A guide to a food-filled weekend away
We love nothing more than traveling and dining with our pipsqueaks, but there’s also something to be said for doing a parent’s only weekend…and sleeping in!
Nibble+squeak Austin Host Kelsey recently left the kids behind for an adult trip to London and loved being immersed in such an incredible city. She of course saw the sights, walked a ton and caught a football game, but she also ate all the things and was seriously impressed by the caliber and breadth of the food there.
Kelsey Hopping rounds up some of her favorite restaurants and bars from the trip, including a few that would have loved having her pipsqueaks-in-tow:
This was our blow-out dinner for the trip and for good reason. It’s #33 on The World’s 50 Best Restaurant list and boasts a Michelin star. It’s housed in the renovated 1865 Shoreditch Town Hall and while stately also has a laid-back East London feel. Our Tasting Menu highlights were the Hot Smoked Wiltshire Trout, Slow Roast Lincolnshire Chicken and their famous and crazy delicious Apple Tarte Tatin. Make reservations far in advance. They also offer a 4-course lunch option or a shorter 6-course dinner Monday-Thursday.
London is known for incredible Indian food and Michelin-starred Gymkhana is no exception. We enjoyed a 3-course lunch with some highlights being the Pindi Bhatti, Murgh Tikka, Kid Goat Keema and Punjabi Chole. The lunch menu is a good deal and would be relaxed enough to bring the pipsqueaks along to enjoy as well.
Turns out a Sunday Roast in London is a big thing. We headed to Shoreditch for a proper roast experience at Marksman Public House, and it was probably our favorite meal of the trip. The feel of the former Victorian pub was cozy, lively and bright. The food from the Curried Lamb Bun with Salted Lime Yogurt, to the Devilled Mussels on Toast, to the Turnip Tops & Spenwood Pie was phenomenal. The Brown Butter Tart to finish was perfection. All that with some lovely wine made for a long, lazy Sunday lunch that I would repeat again and again with or without kids.
This charming spot in Fitzrovia makes an incredible Israeli breakfast spread. Started by two Ottolenghi alums, the menu is a dream and the lovely space is filled with locals. We did the Big Breakfast, which included an assortment of mezzes (think hummus, feta and zaatar, fig loaf, etc.) followed by the Shakshuka and
Boureka (spinach and feta in puff pastry). We didn’t have room for pastries afterwards but their pastry shelf looked magical as well. The space is small, but if you go at off-peak times, the kids would love it also.
Kitty Fisher’s
Kitty Fisher’s is quaint, warm and an ideal date spot in the elegant Mayfair neighborhood of London. The space and feel is uniquely cool, and their modern British fare is rich and incredibly flavorful. We’ve been a few times, but our favorites this round were the Welsh Rarebit, Beetroot with Dorstone Goat’s Cheese & Walnut Ketchup and the Iberco Presa, Leek and Apple.
Modeled after Irani cafes in Bombay, Dishoom has several very popular locations in London. Make sure to order the Khichia & Chundo (crispy snack with incredible chutneys), House Black Daal, and the Chicken Ruby. Be prepared to wait a while at any of the locations but it was well worth it for us. They also have a kid’s menu and if you go early, it would be a lovely place to dine with the pipsqueaks.
Bar Termini
This is the bar to end all bars for negroni-lovers. It’s impossibly small with a lively atmosphere and you likely have to wait outside for a seat (or a standing spot). Once you’re inside though, they make 4 different types of negronis and serve them in tiny, beautiful glasses without ice so they stay cold, and so you can try more than one. It’s on the World’s 50 Best Bar list for a reason. This is for sure a stop to make without the kids but perfect for a parent’s weekend away.
Bar at Claridge’s
Claridge’s is one of the nicest hotels in London and worth a stop to see their
spectacular lobby and dining area. We stopped there for a drink at their bar which
was cozy and impeccably decorated. The cocktails were expertly made and the bar
snacks were lovely. They also offer a traditional Afternoon Tea if you book ahead.