The Hackney Series: De Beauvoir Town & Haggerston

photography by roz alcazar

With a blink of an eye, September is once again upon us. Where did summer go? Some may say it has just arrived to London, whereas others are already thinking about their costumes for Halloween, myself included.

As I return back to my London home, I can’t help myself thinking how lucky I am to call this beautiful and vibrant city home. I know that the moment I step foot in London, there will be something extraordinary waiting for me to explore, and that’s a feeling I like, a feeling that I crave.

Those of you that have been reading my stories may know that Haggerston in Hackney is my home base. What I may not have told you, is how much the area has changed since I moved here more than 5 years ago.

Oldies like myself will tell you that Haggerston was a passersby neighborhood in between Shoreditch and Dalston. Nowadays, it is a destination on its own. Don’t believe me? Then try it for yourself by spending a day (or a few) visiting the area and trying my favorite spots. All you have to do is pick-and-choose from my favorites below. By the end of the day you’ll feel there so much more to explore.

You can thank me later. For now, enjoy the ride.

The perfect day in this East London outpost starts with a coffee, or with coffee and breakfast.

Coffee lovers out there, you have two main options: Shed and Batch Baby.

Shed is located by Haggerston Overground station, whereas Batch Baby is located in the midst of De Beauvoir Town. Both coffee shops are run locally and serve specialty coffee. Shed usually has more of a coffee-on-the go vibe and serves Caravan coffee, whereas Batch Baby is a multi-roaster cafe ser and has more of sit down and enjoy space. If you wish, you can also co-work in both spaces.

Now, if you are looking for a more substantial meal, then you should try out De Beavoir Deli. Here you’ll find coffee, bagels, pastries, and new york style sandwiches and toasties that will fill you up with a smile on your face. After brekkie, you can also splash the cash with some bougie grocery shopping. Perello olives, a charcuterie counter and Dusty Knuckle bread are on offer her. All pleasure to my ears and my palatte.

Both Haggerston and De Beauvoir Town are residential neighborhood with lovely shops and restaurants around. I would say that it is a beautiful area to have walks, but not necessarily to do historical sightseeing, if that is what you are after. However, you can embark yourselves in lovely long paths by the canal and there are two parks where to relax with friends or alone reading a book: Stonebridge Gardens and Haggerston Park.

If you are seeking to do an activity, The Big London Bake offers a unique ‘British Bake Off’ experience. Sooner than you think, you’ll find yourselves competing to make the best cake of the day.

However, if baking isn’t your jam, there are a few more things you could check out on the activity front:

• Otherworld, an immersive virtual reality experience you can play alon or with others

• Tripspace, a Yoga and Dance space to explore your innerself in a deeper matter

• N1 Garden Center, a plant heaven to explore which new creatures you’ll like to take home and take care of

Got your clothes dirty while baking? Check out The Steam Room, a dry-cleaners turn clothing shop only a few meters away from the venue. All I will say is that it is worth a visit, even if you don’t leave any items in the wask.

Is it time to eat yet? A glass of wine or a pint anyone? We heard you.

Not one but THREE favorite pubs: De Beauvoir Arms for its cozy evenings in leather sofas and delicious and affordable steak and wine, Scolt’s Head for a beautiful afternoon in the garden and the Rosemary Branch for a good roast and a theatre night

A glass of wine is always welcome and for that I’d like to introduce Hector’s and Finleys. Excellent selection in a cute little setting.

If you are more of a cocktail animal, then you’ll be in your element at A bar with shapes for a name, which in less than a year has made it to the Top 50 bars in the world. For the tequila lovers, Hacha and its mirror margarita is a must.

Hold on a minute, we went into ‘eating is cheating’ mode? No, no, no. A good meal is a must.

Berber & Q will be my forever love affair with Middle Easter meets African meets Mediterranean food, in a space under the arches that will make you feel like you are ready to party.

