We’re sure you’ve heard of it by now. We wouldn’t be surprised if your feed’s been pickled in them over the last year. Perhaps you’ve even enjoyed the combination yourself, luxuriating in the sheer hedonism of it all.
Yep, the martini and fries one-two punch has become something of a cultural moment, and it’s one that looks set to continue into 2026. Dubbed the ‘adult happy meal’ by bartenders across the world (why has no one called it the Martini Supreme yet?), it’s a pairing that makes more sense with every sip.
As with all in vogue, high-low combinations, there’s an elegant logic to this one: the crisp, botanical bite of a well-made martini cuts through the richness of fried potato, while the salt amplifies the drink’s savoury depth. And if you subscribe to the theory that chips soak up the alcohol, you’re essentially breaking even.
So, get ready to clink your conical glasses to the best places to enjoy a martini and fries in London. Here we go…
Disclaimer: We’re in the UK, so chips are served instead of fries in some of our inclusions. It’s fries all the way for us, though, we’ve got to say…
Rita’s, Soho
Ideal for the NYC holy trinity and a three-martini lunch…
Rita’s brings modern American cooking to the heart of Soho, and it’s become one of our favourite spots in the neighbourhood. Open from 12pm every day, this warm and welcoming restaurant is the ideal place if you’re after a midday martini. Wet, dirty or dry, at Rita’s, it comes anyway you like.
The lunch crowd here knows the score: order one at noon and you’re cosmopolitan, order three and you’re either a 1960s advertising executive or having a very good Wednesday. Sometimes, in the martini-addled mind, you can be all three things simultaneously.
Crisp, clean and wonderfully invigorating, the dry martini here is the ideal companion to a light meal. In this case, Caesar salad, a side of fries and a dry martini; a take on the NYC happy meal that’s been called the holy trinity by the Washington Post.
The Chicken Caesar at Rita’s is the platonic ideal of the dish, to us. Copious amounts of Cantabrian anchovies and a heap of freshly grated Parmesan, topped with buttermilk-soaked, secret-spice-dredged chicken thigh… It’s a light meal, as we said. The only drink capable of cutting through it all? Do we even need to spell it out?
Should you like the idea of a three-lunch martini but can’t quite handle the pace, Rita’s serves mini martinis for just £4.25. Cheating? We think not.
The American Bar at The Stafford London, Green Park
Ideal for a martini and fries in those liminal hours…
Sometimes in that liminal space between 3pm and 5pm, you need a pick-me-up. Too late for lunch, too early for dinner – so where should one head? A hotel bar, of course.
There’s always someone drinking in a hotel bar, no matter the time of day: business travellers unwinding, tourists recovering from a day’s exploring, the lone wolf nursing something cold and strong.
Likewise, in those late-night hours after you’ve had dinner and drinks but want one more for the road (somewhere that isn’t a rowdy bar or club), a pit-stop at a hotel bar can often be the answer. Enter The American.
Open noon to midnight on weekdays and until 1am on weekends, The American Bar at The Stafford London serves those borderland hours well. Hidden down a quiet St James’s passage, this bar has been mixing martinis since the 1930s and is something of a London institution. The walls are covered in memorabilia from regulars past and present, lending the place a warmth that feels earned rather than designed.
Whether you prefer gin or vodka, shaken or stirred, dirty or dry, whatever, the bartenders here know their way around a cocktail glass. Of course, we’re not just at The American for their martini. They also serve french fries, and offer triple-cooked chips, too, should you want something more substantial. And if you’re chasing that holy trinity, there’s a main-sized Caesar salad for £20, or a side-sized version for £8.
Sidenote: Last year, to celebrate Independence Day (how very ironic) the bar launched ‘The American Happy Hour’; buy either a Tito’s Handmade Vodka Martini or the American Bar Gin Martini, and you got a side of fries. It didn’t quite fit our liminal time angle, so we’re mentioning it here instead. Here’s hoping for the same thing again this year.
