Matt and I were fortunate enough to visit London last month. We ate the foods, saw the sites, drank the drinks. Here is what we experienced and loved.

Where to eat

Borough Market: Bustling feels like an understatement to describe the energy at Borough Market. Here you can find anything to eat from Indian to Israeli - it’s also pretty fun to just wander through the stalls until your appetite peaks. If you’re not there to eat - there are plenty of vendors selling speciality meats, cheeses, spices and more than we can remember. Plan a bite to eat here before or after a visit to Tate Modern.

 

Chiltern Firehouse: Located in the former Marylebone Fire Station in Manchester Square. This hotel and restaurant is the creation of Andre Balazs who also owns the Chateau Marmont in Hollywood. Just as sceney? 100%, but absolutely worth the visit for the ambience & solid menu. Grab a seat at the counter and watch the kitchen in action and slip into the back bar for an after dinner drink and you’ll feel like you’ve been transported into a members only speakeasy. I ordered the Charred Venison Loin and Matt ordered the Chargrilled Iberico Pork. His was definitely the showstopper of the night. 

 

Dishoom: It’s no secret how big of a part Indian food plays in the London food scene. Dishoom feels authentic without being contrived. The shoreditch location is open all day so you could hit up anytime. We loved the Prawn Path and the Khicia & Chunk.

 

What to do 

Tate Modern: Absolutely must see for contemporary and immersive art. The architecture is beautiful too so don’t be surprised if you end wandering and lose track of time. This is a great post flight activity and fun to perk up at the espresso bar on the top floor. 

  

 

V&A: Matt’s favorite and it’s worth the visit. It’s one of those museums where you can enter together and go in opposite directions, criss crossing throughout but it’s such an incredible space to take in on your own. 

 

Lafayette: Check out the lineup at the Lafayette in Kings Cross to mix up your evening plans. With a 600 person capacity - the space is really intimate and a blast to see a concert. They have their own bar too for a pre or post show drink. 

 

Where to shop

Paul Smith: It’s always in our plans to visit Paul Smith in London. Some of our favorite footwear and of course, the best socks out there.

Labour + Wait: Great functional homeware shop in Shoreditch serves up an unapologetic utilitarian aesthetic and product line up and you’ll want one of everything. 

 

Liberty: if you like to shop, it’s pretty hard to avoid Liberty. It’s environment and service are top-notch and you’ll always find something new that hasn’t been on your radar. 

 

 

Earl of East: It’s hard to pull off mixing clothing, accessories and small homewares but Earl of East does it effortlessly - their candle and fragrance lines are worth the visit alone. Pro tip: Cap off a trip to Labour & Wait and Earl of East with lunch at Dishoom.

 

What to pack

If you’re traveling in the winter, like us, you need to pack some wool. Even when the weather is mild, London feels cold and often wet. Matt traveled with a few pieces from CLOSED and I relied on my classic fits from Theory. 

 

 

For our girlfriends traveling to London, we’d recommend these must-haves:

 

Where to Stay

Plumguide.com (Covent Garden): For when a hotel isn’t feeling quite right - we love checking out Plum Guide for great rentals. It feels like a heavily curated version of the early Airbnb Days. They have some great options in Covent Garden. 

 

Kimpton Fitzroy London (Russel Square): Formerly Hotel Russel - the Kimpton Fitzroy was named after it’s architect Charles Fitzroy Doll who also designed the first class restaurant on the Titanic which was said to be a close replica of the hotel’s dining room. The common spaces are spectacular, service excellent and rooms are comfortable. The location is central enough to never feel like you’re that far from anything. 

 

Anywhere you love? Let us know in the comments.