We split our time in London returning to old favorites and trying some new spots. Given how busy things were in 2022 we knew we should get reservations, and it definitely paid off as London felt even busier this year.
Port House – a great spot for lunch that serves Spanish tapas in a cozy setting right off Strand. I went for their tortilla, garbanzo beans, and the ham croquettes.
The Clarence – we met Leandra’s cousin for drinks and they were packed. Thankfully we had a reservation, so the staff kicked out some people to free up our tables. Aspall’s cider for me, and a passion fruit martini for Leandra.
Côte St Martin’s Lane – Leandra loved their beef tartare with Korean chili sauce. I wasn’t that hungry so opted for a dessert-sized cheese plate with two strong blue cheeses, a morbier, and brie with truffles. Quite nice. This restaurant is a chain but with five people we found it had enough options for everyone and was reasonably priced.
Cork & Bottle Wine Bar Leicester Square is an old favorite of ours. I got the famous ham and cheese pie (again!) and Leandra got the beef cheek with mashed potatoes. We split a bottle of rosé sparkling first then our friends opted for espresso martinis while I got a glass of dessert wine and Leandra got a lovely South African red.
The Dove is a spot offering a classic British Sunday roast with a view of the Thames, and both of us had visited on previous trips. The seating is tight, but as usual, the sirloin and porchetta satisfied. We had a lovely visit with Leandra’s aunt and uncle.
The Old Ship pub is a short walk from the Dove, so we all headed over there for a post-lunch drink. I couldn’t resist the vanilla vodka-spiked hot chocolate, which was amazing.
Lina Stores was a pleasant new-to-us spot that we liked. Service was a little rocky to start – the wine took a while to show up – but it smoothed out. Their pumpkin ravioli and lamb ragú pasta paired well with a Sicilian Sensale rosato wine. And while the pistachio and chocolate gelato wasn’t quite as creamy as expected, it was decent overall.
Bizarro was a great option for us on Thursday after a busy travel day as it was open in the early evening for dinner. Their margherita pizza and Chianti were a good value, and the charismatic waiter added all kinds of entertainment.
Old Mary’s Cocktail Bar (Leandra)
The three women decided to go out for one last drink while in London. We arrived shortly after opening at 7pm and were told by the staff downstairs that the (nearly empty) speakeasy part was closed for a private event. Bummed, we opted to go upstairs to the less vibey Mitre pub. Once we sat down, the bar manager came over to take our order and mentioned that the basement was a better place for just drinks. Once we explained what happened, he escorted us (and another two women who heard the same story) downstairs and informed the staff that the speakeasy was NOT closed for a private event, as that group didn’t book out the whole place, and that party wasn’t even supposed to start until 9:30pm! Thankfully it felt like an honest mistake and the staff politely made us some delicious drinks.
