2022 London Restaurant Round-Up
Is it me, or has everyone been bitten by the proverbial travel bug? My Instagram feed is filled with people eating croissants in France, consuming bowl after bowl of pasta in Italy, and sipping on fine Scottish whiskies. It makes me wonder, were people on vacation this much before Instagram and TikTok?
I digress.
We are in the midst of peak travel season, and you’ve undoubtedly seen the chaos at many of these international airports. For every video I’ve seen on bags being lost or mishandled by the airlines, I’ve seen a tutorial on how to pack for a two-week vacation in a carry-on. It’s absolutely wild.
If you aren’t keen on cramming your belongings into a carry-on bag like me and are planning to roll the dice with your upcoming trip, grab an Apple Airtag, and I wish you the best of luck.
If LHR is your final destination, you’re in luck. I’ve compiled a list of London’s best restaurants and bars. I’ve dined or imbibed at each of these places and can attest that they are incredible. However, if you are one of the many travelers who experiences a flight delay or cancellation and find yourself at London-Heathrow, grab a car, head into the city and make the most of your experience.
Brasserie of Light Restaurant & Bar
Located in Selfridges London
400 Oxford St, Duke St, London W1A 1AB, United Kingdom
Website
Wandering around Selfridges, one of the world's most iconic luxury department stores, and find yourself needing nourishment and perhaps a cocktail? I’ve got you covered. Check out Brasserie of Light Restaurant & Bar. It is by far one of the most beautiful spaces I’ve seen. While we didn’t experience much of the menu, we had a chance to sample a few of their G&Ts and their Wild Mushroom and Truffle Rice balls. Talk about the perfect afternoon pick me up. We were fortunate enough only to wait a few minutes for an open bar seat, but it didn’t matter what time it was; the restaurant was bustling. Brasserie of Light does take reservations so if you are planning a day of shopping, make sure you grab a table.
Brasserie of Light Restaurant & Bar | Wild Mushroom & Truffle Rice Balls
Brasserie of Light Restaurant & Bar | Sipping On A PInk Grapefruit Gin & Tonic After A Day Of Shopping
Luca
Owned by the people behind The Clove Club, Luca offers guests the opportunity to experience the finest quality ingredients from the British Isles through an Italian lens. Given our love for pasta, reservations at Luca were a no-brainer. From start to finish, our experience was impeccable. The wine list was extensive yet approachable. Not to mention they had one of my favorite varietals on the menu, Susamaniello. The convivial atmosphere was simply contagious, and the staff was absolutely marvelous. Matt Ottley, the Bar Manager at Luca, was kind enough to guide us on a flavor-filled expedition. In fact, there were a few things that he made sure we didn't miss, given that we were novices. For instance, the Parmesan Fries. This legendary snack is easy to overlook on the menu, but if you love cheese, these are a must. While Luca offers a prix-fixe menu, we decided to order several dishes and share so we could enjoy more things and get an authentic feel for the restaurant. One of the stand-out dishes of the evening was undoubtedly the Agnolotti Carbonara With Speck + Cured Egg Yolk + Puffed Quinoa. By now, you know I will order those lovely little pasta pillows everywhere I go. The other dish that caught my attention was Roast Orkney Scallops With Jerusalem Artichoke And N'Duja. I had no idea that scallops could have such wonderful flavor, and the presentation was perfect. This is your place if you are looking for a taste of Italy while in London.
Tip | Reservations are recommended, and order the Parmesan Fries.
Luca | Cheers, y’all!
Luca | Roast Orkney Scallops With Jerusalem Artichoke And N’Duja
Luca | 2020 Masseria Li Veli Susumaniello
Luca | Burrata With Broad Bean Pesto + Basil + Preserved Lemon And Confit Almond
Luca | Agnolotti Carbonara With Speck + Cured Egg Yolk + Puffed Quinoa
Luca | Tortelli Of Sheep’s Milk Ricotta + Italian Peas + Jersey Royals
Luca | Hereford Beef Filet With White Asparagus + Confit Garlic + Parmesan
Champagne Pour
From whimsical to truly decadent, there's no shortage of afternoon tea options in London. Seeing as it was a bucket list item, I was somewhat overwhelmed with choices when we were planning our trip. Afternoon tea can be so hit or miss. Dry scones, lukewarm tea, and finger sandwiches that taste as if they were made days ago. All the things I wanted to avoid.
By now, you all know I love a twist on a classic experience, so where else would I book afternoon tea other than sketch? With afternoon tea reservations opening three months in advance, I knew this experience would be like nothing else.
Arriving a bit early, we were escorted into the most incredible bar area, where we enjoyed a glass of English bubbles while we waited. What a spectacular space. Easily I lost track of time sipping on my beverage and admiring the intricate drawings that adorned the wall.
Upon being seated, we were provided a menu with our afternoon tea options. While this may be an unpopular opinion, I always choose the sparkling tea experience no matter where I go. sketch offered both a British Sparkling Afternoon Tea experience and a Champagne Afternoon Tea. When in London, right? We both chose to enjoy the British Sparkling Afternoon Tea experience and enjoyed a glass of Wiston Estate Rosé.
After the ceremonial pour of rosé, we were presented with an assortment of finger sandwiches. Let me just say they did not disappoint. We enjoyed the most incredible Egg Gourgère, Coronation Chicken, Cucumber, and Asparagus, and I can't forget about the Truffle Brioche Bun (OMG). As if that wasn't enough, we were presented with a variety of pastries, including Citrus Cheesecake, Chocolate Opera Cake, and a Blackcurrant Macaron.
