Dining

A Guide to London’s Historical Ethnic Neighborhoods

May 28, 2020 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

London is a socially rich and diverse place, with 44% of the city’s population representing various ethnicities and over 300 languages spoken. Many areas of the city are inhabited by immigrants and their descendants from all over the world. These neighborhoods have a history and culture that gives their residents a sense of community while also making London a truly … [Read more...] about A Guide to London’s Historical Ethnic Neighborhoods

The London Fiver – Opening in 2020 – Five New Bars and Restaurants to Visit

Feb 19, 2020 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

So it’s a new year and you might be wondering, “where should we go tonight?” After ticking through a list of bars and restaurants you’ve been to a hundred times already, you could be at a loss. Fear not, for we at Londontopia have looked into this and found some new nightlife spots for you to consider whether you’re a longtime London resident or just visiting. Each of the … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Opening in 2020 – Five New Bars and Restaurants to Visit

LONDON TOP FIVE: Trendy Chain Restaurants To Try On Your Next Trip to London

Jan 23, 2020 By jonathan Leave a Comment

American style chains proliferated in London in the ’90s and ’00s, but as tourists have developed a more refined palate for good dining while traveling, the restaurant market in London has provided a series of innovative new trendy chain restaurants that focus on specific cuisine and do it well. Here are our favorites. Flat Iron - Flat Iron is a restaurant concept that focuses … [Read more...] about LONDON TOP FIVE: Trendy Chain Restaurants To Try On Your Next Trip to London

The London Fiver – Five of the Best Sports Bars

May 9, 2019 By John Rabon 1 Comment

One could certainly argue that every pub in the UK is a sports bar, since it’s naturally where everyone gathers to watch a match. Certain pubs, of course, are bound to have their favored teams’ colors adorning the walls and cheering supporters on game day. However, some places go above this to mark themselves as true sports bars, a place seemingly designed only to watch the … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five of the Best Sports Bars

Ten Small Craft Breweries to Visit in London

Mar 11, 2019 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

Craft beer is the wave of the future. So many new breweries have sprung up in the last few years it feels as if they’re reproducing at the same speed as rabbits. The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) estimates there are 125 craft breweries in the city spread out amongst the boroughs and neighborhoods. With so many throughout Greater London, it can be hard to determine which ones … [Read more...] about Ten Small Craft Breweries to Visit in London

Ten Unique Tea Rooms for Your Afternoon Tea in London

Mar 7, 2019 By John Rabon 1 Comment

Tea has been an important part of British culture since the 17th Century, and you’d be hard pressed to find a society on this side of the globe that loves it more. While coffee houses preceded tea rooms in London, the culture quickly flipped when Thomas Twining opened the city’s first tea room in 1707. Now you can find them in every borough and neighborhood. While many offer … [Read more...] about Ten Unique Tea Rooms for Your Afternoon Tea in London

New in London: Mariage Frères Elegant Tea Room and Museum is Now Open in Covent Garden – We Send Laura Porter to Check it Out!

Jan 31, 2019 By Laura Porter 2 Comments

The world's most exclusive purveyor of luxury teas and France's oldest tea house, Mariage Frères, has opened its first UK tea emporium in Covent Garden. In addition to being a new tea house in London, it also contains a small museum dedicated to tea. I've been waiting for this one as it was supposed to open in September 2018 but, due to delays with its heritage building, … [Read more...] about New in London: Mariage Frères Elegant Tea Room and Museum is Now Open in Covent Garden – We Send Laura Porter to Check it Out!

Tipsy Touring: Your Guide to London Brewery and Gin Distillery Tours

Aug 27, 2018 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

Besides tea, a couple of drinks that are endemic to Britain's identity are ale and gin. Ale is a combination of yeast, hops, and barley that is warm fermented and there are many different types of beer you can make from it depending on the amount and types of ingredients. Gin, on the other hand, is a spirit developed from juniper berries. Both beverages not only have a … [Read more...] about Tipsy Touring: Your Guide to London Brewery and Gin Distillery Tours

The London Fiver – Five of the Best Bakeries for Cookies in London

Jun 7, 2018 By John Rabon 2 Comments

Cookies in the United Kingdom are not so different from those in the United States. Most Americans might think that all cookies are “biscuits” in Britain, but these two baked goods have very different meanings. While a “biscuit” is harder and crunchier, while a cookie is meant to be soft and chewie. Cookies can be found in bakeries all over London, and each one offers … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five of the Best Bakeries for Cookies in London

The Fiver – Five of the Best Steakhouses in London

Dec 28, 2017 By John Rabon

Sometimes it’s good to sit down and just have a big piece of cooked red meat. There are many different ways to prepare steak and many more trimmings and side dishes to go with them. London’s steakhouses offer them all and depending on what you’re in the mood for; you can find a restaurant that will suit your tastes within the city. Some have multiple locations so you can … [Read more...] about The Fiver – Five of the Best Steakhouses in London

London Guide: Our Favorite Restaurants in London – London Restaurant Recommendations for Americans – What’s Your Favorite?

Dec 20, 2017 By jonathan

With over 15 years of London travel below our belts, we’ve eaten at quite a few restaurants. Some terrible. Some great. We thought it would be a good idea to finally put together a list of our favorite restaurants in London so that others can get the same joy from them that we have. Keep in mind that these restaurants are our own personal preferences so your tastes may be … [Read more...] about London Guide: Our Favorite Restaurants in London – London Restaurant Recommendations for Americans – What’s Your Favorite?

