Sunny in London

A Florida girl's guide to finding SUN and FUN

Christmas Afternoon Tea on a Bus in London

Sunny friends, the Brigit’s Bakery Christmas Afternoon Tea on a Bus in London is the trifecta for London food lovers during the holidays!

This unique bus tour around London could tick all the boxes for a person who loves London, delicious food and Christmas.

Along with 29 other travel bloggers, I was invited to attend a special trip around London for the purpose of previewing the Brigit’s Bakery Christmas Afternoon Tea. For quite some time, I have wanted to take an afternoon tea tour on an iconic Routemaster bus with this company. When they first launched in 2014, I was a bit wary because I am not the most coordinated person. And while you wouldn’t think a lot of agility is needed to eat food, the thought of taking pictures and reviewing it at the same time is intimidating. But the more I saw the variety of tours they offer growing, the more I realised that the idea of a travelling tea was a smashing hit with people in London.

So this is how the experience goes…

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Christmas Afternoon Tea on a Bus in London- The Food

This is the first category I want to tell you about because it is the biggest surprise for me. I rate the food 5 stars and this is why…

Not only is everything super tasty, but also it is really fresh. It is always disappointing when you go to a luxury hotel for afternoon tea and are served stale bread. No matter how decadent the pastries are during the last course, that crusty impression from the sandwiches stays with you.

Honestly, I had low expectations of the food going in to this afternoon tea. It didn’t seem probable that food could be prepared and transported on a bus to Victoria Station and maintain it’s original intent for quality and taste. Brigit’s Bakery has masterfully defeated this obstacle.

When we stepped on to the bus, all of the tables were beautifully set. This includes every food item except the basket of scones that we were served about half way through the journey.

To me, that’s a Christmas afternoon tea miracle!

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Christmas Afternoon Tea on a Bus in London- The Journey

This is where the experience could get a bit dicey, Sunny friends.

I had a blast on the journey and created a highlight video on my Instagram for you to see more of the experience.

However, there are a few things you need to consider before determining if this experience is for you. Foremost, let’s consider that you will be drinking.

We had complimentary Prosecco and several top ups each. This could be problematic for some people. While they advised us that we could enjoy the Prosecco before the tour started, it came with a disclaimer about the bus not stopping once it got rolling.

Do some quick processing about what that means, Sunny friends.

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Next, there were cupholders at each place setting for guests to put their plastic Prosecco glasses, coffee or tea. They are there for a reason. The ride is bumpy and many times the bus stopped quickly, because that’s normal for busses navigating through London streets. I used a DJI Osmo Mobile Smartphone Gimbal which is on my UK Amazon Gear List (US Amazon readers find it here). I also applied Stabilisation effects while editing the video.

A few bloggers ended up with Prosecco on their lap at different times in the evening. I am not sure if it is because they were busy taking selfies and forgot to put their glasses in their cup holders or were just careless. But, I didn’t have any issue with spilling my drink. And, I had three glasses.

To be honest, since I have lived in London for 6 years and have reviewed nearly every attraction (check my trip planning guides if you are visiting London), I wasn’t that focused on sight seeing during our early evening trip. If this is your primary goal, the combination of afternoon tea and touring London might not be for you. Because the food is so good, you might be distracted away from the London landmarks.

Further, in a moving bus you won’t get the best focused pictures of these iconic locations. This is especially true if you are on the bus at night because you will catch some serious glare from the windows.

However, if you want to say you did something truly unique in London- riding a Routemaster bus while eating the most iconic meal in the UK- this afternoon tea is a must do!

But, if you think the journey would be too shaky, at the very least you can stop by their Covent Garden location. I walk by it all the time and it’s quite popular!

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Afternoon Tea on a Bus in London- The Length

Another huge bonus of this afternoon tea on a bus in London is the fact that there is a clear end time. Assuming you don’t get stuck in any unusual traffic, you will know when your experience ends.

My biggest ‘negative factor’ with afternoon teas in London is their length. I have been held captive at luxury hotels for nearly three hours for this food experience. After indulging in a carb fest of sandwiches, scones and pastries, I generally feel uncomfortable and lethargic. Americans, when I say I feel like a Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade float, you know what I mean!

If I could change anything about the traditional afternoon tea, it would be to speed up the process. So, being on the afternoon tea tour bus with Brigit’s Bakery for 90 minutes was a dream come true for me.

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Afternoon Tea on a Bus in London- Other Options

The Brigit’s Bakery Afternoon Tea Bus Tour is the first brand to do this type of bus tour in London. The best news for those who can’t go to the Christmas Afternoon Tea is that they have TONS of other options during the year. Some of them include:

  • Gin Lovers’ Afternoon Tea
  • Halloween Bus Tour
  • Cinco de Mayo
  • Mother’s Day
  • Valentine’s Day
  • Chelsea Flower Show
  • St Patrick Day
  • Movie Themed
  • Chinese New Year

They have these dietary options available:

  • Traditional Afternoon Tea
  • Vegan Afternoon Tea
  • Vegetarian Afternoon Tea
  • Halal Afternoon Tea
  • Gluten Free Afternoon Tea

For those living and/or working in London, they have delivery service as well!

Christmas Afternoon Tea on a Bus in London- Final Thoughts

For the menu, prices, tour options and gift vouchers, it would be best to visit the Brigit’s Bakery website.

What do you think, Sunny friends? If you love food, travel and the holidays, would you put the Christmas Afternoon Tea on a Bus Tour in London on your list for Santa? What other unique food experiences have you had in a city?

And please, drop me any questions you have about my evening as a guest with Brigit’s Bakery too!

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Fire Bar and Yuu Kitchen Review London

Guess who’s back? You might remember recently Mr Sunny and I hit ICEBAR London for a night of cool drinks and fun off Regent Street. Unfortunately, the night we chose to visit, Yuu Kitchen was booked for a private event. Because checking out their menu was high on our list of things to do, we made the effort to go back. And this is what we thought, Sunny friends.

