LONDON, RESTAURANTS, TRAVEL

New On My London Guide: Clipstone, E&O, Coya, Pret A Porter Tea at The Berkley, The Wallace Collection Museum

As an American expat living in London, one of the most-asked questions that I get is…what should I do when I’m in London? As a result, My London Guide was born. My London Guide is a never-ending list of all of the places I have been to in London and would recommend. On a regular basis, I audit the list for places that have gone out of business and add new places in. In my latest round-up, I am adding:

Clipstone – A charming bistro in Fitzrovia with excellent food
E&O Notting Hill – A delightful pan-Asian restaurant
Coya – A splurge-y Mayfair Peruvian restaurant, but well worth it
The Berkley Pret A Porter Afternoon Tea – A fashion-themed afternoon tea that makes for the perfect girls afternoon out in London
The Wallace Collection Museum – A somewhat hidden gem of a museum in London’s Marylebone that often gets overshadowed by the city’s more famous ones

Clipstone Restaurant

Clipstone Restaurant is a charming bistro in Fitzrovia with excellent food. The menu changes month and features seasonal ingredients. Portions are on the smaller side, so I recommend ordering 1-2 snacks, 1-2 starters and a main each, depending on how hungry you are. Great for catching up with a friend or date night.

E&O Notting Hill

E&O is a delightful pan-Asian restaurant in Notting Hill. Try to snag one of the coveted outdoor seats on a sunny day in London or if with a big group, the indoor massive booths are fabulous. The food is delicious – I personally love the rock shrimp, Peruvian chicken, currys, gyoza, miso cod, and more!

Coya Restaurant

Coya Restaurant is a splurge-y night out, but well worth it. A see and be seen type Mayfair crowd, but I wouldn’t recommend an overly tight ensemble. You’ll want to have room for the delicious Peruvian cuisine! A few favorites include the salmon entrée, the Atun Chifa ceviche (toasted sesame oil flavor with tuna in a ceviche is just divine), Hiramasa a la Trufa tiraditos (the truffled mushroom flavor in this dish is everything), Picante de Pepino ensalada (tart, spicy and refreshing). Bonus: If you can book a seat in the cocktail bar upstairs (usually reserved for members, but it doesn’t hurt to try), the live music and atmosphere is a lot of fun post-dinner.

The Berkley Pret A Porter Afternoon Tea

The Berkley’s Pret A Porter Afternoon Tea is a fashion-themed afternoon tea that’s equal parts delicious and chic. Tuck into elegant tea sandwiches and cakes so beautiful that they double as works of art. A little booklet explains which designer, such as Gucci or Balenciaga, serves as inspiration for each cake. They’re also wonderful at accommodating food allergies and intolerances. Also, should you have room, you can ask for seconds and you can also ask for a to go box to bring some of your favorite cakes or sandwiches home (perhaps for someone in your house who didn’t get to come with you). When you factor this in, the price tag starts to seem more reasonable!

The Wallace Collection Museum

The Wallace Collection Museum is a somewhat hidden gem in London’s Marylebone that often gets overshadowed by the city’s more famous museums. Founded in 1897, the museum is based in Hertford House in Manchester Square and houses a lovely collection of art, sculptures, and more from the 18^th and 19^th centuries. The museum is free to enter, but there are collection boxes for donations. There’s also a wonderful café in the inner courtyard – which you must stop at after your visit for tea and coffee, pastries or other lunch items.