Lovie Staff Picks for a Choice Week in London

In London for the 9th Annual Lovie Awards? Here’s a guide to where to eat, drink, shop and more, from The Lovies team.

So you’ll be in town for the 9th Annual Lovie Awards! Exciting stuff. Why not make the most out of your week by enjoying all that London has to offer?

From world-class curry on Shoreditch’s Brick Lane to contemporary art at the Tate Modern, The Lovies team has you covered, with a guide of our favourite places to eat, drink and visit in London.

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  • Lovie Staff Picks for a Choice Week in London

Pubs


Nick Farnhill (@nickfarnhill), Co-Chair, The Lovie Awards

Gordons Wine Bar, 47 Villiers Street, London WC2N 6NE: Around since 1890, Gordon’s is widely known as London’s oldest wine bar. Take in the historical news clippings and memorabilia lining the walls as you make your way through their fantastic wine list.

The Seven Stars, Holborn, 53 Carey Street, London WC2A 2JB: This traditional pub is run by Roxy Beaujolais—a brilliant old London boozer. What more do you need to know?

Emma Whitfield (@emmawhitfield), Accounts Manager, The Webby Awards

Dalla Terra Wine Bar, 25 Slingsby Place, London WC2E 9AB: One of my favorite wine bars in London is Dalla Terra in Covent Garden. They have a seriously stellar wine list for the connoisseurs but also just a delish list of sauv blancs for people that love their white wine! Also the charcuterie is divine!

 

Ana Livia Jardine (@analiviajardine), European Marketing Director, The Lovie Awards

Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels Seven Dials, 8-10 Neal’s Yard, London WC2H 9DP: This wine bar tucked in Neal’s Yard is one of my favourites: It’s cosy, modern, charming and the wine list is incredible. The staff is comprised of wine connoisseurs, who are more than happy to guide you through their extensive wine list (Over 400 wines!). The cheese and food selection is also brilliant, should you be peckish.

Food


David-Michel Davies (@dmdlikes), CEO, Webby Media Group

Beigel Bake, 159 Brick Lane, London E1 6SB: You’ve spent the past few hours slinking around Shoreditch, maybe there was a stop at the Owl and the Pussycat even. You’re with friends, and hungry. Between the cheap chicken joints, late night brick lane spots and kebab stalls, there are a million places to go. But, you’d be wrong, because there is only one place to go: Brick Lane Beigel Bake. Bagel connoisseurs (please note the spelling difference) will swear the bread is inferior to H & H, the pastrami lovers will swear by Katz’s. But once you’ve been to the Beigel Bake at 2am with friends and taken a hit off of the spicy mustard beef bread concoction, you’ll be in one of the universe’s special clubs of people who know the rumors were true, pure joy does exist in the universe after all.

Emily Warren (@emilyhonora), Managing Director, The Lovie Awards

The Barbary, 16 Neal’s Yard, London WC2H 9DP: Showing up jet lagged in London means there is only one thing to do: eat and drink. The Barbary—a tiny, sit-at-the-bar joint serving incredible Mediterranean food (more Israeli than Greek), delivers the comfort and flavour to help you settle into London’s coolness (as in, bring a warm jacket because it’s dank and cold in London at every turn). The absolute, most thirst-quenching beer I’ve ever had on draft was at this bar; do NOT skip it when you order their falafel (I cried tears of joy it was so good), followed by their incredible plate of grilled octopus (it will blow your mind). And do yourself the favour of ordering dessert here, too. These are not run-of-the-mill sweets, with things like homemade, lavender ice cream. The bartenders are friendly if you’re up for a chat, and you can watch the chefs cook before your eyes, perhaps find yourself mesmerized by the precision of the sous-chefs plating in front of you with huge tweezers. This place is a gem. But make a reservation, The Barbary gets packed, and for good reason.

Steve Marchese (@stevemarchese), Producer, The Lovie Awards

Dishoom, 7 Boundary Street, London E2 7JE: Lifelong Londoners surely have their Indian spots, but for this out-of-towner, there is nothing quite like Dishoom. Sure, there are spots all over London, but don’t let the fact that it’s a “chain” dissuade you. Paying homage to the Irani cafes that were once part of the fabric of Bombay, Dishoom has become a staple of my annual London experience. Pro tip: Don’t miss the Pau Bhaji and Murgh Malai.

The Orange Buffalo, 61-63 Brick Lane, London E1 6QL /Rough Trade, 91 Brick Lane, London E1 6QL: Many brave Londoners have tried and failed to do regional American cuisine justice. But not the guys behind The Orange Buffalo. They NAIL the Buffalo chicken wing better than many American spots I’ve tried outside of New York state with a truly authentic sauce and a perfect fry. Go grab some wings at their Brick Lane location and then hit one of London’s most important record stores, Rough Trade. Perhaps not in that order. Don’t want to get sauce all over your new Jamie XX vinyl.

Nick Farnhill (@nickfarnhill), Co-Chair, The Lovie Awards

The Quality Chop House, 88-94 Farringdon Rd, Clerkenwell, London EC1R 3EA / Clipstone, 5 Clipstone St, Fitzrovia, London W1W 6BB: Don’t miss this recently refurbed restaurant serving brilliant British dishes. You’ll also want to head over to Clipstone —from the same team as the Chop House. Tapas like modern European food. Good for lunch.

