The Standard
For the decadent kitsch
London
LGW
Welcome to Cool Britannia 2.0: Art spaces are launching seemingly by the month, joining recent additions like the V&A Photography Centre, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries and Damien Hirst’s Newport Street Gallery, which sparked a renaissance south of the river. Fashion enthusiasts have more to explore, with the East End going glam and West London getting hipper – and the new Crossrail (Elizabeth line) can take you everywhere quicker.
Where to Stay
Sea Containers
For views of the Thames
One Hundred Shoreditch
For the trendy rooftop bar
The Beaumont
For the refined glamour
Ham Yard Hotel
For the interior design inspiration
The London Edition
For the sophisticated decor
The Buxton
For budget-friendly rates
Eat & Drink
Lyle’s
The moment you step into the airy, stripped–down former tea warehouse space, the genuine, unforced service primes you for the dining experience ahead. With a menu that constantly changes to show off the best of British, the idea is to order as many plates on the lunchtime à la carte menu as humanly possible. While the dishes on the menu have simple descriptions like Asparagus & New Season Garlic, the plates are, in fact, wildly refined (and delicious).
Wild by Tart
The “tarts” in question are gorgeous wonder-chefs who get everything so right: light yet satisfying sharing plates with Middle Eastern spices, wood-fired aromas and colourful presentation. The experience extends beyond the lofty plant-filled restaurant to the adjacent concept shop and café.
Lyaness
On the ground floor of the Sea Containers hotel, blue–velvet Lyaness was awarded World’s Best Bar by the 2022 Spirited Awards and is a must for one–of–a–kind cocktails. The housemade ingredients described on the cocktail menu might raise an eyebrow (tree caramel, death bitters and thunder mushroom), but they’re so thoughtfully and expertly blended into signature libations, such as the Goldblum Whiptail and Black Champagne, it won’t be long until you’re raising your glass with a second round.
Frenchie
A Jamie Oliver protégé outdoes his mentor with this sunny brasserie, serving sensuous pâtés and fish tartares with frothy sauces and inventive veg. Prices are steep, with a hazelnut craquelin with Parmesan gougères at £2.50, but the masterful list of French and New World wines starts at a reasonable £8 a glass.
Bubala
At this cramped and cozy spot inspired by Tel Aviv cafés, the Middle Eastern menu just so happens to leave off the meat. Classics like the silky–smooth hummus with burnt butter and pine nuts and the beautifully charred laffa flatbread help take us on a “trip” to Israel (via Spitalfields). But visit for the halloumi with uber–glossy black seed honey — the moment the pan–seared–until–golden melty cheese hits the table, it practically screams “squeeze me.”
Barrafina
There’s always a wait for a stool at the marble-topped bar, so let the staff ply you with sherry and salchichon to ease your impatience. Once seated, watch chefs expertly plate an oozy croqueta and a milk-fed lamb’s kidneys. Or choose from basic tortillas and vegetable dishes that are charred at the edges and infused with fruity flavours to balance the salt.
Canto Corvino
Explore the cobbled back roads of Spitalfields before seeking refuge in this modern Italian restaurant on a skinny lane. Pork cheek carbonara please the peckish, while lobster ravioli with tomato, chili and basil sate more serious eaters.
Tayyabs
Skip the over-sauced tikka masala on Brick Lane and walk five blocks east to this Punjabi institution. Start with the tender grilled lamb chops, followed by garlic chicken, king prawns and the surprise hit: cumin-dusted okra. They don’t serve alcohol, though you can BYOB, or head to nearby Pride of Spitalfields for a pint of ale.
Seed Library
Entering Seed Library— a bar from award–winning mixologist Mr. Lyan (real name: Ryan Chetiyawardana) — is like you’ve somehow travelled into a scene from That ’70s Show. Unlike other Mr Lyan bars, Seed Library takes a low–fi approach that focuses on the origins of ingredients: think classic cocktails with a twist. The summer whisky sour plays with botanicals like meadowsweet and woodruff; the penicillin is smoky with a subtle heat building from the galangal; and the coriander seed gimlet has a refreshing balance. Throughout the evening, a chorus of cheeky–but–endearingly–awkward chaps will pull up a seat, join the conversation and help figure out your next sip.
