When you are in London, eat. Start with hearty breakfasts, sit back with afternoon teas and wind up with memorable dinners. From Borough Market to Michelin-starred restaurants, London will spoil you with choices. If you don’t know how to navigate its gourmet landscape, listen to Michael De Cozar, the head hall porter of the Ritz London, who reveals the top food experiences in the city. Having served the hotel for 45 long years, he has London’s finest options at his fingertips.
Food with a View Located on the 31st floor of The Shard, Aqua Shard is enveloped by floor-to-ceiling glass. Watch London shimmering beneath as you dig into beef sirloin with roasted bone marrow, and roasted halibut with cockles and grilled langoustines. Don’t forget a glass of Battenberg Martini or Devonshire Cream Cup.
Equally popular is Galvin at Windows, a Michelinstarred restaurant known as much for its handpicked wines and French haute cuisine as for the stunning views of Piccadilly and Buckingham Palace. Expect Loch Fyne salmon, mushroom fricassee and beef served with red wine jus.
Royalty at its Best In the mood for a fine-dining meal under a frescoed ceiling? Go for an evening at the Ritz. Try classic French cuisine and signature dishes like fillet of monkfish with lobster fricassee or loin of venison with smoked parsnip and swede by executive chef John Williams. A three-course meal for two would cost around £125.
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Master Chef’s Table Anyone who follows MasterChef UK needs no introduction to Marcus Wareing. The Chef’s Table at The Gilbert Scott, housed in what was the Midland Grand Hotel at St Pancras railway station, provides front-row seats to Wareing’s kitchen. Watch the dishes being prepared under his watchful eye. It offers five- and sevencourse meals with wines to complement each course.
Eat on the Go On a short trip to London? Take in the sights of the city while enjoying a full afternoon tea on a vintage Routemaster doubledecker bus.
Step Back in Time One of London’s oldest restaurants, Rules at Covent Garden is a must-visit. Established by Thomas Rule in 1798, it boasts a collection of antique cartoons, drawings and paintings. The tradition continues in the menu: they serve classic game from their estate apart from oysters, pies and puddings. If you fancy a pub steeped in history, go to the Guinea Grill Mayfair: records indicate there was an inn here since 1423. Try their beef and steaks and wash them down with ale.
Dance the Night Away Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club is the ultimate late-night club for jazz lovers and dance devotees. Book tickets in advance. There’s table service for food and drinks throughout the show. Ticket prices usually range from £30 to £45. While children can attend Sunday jazz lunches, only kids aged 14 and above can enjoy evening shows at the main club, if accompanied by an adult.
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Shush, it’s Sushi If you are a sushi lover, look no further than Laurent at Café Royal. A grill and sushi bar by renowned chef Laurent Tourondel, it’s famous for its grilled meats and freshest sushi and sashimi.
English Tea Indulge in London’s awardwinning afternoon tea at the Brown’s Hotel on Albemarle Street. Choose from over 17 teas and a selection of sandwiches, scones, cakes and pastries. If you are worried about calories, try its healthier Tea-Tox version with seasonal fruits, dips and gluten-free bakes.
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Burrow into the Borough The Borough Market is the place to not just buy fresh produce but also feast on chocolate truffles, handmade pasta, Indian street food, fudge, dim sums, Arabic cuisine and more. You can join a group food tour like the Secret Food Tours by Essor: you can stop at every noteworthy British joint and sample its speciality. Must-try at Borough Market: Smoked Bacon and Egg Roll at Whisky Ginger; Haddock and Triple Cooked Chips at Fish Kitchen; Traditional Sausage Roll at The Ginger Pig; Traditional Mead at Cartwright Brothers, Aspall cider and Luscomb cider with a selection of cheeses at Mug House, and Vanilla Custard Doughnuts at Bread Ahead. The Borough Market is fully operational from Wednesday to Saturday.
