Bluebird

I shouldn’t really say this out loud but I have to admit that I’m a fan of ‘Made in Chelsea’, and I don’t think I have missed any of the shows of any of the seasons. One of the places where the Made in Chelsea crowd usually hangs out frequently is the Blue Bird Café. I’ve had the chance to go twice to try to figure out whether the life in Chelsea the show displays is actually reality or is fiction - I can't release my decision yet - but I can talk about the food for now as it's worth the visit.

There is a full day breakfast menu, a variety of salads, pasta, signature dishes as the snichtzel, they also do teas and pastries, and a lot of different drinks - cocktails, beers, wines, champagne... - offered in a really nice courtyard over the summer and a really cozy cafe when the cold arrives (if it ever does leave). And that's just in the café because there is a restaurant, a shop, a bakery and a million things always going on.

It is a really nice place to stop and recharge if you're shopping around Kings Road, or wandering around the South West of the city. The great advantage is that this café is open all day long so there is no restriction on a time to get food, and suitable for all people - teenagers, young couples, not that young couples, group of friends, families with babies... so the visit is highly recommended!

DETAILS:
Bluebird - www.bluebird-restaurant.co.uk/‎ - 350 King's Rd, London SW3 5UU

Spittafields

A few years ago, the Spitafields London Market was transformed into one of the sources of fashion and latest tendencies. Just around the corner from Brick Lane and all the Vintage outlets, this market changed from selling fruits, vegetables and fresh produce, to selling clothes and accessories that set the latest of trends.

It is usually very busy over the weekends, when all the stands are set and the people flow around. However, currently in the summer time, they also set some of the stands on Tuesdays and Wednesdays so you can actually are able to visit any day of the week.

And you should definitely do not only because of the market, but also because of the shops that have opened a branch around the market field, which include Barbour, Fred Perry, Dr Marteens, Traffic People or Misha Barton.

Also you have a good offer of food and drinks that you can choose from. If you remain on the end closer to Bishop Gate (Liverpool Street Station) then that would be more lively during the week, as it's the heart of the City. However, the end closer to Commercial Road (towards Brick Lane) will be more packed over the weekend. So there is something for all tastes - always fit for all audiences :-)

I had a guest star over the last visit to whom I dedicate this post and some others to come...

DETAILS:

Spittafields Market - www.spitalfields.co.uk/‎ - 16 Horner Square  Spitalfields, London E1 6EW

Chaophraya

This Thai restaurant took over one of the most amazing buildings in Castle St (Edinburgh) earlier in the year; the fact that makes the building amazing is not other than the rooftop overlooking the castle to the left, and the sea to the right. And when in that rooftop you manage to get the best table, you’re close to heaven – and not only because you’re at a certain altitude – but because in Fringe time there are fireworks at the end of the Tatoo and you can see them whilst enjoying some Tamarind Duck.

The food was really tasty, as it tends to happen with Thai food given all the aromas that they add to the dishes. The service is also really good, even overwhelming at some stages when we had to actually ask for a time out to anyone asking anything. The price is also correct, as the sizes of the portions are quite big. But again, just the location makes the place worth the visit even if it just for drinks.

DETAILS:
Chaophraya -  www.chaophraya.co.uk/venues/chaophraya-edinburgh/ - Castle St with George St

Local's Yard

It is quite a task, when in Edinburgh, to find somewhere where there is not a crowd of tourists around. However, thanks to some locals to the city we managed to enjoy a great lunch over the weekend with no tourists on sight (and it was that good that we went there both days). I know that being a tourist myself, I shouldn't be complaining but if you have visited Edi - if you haven't, you must - you know it gets overwhelming.

Indigo Yard is an amazing restaurant for comfort food and all day breakfast over the weekend; they also do an amazing deal for 2x£10 lunch. They have recently renovated the place and it looks really good, even if there is an overdose of lavender plants. There are over 30 different beers - none of them are German - so I was in a happy place - not because there was no German beer, just due to the amount of different brands they had. So a very good place to escape the masses and enjoy good food and drink. What else do you need?

DETAILS:
Indigo Yard - www.indigoyardedinburgh.co.uk/ - 7 Charlotte Ln  Edinburgh EH2 4QZ

Edi & The Fringe

This post is the start of a new section: Londoning Abroad. Travelling is one of the activities that we have developed among the years in London, so it’s the time to open a new section to be able to write about different cities where we go to and share the experience – especially as I wouldn’t like to disappoint my audience and leave many days without posts, and for the remains of August I’m not going to be in London much.

I can’t think of a better city to start this section than Edinburgh and our annual visit to the Fringe. I leave you with a few pictures of the city, an amazing city where you can believe you’re in the middle of a fairytale or about to attend Howard – although you have to let go your imagination to avoid and escape from the tourists that will always be around you. There is a castle, many churches and graveyards, parks, hills, hidden alleys, pubs, nice cosy restaurants… all you can dream of. You have streets like Prince full of shops, Rose St packed with restaurants and bars, George St that becomes the engine of the night life, the Royal Mile where everything happens and you can always build your own story.

And for the lovers of the theatre, comedy, drama, musicals, performance of all kinds, there is no better time to go than during the Fringe, as the city becomes a stage. There are all types of acts in every sort of venue you can think of, and everyone is up to perform. So break a leg – well, not if you’re the spectator – and enjoy the show!

 

DETAILS:

Fringe - www.edfringe.com

Visit Edinburgh - www.edinburgh.org