At this particular point in the afternoon, I was ever so grateful for a flowy dress.
While this was on the pricier side <£97>, it was an experience I will never forget. From the posh decor, the string quartet playing pop hits, and the out-of-this-world bathrooms, it was truly one-of-a-kind. And for those of you thinking "the bathrooms?" Yes- don't leave without checking them out.
sketch | British Sparkling Afternoon Tea
sketch | British Sparkling Afternoon Tea
The Churchill Arms
The Churchill Arms, Kensington
119 Kensington Church St, London W8 7LN, United Kingdom
Website and Instagram
If you are looking for a lowkey spot to grab a pint and perhaps a bite of food, look no further than The Churchill Arms. Known as one of London's most famous watering holes, it's well-known that the spot was frequented by Winston Churchill's grandparents! And if you weren't sure, there's no shortage of Churchill memorabilia throughout the space.
I'll be the first to tell you, this is by far the prettiest pub I've ever seen. Not only do they have a great assortment of English Ales, but they serve some fantastic Thai food as well.
Pro-tip | Tag team this dining experience. Grab a table and send one person to the bar for beverages and another to the restaurant for a menu.
The Churchill Arms | Thai Food
KOL
My favorite dining experience and best find on the London trip was dinner at KOL. Not only did we have an exceptional experience, but within weeks of dining here, KOL ended up on the World’s 50 Best Restaurant list as number 73.
Led by Chef Patron Santiago Lastra, KOL uses simple flavors in bold combinations to create and showcase the beautiful and vibrant flavors of Mexico. As you enter the space, you will notice that every aspect of this restaurant is infused with warmth, the ceramic serving pieces, the open kitchen, and the terracotta accents throughout. Not to mention the mezcal will definitely warm you up.
Guests can choose from a six or nine-course menu unless you’re me and go crazy and opt for seven courses (we enjoyed both mains). Ha. Even though we logged several miles wandering around the city, we didn’t think it would be possible to finish nine courses without going straight into a food coma, so we made the sensible decision to go with six. While I don’t want to give away too many details, I will say that each dish showcases the chef’s playfulness and creativity while featuring unique flavor combinations (octopus & bone marrow) in traditional Mexican dishes. Savor every moment and bite while you’re there. It is truly something special.
Pro-Tip | For those patrons interesting in dining at KOL, reservations are STRONGLY recommended. If you are unable to secure a table, check out the Mezcaleria, as they may be able to accommodate you.
Dishoom | Samosas
Dishoom ( Carnaby location is my favorite)
22 Kingly St, Carnaby, London W1B 5QP, United Kingdom
Website and Instagram
If there's one thing that Nashville lacks, it's diverse ethnic food. While we have a handful of options available, nothing compares to the offerings in London. Just earlier this year, London was named the world's most diverse food city. Quite frankly, I couldn't wait to explore all of the different flavors. In true Blonde Voyage fashion, I did my fair share of reconnaissance before this trip. I read so many articles and blog posts, not the mention the hours I lost scrolling through Instagram. (I don't care what anyone else does, food reconnaissance takes a great deal of time and patience!) one restaurant that continued to show up on repeat was Dishoom, an Indian restaurant with several locations across the UK. My curiosity was piqued. I knew nothing about Indian food, but luckily my dear friend knew all the things, so off we went.
Here are a few things you need to know before you go:
While there are multiple Dishoom locations throughout the UK, the Carnaby location is the most popular. This is the location we chose, and we had a magical experience.
If you're looking to dine later in the evening, anytime after 5:45, prepare yourself for the queue. While some reservations are available at their Birmingham and Manchester locations, your party would need six or more guests to quality. However, Dishoom has a very efficient queueing process. The host takes your name, and while you are waiting, a lovely server brings beverages through the line for patrons to enjoy. As space becomes available, guests are escorted to the bar, where they can enjoy a cocktail or two until their table becomes available.
The cuisine is absolutely extraordinary. Whatever you do, don't leave without ordering a Dirty Chai and Dishoom's Chocolate Pudding. I don't care what you think- these are not to be shared. (Thank me later!)
Dishoom | Assortment of dishes
Dishoom | Dirty Chai + Dishoom Chocolate Pudding
I was fortunate enough to meet Albert Adria in 2012 when I visited Tickets, his world-famous tapas restaurant in Barcelona known for its focus on molecular gastronomy. It was an experience of a lifetime. Knowing that Albert had opened up a space dedicated to two of my favorite food groups in London, cake, and bubbles, it had to go on the list.
The only thing better than a day of shopping is afternoon dessert. Shopping bags in hand, we made our way through the sea of people and arrived at Cake and Bubbles. Given our timing, we walked right in and grabbed a table. Patrons can choose a curated dessert and champagne experience or order a la carte. We went the a la carte route and ordered an assortment of desserts. Keeping with our trip's theme, we decided to sample yet another English Sparkling wine and ordered a glass of Rathfinny. As luck would have it, one drink turned into three, and a few desserts ended up as an early dinner. Vacation, right?! Cake and Bubbles serve over fifty different champagnes and sparkling wines and desserts that will leave you in complete awe. I won't spoil the surprise, but don't leave without ordering "The Cheese Cake."
Cake & Bubbles | Rathfinny , English Sparking Wine
There you have it, my friends, all of my favorite restaurants I visited while in London. If you’re planning a trip or have questions about these establishments, drop a comment below or email me!
Until Next Time!