Category: Do!

This is one of my absolute favorite activities for any guests visiting me in London. Jason’s Trip is a canal boat tour running through Little Venice and Camden. This must-do is for all ages and affordable for everyone! It also shows that you took the time to plan something extra-special for your guests!

I personally like to start the trip off in Little Venice. The boat has a 10:30 departure that gets you up to Camden for around 11:15. This gives you the perfect amount of time needed to walk through the Camden market before grabbing lunch in the area. Not only do you have a nice little boat ride, but now you have a little excursion in a whole new neighborhood. 

 

 
Jason’s Trip takes reservations and only costs £9.50 per person (cash only) for the one-way ride through the canal. That’s less than what an Uber would run you up to Camden! That 45 minute ride is filled with a backyard view of some of the most beautiful homes in London. You float right through Regent’s Park and right by the London Zoo. You’re surrounded by a variety of ducks and birds that are mesmerizing to watch while they fish and then fight each other. All of this is going on while a very impressive host spends the 45 minutes filling you in on the history of the canal and its surroundings. It is a very educational and aesthetically pleasing experience!

  
Then, once you are let off the boat into the Camden Market, you (now a canal connoisseur) can watch the boats heading further, rise and fall with the flow of the Camden locks. It’s a peaceful scene, and I know that you and your guests will appreciate it. 

Now that the nice weather is here, head right to Little Venice and set sail on a memorable journey for you and your loved ones!

 

 
Jason’s Trip
jasons.co.uk

Okay, I need to preface this by explaining that this is a must-do if you find yourself already in Camberwell.  I am not necessarily suggesting this warrants a trip there.  Unfortunately, Camberwell is just not the nicest area. Apparently, it was, at one time, a fashionable area for art and music. It’s also looking like it’s headed in that direction again with the London housing market continuing to swell and gentrification spilling over onto more and more neighborhoods. But until then, the parks and sweet cafes are currently overshadowed by the high-traffic roads like Denmark Hill and Coldharbour Lane.

Very hesitant about the area, I googled a cafe for lunch when I found myself on business in Camberwell with a couple hours to kill. The Love Walk Cafe came up, and while I thought the name was lame (and reminded me of the cheesy Love Hand Bakery in the states) and the website made it look like a chain diner, it looked clean, therefore translating to a safe bet. I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised.  I put my foot in my mouth after slapping myself with it for judging a place so hard by its cover.

 

The actual place is nothing like their website. It’s not generic or outdated. It’s youthful and artsy. You’re encouraged to squeeze right into a community booth and enjoy an oversized cappuccino while you peruse their menu.

The food choices varied, but overall were uncomplicated. I had sweetcorn fritters which tasted very fresh, and were delicious. There were a lot of your typical egg dishes, some sandwiches ready for takeaway, cakes speaking to you from atop the counter–everything you would look for in a cafe. And the place was packed, with patrons squeezing in wherever they could! I clearly had not discovered a well-kept secret.

It was also a cafe for everyone. There were elderly ladies lunching, a couple buddies catching up, business professionals talking shop, and solo gals reading magazines and playing on their phones, all being served by a hustling, friendly staff. It was so nice to find such a wholesome, relaxed cafe that was matched with a great menu. If you ever are (already) in Camberwell, head right over to the Love Walk Cafe!

 

 

Love Walk Cafe
81 Denmark Hill
London SE5 8RS

Westbourne Grove is an upscale retail road in the heart of Notting Hill. Running right through Portobello Road, you can explore this part of the neighborhood during your trip to the famed Portobello Market. Westbourne Grove provides a nice balance to the Portobello Road’s heavy market crowds and lower-end fashion stalls and street food booths. I like to wander through the market on a Saturday with my coffee from Coffee Plant, but ultimately land on Westbourne Grove to eat and do some proper shopping.

The west end of Westbourne Grove is really the focus of this review. After the Chepstow Road intersection, you head to a more practical end of the street, with simpler restaurants and stores for home improvements and weekend errands. But ahh, the west end. The sun-facing restaurants with outdoor tables, the candy colored buildings, the high-end boutiques, and the side streets that lead to even more temptations.

