. You are now seated al fresco having a cold glass of white wine whilst taking in the passers-by on this pedestrian only street. Is there else you could ask for? Milk Beach will provide.

WHAT IS IT? Milk Beach is where Australian Cafe Culture shines bright. From the moment I stepped foot in this charming eatery, I felt transported to a realm where warmth reigns and good vibes flourish. Needless to say the inviting decor, great (though slow) service, and overall ambience contributed to a great evening.

WHAT WILL YOU GET? A delectable brunch and an unforgettable dinner experience, too. Our recent visit to the restaurant for an Italian Wines evening left us thoroughly impressed. Their Koji marinated chicken ‘schitty’ with chicken salt fries is an absolute must-try and so are the mushroom tacos, the ginger dumplings and the octopus takoyaki. Be sure to leave room for dessert, as both the white chocolate cheesecake and the single origin coffee custard are irresistible. With each bite, your palate will be delighted, and you’ll leave fully satisfied.

WHEN TO GO? Monday to Saturday from 9am to 11pm or Sundays from 9 til 4pm. You choose!

WHERE IS IT EXACTLY? We went to the OG restaurant located in Queen’s Park (19-21 Lonsdale Rd, London NW6 6RD). However, since we made this review a new, more central location, has been opened in Soho (14 Greek St, James Court, London W1D 4AL)

Bon Appetit Careless Readers xx

You Speak...PRADA?

The Craze for Designer Cafes Vol.I: Prada Caffè

Photography by roz alcazar

You will like it or hate it, but the truth is that luxury is thriving.
Even in times of crisis, everybody loves feeling good, feeling pampered, feeling taken care of, feeling high-end. And one thing is for certain: London delivers on this premise.

From Central to West and North to South, there’s a myriad of designer caffes in the city. You can see what our favorite picks are here, but today we come to you to talk about the latest addition to the list: Prada Caffe.

The new café inside Harrods is not the first rodeo of the Milan powerhouse in London, but it is certainly the most exclusive, as you will only be able to enjoy it until January 2024.

I agree it is hard to justify a £14 cake for everyday pleasures, especially when many may be struggling to make ends meet. However, I am a firm believer that any fashion, film, or food lovers out there would enjoy a one-off experience at this luxurious café.

This is a window into Prada life, and an opportunity to dress up for an occasion.

The café is inspired by Prada’s most famous stores, including a black-and-white chequered flooring, and signature pale green furniture and decor that takes over the walls and counter top of the café. The attentionto detail here is impeccable. From the crockery to the takeaway boxes, everything screams Prada, Prada, Prada, and we obviously love it.

As you set foot in this café, one can’t help but wonder if it has entered a Wes Anderson movie set. The geometry of the place, nicely squared, perfect symmetry everywhere…It kind of gives Hotel Budapest, except we are replacing the pink hues by Prada green.

Now down to business: the food. Oh ladies and gents, the food. The food is superb.

Lined up as if they were pieces of art rather than treats, the patisserie on offer is truly a delicacy. Their square mousse cakes are a must, and whilst we didn’t try it personally, we’ve heard great things about the breakfast and lunch on offer. The espressos are sharp and their lattes come with 3D printing.

It’s a must.

TCB xx

Lulu's

I don’t tend to go much to South West London this days, but I would hike up to Herne Hill just to go to Lulu’s again.

WHY? This little wine bar/ restaurant is the sister of Llewelyn’s Kitchen and a beautiful gem in the area. Passersby can indulge on the freshest lunch sandwiches and salads and wine aficionados would love every single dish to match their evening drinks. A small, intimate venue that will make you feel you are in the cutest date, whether it is with friends, family, or your lover.

And for the cherry on top: it is also a deli! You can grab lots of the wine and delicatessen cupboard food (some of which is served as snacks in the eve) to take home.

