London has a lot of spots to choose from, and it is slightly overwhelming. But only a select few are actually trendie.
I like having a plan but following it loosely. Like having a handful of solid places that never let me down, gives me the room to stumble on new ones nearby without the whole night relying on it.
The strongest sign a place is worth it isn’t “yes, glad I went.” It’s whether you’d actually go back. These are the ones I’d take a friend to who hasn’t been yet.
This is my current list. Only share the following with Trendie people please.
Petersham Nurseries, Richmond
This really surprised me when I went because I didn’t think you could feel so out of London when in London. It feels closer to eating in someone’s back garden, somewhere in the South of France. I don’t think there is anything better than walking along the river in Richmond at golden hour on a warm summer’s evening and finding yourself here (by finding yourself I do mean you ideally have a booking because this does get booked up).
Highlights: the fact you can lose complete track of time and no one is rushing you out. People are still sat at their table at the end of the night, which is exactly the kind of place I want to be in.
Best enjoyed: this does feel like more of an occasion spot, or an intimate dinner with a group of friends. If someone took me on a date here, it would be an immediate green flag.
Boro Bistro, Borough
When in doubt, go to Boro Bistro. Borough can be a lot. There is SO much choice, and actually there’s only a few places I’d recommend. I’ve been coming here for years. It’s cosy in the winter, you can sit with a blanket and a glass of red underneath a heater. And in the summer it’s a vibe. Especially for a drink that turns into dinner or even a long lunch with some rosé. I don’t think I have ever not been served by a French waiter. I love everything from the Paris Match menus and the discotheque bathrooms.
Highlights: the bathroom. And the fact it still feels like a secret.
Best enjoyed: I’ve been on dates here. Celebrated birthdays here. Taken my friends who are visiting here. Simply just gone for a drink because it’s convenient and easy. And actually really quite reasonable.
Cafe Kick, Exmouth Market
A sports bar on Exmouth Market that quite literally feels like it’s been stripped from Paris and placed in central London.
This is as simple as it gets. It’s just a really reliable place to sit and have a drink with friends with a side of people-watching. There’s a lot of choice on Exmouth Market, and places I’m still discovering, but this is a great place to start.
Best enjoyed: date night if you’re looking for something casual but chic. A night out with friends at whatever time of the night.
Vesper, A candle-lit Bistro on Exmouth Market.
A candle-lit bistro on Exmouth Market. Simply, it’s not trying to be anything it’s not. It’s just Jackson Boxer doing what he does best, making somewhere feel effortlessly put together. One of the few people who can set the tone of making white table cloths feel casual. Stripping things right back, intentionally. You just know every single detail from the stems of the glass to the creases on the table cloth has been thought about. I’ve been to a few of Boxer’s openings now, Brunswick House is great, and combining a dinner there with The Black Duke on a jazz night is as good as it gets. Also Taq in Notting Hill is another example of how Boxer turns an ok restaurant into one worth going to.
Order: spring onion pancake, raw tuna, Cantabrian anchovy / fried potato pizzette, stracciatella, mortadella, pineapple mostarda / rigatoni, pea, pistachio, burnt lemon / mackerel, spring peas, raspberry & wood sorrel.
Highlights: the gooseberry margherita. The interior. The metal bar in the middle, and counter seating around it is a bit of me. It perfectly set the tone for a night of dancing at Koko’s, watching Sister Sledge (the best btw).
Best enjoyed: date night. Girls’ night. A pre-dinner before going elsewhere but also works for a random Tuesday or a Wednesday. Or when you simply want to see where the night takes you, it’s a good place to start. Exmouth Market for drinks before or after.
Sol’s, Bayswater
By day it’s actually a deli and café offering sandwiches and salads made with St John’s focaccia. By night it’s a small, intimate and effortlessly chic wine bar that fits only 30 guests. It’s walk in only so you have to go if you’re feeling lucky. If you know the feel of a Spanish wine bar this will feel familiar. They also have small plates to complement whatever you’re drinking. Perfect for a warm summer evening or for a cosy winter night. A short walk from Nela in Bayswater if you’re wanting to extend that date night past the aperitif.
Highlights: the countertop seating. I love that everyone is huddled up close to one another, sitting across the table from each other. And the fact we all have a love for wine in common is a beautiful thing.
Best enjoyed: perfect for a first date you’re wanting to impress if you’re wanting something a bit chicer than something like Vagabond. Or sharing a bottle with a friend and staying for longer than you planned to.
Waterman Arms, Barnes
Absolutely stunning for a summer evening by the water. Golden hour to be precise, but a long lunch here is also very trendie.
Highlights: the piri piri chicken to share was so succulent and delicious that I might just have to go back just to have it again. There is absolutely nothing better than being by the water and watching the sunset over the Thames, and it still being warm past 10pm.
Best enjoyed: this is great for maybe date 3 or 4 unless you’re head over heels after the first. Suits both a dinner with a friend on a Wednesday evening and a special occasion, whatever that may be. I love the neighbourhood pub feel and the fact the food is really bloody good too.
Substack said I’ve run out of space on this post, so PART 2 is coming shortly. Bear with me, but for now…