Caravel is a romantic restaurant set up in a barge by the canal and it holds a special place in my heart. Certainly a unique, special place serving delicious continental food.

The Sea & The Sea is the new kid in the block and only for those who’d like to splash the cash. If willing, it’s supposed to be incredible good. Seafood menu and chef’s table style. Only seats a very few so it’s definitely one for special ocassions.

The day its advancing and its time for a boogie. We got you covered for pretty much any day of the week: The Jago for unusual music events on a weekday, Brilliant Corners on a Friday for audiophile lovers and renowned DJs, The Glory on a Saturday for the love of queerness and The Haggerston on Sundays for great Jazz sessions.

Not enough? You can wrap up the night with a night cap at the members-club (not so members-club) at The Kings Head.

Bonsoir careless readers, hope you have fun.

TCB xx

A Day Out Of London At The Grove

I love London. I love it so much that I almost never consider heading out of the city. Except to spend a day out at The Grove, a 5-star luxury countryside that is only 20 minutes away from Central London.

Who could resist?

The history of The Grove dates back to the 1500s when the first home for the bourgeois of the time was made. Fast forward to 2023, The Grove marks its 20th anniversary as a hotel, and it does it in pure style.

A luxurious destination for those in the know, this grand hotel has lots to offer: four excellent restaurants, a delicious spa and championship golf-course. Not to mention that during summer both hotel guests and visitors alike can go to a a Secret Cinema in its gardens.

To celebrate the British Summer (or lack thereof), the hotel has created a little experience near its golfing grounds. A culinary exploration in a hot air ballon! Fear not, you will be staying in the grounds, but it will resemble as if you were headed to the heaven.

We took advantage that our dinner was on a Sunday and arrived early to explore the hotel grounds. We had a cinema session over tea time, cocktail hour at the Library, dinner in our hotel balloons and a night cap by the piano in the lobby lounge.

The exclusive balloon experience extends through the duration of the summer season, offering you an exquisite dinner tasting menu. Attended by servers elegantly dressed in black tie attire, the impeccable service perfectly complements the overall aesthetic, promising a truly delightful and memorable indulgence.

The seven course meal included a whole lobster to share between two and concluded with a delicious lemon tart and petit fours. As the night was coming to an end, the balloon lights lit up, and we sipped our warm drinks to the starlit sky.

Before we knew, it was time to head home before our carriages turned pumpkins. What a fun day. Do not miss out!

TCB xx

London Self-Made Wine Tours

It can be dry or sweet. It can taste as citrusy as a lemon, as buttery as cream or as floral as a box of berries. I am talking about wine, isn’t it sublime?

If there is something I’ve noticed on my 8 years living in London, it is the increase of good quality wine bars and wine stores. It used to be rare to find a specialized wine shop that would have a wide enough range of options to try out. It wouldalso would be rare to find a spokesperson at the forefront of said shop that would be willing and knowledgeable enough to talk about these wines. Don’t you remember when warm white wine at the pub was the only thing on offer? Luckily things change and cities evolve.

Now we are here, it’s a #hotgirlsummer and I, for one, have been enjoying the glorious sunshine in London. And I have been enjoying it even more so, because I’ve got not one but at least six wine stores in less than a 2km radium (walking distance) from my lovely flat in Haggerston. If that isn’t paradise, please tell me what is.

Wine lovers out there, you’ll appreciate this. After having many friends ask me around where to go for vino, I thought this was a necessity for many. A little map that shows you all the goodie goodie wine bars across London. Perfect for a little stroll in the city. And trust me, rain or shine, wine you’ll find.