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Fire Bar and Yuu Kitchen: The Atmosphere

Once again, we grabbed drinks at Fire Bar to kick off our foodie adventure. Within a few minutes, our cocktail server indicated our table was ready downstairs at Yuu Kitchen and whisked us away.

Just like the atmosphere of Fire Bar, Yuu Kitchen is low-lit and sexy. It’s spacious enough to be great for a date night or gathering with office colleagues.

While the lighting is dim, the walls are colourful and vibrant. This adds to the energetic and lively atmosphere.

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Fire Bar and Yuu Kitchen: The Menu

I love when a menu is compact enough to fit on one page, even though I generally let Mr Sunny do most of the ordering.

Yuu Kitchen suggests you order 3-4 plates per person since it is similar to a tapas style experience. Mr Sunny and the server worked together to choose 10 items for us to enjoy. Yes, it was probably too much. But, it did give us a really good opportunity to try a lot of the food in different sections of the menu at Yuu Kitchen.

I was keen to express some thoughts on certain food items I heard mentioned in their conversation. Things like pork belly and ribs did not sound appetising to me so I didn’t want to be counted in on those dishes. In fact, I don’t think I have ever eaten a rib in my life. It’s not because they don’t look delicious. I just do not enjoy eating with my hands, especially if the dish is particularly messy. Do any of you feel this way about using your hands for food?

Fire Bar and Yuu Kitchen: The Food

Our food was ready quickly and covered most of the table. For our dinner we chose these plates:

  • Bites: Steamed Rice, Grilled Cauliflower
  • Raw: Spicy Tuna Tostada
  • Bao: Crispy Soft Shell Crab, Sory & Buttermilk Crisp Chicken
  • Grill and Work: Baby Back Ribs
  • Crunch: Baby Octopus Karaage
  • Pinoy: Chicken Wings with Filipino Style Stick Adobo Sauce, Chicken Inasal, and Lechon Kawali
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Overall, if you aren’t a fan of spicy food, this might not be the place for you. However, if you clicked on this review with the headline “Fire Bar”, I am guessing hot foods don’t deter you.

Our absolute favourite dish of food was the bao. Yes, this includes both of them. I could’ve easily had two instead of the chicken wings. Again, that’s due to my lack of interest in handling messy food with my hands.

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The tuna tostadas were really good, and I enjoyed the octopus quite a bit. A few times on the blog we’ve written about ordering octopus and Americans have expressed hesitation. What do you think, Sunny friends? Do you fancy octopus when it’s on a menu?

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Fire Bar and Yuu Kitchen: Final Thoughts

If you pair the ICEBAR with Fire Bar and Yuu Kitchen you really do run the spectrum of sensory experiences. Chilling temperatures and frosty champagne drinks paired with spicy food and hot cocktails makes for a fun night in London.

This is best for a date, night out with colleagues, or activity when visiting London.

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fire-bar-yuu-kitchen-review-london

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The Best Pubs Near King’s Cross London

Mr Sunny and I never thought to share a King’s Cross Pub Crawl with you until this past summer. Generally, the King’s Cross and St Pancras International Station area is where we change trains or get trains. For example at these two stations it’s common to take either the East Midlands Railway Link, Eurostar, Southeastern or Thameslink.

This means that Mr Sunny and I don’t spend much time in the actual neighbourhood because we are likely just to have a drink at a pub or bar before or after a trip and then head to our travel destination.

For people visiting London for the first time, the British Library would be the only iconic place of interest in the immediate King’s Cross area. It is not a neighbourhood I would suggest getting a hotel if you want to be centrally located near many attractions or great shopping.

However, it is great for those taking a trip on the Eurostar to France, Belgium or the Netherlands before or after staying in London. Or, people planning additional trips within the UK to York or Edinburgh might want to stay close to the stations if they have an early train to these destinations.

So, what happened this summer that made us think you would want to know the best pubs near King’s Cross London?

Train delays and cancellations!

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Pubs at King’s Cross and St Pancras Station

On a few nights during the summer in 2019 all trains were cancelled from King’s Cross. This caused thousands of people who commute to London for work to either be stranded for hours, or even worse for them, stuck in London overnight.

If you know British culture, you know that the solution to being delayed is to wait in a pub with a pint. Or two. Or three…

Therefore, Mr Sunny felt it his moral obligation as an Englishman born in London to ‘help out humanity’ by preparing a list of the best pubs near King’s Cross. He recommends you have this list in your pocket so it is ready to help you cope with severe train delays at Kings Cross or St Pancras international station.

Perhaps the easiest pub to find at these stations is the Betjeman Arms, which is in St Pancras International Station on Euston Road. It is the poshest pub on our King’s Cross pub crawl.

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The Grand Terrace at the Betjemen Arms has a great view of St Pancras Station and the famous The Meeting Place statue. In fact, that’s probably why I have had drinks there a few times. It is really easy to find because you can just direct people to meet you at the ‘pub near the statue at the station.’

This Geronimo Inns pub is open early for breakfast. The British menu changes seasonally, and they have craft beers and moreish wines from around the world.

Of our two pubs at the stations, King’s Cross Wetherspoons (AKA The Barrel Vault) is the top pub that Mr Sunny recommends. He chooses Wetherspoons because it is known for its cheaper prices. They also offer a good English breakfast. He is pretty sure that you can get it as takeaway too, if you are in a rush to catch a train. The Barrel Vault pub also is closely located to screens displaying train times, which is smart to keep your eye on while you are waiting.

Best Pubs Near King’s Cross- A Short Walk Away

If you leave either station and make a right on Euston Road, you will find O’Neills on 73-77 Euston Road. It is technically located in Marylebone.

O’Neills is an Irish Pub and Bar chain in London. This specific location is closed for a remodel until 21st October. We’ll be sure to include an update when the doors open again.

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Not too far down the road you will find The Euston Flyer at 83-87 Euston Road. Mr Sunny says this pub near King’s Cross is a great place for watching major sporting events. It is a lively location and is part of the Fuller’s pubs experience. Avid readers of Sunny in London know that we love their food and have reviewed many Fuller’s pubs.

