The London Checklist

Next time you’re in East London and need to kill some time, head to Hatch. This hipster coffee shop has cozy lounge chairs and couches for lazy visits and casual catchups with friends, or erect chairs and hard surfaces for working meetings. Whatever you’re looking for, Hatch is there with wifi and good food and hot drinks to keep you going.

I stopped in Hatch with a colleague before a business meeting down the road. We had an hour to kill and stumbled upon the large quirky cafe. The outside of the building is bold and graffiti-esque, and despite the sign that said “closed”, we saw the open door and the long line as a sign that it was okay to come in. 

I ordered a cappuccino, which was an easy decision, but had a harder time deciding on a breakfast item. Everything looked really good. There were croissants, pastries, and cakes to choose from. I was torn between the lemon polenta cake and the vegan chocolate banana bread. I went with the banana bread and was pleased with the taste and the fact it came toasted with perfectly lined grill marks. 

And, the place is really cute inside. Arranged like the set of a 1950s play, the Hatch reminds me of the fake rooms on my elementary school auditorium stage. Quirky props thrown together because they were left in the theater area.  Voila, we have a kitchen, dining room, and entryway! But seriously, it’s a cute place. 

So, see for yourself and head to Hatch for a low-key break and a good coffee next time you are in Homerton. It won’t disappoint.

Hatch
Unit 62
Mackintosh Lane
Homerton 
London E9 6AB

If you find yourself in Central London, head to one of my favorite places to spend a sunny day. St. James’s Park is right in the center of it all–a beautiful path between Buckingham Palace and the road to Parliament. St. James’s is my favorite park in all of London. It’s not as flat as Hyde Park, is surrounded by so much beautiful architecture, and filled with exotic birds and cute critters. All of this beauty can be taken in from the park’s restaurant–and today’s must-do–Inn the Park.


Inn the Park is a contemporary restaurant housed in a sleek building that sits nicely right in the center of the park. The modern build sits sharply against the park’s pond, but doesn’t take away from the beauty in the flowering trees and landscaping that surrounds it.

The food is really nice. It’s not going to amaze you, per se, but it’s going to be really lovely to sit out on a beautiful deck with a cocktail and fresh flavors and watch the beauty of London and nature.

Don’t get me wrong, everything I had at Inn the Park was delicious. I had a well-balanced crab and avocado salad and the pea soup of the day. The food was presented beautifully and the green colors of the dishes popped out like the grass surrounding the restaurant. Everything was nicely portioned and the right temperature. The service could have been a little bit speedier, but overall, the staff was fine. I dined with my visiting family and they too enjoyed their meals and experience. It turned out to be a perfect afternoon!


It definitely helped visiting on the nicest day of the year we have had to date. The deck and park experience was enhanced, as were the smiles on our kinda drunk faces. But, the inside decor is not too shabby either, so I’m sure a not-so-nice day would still seem nice dining inside Inn the Park. Go check it out for a weekend day date or a family brunch and let me know. Enjoy! 

Inn the Park
St. James’s Park
London SW1A 2BJ

DO, DO, DO! That is all.

Okay, I’ll elaborate. Ottolenghi, on Ledbury Road in Notting Hill, is a small bakery and prepared food shop. This little shop holds the world’s best pastries. This is a bold statement, I know, but I dare you to prove otherwise. I have had multiple guests confirm my belief that you will not find a better almond croissant. Anywhere.

While the flow of the shop is not my favorite, it gets very crowded and difficult to browse, order, pay, and then wait for coffee, the visuals are impressive. In the states it is extremely unusual (and against most health codes) to have open air displays of unwrapped pastries. Here, the trays and tiers of pastries and cakes are naked in all their glory, just begging for their pictures to be taken. 



The delicious confections are brought to you by famed chef Yotam Ottolenghi, who is known for his cookbooks and restaurants.  Ottolenghi has mastered Israeli and British small plate, big flavor cuisine and is at the top of the dessert/pastry game in London and across the globe.

