Page 310 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - London

308  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS

Light Meals and Snacks commands a spectacular
view over Regent’s Canal.
When you want to make the most of the available sightseeing Bluebird, Terence Conran’s
time, it doesn’t always make sense to sit down for a lengthy multi-faceted food centre in
restaurant meal. Or perhaps you don’t have the budget or the converted 1920s Bluebird
the appetite for a three-course affair. London has an abundance motor garage on the King’s
Road, has a café with tables on
of eateries for every taste and occasion – many of them its cobbled forecourt, as well as
unmissable institutions – from traditional fish-and-chip and a more formal restaurant, bar
pie-and-mash shops to elegant tearooms and cool cafés. and market.
No visit to London would
be complete without after-
Breakfast and Brunch For continental breakfasts noon tea. Top hotels such as
A good breakfast or brunch comprising pastries and a The Ritz and Brown’s offer pots
prepares you for a solid day’s coffee, there is a huge array of of your choice of tea, scones
sight seeing, and the “full independent cafés to choose with jam and cream, thin
English” (see p294) is always a from, as well as dependable cucumber sandwiches and
good start. Many hotels serve chains. The elegantly old-world delicious cakes galore. For a
this classic British meal to The Wolseley in Piccadilly relaxed treat in the beautiful
residents and non-residents, serves croissants, brioches and Kensington Gardens, there’s
and there are plenty of “greasy cooked breakfasts in opulent nothing to beat The Orangery.
spoons” (traditional cafés) surround ings but those who Its selection of English teas
around the city with the artery- want something simpler should and cakes tastes even better in
clogging morning meal on pick from any of the coffee the elegant surroundings of
the menu. shops listed below. Sir John Vanbrugh’s 18th-
Though a little pricey, century building. Fortnum &
Simpson’s-in-the-Strand Mason (see p317) serves both
offers an old-fashioned Coffee and Tea after-noon and high teas.
breakfast menu (as well as For a cappuccino or espresso In Kew, the The Original Maids
classic lunchtime and dinner at any time of day, step into of Honour tearoom offers
roasts) in a historic panelled round-the-clock Soho stalwart pastries reputedly enjoyed by
dining room. A breakfast staple Bar Italia, which also serves a Henry VIII. For a more modern
is the egg: scrambled, poached, range of pastries and paninis; experience, Sketch offers
fried, boiled, most menus are it’s a legendary late-night pit- exquisite contemporary
dominated by this simple stop, full of colourful characters. confections in a restyled
ingredient and it continues There is no shortage of coffee- Georgian room.
to feature during brunch, bar chains, but one of the best
an increasingly popular meal is Caffè Nero, which dispenses Museum and
in the city. The spacious, authentic Italian coffee at
modern restaurant in the reasonable prices across town. Theatre Cafés
back of popular French grocer/ If you’re out shopping, many Most museums and galleries
delicatessen Villandry serves of London’s department stores have cafés, including the
one of the best on Saturday have their own cafés: Harvey Royal Academy, Tate Modern
and Sunday. Nichols has one of the most (with wonderful views over
American restaurants such stylish, while Selfridges has a the Thames), the National
as Joe Allen and Christopher’s branch of the cool Moroccan Portrait Gallery and the British
also offer brunch; or head for tearoom Momo. In Portobello Museum. BFI Southbank has
well-heeled Westbourne Grove, Market, quaint tearoom Still Too the buzzing Riverfront Bar &
where it’s a weekend ritual Few, below the antique shop of Café, much frequented by
at relaxed eateries such as the same name, serves tea, cinephiles, while St Martin-in-
202. The Breakfast Club, a sandwiches and cakes to bric-a- the-Fields church in Trafalgar
trendy diner with a few brac hunters on Saturdays. Square, famous for its concerts,
branches around the city, Superb coffee (and cakes) can has the capacious self-service
serves a variety of breakfast- also be found at the Monmouth Café in the Crypt.
style meals all day, but for a Coffee House in Covent Garden. Although some of these
more sophisticated experience, Patisseries such as Maison tend to be slightly expensive,
34 Mayfair is certainly worth Bertaux and Patisserie Valerie their locations often justify the
a visit. The Riding House are a delight, with mouth- cost. The stunning interiors of
Café has a scrumptious watering window displays of Benugo, the café found in the
weekend brunch, as does French pastries, and Paul offers original Morris, Gamble and
Duck & Waffle, which serves delicious tarts and other treats Poynter rooms of the Victoria &
delicious dishes with stunning in a Parisian-café atmosphere. Albert Museum, are definitely
views of the city from its If you’re strolling in picturesque worth the price of a cup of tea
40th-floor restaurant. Little Venice, Café Laville and a sandwich.

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