Photo credit: Anirudh Koul via photopin cc
London has so much to offer visitors and is one of the most popular cities in the world – with good reason. The UK capital is in many ways the perfect place for a short break with unique sights, fascinating history, rich culture and a wealth of shopping opportunities.
Right, so you’ve decided to visit? Good. Now given the fact that London is so popular you should spend a little time deciding on where to stay. As you know we advocate centrally-located accommodation whenever possible to save wasting time on public transport, and with the power of the internet it’s easier than ever to find the best London hotels offers. You’ll be surprised how much bang you can get for your buck if you use the right website.
The culinary scene is unrecognisable to those who came to London in the 1970s and continues to develop; at the last count Trip Advisor had reviews of almost 19,500 places to eat in the city!
Each year sees a raft of new openings and in this article we’re going to focus on five of the most interesting establishments to open their doors in the last year. So have a read and make some notes – in most cases it’s advisable to book your table as soon as you have your travel dates sorted.
Our top five new restaurants in London:
Ember Yard – 60-61 Berwick Street, W1F 8SU
Welcome to meat heaven – grilled meat in this case. From the moment you enter this Soho restaurant, Ember Yard grabs you with the delicious aroma coming from the open fires. Serving its own take on tapas with Spanish and Italian influences, this place is relaxed and hard to leave….
Lyle’s – The Tea Building, 56 Shoreditch High Street, E1 6JJ
The popularity of both supper clubs and pop-up restaurants has resulted in patrons becoming used to eschewing extensive menus for whatever the chef has on offer. Lyle’s takes this concept and uses it in a permanent setting – the only major choice you get is the time to eat. You will then be served six or seven dishes of fabulous food in this friendly and unpretentious Shoreditch establishment – and you can trust the chef.
Pachamama – 18 Thayer Street, W1U 3JY
Peruvian food, anyone? It’s one of the latest trends in London and perhaps best sampled at this Marylebone restaurant. The later you arrive the more festive the atmosphere, but it’s never dull even when the night is still young. With exciting food and reasonable priced drinks, Pachamama is a great place to let your hair down.
Barnyard – 18 Charlotte Street, W1T 2LY
The inspiration for Barnyard in the heart of the West End is the Scandinavian love of combining simple, wholesome food with plenty of alcohol. The interior is an attraction in itself, consisting as it does of what appears to be the contents of a scrap metal yard cobbled together to serve as fixtures and fittings. You can’t make reservations here but waiting at the bar is no hardship either – and it’s worth it for the excellent food at prices that are easy on the wallet.
Q Grill – 29-33 Chalk Farm Road, NW1 8AJ
Camden is not as renowned for fine dining – or even good dining – as other parts of the city so the Q Grill is a welcome addition to the scene. Get ready for an industrial style interior and loud music to accompany American style grill food with a difference. The difference is the exceptionally high quality of the ingredients and the imagination used in putting together the menu. Q Grill is the new king in (Camden) town.