I haven’t met an item I didn’t like at Ottolenghi. I have had an ongoing love affair with the almond croissant (which is as heavy as a brick) and have flirted with its cousin, the almond pain au chocolat.  I’ve toyed with the other almond-based items, like the apricot tarts, and have savored a polenta cake or two. I always go back to my old faithful, but I know, if I don’t get there early enough and the croissants are sold out, I will be just as happy with anything else.

I recommend stopping in Ottolenghi early for a breakfast treat anytime, but definitely with out-of-town guests. The shop windows are very impressive and everyone I bring in is always wowed by the Ottolenghi experience. It’s also a great place for guests to purchase little grocery gifts to take home and enjoy when London becomes a memory. It’s also right around the corner from Westbourne Grove, so it is the perfect first stop for a window shopping stroll or a walk to Hyde Park! So, next time the sun is shining, don’t walk, RUN to Ottolenghi!!

Ottolenghi 
63 Ledbury Road
London W11 2AD

Another weekend, another day in Oxford Circus.  I can’t seem to stay away from the shopping capital of London, but with upcoming vacations and weddings to attend, I don’t really have a choice. My list of summer necessities seems endless, but I am in good hands at the many shopping destinations off of Oxford Street and Regents Street. I’ve already reviewed one of the department stores that owns me, Selfridges, and now it’s time to tell you about Liberty. 

Located on Great Marlborough Street, just off Regents Street, you cannot miss the 1920s Tudor revival that was fashioned out of the timbers of two ships! It stands out, wonky and impressive, against the chain stores and muted buildings that curve through Oxford Circus. Liberty is beautiful both inside and out. The exterior and interior shell is home to  thousands of the nicest items London has to offer. Liberty is a boutique one-stop shop for everything from skincare and makeup, to very fine and contemporary men and women’s fashions, to gorgeous one-of-a-kind housewares. Where Selfridges has the quantity, Liberty has the quality. Amazing selections of everything under one spectacular roof. 

Head to Liberty to find your summer essentials or to wow your guests with the most beautiful shopping environment they might ever see. And if it’s around Christmas, make sure you check out their top level Christmas floor! 

Liberty 
Great Marlborough Street
London W1B 5AH

The Aussie hot spot chain, Granger, is a must-do and has a home right on Westbourne Grove in Notting Hill. It is a great option for the patient soul willing to brave the sometimes not-so-favorable London elements and queue in their first-come, first-serve line. The restaurant is worth the wait, though, serving brunch hits in a chic, sunny setting.

The line is formed outside, so the wait, usually ranging from about 20 minutes to an hour–depending on your party size or time of day, can be pretty chilly and feel very long. But the wait kind of makes you appreciate the experience even more. Once you are on the edge of hypothermia and starvation, the host grants you access  into the land of warmth and ricotta pancakes, and you are so, so grateful.

The restaurant is beautiful. It’s bigger and brighter than a lot of London restaurants. Sunshine pours through the giant walls of windows, complimenting the cream and chartreuse hues against the warm wood ceiling. The light fixtures are very cool with a raw plaster look, and all of the artwork is clean and unique. Every aspect of the place is beautiful and they have an amazing menu to match. The food is the real reason Granger has a cult following, the decor and sharp staff are just added bonuses. 

Granger is best known for its ricotta pancakes. The fluffy, moist cakes are covered with a honeycomb butter, maple syrup and served alongside bananas. They are a showstopper. I bring every visitor to Granger to taste the brunch hit, and numerous guests have said they are the best pancakes they have ever tasted. Bold statements for a bold dish.  Everything else on the menu is equally as delicious. There are fresh bellinis in beautiful glasses, expertly whipped eggs plated in a perfect spiral, English bacon with griddle designs, and healthy ginger immunity shots. Something for everyone with their mix of fresh-pressed juices, guilty pleasure sweets and full flavor English and Australian classics. 


I promise, a visit to Granger will not disappoint. Bring your mother, sister, boyfriend, best friend–whoever, just get there. It could be the perfect start to a spring weekend, a hangover cure, or a guest’s itinerary highlight. Head to Notting Hill’s Westbourne Grove, and enjoy!

Granger
175 Westbourne Grove
London W11 2SB

If you’re planning a fall trip to London, you might want to consider experiencing Guy Fawkes Night, otherwise known as Bonfire Night. It’s a wild night and unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Most expats I talk to find this entire concept very confusing. A wintery celebration to recognize a bad guy? 