Wish To Travel The World? Don't Miss Out On These 7 Destinations
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By Masoom Gupte
To reduce the world to a list of top destinations is a near impossible task. But for a variety of reasons some places are favoured over others and become the flavour of the moment. Here are some of the top spots trending this year.
By Masoom GupteTo reduce the world to a list of top destinations is a near impossible task. But for a variety of reasons some places are favoured over others and become the flavour of the moment. Her..
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Together, the five Stans — Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan — of Central Asia spell exotic. The historical association with the Silk Road, that passes through these countries, adds to the appeal and aura of the region. From cities like Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva and Tashkent, that mix the new with the old seamlessly, to the topography of the region that abounds in vast deserts, mountains and rivers, this promises to be the journey of a lifetime.
Together, the five Stans — Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan — of Central Asia spell exotic. The historical association with the Silk Road, that passes through these cou..
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When the landscape of Iceland showed up in a Bollywood movie some time back, many were prompted to ask if the sequence was shot on location, or if the backdrop was a result of computer generated graphics. That’s how unreal Iceland can be. The popularity of this European nation has been on a steady rise, prompting a national discussion about applying curbs on the number of tourists permitted to visit. Best to tick this one off the bucket list, before your name slips on to a waiting list of visitors.
When the landscape of Iceland showed up in a Bollywood movie some time back, many were prompted to ask if the sequence was shot on location, or if the backdrop was a result of computer generated grap..
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True, the country has a checkered past, enmeshed in a long history of violence. But nothing like tourism to change a nation’s image and fortunes. Earlier this year, the country’s tourism department signed a multi-million dollar branding deal with English football club Arsenal, putting the country’s tourism tagline on player jerseys. The deal quickly became controversial as Rwanda is one of the world’s poorest countries and marketing monies are frowned upon. But soon the number of UK visitors surged, claimed officials. Something did the trick. Either the campaign, or the country’s stunning national parks and wildlife.
True, the country has a checkered past, enmeshed in a long history of violence. But nothing like tourism to change a nation’s image and fortunes. Earlier this year, the country’s tourism department s..
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This one is for the adrenaline chasers. Go to the end of the world aboard a ship breaker, surrounded by glaciers and water, and little else. High fitness levels are recommended. But even that’s not a guard against potential sea sickness bouts. Prepare for wonder on this journey, and a discovery of what you are truly made of.
This one is for the adrenaline chasers. Go to the end of the world aboard a ship breaker, surrounded by glaciers and water, and little else. High fitness levels are recommended. But even that’s not a..
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It’s been voted as one of the best cities to live in the world. Not exactly unknown, the city does tend to lose out to the hordes that prefer the shinier, bigger cities of neighbouring United States. But by itself, Vancouver, a west coast seaport in British Columbia, is not just one of Canada’s densest, most ethnically diverse cities, it is also a thriving metropolis with a buzzing art, music, food and theatre scene. Surrounded by mountains, it isn’t too hard on the eyes either.
It’s been voted as one of the best cities to live in the world. Not exactly unknown, the city does tend to lose out to the hordes that prefer the shinier, bigger cities of neighbouring United States...
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One of the seven wonders of the world, this one is a definite bucket list item for many. T rekking up to the Inca ruins, is a much-awaited highpoint to those travelling to the continent, and with Peru on their itinerary. An early morning climb is strongly recommended to witness the sun creeping over the sprawling ruins.
One of the seven wonders of the world, this one is a definite bucket list item for many. T rekking up to the Inca ruins, is a much-awaited highpoint to those travelling to the continent, and with Per..
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A self-drive tour through New Zealand, taking in the abundant natural beauty. Enough said. Here’s a tip to top that. Spend a couple of days at the Aoraki/Mount Cook alpine village. Spend time in the shadow of New Zealand’s highest mountain, boating on the glacier lakes, walking around, taking off on hikes and generally pausing to breathe.
A self-drive tour through New Zealand, taking in the abundant natural beauty. Enough said. Here’s a tip to top that. Spend a couple of days at the Aoraki/Mount Cook alpine village. Spend time in the ..