TCB xx

EAST LONDON

• Female run and female driven wines: Finley’s (Hoxton)

• Urban winery: Renegade (Bethnal Green)

• Affordable and cool: Dan’s (Dalston), Hector’s (De Beauvoir), P Franco (Clapton)

• Upscale: Binch (London Fields), NewComer Wines (Dalston)

NORTH LONDON

• Cheap and cheerful: YieldN16 (Stoke Newington), The Sampler (Islington)

• Affordable and cool: Cadet (Stoke Newington), Top Cuvee (Finsbury), Must & Lees (Islington)

• Frenchie: Authentique Epicerie & Bar (Kentish Town)

CENTRAL LONDON

• An Institution, Upscale: Noble Rot (Clerkenwell & Soho)

• An Institution, Affordable: Gordon’s (Embankment)

• Easy-going: The Drop (King’s Cross)

• Frenchie, friendly and the most affordable in central: Le Beaujolais (Soho)

WEST LONDON

• Pretty and affordable: Mother Vine, Brinkley’s (Chelsea), Franklin’s Wine, Love (Notting Hill)

• Champagne-focused: Amuse Bouche (Fulham)

• Low-key local (italian): Ombretta & Ante’s Winehouse (Fulham)

SOUTH LONDON

• Affordable with a rooftop: Tap & Bottle (Borough), Forza Wine (Peckham)

• Low-lit and upscale: 40 Maltby St (Bermondsey)

• Wine in an Old WC: WC Wine & Charcuterie (Clapham)

• Low-key locals, cheap and cheerful: Unwined (Tooting), Peckham Cellars (Peckham), Le Chevalier (Peckham)

A boat trip to Albert Bridge

I told you I like my outfits to stand out.

Today, my pink sequins dress is on. It has matching pink tights and I am also wearing a purple fake fur coat with silver heels on. I am running with them.

Running to catch the 18.12 Uber boat to Putney, and I am excited. That kind of excitement that you get when you are about to travel, when you meet somebody for the first time, or are about to experience something brand new.

It is surprisingly a clear night today, despite being very dark outside already. I have hopped on this Tfl boat at London Bridge and I am already mesmerised by the shining water reflections of the river Thames.

Some people in London take this ride as their usual commute to work. In fact, I see hips of people coming back from it, with very serious and tired faces as they come in. I, on the contrary, am feeling as hype as a little kid after school.

Tonight I am headed to Albert Bridge. It may seem silly to you, but visiting this bridge has been on my London bucket list for years, and I never managed to visit it.

Until today.

Some people say it is one of the most beautiful bridges in the city, so inevitably I had to check that out.

As we move along the river, I see few building cranes and plenty of cars in the horizon . I find it hard to believe anybody would chose to ride a car when you can ride a boat. The incessant honking, the traffic, the stress, there’s none of this here. On the boat there’s a bar, there’s plenty of snacks, and there’s Champagne.

A party boat salutes us. Millennium Bridge is lit with rainbow lights and we are quickly facing Big Ben, which is still under refurbishment. You can only see the clock, and it is now marking 18.30 on the dot. The houses of Parliament feel ominous and eerie, with a touch of Hogwarts. I feel goosebumps, I feel bliss. What a gorgeous city London is.

As we progress from Central to West London, something in the air shifts. I spy another party boat, but this time is empty. There isn’t much light in this side of town. It is getting darker and darker by the minute. But then I see it, I see the glimpsing lights, I see Albert Bridge.

We’ve passed 9 bridges to get here and as we started, we are faced with more building cranes, shimmering water and a platform to get on to. It is as good as they said.

TCB xx

Kentish Town Treasures

Its a Sunny Sunday in London and everybody is in a good mood. Inevitable, I felt inspired to write you about our lovely day in North London. One that you could probably enjoy too, in the future.

Going out for long walks and cycling has become the norm, and I must say we quite enjoy it. I do miss wearing heels, but those days will return soon. In the meantime, walking/cycling to a new cafe or restaurant, where we can grab some goodie goodies, is my new favorite pas time. And believe it or not, if the sun is shining, you could spend all day doing that. We tell you how.

09:00 - 11:00AM RELAX - Wake up and enjoy a Cuppa whilst preparing to go out. What are you going to wear? Where are you headed? How are you going to get there? It’s beautiful out there (hopefully)!

