As the wind blows, the calming scent of lavender pours in through the open car window. We’re close. We drive a good few metres forward and then we see it. A gigantic field speckled with the colour purple. Rows of lavender roll on for miles. It looks even better than the pictures on Google. We’veContinue reading “Pick your own lavender in Hitchin”
Category Archives: London
Aim for bullseye at darts joint Flight Club
Darts just got cool. For a long time it’s been a game associated with old men and dated pubs – but that’s all been thrown out the window now thanks to Flight Club. This fairground-themed bar brings fancy computerised score-keeping and exciting team-based knockout games to make darts fun and social. Think of what Top Golf did forContinue reading “Aim for bullseye at darts joint Flight Club”
Step into the home of Charles Darwin at Down House
A visit to the gorgeous, sprawling estate in Downe, Kent, makes for a wonderful day out. Once home to Charles Darwin and his family, the beautifully restored, classically English Down House is a short journey from London. Whether you know much about the father of evolution or not, it doesn’t matter, for you will leaveContinue reading “Step into the home of Charles Darwin at Down House”
A night of mayhem at Bogan Bingo
Bingo has shaken off its granny rep in recent years thanks to the likes of Rebel Bingo and Musical Bingo et al, and with live comedy game show Bogan Bingo it takes another entertaining and rowdy turn. Presented by a couple of awesome bogan (derogatory Aussie term for an uncouth, poorly educated person) bingo callers, the focusContinue reading “A night of mayhem at Bogan Bingo”
Munch on Indian tapas at Talli Joe
Cast aside everything that comes to mind when you think of an Indian restaurant – i.e. piles of poppadoms, giant pots of curry and stacks of naan – because Talli Joe is nothing like its counterparts. Specialising in small plates (read: Indian tapas) and cocktails, this Shaftesbury Avenue restaurant does things with a twist. InContinue reading “Munch on Indian tapas at Talli Joe”
Bubblewrap: Insta-famous bubble waffle store is opening in Chinatown
The Hong Kong-inspired bubble waffle cone doing the rounds on Instagram is setting up shop in Chinatown from 8 March. For the past two years, Tony Fang, founder of the aptly named brand Bubblewrap – which started life as his university project at Imperial College Business School in 2015 – has been serving up these yummy waffles (£6~Continue reading “Bubblewrap: Insta-famous bubble waffle store is opening in Chinatown”
Cook your own dinner at Hot Pot in Chinatown
A new restaurant dedicated to the ancient Chinese communal dining activity known as ‘hot pot’ has opened in the heart of Chinatown. The appropriately named Hot Pot, a Bangkok-based chain, has opened this first London outpost on Wardour Street. Hot pot is a process of cooking ingredients in a boiling broth, then seasoning them with aContinue reading “Cook your own dinner at Hot Pot in Chinatown”
Mercato Metropolitano: the Italian-themed foodie space in Borough
Pictures don’t do Mercato Metropolitano any justice. Neither does its website. Nor does its unassuming entrance, which is merely lit up by a string of fairy lights come nightfall. You’d miss it if you didn’t know it was there… And that would be a shame. What is it? Mercato Metropolitano is an Italian-themed casual foodie space slash indoorContinue reading “Mercato Metropolitano: the Italian-themed foodie space in Borough”
Build your own cheeseboard at Vivat Bacchus
If cheese makes you happy, you need to try the ‘Cheese room experience’ at South African steak restaurant and wine bar, Vivat Bacchus. At its two branches in London Bridge and Farringdon, you can go into the special cheese room with an expert and build your own cheeseboard (from £14.90). What makes this experience so great isContinue reading “Build your own cheeseboard at Vivat Bacchus”
Time to play at the board games café
Fed up with hearing about gimmicky hipster cafés? Me too. But here’s one without the gimmick that’s worth hunting down: London’s first (and only) board games café, Draughts. If the thought of Monopoly, Cluedo, Hungry Hippos, Articulate, Scrabble, Game of Life and 400 other games excites you, you’re well overdue a visit. This place isn’tContinue reading “Time to play at the board games café”
