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”
Tag Archives: lifestyle
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”
Tapas at José Pizarro in Liverpool Street
It’s a Tuesday evening at José Pizarro’s all-day tapas restaurant in Broadgate Circle and there are suits aplenty. Detracting slightly from his cosier Bermondsey outposts, José and Pizarro, the Spanish chef has created this restaurant, his third, in a sleek, airy style, so it matches the City worker crowd well. An extensive wine list featuringContinue reading “Tapas at José Pizarro in Liverpool Street”
Play ping pong at The Bat and Ball bar in Stratford
A new ping pong bar has taken up residency in Westfield Stratford – and it’s got an atmosphere as cool as rival chain Bounce. The premise is fun and simple at The Bat and Ball: play table tennis while sipping on beer and munching on chicken wings (or cocktails and pizza!) in a giant gamesContinue reading “Play ping pong at The Bat and Ball bar in Stratford”
Slurp noodles at the new Ichiryu Hakata Udon House
A brand new “Udon House” has opened its doors on New Oxford Street. Ichiryu, the brainchild of Take Tokumine, the CEO of Shoryu and Japan Centre, prides itself on its thick, chewy white udon noodles, which are handmade on site and served up either hot or cold with toppings such as prawn tempura, fishcakes and beef. The menu also features sushi, tempura (cod,Continue reading “Slurp noodles at the new Ichiryu Hakata Udon House”
Can you keep a secret? Weekend film club at The Soho Hotel
There’s nothing better than kicking back for a movie on a Sunday afternoon – except, perhaps, doing it in style. Think comfy leather seats, free popcorn, and drinks delivered directly to your seat… Intrigued? A well-kept secret is that The Soho Hotel runs a fantastic ‘Weekend Film Club’ where you can watch the latest releasesContinue reading “Can you keep a secret? Weekend film club at The Soho Hotel”
Winter exploration: a day trip to Bristol
The biting, chilly winter winds have arrived in full force, work Christmas parties are fast approaching and the festive hype is beginning. It seems about the right time to slip into the Christmas spirit – and that I did, while outdoor ice skating this weekend in the city of Bristol. One of Bristol’s festive attractions,Continue reading “Winter exploration: a day trip to Bristol”
Pop up selfie-service café: smile for free breakfast in Covent Garden
Turn your morning frown upside down for London’s first selfie-service café, which will be offering a free breakfast in exchange for a smiling selfie next week. Each morning from 7.30am to 11.30am on Tuesday 6th October to Thursday 8th October, Londoners can pop in for some steaming hot porridge or fluffy pancakes and ‘pay’ forContinue reading “Pop up selfie-service café: smile for free breakfast in Covent Garden”
Roof walking: climbing up the O2 arena in Greenwich
“Nobody likes a cry baby,” jokes Ross, our climbing instructor, “so if you feel nervous, just hold it in, OK?” We’re about to clamber over the roof of the O2 arena in Greenwich, and Ross, our Scottish accented, bearded guide, has us chuckling from the off, which pretty much sets the tone for the next eightyContinue reading “Roof walking: climbing up the O2 arena in Greenwich”
Ekachai: South East Asian dining in Wandsworth
The vibe: A new authentic South East Asian restaurant specialising in street food dishes from Malaysia, Thailand and Hong Kong. Think: creamy curries, crunchy stir fries and oodles of noodles. What’s cool: A lot of attention has been paid to the décor in Ekachai, which gives the restaurant an authentic feel and transports diners fromContinue reading “Ekachai: South East Asian dining in Wandsworth”
Shoryu: Japanese dining in Soho
The vibe: a loud sit-down Japanese restaurant famous for its generously portioned ramen dishes, located behind Piccadilly Circus. What’s cool: Shoryu’s menu includes a glossary on the last page, which helpfully simplifies the Japanese terms you find dotted through the descriptions. Plus, this particular branch has the largest selection of sake, shochu and umeshu, with over 130 toContinue reading “Shoryu: Japanese dining in Soho”
Neapolitan café RossoTerrazza pops up on John Lewis rooftop
Escape the hustle and bustle of Oxford Street at the John Lewis roof garden, which is welcoming visitors back with Italian street food and cocktails this summer. Soak up the sunshine atop the flagship store, where you can enjoy a variety of small plates, wine, cocktails (£10 each), Italian desserts and gelato at the RossoTerrazza caféContinue reading “Neapolitan café RossoTerrazza pops up on John Lewis rooftop”
Hanging out in the Walkie Talkie’s Sky Garden
Taking in the city from high above usually comes with a catch… You’ve either got to queue up for ages, pay an entry fee or else spend loads on food and drink to compensate for a good view. But over at the new Sky Garden (located at the top of 20 Fenchurch Street, aka theContinue reading “Hanging out in the Walkie Talkie’s Sky Garden”
Hydro-spinning in Chelsea
Working out at the gym fills me with dread. I’m a self-conscious person, so the idea of exercising in front of others – while trying to look semi elegant as sweat drips down my forehead – really makes me cringe. So when I was invited to Chelsea’s Hydrofit spa, which offers an aqua spinning workout inContinue reading “Hydro-spinning in Chelsea”
I think I met a serial killer… Speed dating in St Paul’s
“Never again,” I’d decided after a nauseating speed dating experience three years ago. Where I’d expected cute, dateable men; instead I found a lot of desperate wife-hunters with mental checklists in tow. “Do you eat meat?”, “Are you religious?”, “Do you smoke?” were the sorts of questions fired my way, along with the bog-standard, “WhereContinue reading “I think I met a serial killer… Speed dating in St Paul’s”
Ballin’: a pop-up ball pit for adults in Hammersmith
I’d always hoped that someone would invent a soft play area specifically for adults – you did too, right? Well, the clever folk over at creative agency Pearlfisher have sort of answered our prayers… They’ve created a ball pit for adults in London to frolic in. The 30-person pit is somewhere you can relive your childhoodContinue reading “Ballin’: a pop-up ball pit for adults in Hammersmith”
/// The Curious Londoner 