There is nothing better than being in a foreign country and finding all of the hidden and not so hidden places to eat, drink and just have a good time! Over the past two years or so I've been making quite a few trips to London to visit my boyfriend and as a devoted foodie, I love to try new places to eat and drink when i'm there!
Of course, London is such a huge city that I have yet to find all the cool places to get a food coma at, but here are my personal top five places to eat ranked top to bottom that i'll constantly be running back to every time I visit across the pond.
5. Poppies Fish and Chips, London borough of Camden
This is the place to be if you're looking for a top notch fish and chips dish to devour! Tapping into a 1950s style vibe, Poppies knows how to make customers feel like they just stepped into a classic English diner with the use of their fun and fabulous sailor-inspired uniforms. When I was living in Camden for a few weeks, Poppies was my go to place to grab a quick take away meal on the way home from a long day. I love that everything is ready to be prepped, made fresh, and served for customers seeking that authentic English dish.
4. The Food Stalls in the Camden Lock Market, London borough of Camden
Ahh, the food stalls! If I could take all these different and authentic dishes home with me I would in a heartbeat! The borough of Camden is home to many different cultures and you can see a lot of it at the famous Camden Lock. The Lock is where you can find authentic cuisine from Spain, Italy, Mexico, Brazil, etc., all at cheap prices and the best part is...THEY HAVE TONS OF SAMPLES! This place is a must for any foodie traveling to London.
3. Be At One, Piccadilly Circus
Okay, Okay so technically this isn't the place for eating but it is the place for the next best thing: DRINKING. Be At One is a cocktail bar known for their inventive drinks and their awesome happy hour two for one deals! The atmosphere in this bar is like no other: sophisticated, yet screaming with fun thanks to the warm lighting, upbeat music and best of all the wild and friendly staff that know how to have a good time. The cocktails live up to the hype and and with names like the Pornstar, Cuban Zombie and WooWoo, you can't go wrong!2.Yumchaa, Soho
This shabby chic cafe lives up to it's short and simple slogan, "to create tea (chaa) that tastes yum!" This was one of the first cafes I went to on my trip to London and I was so grateful to find it! The great thing about this particular cafe is that it strives to create teas that are infused and full of flavor rather than the boring bland Earl Grey tea...I mean, the Brits are known for their tea, so why not live up to the reputation!
Along with their various tea choices, it's nice to sit down in this cozy Pinterest-like atmosphere and enjoy a nice scone with your tea. This cafe definitely stepped up their game and lives up to the tea prestige in London.
1. Nando's, Central London
I'm not over exaggerating when I say that Nando's chicken is the best you will ever have once you step through those doors. This Portuguese style restaurant is a great place to come in after a long day of being a tourist in Central London.
Can we talk about the SAUCES really quick? Besides their amazing chicken dishes, Nando's is known for their seven unique sauces ranging from mango and lime for those seeking a fresh flavor to the extra-extra hot peri-peri sauce for those risk takers. With so many main and side dishes to choose from, anytime you go out for a "cheeky Nando's" you'll be having a new experience and want to keep coming back for more!
Being in London is such an eye opening experience that'll be sure to keep you busy but just make sure that you will always make time to scope out these amazing places no matter what! Even if you only visit one of them, you can be assured that you will have such an appetizing experience that'll keep you dreaming of visiting again.