Postcards from London
All of the restaurants I managed to eat at with/without reservations (including the restaurant that made it in to my hall of fame), new vintage shops, and art exhibits you must see this summer...
Greetings from my hotel in the Soca Valley of Slovenia on a rainy afternoon! I’ve been curled up writing and reminiscing on my time in London, and I have so many gems to share from our trip. I think this trip to London was our best yet, and it’s because I didn’t plan… anything, really.
Nothing is better than having the ability to be spontaneous (especially in Europe, especially in the summer), and also truthfully, I’ve spent so much time planning trips for my clients recently that I had no gas left in the tank to plan an elaborate trip for us. Of course I had a list of things I wanted to do and see, along with favorites I wanted to return to, but the thrill of mapping out the day each morning over breakfast and hitting the ground running without strict plans brought us so much joy, and served as a reminder that not every single trip in life has to be heavily curated.
Sometimes all you need is a place to stay, good walking shoes, and a dream. Remember that, and don’t let social media convince you otherwise.
xx,
Bella
Getting here/Where we stayed
We decided to fly business class on United because we secured a great deal on the seats via FlyFlat last minute. Our flight was delayed from 10pm to 3am, so having a lay flat seat was great because we were exhausted and in desperate need of sleep by the time we boarded. I managed to completely pass out for 5 hours and arrive to London feeling rather rested and refreshed. A huge win!
We stayed at the Andaz in Shoreditch, which I wouldn’t necessarily recommend, but we booked an entire week’s stay using Chase points, which was worth it for us. It’s centrally located and in a great neighborhood, but the vibes were kind of off and the service was… bad? But it didn’t matter because we were barely in our room, and I’d rather book something clean and comfortable on points when in a city and spend my money on experiences!
Where I ate
Disclaimer: We committed to a bizarre schedule of eating lunch at 4pm and dinner at 10ish, which really lended a hand to us having some incredible walk-in meals. Like truly some of the best meals of our lives. If you sort of want to stay on NYC time, I actually really recommend this, especially since it stays light out until past 9… And this way, you don’t waste any precious British summer weather/daylight by eating dinner at 7pm!
Coffee/Breakfast
Ozone in Shoreditch was an excellent sit down breakfast option, and I ate some delightful scrambled eggs and banana bread here. They also have a walk-in coffee counter, but the magic for sure is in an un-rushed, sit down breakfast. Book ahead the night before if you want a guaranteed table.
Popham’s in Islington really is that bitch, and she knows it. This is my favorite London bakery to date, and it’s always worth waiting in line for one of their savory ham and cheese croissants and whichever bun you can get your hands on. Also, the hottest people eat here, so the people watching is impeccable. Trust.
I ended up going to Jolene in Shoreditch for breakfast and coffee three times—it’s always reliable, fast, and convenient. Nothing is better than starting the day with a chocolate croissant, and theirs never fails to deliver.
Lunch/dinner spots (without reservations)
Before this trip, I was a Guinness virgin, so I desperately wanted my first stop in town to be the Devonshire in Soho, which is known for having the best Guinness pour in London. If I was gonna try it, I was gonna do it right. I can confirm I hated Guinness, but loved this spot. We walked in easily at 4PM, and balled out and got a late steak lunch with peppercorn sauce and chips while sitting on the roof. It was the perfect intro meal to London, and I know this institution will be in my rotation on further trips.
I ate my weight Black daal and butter chicken at Dishoom in Shoreditch later that night. Our circadian rythyms were still very screwed after the flight delays and the time change, so we ate dinner at 10:45PM and only had to wait ~20 minutes before being seated. Yes, it was during a heatwave, and yes it was 90 degrees out. No, Dishoom obviously didn’t have air conditioning, but the spicy food and sweat was worth it. God, I fucking love Dishoom, and I desperately wish it would come to NYC. I left feeling engorged but renewed.
Bistro Freddie was a very romantic French spot in Shoreditch—think candlelit tables, low lighting, and lovers whispering sweet nothings to each other. Another delish steak dinner was consumed here, along with crisp white wine.