Mabel’s Tavern is just around the corner on a side street off of Euston Road. At 9 Mabledon Pl, London WC1H 9AZ this tavern is allegedly haunted. Mabel’s Tavern is a traditional alehouse with a wide variety of superb beers and freshly prepared food on the menu.

At Mabel’s Tavern you will find commuters and tourists plus local office workers at lunch time. Crowds gather at this pub near King’s Cross in the evening to watch live sports events.

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Just when Mr Sunny thought he had been to all the pubs in London, we discovered The Dolphin the day we did our final research for our list of the best pubs near King’s Cross and St Pancras stations. It is a straight shot from Mabel’s Tavern and is on 47 Tonbridge Street.

He loved it because he feels it is a “proper old traditional pub.’ Mr Sunny said The Dolphin and the next stop on this pub crawl are probably the last of the pubs that can be considered ‘local pubs’ in the King’s Cross neighbourhood because so few people can afford to live in Central London now.

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You might call the Skinner’s Arms an old London boozer. What caught Mr Sunny’s attention the day we visited is the “saloon” insignia above the door frame. He explained to me that back in the day, a saloon bar was separate from the public bar. It was an area for those deemed more elite and had better seats and drinks. The public bar was cheaper and an area where working class would mainly just get drunk.

The Skinners Arms has a friendly atmosphere for all. inside and outside you will regularly find London’s working commuters and visitors. The pub is located in Judd Street WC1, just far enough away from the hustle and bustle of Kings Cross station and Euston Road.

Best Pubs Near King’s Cross- Food

With all this beer, we feel it would be best to give you some food tips to soak up the alcohol. Mr Sunny gravitates to burgers or steak to compliment cold beer. He is a huge fan of Five Guys, which is just outside King’s Cross Station. My favourite burger joint in London is Shake Shack, which has locations in Covent Garden, Leicester Square and Victoria Station.

Another burger place near King’s Cross that we know is good is Honest Burger. Many of Mr Sunny’ mates who work in the area go to The Big Chill for after work drinks. It’s a laid-back bar club with basement and roof terrace, hosting busy and eclectic DJ programme. The Big Chill is on 257-259 Pentonville Road.

For a stronger meal, we recommend Bar and Block. They have great deals, so it’s worth following them on social media to know what’s on offer.

However, if you are on the run, The Kiosk is an independent takeaway kiosk offering deli-style roasted-meat sandwiches, plus iced teas and coffees that is right inside St Pancras station.

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Best Pubs Near King’s Cross- Final Thoughts

Please let us know if you visit any of these pubs, because we are always interested in feedback. Plus, if you have any experiences at pubs in the King’s Cross area that you can add, that would be great!

To be honest, if there ever is an occasion when Mr Sunny hasn’t been to a pub in London, he relies on the Good Pub Guide. If you are in America you can get it either as a hard copy or the Kindle version on Amazon here.

Want a Freebie for London food?

Subscribe to the Sunny in London email and immediately get the ‘Local’s Pocket Restaurant Guide to London.’ It’s the ultimate free travel accessory for your London trip. The Guide has top recommended restaurants from a local, organised by neighbourhood. With it you can easily find a place to eat when you’re on a London street. Downloading the file to your phone means skipping Wi-fi and finding a fab foodie place- fast!

Send me the Free Pocket Restaurant Guide

1947 London-Modern Indian Restaurant Review

Sexy, sumptuous and savoury. 1947 London has proven in its launch as a modern Indian restaurant in London to attract diners with discerning palates.

It is an exciting new venture from the founders of the Chai Thali restaurant group. Protege of Michelin-starred Vineet Bhatia, Chef Krishnapal Negi created a menu which nods to recipes that evolved out of the movement of people and culture during the 1947 Partition.

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1947 London- The Menu

On a Monday evening in October, just two weeks after 1947 London opened, Mr Sunny and I had the opportunity to review this modern Indian restaurant. We looked forward to the evening as soon as the review invitation hit my inbox. Mr Sunny, who has far more experience and knowledge about Indian food, combed over the menu. His enthusiasm for trying many dishes at 1947 London drove our anticipatory conversations prior to our date night at the restaurant.

Intentionally short and easy to navigate, the menu features dishes from a Tandoor oven and Robata grill for theatrical cooking in view of diners.

We had many conversations about the menu with servers and managers throughout our evening. I learned that out of the hundreds of desserts they can offer, they choose to keep the selections limited to a handful so as not to overwhelm guests and to give the restaurant clear focus on exquisite taste and excellence. This also gives them flexibility to rotate items frequently, which will mean 1947 London will surprise and delight guests upon every visit.

Is the proof in the pudding?

Keep reading, Sunny friends.

Sample menu items at 1947 London include:

Nano Plates
Beetroot Masala Uthappams £6 and Avocado Bombay Bhel £8
Small Plates
For example, Wild Mushroom Tikki & Chickpea Masala £9 and Crispy Cheese Kebabs £9
Sharing Bowls
Including Punjabi Lamb Masala £14 and 1947 Dhaaba Murg £14
Sides
Including Pomegranate Raita £6, Asparagus and Sugar snaps with Fresh Coconut £9 and Daal Tadka £8
Briyanis & Rice 
A selection from Steamed Basmati £5 to Lamb Dum Biriyani £24
Breads 
Such as Caramelised Onion & Cheese Nan £6 and Butter Naan £4.
Desserts 
Made in-house by pastry chefs include Kulfis in Pistachio & Rose and Mango £7 and Phirni, a cardamom-flavoured rice pudding  £7

1947 London- Atmosphere

Perhaps competing with their experienced Chef’s training as a unique selling point is the decadent atmosphere. This modern Indian restaurant is no where to dine by yourself. And judging from the tables filling up with couples and crowds on the Monday night we visited, that message is in place.

