What Brooklyn is to New York City, Shoreditch is certainly the same to London. Located on the Eastern side of the city, this area is full of cool shops and restaurants, including The Clove Club, located in the old Shoreditch Town Hall. The menu is pretty casual, and so is the crowd. Expect wild game … Continued
Power breakfast. Power lunch. Impress your out-of-town friends with a bold call for brunch. You will, admittedly, be dining with a fair amount of tourists, (you are, after all, next to The Ritz, along busy Piccadilly near the Green Park Tube stop). Dinner was less impressive, so stick to daytime excursions here, and try not … Continued
I don’t usually get excited about Italian food in London, but Bocca is in such a great neighborhood, near several Tube stops (Leicester Square is closest), there’s a good chance you’ll be in the area. One of my other favorites – Barrafina – is just a few blocks away. Sit at the enormous counter and … Continued
This relatively swanky Northern Indian restaurant near Covent Garden may look like it’s for tourists, but when I saw a half-dozen serious Indian men all dressed in blazers during my lunch, I knew the kitchen wouldn’t be dialing down the garam masala on my account. It’s a culinary journey down India’s Grand Trunk Road, and … Continued
Located just 10 minutes from the West End, in Clerkenwell, this is my go-to spot for a great cocktail before heading out for dinner. You feel as if you’ve stepped into a Victorian hunting lodge designed by someone with an off-beat sense of humor. There’s a hotel here as well; just a 5-min. walk from … Continued
Neighborhood gems can be hard to find in London, which has so many nooks and crannies. The typical joint is a fish & chips shop, but St. John defies that stereotype. Located in Smithfield, St. John has become the ultimate nose-to-tail restaurant, led by Fergus Henderson (who essentially wrote the book on the subject). The … Continued
There are two locations in London. One in trendy Shoreditch, on the city’s East Side, the other in busy Covent Garden. If you can, visit the Shoreditch location, which has that feeling of an old Irani Cafe from Bombay at the turn-of-the-century. A great place to hang out anytime of day, begin your morning with … Continued
Tucked into the back of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, with sweeping views of Hyde Park, Blumenthal reinterprets classic British dishes, pegging each one’s year of origin on the menu. Blumenthal is known for The Fat Duck, one of the world’s best restaurants, way out in Bray, but here in the city, you can do a … Continued
Named for English wormwood ale, this dim London bar features cocktails crafted with a chemist’s precision. Purl 50-54 Blandford Street, London W1U 7HX, United Kingdom; +44 20 7935 0835
The unfussy wine bar showcases organic, artisanal selections. Terroirs 5 William IV Street, London WC2N 4DW, United Kingdom; +44 20 7036 0660
The Mayfair hotel in which Runyard Kipling wrote the Jungle Book has a soft sophistication and easy luxury. All the amenities, including a full spa. Brown’s Hotel 33 Albemarle Street, London W1S 4BP, United Kingdom; +44 20 7493 6020