WHAT to get? The options here are boundless and constantly evolving, presenting a weekly menu that showcases the finest selections from the array of seasonal and locally-sourced ingredients available. When we were there, we had a delicious rabbit ragu with tagliatelle and an onion tart I still dream off sometimes. All food was paired with excellent and affordable wines, even dessert. Needless to say, an exceptional culinary experience awaits for you. Both from a food and wine point of view.

WHERE is it? 291 Railton Rd, London SE24 0JP - You can’t miss it, it’s right by the Herne Hill station!

WHEN to go? Anyday bar Monday, from 8am til 11pm Wed-Sat and 9am til 4pm Sundays and Tuesdays :)

Bon appetit careless readers,

TCB xx

Daphne's, a taste of chic Italia in London

There are rare occasions in which I think of specifically going to South Kensington to have lunch. Going to Daphne’s on Brompton Road is the exception.

Daphne is not only great because of its exceptional Italian cuisine, but because of its clientele, the ambiance and savoir vivre that the restaurant exhumes. A step into this venue transports you into a whole new world. One where seasonal Italian cooking reigns, and happy people shine.

As we walk into the restaurant we are faced with an old-school counter, black and white suited cocktail makers saluting our entrance and welcoming us to a glass of bubbly before lunch. To deny such treat would be rude.

As we swiftly move rooms to grab lunch, we are pointed to the conservatory. A special room with such glass work that you feel you are in Sicilian sunshine, when in fact, you are only meters away from the V&A.

Lunch is served, and it’s a parade of salty, rich, and sensory dishes. There is no right or wrong at Daphne’s, as most dishes are seasonal and fresh. But if I were to suggest something, I would say keep it simple. This is not a place to share. Get your starter, get your primi and or secondi, perhaps share dessert, though you may not want to :)

Last time we visited, we loved the spaghetti alle vongole, and the melanzane alla parmigianna and they were both delicious. For desert, tiramisu. We don’t want our lengthy lunch to finish and when the bill comes, we are already thinking about when to return.

HOW MUCH PER PERSON? Around 50 GBP including a carafe of wine

WHERE IS IT? 112 Draycott Ave, London SW3 3AE

WHEN TO GO? Any day of the week from breakfast (8.30AM) til dinner time (10PM), with the exception of Sundays when they only open 1-5PM

Saint Aymes, a whimsical cafe in Marylebone

If you are a lover of all things whimsical then Saint Aymes is just your place.

It felt straight out of a Middle Eastern fairytale, but we felt like queens, and that is reason enough to visit this pink girl cafe in Marylebone.

WHAT will you get? Lots! For only 18GBP you’ll get a very decent brunch in a beautiful afternoon tea stand or if you want to go all out, then it’s 45GBP for the actual afternoon tea (not many savoury options there, though). Drinks are pricey but worth trying some of their swanky milkshakes, and one thing is for sure, in any of the options your food and beverages will be sprinkled with edible gold, and that is lush. Exactly what you need to brighten up your day, am I right?

There were only a few drawback I would highlight. Given how conscious I’ve become about the plastic problem we have globally, seeing an entire restaurant/ cafe covered with plastic flowers did not seem right. We should use less plastic, not promote more use of it! More over, the food was good, but not other worldly.

WHEN to go? Everyday between 10 and 7pm

WHERE is it? 59 Connaught St, St George's Fields, London W2 2BB

Average price per person for brunch: £25; for afternoon tea: £60

Enjoy it while it lasts,

TCB xx

We Found Gold in Notting Hill

Gold in Notting Hill

Who would have thought there was more to dig in Portobello Market still?

WHAT IS IT?

A three-storey house serving yummy Mediterranean food in the midst of Portobello Road & Market. You would miss it between all those trinkets shots if it weren’t for its crazy eye looking facade!

WHERE IS IT? 

95-97 Portobello Rd, Notting Hill, London W11 2QB

WHY GO?

Because as you step food in here, you are transported far away from the crowds outside. Everybody is gorgeous and you feel gorgeous as a result. A dark area for intimate gatherings and a cozy conservatory on the back for those wanting a relaxed meal with friends. It feels like a jungle out there! The food is an explosion of flavours (our favorite) and the customer service is superb, very attentive. 