12:00 SET OFF - Today’s choice is Panadera, a filipino bakery from the owners of the infamous Mamasons ice cream parlour two doors down. I could go on and on about this place, but it’s better if you read our review here. If you’ve already eaten, just grab the ice cream. It’s totally worth it.

Now if you are not feeling your sweet tooth, you still have got choices around. E.Mono is a staple Turkish grill and kebab restaurant in the area and Franco Manca’s pizzas never fail to disappoint.

13:00 PICNIC - Once you’ve pick up your goodies. Where are you going to eat? If you are walking, we suggest heading to Primrose Hill, whilst if you are cycling, we would suggest heading to The Hill & Pergola Gardens off Hampstead Heath. It’s off the beaten track and it’s a beautiful spot where to sit back and relax.

15:00 TIME TO HEAD BACK

15:30 PIT STOP - Did you think that was it? Surely you still need some more goodies to take home? We are becoming quite the cheese, wine and charcuterie connoisseurs these days and the Autentique Epicerie & Bar in between Kentish Town and Tuffnell Park is a nice stop where to grab some of these. If that isn’t enough, a few blocks down you’ll also encounter the Theatre of Wine, a quirky wine shop that is also a fabulous place to taste some delicious stuff.

Enjoy and stay safe

TCB xx

The Best Pool Parties in London

I genuinely had my hopes that London would give us one last summertime vibes before the summer ended and here it is folks! To celebrate, we’ve come up with a list of our favourite spots where to have a little dip whilst enjoying this glorious weather (and possibly a glass of Rose). All organised by areas so that you don’t get lost!

Happy days,

TCB xx

EAST LONDON

In our opinion East London has some of the best pools or lidos (as they call it in England) in the city, though I may be biased since we are all from East London over here :) From public to private pools, you’ll find something for every budget. One thing is for sure: get a booking in place or else prepare to cue for a couple of hours.

London Fields Lido is probably THE place to be when it comes to East London. Definitely a people watching spot but equally a great space to swim in warm waters all year round as the pool is kept at an average temperature of 26 degrees all year. Entry cost comes at the bargain of 6GBP.

Hackney Marshes is the unofficial lido of 2020. Tucked away in the fields of these massive green, you’ll find people swimming in the River Lea like we’ve gone back in time. This is usually not allowed given all the industry running near the rivers, making the water not appropriate for swimming. However, given this year has caused most of these manufacturing plants to close or pause, locals have been able to get a dip in this part of town.

Stoke Newington’s West Reservoir Center (next to Woodberry’s Wetlands) is a great choice for those who like swimming in the nature. You can not only swim here but also take sailing and kayaking courses! Only thing will say is that for our Mediterranean blood this water is rather on the cold side, so make sure it’s a hot day before you dip in :)

Lastly, the only private pool worth mentioning in East is Shoreditch House. Walking into this rooftop pool will make you feel like living in a Hollywood movie. Red and white stripe sun loungers by the pool and fabulous cocktails for fabulous and creative people is all you’ll find here. Make sure you have a member friend who can take you! The Curtain Hotel also has a beautiful rooftop pool (exclusive only to members and hotel guests), but Shoreditch House is definitely the biggest player.

NORTH LONDON

North London comes second in our ranking of favourite outdoor pools in the city, and that is probably because of Hampstead Heath´s Ponds. Difficult to find if you are just walking by, this magnificent green space has hidden not one but three ponds within it. A gentlemen’s pond, also known for its funky business inside it; a ladies pond (Kenwood’s Ladies Pond) that reminds us of what it could have been living in the 50s; and a mixed pond, much easier to find, but equally much more busy and less entertaining than the other two. These are natural pools, that means you’ll be swimming in stagnant (though crystal clear and sulpha clean) water, probably with some ducklings around! We find it adorable. You can book your ticket for the beautiful price of 4GBP on the link here

Parliament Hill Fields lido is also another great option for a more standard public pool. Spacious and clean, a perfect option for an afterwork dip. Also it’s only 3-4GBP an entry, kind of unbeatable at that price! At the time of this post, the link to book your ticket is this one

SOUTH LONDON

We are no experts in the South-West London part of town, but we have lots of good friends that do! And they’ve recommended 3 great choices for the southern side of London. All are public and pretty big lidos, accessible all day and with some courses afterwork. Again, make sure you book your slot or you may be waiting for hours to get in!

