I often write about the fabulous local coffee shops in London, but Yumchaa stands out for having both great coffee and tea – among other menu offerings.
I discovered Yumchaa after massive hunger pangs struck upon departing a meeting in the Tottenham Court area. Delighted to see whole wheat pistachio scones and an abundance of tea offerings, I was a very happy camper.
Just off of Portobello Road in Notting Hill is a basement level gem of a tiki bar called Trailer Happiness. While the name could be misleading, it’s actually a charming little place and perfect for a fun weekend night out.
The atmosphere is lively – meaning, expect loud music and conversation to match. While there are some tables (first-come, first-served), the small size means that people also mingle throughout.
Described as offering, “classic and original cocktails with a tiki twist,” the drinks have fun names like Polynesian Princess, with Finlandia vodka, homemade watermelon syrup, citrus and champagne and Port Light, banana infused Woodford Reserve Bourbon agave citrus with a Trailer grenadine float.
Polynesian Princess
When my friend G comes to town, we eat exceptionally well. As a food and travel writer, she always has fantastic recommendations. For this visit, we went to Hakkasan Mayfair.
Founded in London in 2001, Hakkasan now has locations around the world. Upon dining at Hakkasan, it’s easy to understand why it has become so popular. From the atmosphere, to delicious food, dining there was a mostly positive experience.
The only small con was that Hakkasan does give you a set time for your table (which seems to be consistent across many restaurants in London), so if your meal lingers on (like ours did), it can feel a bit awkward to be ushered out after spending a good amount of money. Just ask when you make your booking and be aware. Oh, and if you dine at the Mayfair location, definitely ask for a table downstairs. The ground floor bar area is much more casual and less of an experience in my opinion.
Now, onto the delightful meal. Naturally, we started with cocktails and Hakkasan’s menu is expansive, but we did whittle down our list to the Rhubarb Margarita, Passion Fruit Millionaire and Chinese Mule.
As an expat in London, one of the top questions I get from friends and family (and their friends and family many times removed) is what to see and do when coming to London. And, let’s be fair – I don’t blame them! Recommendations from people you trust are a huge advantage when traveling. With my family coming to London for 7 days, there was no better time to put my curated list of restaurants, hotels and attractions to the test. Check out my curated 7-day itinerary and let your travel planning begin!
Whether you’re a local or a tourist, I’ve created my ultimate London guide to share my favorite London travel guides, hotels, restaurants and other must-see attractions. I have lived in London since January 2015 and this guide will be updated periodically as I explore and review new places in London. The ‘London Guide’ lives on the top header bar of my blog, but can also be found here: https://thesavvybostonian.com/london-guide/.
Check it out and as always, I appreciate your recommendations for good places to try!