Tired of adulting? Head to the grown-up ball pit bar BallieBallerson
When you feel tired of adulting in London, there’s an amazeballs place you should go. It’s where you’ll find all the big kids (note: actual kids aren’t allowed), and it involves a DJ, retro-sweet-themed cocktails and, most importantly, a ball pit for grown-ups… Very fitting for a #throwbackthursday, this bar and underground ball pit goes byContinue reading “Tired of adulting? Head to the grown-up ball pit bar BallieBallerson”
Flat Iron Square: the new foodie spot near Borough Market
A new food and drink market has opened its doors near London Bridge, and is just a short walk from rival Borough Market. What differentiates this vast space, however, is that it is open from Monday to Sunday, 10am until late and there is ample seating, making it a good spot for lunch, dinnerContinue reading “Flat Iron Square: the new foodie spot near Borough Market”
Malaysia Fest is back in Trafalgar Square this Saturday
Malaysia Fest, UK’s largest celebration of Malaysian cuisine and culture, returns to Trafalgar Square this Saturday. The free festival is on from midday to 10pm, and a large part of it will be taken up by a Malaysian food market, with approximately 20 restaurants offering a variety of dishes all priced around the £5Continue reading “Malaysia Fest is back in Trafalgar Square this Saturday”
On cloud nine with candy floss and ice cream in Covent Garden
After the hype of ice cream cookie sandwiches (Blu Top, Chin Chin Labs) and ice cream macaroons (Yolkinmacice), now Londoners can get soft serve ice cream – basically posh Mr Whippy – served in a candy floss cloud, thanks to new dessert cafe Milk Train. Located just behind Covent Garden, Milk Train offers three flavoursContinue reading “On cloud nine with candy floss and ice cream in Covent Garden”
Beer and Buns in Liverpool Street
Japanese beers (and sake) and fluffy buns (and wings) are the order of the evening at Beer & Buns. And they come with an extra side of fun – foosball and pinball tables… and sake bombs. Sake bombs (pictured left) require a little bit of explanation – a shot of sake arrives balanced on chopsticks aboveContinue reading “Beer and Buns in Liverpool Street”
Scoffing sourdough pizza at Franco Manca
It comes as no surprise that sourdough pizza chain Franco Manca has been named the best Italian restaurant in the UK by Yelp users. It was only earlier this year that I was introduced to the restaurant myself – yet it’s rapidly become one of my favourite places to eat out, and I’ve been ravingContinue reading “Scoffing sourdough pizza at Franco Manca”
Refuel at Pump Shoreditch
Popcorn chicken, bubble waffles, chilli cheese fries… street food is made seriously fun at Pump Shoreditch. The mini street food market square, which is housed on the site of a disused petrol station on Shoreditch High Street, sees vendors rustle up tasty and eclectic delights from small colourful huts all day (11am-11pm). Fill your arms with all theContinue reading “Refuel at Pump Shoreditch”
Take yourself back to Asia at East Street
I felt like I’d been transported back to the bustling streets of Bangkok when I entered East Street. Illuminated signs screaming “Asahi” or “Coca Cola” hang from the restaurant’s ceiling, jostling for attention, while a fragrant spiced aroma – reminiscent of the faraway street food bazaars of Asia – fills your nostrils. East Street serves up a variety ofContinue reading “Take yourself back to Asia at East Street”
A chocolate lover’s paradise: Said in Soho
Word on the street is that Said serves up one of the best hot chocolates in London. It’s true. A cup of heavenly thick, rich molten chocolate, it is best devoured with a spoon. The taste of pure, melted, quality chocolate comes through with every mouthful – and between them it’s so satisfying to dip and swirl a spoon in theContinue reading “A chocolate lover’s paradise: Said in Soho”
Bar spy: The Blind Pig, Soho
You might have walked right past The Blind Pig before without batting an eyelid. It’s one of those unmarked speakeasy-style Soho bars hidden behind a secret door. The mystery! Search for an optician’s sign, and below it, a door with a knob resembling a pig’s head. Got it? You’re in, if you’ve made a booking thatContinue reading “Bar spy: The Blind Pig, Soho”
/// The Curious Londoner 