Ana Livia Jardine (@analiviajardine), European Marketing Director, The Lovie Awards

Smokehouse, 63–69 Canonbury Rd, Islington, London, N1 2DG: If you happen to be in London until Sunday, please go to Smokehouse for a classic British Sunday roast. I’m yet to find a better Sunday roast in town. The yorkshire puddings are massive and perfect, and the meat specials never fail to impress. Make sure to leave room for dessert, as the Sticky Toffee Pudding is to die for. The beer and wine selections are top-notch as well.

Leroy, 18 Phipp Street EC2A 4NU: Tucked in a back street in Shoreditch, Leroy is laid-back and understated restaurant, but an excellent spot to get dinner with a group. The dishes are small and meant to be shared, and the drinks selection is great as well.

Yauatcha, 15-17 Broadwick St, Soho, London W1F 0DL: Don’t let its shiny exterior and tacky decor fool you – Yauatcha looks fancy, but the Chinese food there is simply delicious. The menu is massive, so I recommend you go there with a group and order a lot of different dishes to share – just make sure the crispy duck is in the order. There are limited gluten-free options there, so beware if you are allergic.

Coffee & Tea


Claire Graves (@clairegraves), Executive Director, The Webby Awards

Tap Coffee, 26 Rathbone Place, Fitzrovia, London W1T 1JD: This is my all time favorite coffee shop to meet people and work. The coffee is perfect, the snacks are great and the toast and jam is award winning.

 

Ana Livia Jardine (@analiviajardine), European Marketing Director, The Lovie Awards

Ozone Coffee Roasters, 11 Leonard Street, London EC2A 4AQ: If you’re serious about your coffee and fancy a delicious brunch, this hip kiwi spot is the place to go. The mince on toast is a New Zealand classic and I can’t recommend it enough. This is also close to Shoreditch and its shops, in case you want to stroll around the area afterwards.

Sketch, 9 Conduit St, Mayfair, London W1S 2XG: This iconic high tea restaurant is every Instagrammer’s dream. Sip on pink champagne and delicious tea flavours, as you sit on plush pink velvet chairs, overlooking the art-covered walls to the sound of a choir and the scent of oversised Diptyque candles. Describing this place as extra is an understatement, but the experience is quite fun. Make sure to book it in advance, though.

Places to Visit


Claire Graves (@clairegraves), Executive Director, The Webby Awards

The Serpentine Gallery, Kensington Gardens, London W2 3XA: The Serpentine is one of my top 5 galleries in the world. Not only because they have great curators, but because it’s in the middle of Hyde Park. Wade Guyton: Das New Yorker Atelier, Abridged is the current exhibition, and in the show he uses digital technologies iPhones, cameras, computers and consumer-grade Epson printers–as tools to create both large-scale paintings on linen and smaller compositions on paper.

TriYoga, Carnaby Street, Soho, London W1B 5PW: If you’re looking for a good Yoga studio to get your stretch on while you’re in town, I recommend TriYoga. There is a great mix of yoga types and the classes are solid, the studio is clean and juice in the cafe is delicious.

Steve Marchese (@stevemarchese), Producer, The Lovie Awards

Neal’s Yard, Seven Dials, Covent Garden, London WC2H: While it’s certainly changed over the years, the quaint courtyard that is Neal’s Yard remains a wonderful oasis in the middle of hectic Covent Garden. Stop there for a quick breath and grab some incredible food (The Barbary, Homeslice) or coffee (Monmouth), shop the holistic remedies stores and even grab a quick back rub.

Jeff Zemetis (@jzems), Creative Director, The Lovie Awards

Sounds of the Universe, 7 Broadwick Street, Soho, London W1F 0DA: Eclectic record shop with a diverse yet curated selection of records, CDs, books, tapes and whatever other physical media that’s still around. It’s pretty much impossible not to run into some amazing finds in this place. Affiliated with Soul Jazz Records, who has released some of the greatest Reggae, Soul, Punk, Jazz, etc. records ever produced. Poke around, listen to what’s playing, and discover that record that makes you think, “How am I just finding out about this now?”

The London EDITION, 10 Berners St. London W1T 3NP is the official hotel partner of the 9th Annual Lovie Awards. Book a luxurious stay there—or simply take a walk through the trendy Fitzrovia neighborhood near Soho and pop into The London EDITION for excellent dining and stellar nightlife.

Shopping

Ana Livia Jardine (@analiviajardine), European Marketing Director, The Lovie Awards

Liberty, Regent Street, LondonW1B 5AH: Liberty is a unique luxury department store featuring women’s, men’s and children’s fashion, cosmetics and fragrances, jewellery and much more. The decor is lovely, and it’s the perfect place to purchase a souvenir. It’s also right next to Carnaby Street, where you’ll find lots of other shops.

 

David-Michel Davies (@dmdlikes), CEO, Webby Media Group

Sock Department @ Selfridges, 400 Oxford St, London W1A 1AB: Any real visit to London is sure to come with two important feelings: sheer exuberance as you marvel at the civility, beauty and off-the-charts old world cool factor the Big Smoke has to offer (do people really call it that though?); and second, a general and overwhelming feeling of angst and melancholy as the wind blows the rain into your face, and drenches your body, clothes and most importantly feet, over and over again. But if you are like me, and see an empty wine glass as a good excuse to buy another bottle, then race over to 400 Oxford Street, and direct yourself to the department of socks. There in addition to seeing the universe express its truest meaning (equilibrium) you’ll find the greatest room of socks you could have ever imagined. Buy your favorites, take them home and be a sock king or queen in your land. It is the reward for having endured those wet sad moods abroad one time long ago.


The 9th Annual Lovie Awards takes place on Thursday, 14 November at British Film Institute, Southbank in London. Subscribe on YouTube to be the first to catch all the highlights.