The London Fiver – Five of the Best Champagne Bars for Your New Year’s Toast

Dec 14, 2017 By John Rabon

The champagne toast at midnight is one of New Year’s Eve’s great traditions. No matter whether you’re opting for a cheap bottle or a glass of some of the oldest and finest bubbly, London has plenty of champagne bars to help you ring in 2018. There’s quite a number of lists for which ones in the city are the best, so we’ve narrowed down some of the ones that appear on most of … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five of the Best Champagne Bars for Your New Year’s Toast

Ten Places to Enjoy Thanksgiving Dinner in London

Nov 9, 2017 By John Rabon

Thanksgiving is a very American holiday despite having English origins. But traveling to London over the Thanksgiving holiday has become very popular with Americans seeking to avoid the holiday gluttony and shopping madness of Black Friday (or their families...). It's also an easy time to get time off of work for most Americans since most people have a long weekend (well, … [Read more...] about Ten Places to Enjoy Thanksgiving Dinner in London

London’s Most-Welcoming Pubs for Furry Patrons

Aug 14, 2017 By John Rabon

Dog's are man's best friend, they say, and many people love taking their dog with them to the bar or pub. In London, sometimes the dog is already there, usually a pet of the owners and sometimes belonging to a patron. They come in all shapes and sizes in all types of pubs, and usually, all want the same thing--a nice pat on the head or maybe a bit of that roast you're … [Read more...] about London’s Most-Welcoming Pubs for Furry Patrons

The London Fiver – Five of London’s Best Bakeries to Visit on Your Next Trip

Jun 18, 2015 By John Rabon

I love pastries. Sometimes, I love them a little too much. Whether it’s cupcakes, bread, rolls, cannolis, donuts, cronuts, or any other type of delicious baked goods, there are plenty of places in London where you can find them. Some are big, well-known establishments, while others are your friendly neighbourhood bakery; yet, both have their own charms, their own delicious … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five of London’s Best Bakeries to Visit on Your Next Trip

The London Fiver – Five of the Best American Restaurants in London For When You’re Homesick

Dec 19, 2014 By John Rabon

There’s no place like home. Finding yourself in London, whether you’re just there for a visit or living there long-term, you may get a longing for some of the comforts of home—namely the food. It may seem strange for Americans to think of their own food as a something foreign, but in London, it’s a unique style as much as French, Italian, or Chinese. And sure, you can find … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five of the Best American Restaurants in London For When You’re Homesick

The London Fiver – Five More Fun Uniquely London Pubs and Bars

Dec 15, 2014 By John Rabon

And we’re back! In a city as big as London, it’s easy to find more than five fun pubs and bars. When there are over 4,000 drinking establishments in Greater London, a newer place has to do something different and do it well in order to build a customer base. From crazy décor to bespoke drinks, you can find an interesting place to grab a drink in any part of the city. Have a … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five More Fun Uniquely London Pubs and Bars

Guest Long Read: 10 Best Places to Eat in London with Kids – Most Child Friendly Restaurants in London

Jul 25, 2014 By Guest Writer

Traveling with children in a large city can be both exciting and daunting when mealtime rolls around. When it comes to finding quality family fare, London is brimming with restaurants that cater to families with children of any age. Whether you have picky or adventurous eaters, the following establishments offer something for everyone. 1. Bella Italia This restaurant … [Read more...] about Guest Long Read: 10 Best Places to Eat in London with Kids – Most Child Friendly Restaurants in London

File This For Your Next Trip to London: Take Afternoon Tea On a Vintage Routemaster London Bus As it Tours London – Review Inside

Jul 23, 2014 By Laura Porter

When I first heard about this I knew I had to try it. I don't know why it hadn't been thought of before: combining a love of tea and cakes with the adoration of the old London Routemaster bus into a London Afternoon Tea Bus Tour. BB Bakery have a bakery in Covent Garden and started the BB Afternoon Tea Bus Tour in April 2014. I tried the tour when it was still relatively new … [Read more...] about File This For Your Next Trip to London: Take Afternoon Tea On a Vintage Routemaster London Bus As it Tours London – Review Inside

London Travels: Highlights of Where We Ate During Our Time in London During Christmas

Feb 19, 2014 By jonathan

After every trip, we always share a list of the places we ate. This time around, the list is rather large because were in the UK for so long (33 days). So, this is not an exhaustive list of every single place we ate, but rather a list of the highlights. We don’t need to share every time we ate fast food or had a horrible meal. But we’ll share the meals we loved and the meals … [Read more...] about London Travels: Highlights of Where We Ate During Our Time in London During Christmas

10 Top, Fast Budget Eats in London When You’ve Only Got 10 Minutes

Jun 3, 2013 By jonathan

London is awash with great dining, whether you’re a fan of the mighty steak or a vegan platter. It’s also a city where everyone is always busy, has too little time, and is always rushing from one place to the next trying to get through that ‘to do’ list. Deal sites like Deal Zippy always list loads of attractive restaurant discount vouchers for the capital but what about when … [Read more...] about 10 Top, Fast Budget Eats in London When You’ve Only Got 10 Minutes

High(est) Tea in London: Paramount Launches High Tea 32 Floors Above Soho

May 24, 2013 By jonathan

High tea is taken to another level at Paramount, the restaurant and bar at the tip of Centre Point. Ascend 32 floors and enjoy its all-new high tea – the highest in London, no less – with 360-degree views of the capital. Whether with leaves (£28) or with bubbles (£42), high tea at Paramount is a welcome respite from the buzzing, chaotic streets below – from a quick … [Read more...] about High(est) Tea in London: Paramount Launches High Tea 32 Floors Above Soho