• Brockwell Lido

• Tooting Bec Lido

• Hampton Pool

WEST LONDON

We must say, unless you are willing to spend the dollah, you’ll struggle to find a good public pool in West London. Serpentine Lido in Hyde Park is probably your best bet. However, this is not our favorite and therefore would not recommend a day out here. It is crowded, noisy and not necessarily the cleanest spot.

Having said that, there are a couple of private pools worth mentioning.

• The Berkeley Hotel near Knightsbridge has an excellent rooftop pool where for the expensive tag price of 150GBP you’ll get a full-day pass (or 45GBP for a half-day pass) in one of the most exclusive pools in town. Needless to say, it’s beautiful, and you’ll feel part of a Wes Anderson movie. The service is, of course, on point.

• Similarly to Shoreditch House, White City House has a fab rooftop for those members and friends of the exclusive Soho House.

And that’s all for now, folks. Enjoy the sunshine!

TCB xx

Biscuiteers To The Rescue!

Hello Careless Readers, how are we doing today?

I am feeling the blues but fear not there’s lots to be happy about! I got my NYC trip cancelled last week and I decided to make the most of it.

How? Playing kids again.

And what do kids like? Eating, drinking, drawing, playing and repeat.

That’s exactly what I did. Where? Biscuiteers.

Our favourite suggestion for 2020 so far!

A British owned business, Biscuiteers started by husband & wife Harriet Hastings and Stevie Congdon realising a huge gap in the market for stylish and customised biscuits. Who needs flowers when you can send biscuits? they said. Now more than 10 years later, not only they have quite the emporium, they also have two Biscuiteers shops in London providing you with the cutest crafted biscuits and the sweetest and most relaxed afternoon teas I’ve been to date. They also run a DIY cafe where you can make your own biscuit creations and workshops where you can become a Biscuiteer master.

Needless to say my partner in crime and I were in awe with the idea and so off we went to try all of this out over the weekend.

After a wholesome hot yoga class in Brixton, we headed our refreshed selves to Northcote Road where the Biscuiteers have their second residency. We hadn’t even walked in and we were already excited. The facade of the shop looks like a drawing, as if you were going to immerse yourself into a fairytale by crossing the door entrance. And it kinda was like that. We were greeted by super friendly people at the shop who attentively showed us to our table and our biscuits to be made! It was tough but super fun and we were quite happy with the results!

As we were letting ourselves into the biscuit drawing world, we were sold on the idea of an afternoon tea, and whilst sipping and eating cakes, we finished our pieces. The afternoon tea is great quality price, a fantastic selection of sweet and savoury cakes with an addition of a macaron to finish off. Our favourite was without a doubt their take on a savoury cheesecake with onion chutney, which I believe is a new addition to their menu.

A definitely must-try of 2020. Wel’ll be back for more!

TCB xx

The East London Series: Dalston

The Hackney Series

Dalston, the neighborhood that tries to never sleep

If you’ve been reading our entries for quite some time, you’ll know that Dalston is a place very close to our heart. We’ve spent nearly three years in this bustling neighbourhood, and it wasn’t until recently that we moved up the street to our now much beloved Stoke Newington.

If you happen to be around the area or are looking to spend a day out East, here are our recommendations for a perfect day in this ends!