On our latest visit we started with a glass of Moet (like any good feast would) and few of the starters on offer, of which we highly recommend the aubergine with ricotta. Oh Mamma. For mains, the rabbit tortellini transport you back to Italy and the grilled chicken with ham, nduja sauce and sourdough bread makes you feel naughty and great. Finish up with the raspberry cream dessert and a coffee and you’ll be done for the day. 

Little peace of advice: if you like long meals with no rush, then this is your place. Book one of the last services for lunch and you’ll make it to dinner time without even realising! That happened to us. 

WHEN TO GO?

If you thought it couldn’t get any better, you wait for it. Gold is open ALL week from midday (noon) to midnight all week! And Friday and Saturdays til 1am! Pleasure to your ears and belly.

Enjoy my dears, 

TCB xx

J'adior Pret-a-PorTEA

J’adior my friends

and Pret-a-Portea.

The hottest and most awaited exhibition of 2019 (at least for the fashionistas out there) has opened at the V&A. Yup, that’s Christian Dior, designer of Dreams.

Tickets for the exhibition were almost sold out (if not completely, by the time you read this), and as the city surrenders to all things Dior, we decided to embark ourselves in an afternoon of tea, coffee, friends, fashion and Dior, a lot of Dior.

As we arrived to The Berkeley Hotel, known for its fashion ‘Pret-a-Portea’, we instantly felt we were entering a princess’ dream. Name tags and Dior sketches were all over our table, and we were greeted with Dior-themed lattes. Fantasy level was ON.

As expected, as any good afternoon tea goes, the procession of food started and MY OH MY, it was delicioso. Plentiful of tea sandwiches (I believe up to 6 different flavours) and a few savoury treats preceded what we were all wanting: the Dior cakewalk. A collection of cakes and fancies from Dior’s most iconic pieces. It was so beautiful we couldn’t contain our excitement. OK, the coffee, the champagne and the company may have helped.

But in any case, if you are out and about in the city, this afternoon tea is one of a kind adventure, on that you shouldn’t miss. It’s a bit on the pricey side (£60 or £70 per person, depending on whether you want bubbles or not), but it is most certainly worth it.

As Mr Dior himself would say: “Don't buy much but make sure that what you buy is good.” 

TCB xx

Urban Farm Girl

Farm Girl

The new place to be seen in West London

Farm girl, baby. Farm girl.

A curated space in the heart of Portobello road; Farm girl is making its way to become THE brunch spot in West London. 

WHERE IS IT? 59A Portobello Rd, London W11 3DB

WHY SHOULD I GO? Well, that's easy. 

First of all, its location. Hidden in a little alley off Portobello Rd, Farm Girl reminded me of being home by the beach, with its cute outdoor area and indoor color hues. Everything at this place is down to detail, and, of course, instagram-worthy. 

Second of all, THE FOOD. I mean, DELICIOUS. Probably the best brunch I've tried in London for a while. I traveled all the way from East to eat here! That's gotta mean something. They have shakshuka on the menu (which to me, is already a winner), plus many other brunch goodies such as avocado on toast and the likes. 

Their drinks menu is vast, with colorful options such as turmeric gold latte, matcha latte or rose petal latte. Very hipster, I know. But how cool, too! 

If you still have room for dessert, their cakes and pastries menu is mouthwatering. We scored some colored croissants while we were there and they were #freakalicious. 

Finally, customer service was great. I mean, what else could we ask for? Plugs. They also have plugs at every table to charge your iphone, ipad, macbook or anything else that is also not apple. Get yourself there, already!

WHEN? It is open everyday from 8,30 to 4,30pm and til 6pm over the weekends. As I mentioned, this place is becoming highly popular and takes no reserveations (ooooof course...) so expect a bit of a waiting line (~40min) before you get seated. It is damn worth it though!

TCB xx