The shimmering rose-clad doorway ushers guests in to an exotic night in low light. Once you plunge down the copper-toned staircase and turn the corner overlooking the dining room, you immediately transcend in to a world of glamour and opulence. This environment is best enjoyed with company.

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Photo credit: Jon Ashford

Unlike many of London’s cramped food experiences, 1947 London has giant circular dining tables which offer plenty of space. The walls are copper, gold and green. These colours combined with the overhanging globes containing micro L.E.D. lights and myriad of candles infuse the room with a subtle glow.

And let’s not forget the velvet.

From the velvet drapes in crushed purple to the crushed velvet cushions, 1947 London just plain feels sexy.

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Photo credit: Jon Ashford

1947 London- Drinks

Our first order of “business” on our sexy date night included ordering our cocktails.

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When I blurted out that I would like the “Indian Rose”, our server thought I had prior experience so knew exactly what to order. I confessed to him that while Mr Sunny had focused on the food, I had poured over their cocktail menu prior to our arrival.

The Indian Rose is a cosmopolitain with an Indian twist. It features a mixture of vodka, Contreau, Rooh Afza, orange juice, rose syrup and lime.

However, Mr Sunny’s “Hello Lassi” really got my attention. My drink had more visual sex appeal, but Mr Sunny’s “pina colada with no pina nor colada” stole the drink show. It features mango lassi, Baileys and white rum. It is luscious.

The cocktail menu and bar are impressive not only for what you see and taste, but also for the price. I have had equivalent cocktails in London’s posh bars and paid double what 1947 London charges.

1947 London- Food

You have probably already guessed through the atmospheric description and drink summary that 1947 London doesn’t hold back on flavour in their dishes.

For Small Plates, Mr Sunny and I chose the Baby Squid with garlic and green chilli. Next we had the Maharaha Prawns (jumbo praws lightly marinated in a blend of spices and cooked in a clay oven).

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Finally, we picked the grilled lamb chops (rack of lamb marinated in Kashmiri chilli and selected homemade spices served with green herb chutney. Mr Sunny scored the prawns the highest. I couldn’t resist picking my winner to be the lamb chops, which were lit on fire as they were brought from the kitchen to our table.

I am a sucker for theatrics. We can safely say the lamb chops got flare. 😉 However, to see some of these dishes in motion, you had to have watched my Instastories from the evening.

For our Main courses, we of course had Naan bread and Mini Poppadums. I dined on the Malabar Lamb and Pulao Rice.

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Mr Sunny strayed from his normal Indian restaurant selections and had the Lamb dum Biriyani. This dish is an aromatic basmati rice and pieces of tender lamb, cooked in a dum style served in a pastry sealed pot with a burani raita.

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I am not accustom to as much spice as was in my lamb, but I have only been eating Indian food a few years. Plus, I was desperately trying to save room for the cheesecake.

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Dessert dazzled us. The presentation of the “1947 Choice of Kulfi” gets a gold star. Would you ever have guessed the dish on the left is ice cream? That’s Mr Sunny’s salted caramel. Its mix of salty and sweet taste rolled beautifully over the tongue. My cheesecake didn’t disappoint either!

Given those two experiences, I can only wonder how gorgeous the Kulfi can be in the other flavour offers- rose and mango.

1947 London- Final Thoughts

Since taking over the address 33 Charlotte Street, Fitzrovia W1T 1RR this Modern Indian restaurant has caught quite a bit of attention. The reviews I have read on various websites match our experience.

So, while we enjoyed our night as a complimentary review, our feedback is consistent with the other guests who have rated it “absolutely outstanding” and declared it an “amazing place.”

1947 London offers an excellent evening for a couple’s date night. However, there were large tables of people who appeared to be work colleagues present while we ate too.

My advice… find someone you know, and give 1947 London a go!

Want a freebie Guide to London Restaurants?

Subscribe to the Sunny in London email and immediately get the ‘Local’s Pocket Restaurant Guide to London.’ It’s the ultimate free travel accessory for your London trip. The Guide has top recommended restaurants from a local, organised by neighbourhood. With it you can easily find a place to eat when you’re on a London street. Downloading the file to your phone means skipping Wi-fi and finding a fab foodie place- fast!

Send me the Free Pocket Restaurant Guide

The Ice Bar London Review

Literally the coolest thing to do in London is go to the ICEBAR London. Mr Sunny and I have been to this venue just off Regent Street in Mayfair twice. We still think if you’re looking for something unique for a date, out of office experience with colleagues or night out with the girls, then keep reading.

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Back in 2011 we hit ICEBAR London for a super fun few hours. That’s because we combined it with their restaurant experience. It was pre-blog days but since I had some pictures I wrote about it as one of my first food reviews on Sunny in London.

We went on a Christmas holiday evening. Mr Sunny had booked our time well in advance. It was crowded.

While I nearly always prefer to avoid crowds, this is one of the rare times I advocate for going to a location when it is busy.

On the last Monday night of September 2019 we were nearly the only ones in the ICEBAR London at 5:45pm. Yeah, it was nice not to wait in a long queue for drinks. But, have you ever been on the dance floor by yourself at a club or wedding?

Not ideal, right?

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icebar-london-review-mayfair-cocktail

We literally got our drinks, took our photos and returned our capes. I think we were in the actual ice bar for 15 minutes.

They offer a range of ICEBAR experiences, and you must book in advance. Basically, you get a cape and gloves to keep you warm plus your first ice cocktail on entry. You are welcome to stay inside the bar for up to
40 minutes from the start of your session.

While you might be concerned about the chilling temperatures and your ability to withstand them, it’s not anything that would impair your ability to have fun. In fact, during the most recent visit I had my gloves off for most of the time because I was filming video and taking pictures. Below is the 45 second highlight video I published on my Instagram of our night at Ice Bar and Fire Bar.

Included in our complimentary experience was only snacks from Fire Bar on the patio because Yuu Kitchen was closed for a private event. We were informed that Yuu Kitchen isn’t open for food on Monday nights. Hopefully, we’ll have a chance to return in the future to try the food because that was one of the highlights from our first Ice Bar experience.