Start your day

with good coffee and a pastry at AllPress HQ on Dalston Lane or else head to Dusty Knuckle to indulge in the best bread you’ve tried to date. Dusty Knuckle started as a little truck shop in a back street off Arcola theatre, mostly catering to restaurants and neighbors and now is being sourced pretty much everywhere in London. Rightly so.

If you want to spend some time just walking around and discovering the area, our favorites nearby are HJ Haris Antique & Café Shop and Dalston’s Eastern Curve Garden. The first is a quirky little corner shop that provides phenomenal coffee and hidden gems, all at a very competitive price. The latter is one of the most enchanting garden/ little forests in the middle of the city. On Tuesday nights they host music & entertainment nights while indulging on some pizza and during the weekend they tend to run workshops and serve all-day food.

If you only had a cuppa and now are ready for a proper brunch,

then Brunswick East or L’Atelier should be your choices. I mean, look at these pics!

Now you are fed and ready to continue, you can immerse yourself into Ridley Road Market or go clothing shopping around the numerous thrift shops on Kingsland Road. Towards Haggerston you’ll find Oxfam and St Vincent and towards Stokey you’ll have Pelican & Carrots serving you a more curated selection of luxury goods or Traid and Beyond Retro for superstores on vintage.

Is it time to drink yet?

God, the options are endless for that here. Dalston really is like a playground for adults, and when it comes to nightlife and entertainment it provides the most.

• If you are after wine, then we suggest you try Spanish Deli Furanxo or the more classy Austrian shop Newcomer Wines. Both are fab.

• If you are after cocktails, then the choices are obvious: Untitled for the fashion victims and Three Sheets for the cozy bar lovers. Both serving the best cocktails in town, in our opinion.

• If what you want is a beer and some friendly environment, then The Victoria, Three Compasses or Farr’s School of Dancing are your pubs of choice.

Dinner time

is reserved for Angelina if you are going for a fancy evening out. New kid in town Attawa or Voodoo Ray’s and Del74 are also wonderful cheap and cheerful options.

It’s now nightime

and the drinking shall continue so grab a few cheap drinks at Ridley Road Market Bar whilst listening to some 90’s R&B before heading out. Night out at LGBQT club Superstore is always fun and unexpected though we love mingling with the most fun yet crazy DJ while sipping the cheapest drinks in town at Jazz Bar.

TCB xx

The North Series: Crouch End

Crouch End
Day Tour

What to do and not to do in this northern part of the city

I’ve been told Crouch End has never really been a destination, but if you happen to stumble upon that direction, you sure can have an awesome day out!

Get rid of that terrible Saturday hangover by feeding your palate at Beam. Great for brunch lovers, with plenty food choice, from shakshuka to the traditional eggs benedict or avo toast, and delicious freshly made juices, coffee and teas.

If you need home deco, then you’ve reached a great area. We’ve managed to score a couple of great gems in the area: Junk N8 Disorderly for fabulous vintage/ antique furniture and Jealous Gallery and Print Studio for very funky art.

One of the things that we liked about this neighborhood was just walking around discovering new little shops or stopping by to admire quirky things like the clock tower in Crouch End’s main road. There’s plenty of little cafes and bakeries, but Dunn’s is renowned in the area as it’s been providing fellow citizens with bakery since almost 200 years ago! Legends.

Another little shop close to our heart is Soup Dragon’s Toy shop. Family run, offers great and unique pieces for kids. A perfecto stopover if you are heading to some family event and don’t want to come empty handed.

As the ease into the evening, it’s time to relax. Book yourself into a Fierce Grace session (closest one is in Muswell Hill) to unwind all the week stress and finish your night trekking to Alexandra Palace (‘Ally Pally’) for a rewarding post-hot-yoga beer whilst seeing the sun go.

What a wonderful day that was!

TCB xx

Mad Hatter Meetings at Sketch

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

Christmas In Central London

I can't believe we are only two days away from December, where did this year go? I am not going to start recalling how great this year has been; there's been awesome times and not so nice days, BUT, if there is something I am exciting about this December is the xmassy vibe that London gets. 