Guy Fawkes, the man of the night, apparently tried and failed to blow up parliament in 1605. Now there is a night either honoring his boldness or his capture, I’m not exactly sure which. And no one seems to be able to give me a straight answer. But it’s fine, since with it comes a lot of fun. Set on November 5th, an otherwise boring time of year, you get to congregate with a rowdy crowd and watch fireworks, a huge bonfire, and drink your face off.

My venue of choice is Battersea Park. Their fireworks display is held on the Saturday on or following Guy Fawkes Night. The park becomes the venue for an impressive ticketed food fair surrounding large bonfire and fireworks displays. Around 50,000 people come together to eat and drink around pallets stacked far above the crowd and cheer as they’re set on fire to create the biggest bonfire imaginable. This was the scene of my youth–pallet fires, a bunch of hicks, townies, and teenagers in the woods swigging beer from Bud bottles. Even though, in Battersea, we were sipping on mulled wine, it was kind of nice to see this down-to-earth side of the city that briefly reminded me of home.

With the bonfire also came a very impressive fireworks display. The American in me still cannot not wrap my head around fall fireworks. Who wants to stand outside in the freezing cold to appreciate such beauty? Isn’t it way better to put a blanket down, lay in shorts and a tank top watching the stars before the show begins? Sipping vodka drinks out of thermoses? Listening to some country music with the tailgate down? Ahhh, America.

Anyway, the Battersea Fireworks Display is a pretty amazing one. Reasonably priced at about £10, it’s a long, colorful show in a nice little location. I enjoyed the beautiful walk across the Albert Bridge into the closed off park. I had some nice drinks with great friends and watched one of England’s oldest traditions come alive right before my eyes. It was definitely a great place to experience my first Bonfire Night. I highly recommend.

Battersea Fireworks Display
Battersea Park
London

For a unique London experience, head to Brixton to find one of London’s most diverse and Bohemian neighborhoods. Located in Lambeth, south of the river, Brixton is a hip, youthful area that attracts many visitors for one of its famed markets, Brixton Village. This breezy arcade, on the corner of Coldharbour Lane and Atlantic Road, includes a jumble of restaurants, food stalls, and goods for sale. The attraction houses 128 traders that offer everything from fresh raw fish, to wedding cakes, to handmade tapestries. It is nice to warm yourself with a coffee and wander through the aisles and eclectic shops or sit down and watch the market excitement from one of the little restaurants.

My experience at Brixton Village was different than the day-to-day Notting Hill life–a breath of fresh air. The area is gritty and colorful, almost reminiscent of being on an island vacation. This is probably due to the neighborhoods long-standing Caribbean roots. The actual market is right next to the popular hipster scene, Pop Brixton, so the vibe all around is new and cool. Some areas of the market are a little darker and dirtier than others, so I felt myself clutching my belongings a little tighter, but overall, within the arcade, I found it safe and comfortable. I perused a few little shops while deciding on a place for lunch. The food choices seemed endless, but I was sold on the Senzala Creperie after noticing some healthy vegan options on their menu. I’m not vegan, or even vegetarian, but during the week, I usually make it a goal to eat as healthy and lean as I can.  I usually fail miserably, but everyone needs goals, right?

Senzala Creperie was delicious! I had their vegan Rosa Squash crepe (but made it vegetarian by adding gorgonzola #yolo), which included a filling of tomato chutney, butternut squash, zucchini, red pepper confit, arugula, and almonds. It was reasonably priced, a giant portion, and oh so flavorful! I sat in the little window, enjoying the passer-bys, and sipping a cappuccino. It was a lovely restaurant experience with an unusual backdrop. I highly recommend it.

And I’m sure the other restaurants are just as adorable inside and delicious. If I had more time and a larger appetite, I would have stayed there all day, sampling all of the baked goods and cocktails, while getting lost in rows of housewares, clothing, meats, cheeses, and produce. It was enough time, however, to learn that the Brixton Village is a must-do for a very cool view of London.

Brixton Village
Atlantic Road and Coldharbour Lane
London