I absolutely loved my White Satin, which was Absolut Raspberri vodka, lychee, orgeat and apple juice. It really was so silky smooth that the name does says it all. Literally, I would put it in my top five cocktail experiences ever. The list includes my all time favourite- which was an aloe martini I had in a Toronto bar. Second is a “Peanut Butter and Jelly” creation that a bartender made me once in Hollywood. I told him I liked Chambord and requested a cocktail that wasn’t just another French martini.

Mr Sunny told them to surprise him with their choice of a cocktail and they brought him a Strawberry Crush. He said it was pretty tasty.

Sitting on the patio was a nice experience until it started to pour rain, which caused us to end our evening a bit early.

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What you might not know if you have been to the Ice Bar London previously is that they annually change the theme of the sculptures. Currently it features Norse myth and magic that comes alive inside the frozen Hall of Odin.

Valhalla Calling is the ICE BAR’s latest ice art installation and their second collaboration with the creative team at PSD Ice Art. Yes, as huge Game of Thrones fans, Mr Sunny and I each took a chance to sit on the “ice throne”.

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The concept draws its inspiration from the myths of the Norse Gods, Odin, Loki and Thor, the monsters of Ragnarok, the final war at the end of the world, and the fabulous hall of Valhalla where Odin feasts every night with the bravest warriors who have fallen in battle.

So, Sunny friends, would you take the deep freeze plunge for cocktails literally on ice? What’s been your most unique cocktail bar experience?

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Oak Caffe Whetstone Review

Every weekend morning when I pass Oak Caffe in Whetstone it’s buzzing. Tables are full of people and the environment looks inviting.

For a closer look inside on a regular basis, I started following their Instagram account months ago. They consistently post vibrant, fun images and the food looks delicious. Mr Sunny and I had Oak Caffe on our list to try for a while. However with numerous holidays planned and weekends being short, it took a lot longer than we intended.

Finally, on a beautiful sunny September Saturday we set our morning alarm and made our best effort to get to Oak Caffe in Whetstone early.

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Oak Caffe Whetstone Review- The Atmosphere

Arriving at 10am, we were lucky to get a table. Nearly all were full and we noticed a large one in the back was reserved. Several staff members whizzed around serving fantastic looking breakfast food and coffees in giant, colourful cups.

Quickly, someone greeted us, got us seated and handed us menus. As Mr Sunny and I poured over the menu, we felt that staff were doing their best to manage a crowded caffe. Glancing around, I observed people looking happy with their meals and taking time to relax at their table in a cheery environment with friends and family.

Throughout our time at Oak Caffe the tables that turned over were quickly cleaned and immediately filled with more eager patrons. Staff hustled to keep everyone fed and moving.

Oak Caffe Whetstone Review- The Food

While the menu is simple, there are many items I still want to try after this experience. If you follow me on Instagram, you know that every time we leave for holiday I eat Eggs Benedict at the airport before an AM flight. It’s something I can’t resist on a breakfast menu when I am not obligated to each something specific for the purpose of a review. Choosing my old faithful poached eggs, slices of ham and hollandaise sauce made sense for my first visit to Oak Caffe in Whetstone.

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However, Mr Sunny chose something a bit more uncharacteristic of his traditional breakfast dish. For regular blog readers, you might remember Mr Sunny sharing his advice on how to make a traditional English breakfast. That’s pretty much what he gets nearly every time we have a chance to relax and focus on food in the morning.

Instead, he ordered Oak Caffe’s Cafe Breakfast. This dish includes smoked salmon, scrambled egg, avocado and granary toast.

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We both found our food very pleasing. Our only feedback is we felt it could have been served a little warmer. But, with the amount of people packed in to Oak Caffe that morning, we felt the staff did everything they could to keep things hot and moving.

I did ask to have a chocolate muffin that was sitting on the counter while waiting for my Eggs Benedict. I know the two aren’t necessarily great compliments, but I couldn’t resist them teasing me while I waited for my real breakfast.

The muffin was moist and rich with chocolate. I absolutely loved it. Our coffees were delicious too.

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Oak Caffe Whetstone- The Value

Compared to what we pay in Central London for breakfast, we feel Oak Caffe is really reasonable. So, their prices reflect what you would expect for a nice atmosphere and tasty food from a menu with a good selection of breakfast options in North London.

Final Thoughts- See You Soon

We will definitely return to Oak Caffe in Whetstone as soon as we have a morning off together and aren’t off to Central London for a different review or blog activity. I enjoyed the Eggs Benedict so much it will be tough not to order it again.

Sunny friends, do you find that you always choose the same food item on a menu? Or are you more adventurous when you visit somewhere for the first time?

Indian Afternoon Tea Review- Cinnamon Bazaar Covent Garden

Stealing from Forest Gump, I feel like a blog email inbox is like a box of chocolates- you never know what you’re gonna get. ‘Influencer’ opportunities can be amazing and sometimes you wonder what the PR was thinking when he or she chose you and hit ‘send.’ Shortly before Afternoon Tea week, I received the press release for Cinnamon Bazaar’s launch of their Indian Afternoon Tea. My heart fluttered when I saw the headline.

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‘Chef Vivek and Bake Off star Tamal Ray launch modern Indian Afternoon Tea’

My excitement about this invitation ignited for two reasons. It was perfect! Just days before- a viewer left a comment on the Sunny News YouTube channel requesting more coverage of Indian food in London.

And, among the sea of afternoon teas in London, this seemed to offer a different spin. The press release indicated it would ‘shake up the traditional afternoon tea with an injection of fire and spice’. So I had to know immediately if it truly would…

Cinnamon Bazaar Indian Afternoon Tea – History

Actually, the chefs who collaborated on Cinnamon Bazaar’s Indian Afternoon Tea also caught my attention. Chef Vivek Singh has a restaurant empire spanning two decades. He created the Cinnamon Collective portfolio, with which anyone on London’s restaurant scene is familiar. It includes: The Cinnamon Club, The Cinnamon Kitchen and of course- Cinnamon Bazaar. He is known as a pioneer of the modern Indian cuisine movement in London.