The shops include Club Monaco, Jigsaw, Weekend MaxMara, to name a few, and are surrounded by modern cafes, such as 202–a clothing retailer/restaurant hybrid. There is a Daylesford organic grocery store with inside dining and shopping, but if it’s a nice sunny day, I often purchase a salmon fillet and one of their prepared salads to take outdoors. If the tables out front are unavailable, I will head to the community benches on the large center island that holds the Boris bikes and The Flowered Corner florist.

Heading to Westbourne Grove makes for a nice, sunny lunch after spin class, a great place to catch up with a friend over coffee, or an impressive place to take out-of-town guests. For guests, I usually start the adventure with brunch at Granger, but I’ll get into that another day…

As for today, it looks like it’s going to be a sunny one. A perfect time to head to Westbourne Grove with a book for a coffee, and maybe even to find a new pair of shoes. Anything to make Monday seem a little more tolerable!

Westbourne Grove
W11

Oxford Street is sort of a food desert. You really have to hunt to not fall into a tourist trap or a fast-food chain restaurant. I have always had to search down side streets to find lunch-worthy spots, but haven’t found too many that I would visit a second time.  Well, today my luck changed.  Wandering out of Selfridges and heading north, we headed away from the busy crowded Oxford Street for a little shopping break and for some peace and quiet. After a short walk, we stumbled upon The Ivy Cafe in Marylebone.

 

The Ivy Cafe was everything I needed in that moment. It was on a beautiful, quiet street. It was bustling but had tables available. It was warm and sunny inside. The menu had something for me craving my Sunday cheat meal and my husband who has been dabbling in a low-carb lifestyle. And boy was it pretty. The wall hangings were eclectic but refined. The tableware was clean and sophisticated, like a country club back at home. I was very content to be there and to settle into a corner booth with my hair-of-the-dog mimosa.

My husband enjoyed his low-carb swordfish and broccoli dish and I stuffed my face with eggs benedict, chips, and ketchup. We weren’t exactly in sync today, but we both enjoyed the different meals that were put in front of us. The chips were some of the best I have had in this country, actually (the actual best being up north in Derbyshire). They had a perfect crispy outside with a creamy potato filling. Just heaven!

 

 

But, in true UK fashion, while so many things were on point, the service here fell flat. I think there are two important lessons The Ivy Cafe could stand to learn. One is to always “check back on your table within either two minutes or two bites” after a meal has been delivered. The other is to “never let glasses get less than half full.” If the servers were more attentive and followed these golden rules, I would have had ketchup for my fries sooner and would have been a lot happier. I would have also gotten a second mimosa and been a lot happier and the restaurant would have made more money. Win, win. These simple service adjustments could make a world of a difference to a patron and an establishment. And I just have to add…your salt shakers are silly. The one small hole lets one grain at a time come out after shaking it like I’m bringing it back to life. Some times function needs to outweigh or at least meet fashion.

There, I’ve said my peace, but please do not let a couple criticisms overshadow the truly wonderful restaurant that is The Ivy Cafe. It is a sunny, darling restaurant with a dapper bar and crowd to match. It is a perfect escape from Oxford Street to get full and happy before heading back to Selfridges to spend your life savings.

 

The Ivy Cafe
96 Marylebone Lane
London W1U 2QA

Coffee Plant in West London is hands down my favorite place to take away a delicious flat white, latte or cappuccino. I know that is a bold statement, but my affinity for Coffee Plant has grown so much that I actually started purchasing their espresso beans for the cappuccino machine in my home. The taste is just right. A smooth, rich and dark roast blended with perfectly steamed milk. Too often, at other establishments, I get a “warm” latte. Does anyone ever want a “warm” latte? No, you want it hot. Steam your milk longer please. 

While the decor in Coffee Plant is not very inviting, playing on more of a minimalist, hipster vibe, their location is great. They are located right at the center of Portobello Road and its weekly market. So, next time you are wandering the market and find its too early to start drinking alcohol, step into Coffee Plant for a standard flat white before you continue your stroll through the neighborhood!

