London Foodie!

You have probably guessed it by now but I confess I am a total foodie! Im not one of those girls who are shy to eat those sinful sweets or deep fried carbs once in a while! It's all about moderation and pacing myself. 

Gatsby style afternoon tea at the Balcon

Tea for two!

The iconic balcony

This was a tea set for two. The portions were quite big and although some of the

desserts were a little to sweet for my taste, it is still worth a try if you have the time

since toptable.co.uk does really good deals for this place.

Mini scones with jam and clotted cream. Selection of finger sandwiches 

and four different patisseries... the table next to us had macaroons too!

The scones were probably my favourite.

A quiet weekday afternoon... we came a little later so most people would have 

finished afternoon tea by then. 

Andaz 1901 at Liverpool street. Weekdays have really reasonable set menus 

and the atmosphere was great. After dinner we enjoyed a few cocktails as well.

Enjoying a few cocktails after dinner...perfect!

A happy girl at Duck and Waffle, Liverpool Street. 

The best view possible! The iconic Gherkin was in full view!

Their iconic fried pig's ears...

Duck & Waffle obviously. I was actually quite disappointed at their iconic dish. Their food is quite rustic and some of the flavours go really well together, but the prices are high,

 so you are more than likely paying for the view instead! 

Some wicked wall art at the waiting area.

Quirky Cafe: Soho

Cafe L'eto is one of my favourite places to relax, grab a slice of cake and enjoy a nice cup of coffee. Their in-house bakery bakes over 40 types of cakes, breads and patisseries daily. Their salad bar will also impress, with their promise  of using only the freshest ingredients to create real, hearty and healthy salads and snacks. Prices are very reasonable and the staff are always friendly. 

Spitalfields Market

Spitalfields Market has been open for for nearly years now! Although the market stores sell mostly imported goods from China etc, I still enjoy taking a peep at the quirky stores around it, especially the fantastic antique furniture shop, Elemental. I remember a few years back the stores were full of unique hand crafted goods, but they seemed to have moved elsewhere, perhaps Bricklane's Up Market. This is a great visit if you are en-route to Bricklane on a busy weekend. There are many restaurants surrounding the market stalls, so you sure won't get hungry from all the shopping... we had an early lunch at 'Canteen', a chain restaurant that celebrates and revives simple British foods. 

The most amazing antiques shop... Elemental. They are very strict on not letting you take photos, so these are from their website. They stock real high quality and vintage furniture from the Victorian era to 1970s. I especially like their industrial lights, chairs and old mannequins. My dream home would be furnished with pieces from here! The prices are so insanely high that a poor student like myself can only look with admiration... 

Fish and Chips at 'Canteen'. Although nothing too special, the place and staff were friendly. 

Fish and Chips at 'Canteen'. Although nothing too special, the place and staff were friendly. 

The Brick Lane Effect

Bricklane... one of my favourite spots in London. Full of vintage markets, contemporary galleries, boutiques... this place attracts some quirky youngsters every weekend. There was a pop up sample sale shop open during our visit and my friend managed to find a few adorable summer dresses made by Japanese designer 'Tofu'. I probably wouldn't buy any antiques here (or anywhere in London for that matter) because they are obviously higher priced compared to pieces that i can find outside of the this tourist filled city. With a little patience, antiques can be hunted at nearly half the price in the countryside. 

The 'Boiler House' is full of pop up food stalls, serving dishes from around the world. Although many stalls serve fast greasy fast food, high quality, gourmet street food can also be found here. The Burmese noodle stall served some really fresh authentic dishes...definitely deserve a try! After choosing your food from around 30 stalls or so, you can sit outside in the courtyard and enjoy a bit of the british sun... 

Sunday Up Market is full of quirky little shops, selling everything crafted, hand made, bric-a-brac and some lovely second hand clothing. Brickane's 'Backyard Market' also supports local designers and artists, with an eclectic range of stalls, each one showcasing the designers' signature style. To see up and coming designers, this is a must visit for people wants to support the creative industry! I managed to find the most adorable pug print sweater designed by a young illustrator who had a collection of awesome artwork. 

Although Bricklane is a place filled with youth and colour... i prefer showing you my experience in black and white.... leaving your imagination to run wild...

London Greenwich

I love to travel out of busy zone 1 London for day trips in places like Greenwich. On a slightly breezy and summer's day, it is the perfect place to relax and explore. It has the perfect combination of outdoor greens, indoor markets, foods and culture soaking museums. Museums include The National Maritime Museum, a lovely little Fan Museum and the breathtaking Royal Naval College's Painted Hall.. an absolute masterpiece. The grand hall hosts Trafalgar Night Dinners every October, where a luxurious four course dinners are served under candle light and grandeur. If you are around London during October, it is definitely worth experiencing... but remember to book early!  

Another of my favourite places is Greenwich market... full of street food, gourmet food produce, and unique hand made crafts and gifts etc. Expect to walk out of it a few pounds lighter on the wallet....and a few pounds heavier on the belly!