Next, Tamal Ray was a finalist in the 2015 series of The Great British Bake Off. Not only does he contribute to a monthly food column in The Guardian, but also he has a career as an NHS doctor.

Do you see why this combo offers the perfect medicine to inject some much needed spice in to the tired themed afternoon tea scene in London? 😉

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Cinnamon Bazaar Indian Afternoon Tea – Company

While the focus is the food at afternoon tea, it can be ruined by bad company. After countless afternoon teas, it seems two hours is the standard amount of minimum time in London for the experience. Therefore, one must carefully select a guest who offers thoughtful commentary on the food as well as great conversation.

A catch up with Catherine of LuxLife blog was long overdue. And she fits the description above perfectly!

We met back in 2014 when Sunny in London was less than a year old. I have followed her move to Australia and back, as well as all her fantastic travel adventures around the world. Her honest and hilarious Instastories share the challenges of daily life balanced with glamorous travel. I always look forward to seeing what she posts.

Cinnamon Bazaar Indian Afternoon Tea – Gastronomy

So, now for the juicy part! From the list of Indian spiced teas, I chose the White Peony. While it was nice, the colourful teapots in which the tea is served add a wonderful touch to the experience.

In fact, when I walked in to Cinnamon Bazaar from Maiden Lane in Covent Garden, I felt like I had entered Oz. The colourful decor of the restaurant adds even more fun flavour to this afternoon tea in London.

Along with our tea, we received the Chaat. This included:

  • Papadi Chaat- crisp wheat, tangy tamarind, yoghurt and chickpea vermicelli
  • Puchka/Pani Puri- semolina shell with tangy sweet and sour water
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Next, our stand arrived with the Nibbles and Sweets.

  • Fish Finger Sandwich with tomato chutney
  • Chicken Katti Roll-in pastry with mustard and paper
  • Macaron- macaron with cinnamon cream
  • Mishti Doi- baked/steamed yoghurt with mango curd (gluten free)
  • Pistachio Cake- with rosewater marshmallow
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Cinnamon Bazaar Indian Afternoon Tea- Final Thoughts

In summary, this afternoon tea is quite good. I generally don’t prefer food that is very spicy and wasn’t too overwhelmed by the items that featured the promised ‘injection of fire’. Some people might be. I’m guessing that if you enjoy Indian food, then you know what to anticipate for flavour and will agree that everything meets expectations.

I enjoyed every item. However there is no dodging around the issue that the bread for the sandwiches was a bit stale. That’s the only suggestion I have for this afternoon tea.

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My favourite item was the Sweets. That shouldn’t be a surprise because if you enjoy afternoon tea, it’s likely because you have a sweet spot for sugar. But, what is surprising is I have never really associated the Indian culinary experience with a strength in desserts. I only starting eating Indian food when I moved to London, so this could be from lack of experience.

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Can you add your thoughts on this in the comments? What popular Indian desserts have you enjoyed?

I really didn’t want my little dish of Mishti Doi to end. It was so delicious!

The final ‘Wow’ of the experience happened when Catherine and I left. As we walked to our next destinations, she pointed out that there were actually no scones at the afternoon tea.

With so many London restaurants offering afternoon tea with champagne or Prosecco, it’s common for the actual tea to be understated and minimal in its overall appearance in the food ensemble. Yet to get away with not having the classic staple of scones and still be fab is a big two thumbs up for Cinnamon Bazaar!

If you hadn’t guessed already from the start of this Indian Afternoon Tea review, our experience was complimentary. That hasn’t affected my thoughts. The service was excellent too. I look forward to adding Cinnamon Bazaar to my next revision of the Best London Restaurant Guide for Foodies.

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Best Pubs in Chelsea- King’s Road Pub Crawl London

If you’re a Londoner, you might be quick to call ‘click bait’ on a pub crawl on King’s Road. Because there are hardly any pubs actually on the King’s Road. It’s actually known for being one of the most popular streets for shopping in London. So, in order to get my London born husband (who is a self-proclaimed pub expert) out for a day in Chelsea with me, I put him in charge of a King’s Road Pub Crawl that included a side of shopping.

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Initially this wasn’t too much of a challenge for him because he spent part of his childhood living in Chelsea. He and his family had a few local favourites that he wanted to visit. However, some of them haven’t stood the test of time. And some have morphed through the times in to a different experience.

Nonetheless, Mr Sunny put together a list of pubs that will impress anyone visiting London as well as has local knowledge of the pubs in Chelsea. Let’s take a look, Sunny friends.

Pubs in Chelsea- King’s Road Pub Crawl

Chelsea Potter is one of the few pubs on King’s Road. If you subscribe to the Sunny News email, you know that Mr Sunny and I love the happy hour deals at Greene King pubs. In each newsletter, Mr Sunny recommends a pub of the week. Quite a few have been from this franchise because who doesn’t love 2 for 1 Prosecco and beer?

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Pubs in Chelsea- Around the Corner

The Cross Keys- Mr Sunny was eager to see The Cross Keys. This pub should not to be confused with the ‘classic old boozer’ pub in Covent Garden on Endell Street with the iconic floral front. The Cross Keys in Chelsea is discreet and tucked away on a residential street. In fact, this is the description of many of our choices in the Best Pubs in Chelsea Pub Crawl.

Location: 119 Kings Road, Chelsea SW 3 4PL

What Mr Sunny likes: It’s near King’s Road and the Embankment, so it’s a great escape while the ‘Mrs is shopping’. The Sunday Lunch looks good and seems to be frequented by mostly locals. That’s always a good sign! Another good sign is the list of celebrities who drank at The Cross Keys.

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The Phene: We enjoyed drinks here. Mr Sunny feels it is still a local’s pub but is definitely more of a gastropub.