 

 
Coffee Plant
180 Portobello Road
London W11 2EB

Portobello Market can fit into every visitors must-do list! Spanning the full distance of Portobello Road, the busy market attracts tens of thousands of visitors each week. Gaining popularity from films, such as Bedknobs and Broomsticks and Notting Hill, and being the central focus of the Notting Hill Carnival, the Portobello Market has earned the spot as a top tourist destination. The market is at its best on Saturdays in the summer months, but even during the week you can find some fresh vegetable stands and musicians earning their supper.

The market begins with an antiques section that leads right to the souvenir shop that was the setting for Hugh Grant’s bookstore in the movie Notting Hill. From there you will pass dozens of food stalls offering everything from prepared paella, cheeseburgers, and falafels to fresh fruit and vegetable stands.

You can also pick up gourmet olive oils, cheeses, and raw and cured meats. Along the path of continuous snacks, treats, t-shirts and tchotchkes, you will find the famous Blue Door. The Blue Door was used as the setting for Hugh Grant’s home in Notting Hill. Be prepared, you may have to wait in line for pictures! Close to the Blue Door is the Notting Hill Bookshop. This bookshop is made to look similar to Hugh’s shop in the movie, but filming did not actually take place there. Even still, the bench out front makes for a cute photo op.

Keep making your way through the market and you will get to the fashion stalls.  This area of the market, just under the Westway Flyover, is a thrift store enthusiast’s dream. It is comprised of rows and rows of each type of every used, retro, vintage piece of clothing and accesssories imaginable.

Just across the way from the fashion booths is the Acklam Village. This area off of the market has high energy with music blasting to entertain the crowd indulging in the street food stalls. Through the village of tasty treats, you will find a bar and even a “beach”! Real sand is brought in during the summer months to allow Londoners a place to chill out in a lounge chair with a cold drink in their hands!

The last section of the market takes you through stalls of home furnishings. This includes everything from chairs to cattle skulls. It truly is a treasure hunt and some days you may get very lucky with an amazing find.

This is just the basic outline of the Portobello Market. There are many items to be discovered and a lot of side streets to wander down once you find yourself on Portobello Road. I take every visitor to the market and embrace the energy, culture, and colors that is Notting Hill.

 

Portobello Road
W11

From the same masterminds that brought us Soho House, the Electric Diner, and Pizza East (just to name a few), is a low-fuss rotisserie joint called Chicken Shop. I paid a visit to their Kentish Town location and had an awesome experience. The restaurant aims to serve consistent, high-quality organic chicken, and doesn’t disappoint. Nor do they fuss around with anything else. The menu is chicken and chicken only. You can get a quarter, whole or half bird, right off the rotisserie spit. Nicely seasoned and salted, it’s served with a few side sauces and a wedge of lemon. The only variety on the menu are a few tasty sides and of course a nice selection of beers.

My husband and I headed there on a weeknight, totally relaxed in jeans and sneaks, and bellied up to their oversized bar that doubled as a kitchen island. We had a front row seat of the open kitchen and were mesmerized by the cooks effortless flow of frying, salting, plating, and chopping. We had a couple beers, a whole chicken (which provided leftovers), a side of fries, and an order of corn on the cob. Everything was great. I did have a huge craving for a side of corn bread when I was there, but maybe that was just the American in me and the similarities between Chicken Shop and a U.S. BBQ joint.

(Simple fare at Chicken Shop in Kentish Town)

My corn bread craving was actually satisfied when we got to dessert. Their limited list of desserts offered one of the best apple pies I have ever had in my life. Although it was nothing similar to a traditional apple pie, I am still daydreaming about the dish. Your typical pie is to have a light, flaky, golden crust. This was more of an apple grunt (or a type of cobble) that was served deep dish, scooped tableside onto your plate, and had a cakey moist topping. This cake topping is what cured my corn bread needs and put the apple pie on my all-time favorite dessert list.

