My Top Fives

Well the year is almost done and the overwhelming need to create "best of "lists has got too much for me.  So here you go...

Top 5 Coffee Places (in no particular order):

• Milk Bar - I just love this place and the coffee is great and it makes me happy going there.  My only issue now is it's too bloody popular
• Tapped & Packed - I had my best flat white of the week there this week and it's close to where I work and the food is great
• Caravan - top notch caffeine, great place, in the wonderful Exmouth Market, say no more.
• Brewed Boy - because Rob is a legend
• Kaffeine - others have questioned the consistency here but I have always had a great experience and the Aussie barista who sounds a bit like Kylie Minogue is one of the friendliest in London

Top 5 Restaurants (not all of which I have blogged about):

• Chez Bruce - consistency, great service, amazing food, lovely location (although I am biased on this point) and just all round superb
• Andrew Edmunds - prior to Chez Bruce stealing my heart this was my favourite London restaurant.  So why haven't I blogged about it I hear you ask?  I don't know is the answer.
• Arbutus - not everyone's favourite but they had me at the squid and mackerel burger (and kept me faithful with the tarte tartin)
• Bob Bob Ricard - I did not expect to even like this place and I ended up loving it.  Fun, crazy and the best chicken kiev I have ever eaten.
• Dean Street Townhouse - I think this place gets it spot on in terms of food, atmosphere, service - like the perfect New York bistro with high-end comfort food.  Love it.

Top 5 London Things (that aren't coffee or restaurant related);

• Columbia Road Flower Market - go early to avoid the inevitable crowds and take the time to wander around the surrounding streets, this is London at it's best.
• Bloomsbury - from the British Museum to shopping on Lambs Conduit Street, cakes at Bea's, coffee at The Espresso Room, a movie at the Renoir at the Brunswick Centre and browsing for books at The London Review Bookshop....I could go on and on.
• Spend the day south of the river - from Borough Market via the Tate Modern to Southbank - start the day early at Borough, fortify yourself with a Monmouth coffee and a sublime chorizo sandwich from Brindisa, then wander to the wonderful Tate Modern (ensuring you take some time to browse the gift shop), finish up at Southbank, maybe take in a movie at the BFI, shop for second hand books under Waterloo Bridge and check out what's on at the National Theatre.  I could do this every Saturday.
• See a band - I don't do this nearly as much as I used to but my first few years in London I would see some sort of live music every couple of weeks and there is no better city to do it in (and I come from Melbourne so that's a big call) - whether it's at the Shepherd's Bush Empire or the Brixton Academy or smaller venues like Dingwalls or the Barfly you just need to get out there, get a plastic cup of lager, stand shoulder to shoulder with your mates and some random stranger who knows all the lyrics and lose yourself in live music.
• Surround yourself with green space - you can easily spend a sunny day meandering from Kensington Gardens, through Hyde Park to Green Park and finish at St James' Park, but don't forget the wonderfully quirky (peacocks anyone?) Holland Park, grand Regent's Park or the wild open spaces of Hampstead Heath, Richmond Park (complete with deer) and Wimbledon Common.  On a more local note, Wandsworth and Clapham Commons, Victoria Park, London Fields and Primrose Hill are all brilliant.  Walks, picnics, festivals, concerts, boozing, riding, sun-tanning, eating, people-watching, rowing, snogging, meeting friends (old and new), taking some solo time, the amazing profusion of green space in this city is one of the best things about it and not to be wasted.  So get out there!