Location: 9 Phene Street, Chelsea, SW3 5NY

What Mr Sunny likes: The beer garden is fabulous and the Sunday lunch looks delicious. We advise you to arrive early for this food experience because it was quite packed when we stopped by. Or better yet, you should book a table in advance.

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Cooper’s Arms- This pub does a great job of combining contemporary and traditional design. Their website suggests they have a welcoming atmosphere, so take a look at these shots and see if you agree. I love pubs that have comfortable furniture and a vibrant colour scheme.

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Location: 87 Flood Street, Chelsea SW3 5TB

What Mr Sunny likes: The terrace is good for having a quick smoke or vape and the menu features a traditional Sunday lunch.

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The Surprise: This was at the top of Mr Sunny’s list because it was his dad and mum’s local when he was a child. He remembers when locals clearly had one side of The Surprise pub, and the other side was devoted to the public.

Location: 6 Christchurch Terrace, Chelsea SW3 4AJ

What Mr Sunny likes: He says he is a bit disappointed that over the years it has made such a change to a gastropub. However, since it’s a Young’s Pub, we know the menu and food are top notch too.

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Phoenix- Mr Sunny feels this Geronimo Inn pub off of the King’s Road is more of a traditional London pub. He thinks they offer good beer, fine ales and lager.

Location: 23 Smith Street, Chelsea SW3 4EE

What Mr Sunny likes: While we note the above mentioned strengths, this pub represents nostalgia for Mr Sunny too. He would love to know if anyone remembers the curry house that previously was next to this pub. It was one of his family’s favourites. His parents would enjoy drinks in the pub and the curry house owner would signal them when their take away order was ready.

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The Antelope: Of all the pubs we visited on the Sunday we did the Chelsea Pub Crawl, this was Mr Sunny’s favourite.

Location: Eaton Terrace, Belgravia SW11W 8EZ

What Mr Sunny likes: We know that it’s a tad bit on the edge of Chelsea, but it’s well worth a visit. As a traditional Fuller’s pub, The Antelope has London Pride. This is Mr Sunny’s dad’s daily beer choice.

He loved seeing a nice horseshoe shaped bar and enjoyed seeing a bar full of locals watching live sports.

Pubs in Chelsea- Out of Range

Our final stop was The Botanist, which is listed in The Good Pub Guide. While it suited me just fine, Mr Sunny decided to skip having a drink here because it is quite posh. Londoners won’t be surprised to hear that Mr Sunny said it was full of ‘Sloane Rangers.’

Location: 7 Sloane Square, London SW1W 8EE

What Mr Sunny likes: ‘This is a great place to use to loo before you leave Chelsea’

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Pubs in Chelsea- Final Thoughts

Mr Sunny has an excellent memory, when it comes to recalling pub locations and what their unique selling points are. However, he also uses Good Pub Guide to keep the pulse on what’s happening in the London pub scene. As you can see, through time pubs change names, ownership and style. Having a book or app readily available if you live in London and were born here is always a good idea.

If you’re visiting London and need help, it’s a great idea!

We hope you enjoyed this Best Pubs in Chelsea pub crawl. If you’d like regular recommendations from Mr Sunny, don’t forget email subscribers regularly receive his pub suggestions!

What are your favourite pubs in London? Have they changed through the years? Do you still visit them when you’re in the neighbourhood?

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My Old Dutch Pancakes in Holborn Review

My morning didn’t begin the way I planned. Luckily, this summer I put together a wish list of breakfast places in London so all was resolved at My Old Dutch pancakes in Holborn.

Originally, the day’s itinerary involved leaving the house at 7.15am with Mr Sunny. I was going to ride to work with him and then make my way to Covent Garden. However when the alarm went off at 6am, that great plan didn’t sound so enticing. Sleeping in longer seemed so much smarter.

I’ve been on a serious breakfast kick this summer and wanted to try to little porridge place that’s been open for a few years. I had read it is quite popular and it’s best to get there really early. By the time I arrived, every table was full except a seat at the bar. After 15 minutes of waiting and not even receiving a menu, I decided porridge wasn’t worth the hassle and hit somewhere I knew was going to be fab.

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I’ve walked by My Old Dutch in Holborn many times in the afternoon and evening. You can’t miss the bright orange exterior. Believe it or not, I actually had to pull down the orange saturation in the image above when I was editing the pictures!

My Old Dutch pancakes has other locations in Chelsea and Kensington too. There is always plenty of people inside, so that’s why I had always been curious about what the food is like.

Luckily when I arrive there were available tables by the window and they were able to seat me at one. I chose the window because it was a beautiful, sunny day in London.

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Also, if all went as anticipated, I was going to write a My Old Dutch Pancakes review on the blog and wanted great lighting for the food photos.

First on the agenda was getting myself a large latte.

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My Old Dutch Pancakes Review: The Food

The menu is quite big and divided in to many different sections. My a la Carte, My Butterscotch, My Poffertjes, etc. I was most excited to see that many items are available gluten free. Well, not really. I wish I didn’t have to eaten gluten free. Regular stuff is always better in my opinion. However, since this was going to be more indulgent than my original porridge plan, I wanted to keep breakfast somewhat sensible.

Honestly, it was really bugging me that Mr Sunny was at work and couldn’t join me. There is so much food on the menu I want to try. It would have been nice to have my partner in crime there to do some sampling with me.

I decided to play most popular and choose the My Old Dutch. This item is their signature dish. I don’t know if this photo captures the true enormity of what hits the table when you order My Old Dutch.

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It’s on the Classic Savoury Pancakes menu. It features smoked bacon, chicken, ham, red and yellow sweet peppers, mushrooms, sweet corn and cheese.

I might be on a sweet corn kick too, if you think about what I ordered at our Chelsea brunch last week.

I did my best to finish it, but My Old Dutch won round one. I really enjoyed it, although some of the edges were a bit toastier than I would have liked.

