Category: Do!

Everything about The Cross Keys is outstanding. If you haven’t been to the bustling Chelsea pub, get there, ASAP. The Cross Keys really defines the pub culture, welcoming all–the young, the old, families, dogs, your average joe, and even Prince Harry! It’s a pub for all with a menu everyone can get behind. 

The place is much larger than you would expect from the outside. You walk in to a cozy and crammed eating and drinking space, which at first can be intimidating, but once through the initial craziness, you make your way to a relaxed bar and a spacious dining room. The dining area is beautiful and very large in open compared to most London pubs. We arrived a little early and had to stand by the bar while they set up our table. And we were totally in the way. The poor servers and drink runners had to weave around our small group for a good ten minutes, yet they never showed a sign of irritation towards our group. Each time they walked by, they smiled and apologized. We were clearly in their service area, but that was just fine with them. They definitely get an A+ for great attitudes and “the customer is always right” mentalities. 

The Cross Keys
1 Lawrence Street
London SW3 5NB

Berners Tavern, while a bit of a scene, is a must-do simply due to its grand decor. The Fitzrovia restaurant doesn’t have a meal I can’t live without, or even a menu of amazing options I can’t decide between, but, boy, is it pretty. 

I don’t even think pretty is the right word. It’s glamorous. And grand. Like you’re stepping into an old Hollywood hotel for dinner and not a London hotspot. Rich colors, chandeliers, circular leather booths, high ornate ceilings, a grand illuminated bar, and then, there’s the wall decor. The walls are dressed with hundreds of paintings in gilded frames of different shapes and sizes with unique detailing. It is a sight to see and seems simple with this common structured theme, yet wildly decadent. I will continue to visit Berners Tavern so it can continue to set a romantic tone for special nights with my husband or to impress guests with the grandiose scenery you will not find anywhere else.

If only the Berners’ menu could be as eye-catching as its decor. I went with a group of people and every single person got the steak. The meal was good, not-over-the-top outstanding, but good. It really stood out to me, though, that no one was really willing to try anything else. Even my husband and I will usually get different items so we can swap half-way through, but nothing at all stood out to us. So beware. It is a heavily British, traditional menu, so if British fare is not your thing, you might get stuck.

After the mediocrity of dinner, we braced for dessert. The Flaming Alaska was beautiful and tasty, but my dessert, the berry pavlova, was awful. So over-the-top sweet that we only could have a few bites. The meringue, berries and the berry coulis was all too much. A complete overload. They should have cut the berry sweetness with some type of a pastry cream filling, a whipped cream topping, or a creme anglais drizzle. Anything, but what was served. 

I hope everyone had a spooky, safe, crazy-fun, sugar-filled week. In honor of Halloween, four of us hopped on the London Ghost Bus Tour this weekend!  I had seen these 1960’s Routemaster buses on the busy London streets before, and added the activity on my own, personal London Checklist. I decided to reserve this unique opportunity for the scariest time of year, and while it wasn’t necessary, I’m kind of glad I did.

The night was just right. A little misty, the streets a little damp, the sights and sounds of Halloween excitement around the city and in the air. Four of us waited at the Northumberland bus stop for our Ghost Bus to collect us. We were surrounded with other suspecting folks, some dressed up to really get into the spirit of this (black) magical holiday. 

It was also very different to take a tour at night, after dark. Our ride started at 6:30, so you got to see all of London’s famous sights in their eveningwear, with dramatic and sometimes colorful lighting. Something you might take for granted when you’re in an Uber on your way to dinner like any other weekend night. The ride lasted for about an hour and fifteen minutes, which was a perfect amount of time. I found the £23.50 price very reasonable for an all-in-one tour and comedy show, though I could see the experience going very bad if the host/actor wasn’t very captivating. The guy we had was hilarious. His delivery was dry and on point every time. True English humor at its finest, and I believe he made the experience. I can’t say whether or not all of The Ghost Bus Tour hosts are as impressive, but this man sure made the trip worth it. 

In summary, if you want to try something different and not be stuck inside now that the cold weather has struck, hop on The Ghost Bus Tour for something new! It’s a silly, spooky experience sure to put you in a good mood and teach you a thing or two about London’s dark history.

Side note: Shame on the woman that brought her young children on the tour. It is not appropriate whatsoever for children under at least 7. This woman’s 2 and 3 year-olds were loud and unable to hold their attention towards the host which made it hard for the adult guests to hear. Then, were brought to tears once the madness started. They’re probably scarred for life now, all because this lady didn’t want to get a babysitter or do a little research. For appropriate-aged guests, though, enjoy!

I’ll keep this “Do” short and sweet for you folks. If you’re looking for a sceney bar for a quick cocktail, waltz on in to The London Edition Hotel’s front Lobby Bar. 

The place is sexy and grand with a cocktail menu to match. Each drink is prepared with precision and pride. The talented bartenders know all the tricks–flipping bottles and pouring top-shelf liquids into glasses a few feet away from their shakers. When the drink finally gets to you, it tastes like magic. And, I think the price tag is just right for the effort and care that go into these libations. 