So, head to Chicken Shop for a chill night and delicious versions of basic staples. Beer, chicken, and pie. What more do we really need?

 

Chicken Shop
Downstairs
79 Highgate Road
London NW5 ITL

Great Mexican is hard to find in London. In the U.S., authentic Mexican and Tex-Mex style restaurants are a staple to most neighborhoods. Here, the Mexican population is much smaller than the states, as is the Mexican restaurant community. According to a recent U.K. census, only about 10,000 Mexicans are living in the U.K., compared to the 35 million residing in the U.S. Therefore, it is not surprising why finding delicious Mexican cuisine is a challenge. Being at the top of my favorite fare, I try any Mexican restaurant I come across, and have a long list of which ones hit the mark and which ones do not. I can say that Santo, at the top of Portobello Road in Notting Hill, does not disappoint.

Santo is a relaxed hotspot, perfect for any day of the week.  I have been visiting the restaurant since I first came to London, for weekend dinners with friends and last-minute weeknight meals when I didn’t feel like cooking.  Reservations are an absolute must. They can usually squeeze you in on the weeknights, but you might have to be flexible for them to accommodate you on the weekends. So why is Santo always so packed?

The atmosphere is great. Super chill. The roadside outdoor seating is perfect for people watching, and the inside tables are close to the giant open windows that you get to feel the best of both worlds. The back room is colorful and the entire restaurant buzzes with the energy of a full house.

The drinks and food are delicious. I always opt for a jalapeño margarita (or two, maybe three) and an assortment of tacos. Unfortunately, the price is a little steep for a Mexican joint.  Santo is really more of a tapas place, with their tiny delicious tacos and quesadillas that you can gobble up in two bites. It has the menu of a cool, hipster food-truck, but at premium prices. An impromptu weeknight meal usually runs us about £80.00. But we keep coming back for more. We all do.

So, go check it out and see why their tables are filled every Tuesday-Saturday, next time you’re on the famed Portobello Road. On market days, they expand their hours to open for lunch which can make for a great day out.  

 
Santo
299 Portobello Road
London W10 5TD

Marylebone’s The Cavendish restaurant is the right amount of everything. It’s a hip gastropub for a Happy Hour cocktail, a smart lounge for a nightcap, and an elegant spot for a special meal. I particularly recommend it for a sunny, afternoon. If you find yourself wandering the Marylebone High Street shops around lunchtime, stop into The Cavendish for one of the most impressive lunch specials around. At just £18.00, the gourmet chefs prepare you two over-sized courses. You leave full and happy which is pretty rare for a discounted lunch deal.

We did not have a reservation, but they had plenty of room to accommodate us for our impromptu business lunch. We sat upstairs at a bright and warm table by a window. The boutique decor and finishing touches were very impressive. The waitstaff was polite and  always available, yet not over-bearing. The food was delicious.

 

(Beautiful butter at The Cavendish)

 

Now, here comes the caveat. The Cavendish has a reputation of being over-priced. This is why I am highlighting their lunch specials because it really is a great value. Previously, I wasn’t as impressed due to the price, and also the amount of unneeded fuss that goes into justifying those prices. While finishing a scampi dish tableside is a cool novelty, is it really necessary? Once, I was feeling a little down for missing the stateside Kentucky Derby. In true Derby fashion, I ordered a Mint Julep at the bar. They casually asked if I wanted the premium version which I accepted, not realizing that it came with a premium price tag of £20.00! That over-priced Julep ended up taking twice as long to make. I’ve expressed my frustrations with waiting for craft cocktails before, but I thought paying more was supposed to get you things faster? Not here.

But, aside from those small grievances, The Cavendish is still a cool restaurant in a great area. I will be back for their lunch offer with colleagues, in for cocktails with friends, and there for dinner with my husband. Maybe I’ll see you there.

(Green never looked so good at The Cavendish)

(A few of my favorite things at The Cavendish)

 

The Cavendish
35 New Cavendish Street
London W1G 9TR