My Old Dutch Pancakes Review Holborn- The Service

When you write reviews that are organised through PR companies you nearly always get stellar service. You hope that everyone’s experience at a restaurant is the same as yours. However, when you are a paying patron you might be better positioned to get a clearer picture of what a restaurant offers.

The menu is impressive at My Old Dutch pancakes and my service was equally as great. Everyone I encountered was knowledgable about the menu and eager to help me make the best choice.

They also gave me a loyalty card for my next visit. I bet that porridge place doesn’t do that! 🙂

I am looking forward to taking Mr Sunny to a My Old Dutch location the next time we are both off work together and will certainly include this primarily pancakes restaurant in the next revision of my Best London Restaurant Guide for Foodies.

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Subscribe to the Sunny in London email and immediately get the ‘Local’s Pocket Restaurant Guide to London.’ It’s the ultimate free travel accessory for your London trip. The Guide has top recommended restaurants from a local, organised by neighbourhood. With it you can easily find a place to eat when you’re on a London street. Downloading the file to your phone means skipping Wi-fi and finding a fab foodie place- fast!

Send me the Free Pocket Restaurant Guide
my-old-dutch-pancakes-review-holborn-london-food

Top Food Travel Destinations for 2020

Where should you go for food travel in 2020? If you’ve been following me on Instagram, you know that in the past few months I have been to the top two food travel destinations in the world.

At the end of July you also saw on my social media that I spent two days at the National Geographic Traveller Food Festival in London. Through my research and writing as a London food blogger, trips I have taken and exhibitions I have attended, I can make some fairly strong predictions for future food travel.

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The two panel discussions to which I was most looking forward at the National Geographic Traveller Food Festival were the Culinary Trends and Food Hotspots.

To learn about the healthy food trends coming up in 2020, you can watch the Sunny News YouTube video below. I also included on the blog the ‘non-healthy’ information for Top Food Trends 2020.

But, let’s rewind a bit more.

Top Food Travel Destinations 2020- World Travel Market

For several years I have attended the Blogger Speed Networking event at World Travel Market. Below is my stand from 2015. At the most recent exhibition, I categorised myself as a food travel blogger.

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In the video I share two regions that were keen to talk to all food bloggers about promoting their destination. One I don’t mention is Serbia.

Mr Sunny, a former sound engineer and war cameraman for NBC News, was quite shocked when I returned home that do to say they were inquiring about organising press trips to promote food.

Cuisine in Serbia mixes Byzantine-Greek, Mediterranean, Turkish-Oriental and the cuisine of the Austro-Hungairan Empire. It also has Slavic influences. Perhaps since unlike the USA, Serbia bans production and import of GMO’s it will be able to make a big leap for being a world recognised cuisine?

In the past at WTM I have attended press conferences on increasing travel to Croatia. Now, several years later we are reading about the problems of overtourism in Croatia.

So, do you think this recent campaign Serbia to attract influencers to promote their cuisine will create the same buzz and attraction?

Top Food Travel Destinations 2020- National Geographic Food Festival

Again, in the video I indicate some hot topics at the panel discussion. But, what I don’t include is one panel member’s indication that Ireland will achieve higher status for its cuisine.

If you research articles published by National Geographic, you will see Ireland as a top listing. They cite its craft beer and cider development, as well as fresh seafood. It also offers highly regional options.

If you are a food traveller, you know the top consideration in people’s profile when they travel is authenticity.

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One cuisine that I shrugged off when a panel member mentioned it is Mexican. Specifically, the discussion was about Baja California.

I just don’t see it happening. Growing up in Florida, I ate Mexican food regularly. There is a very high Hispanic population in the state. In many places it’s the only language spoken. So, you’re able to get amazing Mexican food right in Florida. Having been to Baja California, I don’t feel it offers anything that much different than authentically owned and operated Mexican restaurants in Florida.

Top Food Travel Destinations 2020- USA

In the video I mention the standard cities for American cuisine popularity. They will still thrive in 2020. However, there are two cities that I indicate are really under rated. Having lived in both, I can say it is easy to eat well in them, and they have regional dishes that are famous and often replicated poorly world wide.

One place I don’t mention is Miami. Between Cuban food, Mexican, seafood, and steakhouses frequented by celebrities, this city has a lot to offer a British traveller. You might say it’s a great way to get damn good plates from many international locations.

If you want to consider what to eat in Florida that is regional, you can watch this one too.

Or, if you visit my hometown, take my advice as a local.

Top Food Travel Destinations 2020- Mr Sunny

A rising star that Mr Sunny endorses is Beirut. He regularly says it would be the one city in which he would most want to return. We eat Lebanese food as often as we can in London. Its influences are Ottoman, Armenian, Palestinian, Syrian, French and Israeli.

He also said that he agreed with me when I indicated that Israel’s wine selection at the National Geographic Traveller Food Festival were impressive.

We will both be cheering for Israel making a name for its cuisine in the future.

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Top Food Travel Destinations 2020- Final Thoughts

So, who is going to take the leap with me and vote for London for 2021?

After living here six years, I can honestly say that British cuisine is quite impressive. London’s food has come a long way since when I first lived here in the late 90’s. Steep competition (pun intended!) among themed afternoon teas makes them quite extraordinary compared to two decades ago.

Further, it seems Michelin starred restaurants and things to do in London for food are popping up everywhere.

What do you think, Sunny friends? Have you travelled to any of the above places and agree? What rising stars and old favourites do you have?

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Subscribe to the Sunny in London weekly email and immediately get the ‘Local’s Pocket Restaurant Guide to London.’ It’s the ultimate free travel accessory for your London trip. The Guide has top recommended restaurants from a local, organised by neighbourhood. With it you can easily find a place to eat when you’re on a London street. Downloading the file to your phone means skipping Wi-fi and finding a fab foodie place- fast!

As part of the welcome, you will also receive several other free downloads that will guide you through trip planning, plus a weekly edition of the hottest happenings in London.

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Food Travel Related Blog Articles and YouTube

THE ESSENTIAL FIRST TIME GUIDE TO

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HARRY POTTER

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YOUTUBE

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