The London Edition
Lobby Bar
10 Berner’s Street
London W1T 3NP

Well this is just a delightful little do! B Bakery’s Afternoon Tea sounds like a gimmick that could be nothing more than  a very overpriced tourist trap–I mean it’s an Afternoon Tea on a double-decker red bus, what’s more of a London stereotype than that? But in reality, it’s a special activity that is unique, fun, and appropriate for Londoners and foreigners alike. I was really, really impressed. After so many tourist trap nightmares like the London Dungeon, and even tea “don’ts” like the Ritz (!), it was nice to find something unusual the city has to offer that is actually at an appropriate price point and something I would recommend to others.

The bus itself is adorable. Just down from Trafalgar Square, you wait at a special bus stop for a vintage double-decker to barrel down the street. A girlfriend and I hopped  on the 12:30 tour and headed to the top level for our VIP reserved table. I really think we had the best seat in the house. There are about six tables on each level, and we had all the way at the front. A two seater booth and table with a full view of London! Sure the old bus didn’t provide the smoothest, quietest ride in the world, but we were happy to explore London in a whole new way.

Each seat was stocked with an assortment of typical tea sandwiches and treats, as well as cutlery and a fresh squeezed orange juice. Once the bus was in motion, the most charming staff said their introductions, and began making their rounds for tea and coffee orders. 

The staff was made up of young, expat boys that were definitely not shy and had their little tour and comedic lines down pat. They included the group with a few questions regarding some of London’s big landmarks. I was extremely proud of myself, getting the most right against actual English people. If only I can carry such skills into my pub quiz nights! 

I had tea because you kind of have to, but my friend had coffee and we were both pleased. The drinks were served in plastic coffee tumblers that were illustrated with a B Bakery bus tour London design. The cute little sippy cups were ours to take home after the tour, which was a nice little treat. 

Speaking of treats, let me now tell you about the food. I thought the B Bakery did a fantastic job on this tour. Probably because the tour is put on by an actual bakery that makes and takes pride in their quality food. I liked everything from the savory sandwiches to the cakes and tarts. My only criticism is that the scones (my favorite part) get brought around at the very end after you stuffed yourself not thinking anything more is coming. I would include everything up front, but, at least they offer little boxes to package up your leftovers. Very thoughtful!

Other tips:

-Use the bathroom first. There’s not one on board.

-Bring your own booze! The ladies next to us brought a bottle of champagne that the servers happily poured for them in plastic flutes.

-Book early! This will get you a top-level VIP seat which is absolutely worth it and even necessary in my opinion.

-Remember, scones come later! Don’t overdo if.

-Have some change on you to tip the boys at the end. They’re worth it.

-Wear some nice and warm layers and accessories. The bus is very chilly but it’s hard to eat with a bulky coat!

That about sums up my experience on the B Bakery Afternoon Tea Bus Tour. It’s a lovely little experience to try with the ladies in your life. The £60 is well worth this unique and tasty London adventure! Enjoy!
B Bakery Afternoon Tea Bus Tour
No 8 Northumberland Avenur
Trafalgar Square

This is a “Do” with multiple exclamation marks, underlined, bolded in neon pink, and maybe sprinkled with some glitter. I love NOPI. You may have read my previous post praising Ottolenghi for a morning must-do, well, here’s their grown-up sister, an amazing restaurant for a truly wonderful evening out. 

Head to Soho to find many Yotam Ottolenghi masterpieces, served as small, colorful, sharing plates in a beautiful setting. The Middle-Eastern inspired restaurant is known for its intense flavors packed into these high-veggie, quality dishes. Everything is truly outstanding and you don’t feel overly-stuffed or guilty afterwards!

This was my second time dining at NOPI. Once again, I remind myself I need to go more often. The main reason I don’t is really due to my husband. While he can appreciate all the amazing tastes and flavors, he considers NOPI a place to take the girls. He, like many men, is a section eater that prefers a giant steak and a big cheesy or potato side. He thinks that women appreciate the tapas-style, little bite, a thousand-ingredient dining over white wine more than men do, and that he should be exempt from such experiences. So now, I take my girlfriends and enjoy saying “OMG”and “I can’t even” after each taste of one of the 5-6 recommended sharing plates per couple. 

When I returned to NOPI this weekend, I was again impressed by its clean lines and simple, modern decor. The white ceiling and walls keep the place bright, but still soft with tactful uplighting and rich gold adornments. The place steals the show, that is, until the food arrives. 

After a couple signature cocktails and later settling on a nice wine, my girlfriend and I chose to share three small plates and one main. Everything was outstanding and we declared each dish our favorite at some point in the night. The courgette fritters were perfectly crisp outside, but had a moist, soft interior that almost reminded me of the best Thanksgiving stuffing you’ve ever had–with a Middle-Eastern twist. The burrata helped me feel less guilty about not having room for dessert. Served with a plum wine sauce and nectarines, it ticked the sweet box. And the Valdeón cheesecake. This rich quiche was held in a Parmesan crust and topped with beets and almonds. It was a showstopper. When we thought we had enough, out came our chickpea pancake. A spicy end to an amazing feast. We finished our meal amazed at how so many flavors can stand against each other and come through so boldly in these four vegetarian dishes. Truly works of culinary art. 

Once again, A+ for NOPI. This is a London Checklist must-do of the highest caliber. So, head to the Soho hot spot and see for yourself. Enjoy!
NOPI
21-22 Warwick Street
London W1B 5NE