Monmouth Coffee
City-wide java supplier Monmouth buys its beans in small batches from family farms, so the offerings rotate constantly. Devotees line up outside this original branch outside Borough Market (worth a visit with your takeout cup) for the roast du jour.
The Prince of Greenwich Pub
Quirky furnishings and a menu of fresh pasta and pizza are part of what make this Sicilian–owned Greenwich pub worth a visit. The Prince of Greenwich keeps its original Victorian charm, but it stands out thanks to a giant rhinoceros head and a sperm whale jawbone hanging over the bar, once–a–week cinema nights and live jazz performances on weekends.
Carousel
World-renowned chefs descend for one- and two-week residencies at Carousel. Book ahead for a two-hour lunchtime workshop in pasta-making or barbecuing (dining on the results, obviously), or come for the single-seating dinners. The chef makes the rounds of the dining room before dessert.
Granger & Co.
Enjoy the ricotta hotcakes as you rub elbows with London locavores versed in the virtues of açaí and chia at this brass-accented brunch institution. Bring the whole family to the buzzing Clerkenwell branch, where they take reservations, for homemade muesli and organic sourdough.
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What to Do
The Design Museum
The museum’s new location opened in 2016 in a mid-century building outfitted by London minimalist John Pawson. It’s an exciting development for design buffs and anyone interested in the future of technology, globalism, media and the environment.
Folk
Folk was at the vanguard of London’s current romance with minimalist, eco-friendly men’s fashion, and also at the vanguard of Lamb’s Conduit Street’s gradual rebranding as a destination for responsible, distinctive casual wear. Florists, bookshops and homeware stores have followed suit, making this Georgian lane a wise stop after wandering through the nearby British Museum.
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
Get your bearings atop the ArcelorMittal Orbit, an Anish Kapoor sculpture with the world’s longest and tallest tunnel-slide. Explore the network of playgrounds, rock pools and climbing walls en route to the VeloPark, where you can book an hour-long track session (bike and helmet included), or test the waters at Zaha Hadid’s London Aquatics Centre.
Tate Modern
Housed in a former power station on the banks of the River Thames, the Tate Modern museum’s vast collection includes both modern and contemporary masterpieces from renowned artists like Picasso, Warhol, and Hockney. Admission is free, so aim for a weekday visit to avoid the crowds.
Foyles
Start with apple-crumble cake from the sunny café on the fifth floor, then make your way down the wood staircases all the way to the basement Travel section. The second-level music department has an unrivalled collection of jazz and blues albums. For souvenirs, find classic fiction titles in jacket designs available only in the UK.
Soho Theatre
The first port of call for up-and-coming comics is this 150-seat theatre with a raucous bar and basement cabaret. Better-known American acts often workshop new material here – you could catch one for roughly £12.
Alex Eagle
Curation’ is an overused word, but Eagle truly has a gallerist’s eye for stocking her Soho boutique. What cashmere and silk pieces she hasn’t designed herself she buys from small avant-garde makers, mixing in vintage furniture and striking sculpture throughout the bright space.
Serpentine Galleries
Artists on the cusp of greatness become superstars after showing in this tiny villa in the rolling green of Kensington Gardens. Exploring the gallery’s annual summer pavilion, designed by a new, innovative architect every year, is an event in itself.
Redchurch Street
A steady influx of conceptual retailers has polished up this graffitied six-block stretch of East London. Get aesthetic inspiration from boutiques like Blue Mountain School, purveyor of singular off-beat menswear with galleries for collectible design; and Labour and Wait, which features new and vintage timeless, functional products for daily life. On Sundays, shimmy up to Columbia Road for the weekly flea and flower markets.
Regent’s Canal
The London Waterbus Company navigates the Victorian-era Regent’s Canal on its traditional narrow boat. There’s no booking required for the one-hour, one-way voyage, which takes you past weeping willows, Regency manors and the London Zoo’s chirpy aviary. Start in Little Venice, a quaint enclave on the water, or in Camden, the hangout for goths, punks and music fanatics.
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