People are cheerier and more willing to spend (yikes!), most streets are full of pretty fairy lights and restaurants and shops have the best displays. I love this time of the year! Just wandering the streets makes you feel completely different. Of course, I wouldn't advise you going to the city centre over the weekend as you may then hate Christmas (the over-crowding is surreal) but it is worth checking out any other time of the week. 

That's what my team and I did recently, and I thought I'd share our lil day out with you. It started early in Covent Garden, precisely to avoid crowds, which turned out positively to our benefit as we met the market providers to the Apple Market, where you can get little crafts for Secret Santa or the perfect Christmas decorations for your home. 

For those beauty lovers, you certainly need to stop by The Abnormal Beauty Company from Deciem. They may not have all the products on your wishlist (check Fenwick if so), but the customer service is great. I also love having a pit-stop at Laduree, just in case they have a new special edition box and I have an excuse to indulge into my favorite macarons.

After wandering around the Piazza, we headed for breakfast to The Ivy Soho Brasserie, which has one of the best Christmas decorations in Soho. I mean, it's whimsical, really! Food was great and so was the ambiance, the service and the check! I had eggs benedict and waffles with berries & yoghurt (I was hungry, ok?) and I was in heaven. I can't recall when was the last time I had such a hollandaise sauce. MMM mouthwatering NOW.  

After we filled our bellies up, we decided to continue with a long walk across Carnaby, Regent St and Oxford St, taking in all the pretty lights in preparation for Santa's arrival. After all, what's best than taking in what the city has prepared for you?

TCB xx

WHAT I WORE:

ZARA Red Boots
ASOS Star Dress
Tartan Scarf
Gucci Dyonisus Bag
Rayban Round Sunglasses

The Sky is your Garden

Have I mentioned how deserted The City is on weekends? Perfect hotspot for a shoot.

Once again the Spanish Mafia went for a stroll and this time ended up having breakfast at the Sky Garden. It was long overdue!

Probably my favourite skyscraper to date in terms of what you can get out of it: best views and no entrance fee for it. The only drawback I'd highlight is that the food is not at its best unless you pay for an upgrade and go to the restaurant or the brasserie on top floors.

In any case, any excuse is a good excuse to dress up so I braved the weather (sunny but SO cold) and here is the result.

TCB xx

WHAT I WORE:  

ASOS White Monochrome Dress

Ouigal Heeled Glitter Sandals

Leadenhall Market

Probably known as the financial district in London, The City is an area that never fails to surprise me. It's full of bankers in suits ready to splash the cash on an after-work session (at Dirty Martini or Coq d'Argent, obvs) during the week and yet desert on weekends. Quite fun to envision! And kind of a pity, there are many cool places around the area that are as enjoyable on a weekend.

I also find it very interesting that in less than a 2km to your right is Shoreditch, which could not be more different: creatives, artists, and fashion designers who could care less about splashing the cash or wearing a suit (they meticulously have though of it but they don't want you to know, that kewl); and about 3km to your left is the West End. How amazing is that? That's one of the beauties of London. DIVERSITY, PEEPS!

In any case, in this little area that we call The City there is an oasis from the 14th century: Leadenhall Market. I discovered it during one of my lunch breaks when I was working nearby and I instantly fell in love with it. The architecture of this arcade is remarkable and it stands on where it once was the centre of Roman London. Curated with selective shops, cheesemongers, butchers and florists, this place remains a hidden gem for many. Go there during the week to see the business buzz or during the weekend if you want to get a beautiful (and deserted) picture. 

Either way, it's a must! Do not miss it.

TCB x

WHAT I WORE: 

ASOS Baker Boy Hat
SheIn Stripes Top (very much Comme Des Garçons but 10 times more budget-friendly)
Pull&Bear Scuba Skirt (old)
Christian Louboutin Pumps