I very rarely find myself in Queen’s Park, and that’s really not on purpose. If anything I need more of an excuse to go up there more often because there are so many gems there. I went to Ida, a family run Italian that I would recommend highly for a date night or an occasion dinner or even a Wednesday because you fancy it.
Lonsdale Road is also such a vibe. With places like bakery and restaurant Don’t Tell Dad, Carmel, and spots where people are just sprawled out on the street, sitting on the pavement - it genuinely feels like Amsterdam or Paris, somewhere where sitting on the pavement is just a thing.
Bar Blondie on Lonsdale Road has been on my radar from the moment I saw that it was opening. I love a wine bar. And I love a wine bar that has been opened by an award-winning sommelier that makes wine feel a little less pretentious. And with the career credentials that Alexandra Price has - general manager and head sommelier at Bar Crispin (also a big fan), most recently head of wine at Michelin-starred plant-based restaurant Plates London - you know when she puts her name on something, you're not going in blindly. So yes, I was going to trek to Queen's Park for it.
It’s hard to pinpoint which occasion I’d suggest it for - I think that’s exactly the point. It feels like an any-occasion spot. Date night, a catch up with a friend, a birthday dinner - literally anything in between. It doesn’t feel tied to any one thing.
We were initially seated inside, but it was so warm outside we moved. Sun out, drinking a glass of their driest white wine, oyster in hand, catching up with a friend - that’s peak London summer.
Everything on the menu was something I’d put on my own menu if I ever could. Anchovies, focaccia, tuna crudo, black olive tapenade, heirloom tomatoes - the list goes on. I think the menu changes often so don’t take my word for the specifics, but either way, it’s deliciously simple in the best way. Their olive cake to finish was perfect.
I have to comment on the interiors because it’s a vibe, and I need to know the designer. The blue plates, the chess-board tables, the wine glasses - felt very Copenhagen-esque. The bar, the counter seating, the terrace and the main dining room all feel like slightly different experiences, but small enough to still feel intimate.
The thing about Bar Blondie, and the thing I think most people underestimate about branding full stop: it’s not about one good Instagram post or one nice website. It’s not just about whether every touchpoint tells the same story - it’s about whether every touchpoint holds the same standard. When it works, discerning people recognise it immediately. When it doesn’t, you simply don’t align with their standard.
Eating out in London is not cheap. It’s an effort too. So intentional online branding that reflects the same standard you’re meeting offline sets the precedent - it’s the deal you’re making with someone before they’ve spent their evening and their money on you. You can notice hat Bar Blondie has been intentional with everything, and it does pay off.
Their Instagram matched the website matched the founders’ credentials matched the press coverage - and then the room and the glass matched all of it again. Nothing undercut the promise, even in their first week of opening. That’s incredibly rare, because it’s so easy for places to feel flat. So bravo to them, and whoever their team is.
And this was such a nice touch - the receipt came with a little bookmark. That sort of thing goes a long way, and yes, I could not help myself but take it with me.
I’ll be back.