They say you should never go into a meal hungry – ruins your judgment, apparently. Kit Kemp’s Firmdale Hotels have the solution. Every day between 5pm and 7pm, Brasserie Max at the Covent Garden Hotel offers Martini Hour: any martini from their extensive menu plus a bowl of chips for £14.
And extensive is the word. Beyond the classic, there’s a Saketini with Hayman’s Old Tom and Lillet blanc, a wasabi-spiked Samurai, and the Down Under made with Papa Salt gin. Given that Firmdale only has hotels in London and New York, it makes sense they’d embrace a trend born in Manhattan.
It’s the ideal aperitif if you’ve got dinner reservations elsewhere – the gin sharpens the appetite while the fries take the edge off, leaving you in that sweet spot of pleasantly peckish rather than ravenous. Just as it should be.
Ideal for adding Parisian flair to your martini and frites experience…
Cafe François is an all-day Parisian-style brasserie that does the martini and frites union with appropriate Gallic flair. The fries here are, of course, French – thin-cut, twice-fried and served in a silver serving bowl with béarnaise alongside, if you like. They also do truffled frites should you be of a decadent disposition, though for us, the béarnaise brings the requisite indulgence, and the duo is perfect just the way it is.
Their martini list runs to several variations, but we like to stick with their Martini de la Maison, if only for fear of paradox-of-choice-paralysis. That’s Beefeater gin or Mikolasch vodka with dry vermouth and verjus, if you’re asking.
You can, of course, just get your martini and frite fix and stop there. We have ours perched at the bar solo sometimes. But if you’re feeling hungry, upgrade to the Cafe François’ classic steak frites: a perfectly blushing bavette, crispy golden (really golden; they’re lovely) fries, and a rich, peppery sauce au poivre for that extra indulgence. Or, go for moules marinière with frites, their much-lauded rôtisserie chicken, or even lobster if you’re feeling flush. There’s a Caesar salad too, naturally, despite this being France. Sorry, London. Erm, confused now.
Back in the room, and Cafe François is a comfortable, convivial affair. Whether you’re dining solo or with a group, this is one of the best places in London for martini and fries. Keep an eye on their seasonal promotions too, like the Bartender Happy Meal (martini and fries for £10).
Ideal for happy hour martini and fries with a view…
Oblix East was one of the first bars in London to catch on to the ol’ New York Happy Meal trend and created a dedicated happy hour menu pairing martinis with fries way back in 2024. It would be wrong not to mention them, then.
While that specific menu has since moved on, at Oblix East every Sunday to Thursday from 5pm to 7pm you can take advantage of sundowners – iconic cocktails at half price, including their martini. An attractive deal, no doubt, made more so when you learn that they serve truffle and parmesan fries with béarnaise sauce. That said, with a martini we like our fries plain and purely salted, but that’s just us.
Thirty-two floors above London Bridge, Oblix East offers martinis with a view that stretches to Kent on clear days. The dirty martini is everything that you want from this classic drink – just enough olive brine to make the salt cravings kick in, lending it a cloudy pour that mirrors the London sky around you.
No list of London martini destinations would be complete without The Connaught. With 16 appearances in the World’s 50 Best Bars list (that’s every year of the list’s existence) and counting, the headline act is undeniably the bar’s signature bespoke dry martini. The famous trolley service, where your martini is mixed tableside from a gleaming chrome cart, remains one of the city’s great theatrical drinking experiences. You’ll choose your gin, your vermouth ratio, and your bitters from a selection that rotates seasonally, and then you’ll settle in for a damn fine sip. We like the Connaught Bar martini, made with their house-distilled artisan gin.
The result is a martini calibrated precisely to your preferences, served in a frozen glass that fogs the moment it leaves the trolley. Too fancy for a serving of fries on the bar menu, you’ll have to order tactically here for a true Martini Supreme experience; their sandwiches are served with chips, so we figured it makes the cut for our list. We’re pretty sure they’d let you order a bowl as it is, if you asked nicely.
Those sandwiches don’t come cheap, mind you, starting at £30 for the vegetarian club sandwich. It’s likely the most expensive version of this combination you’ll find in London, but arguably the most memorable.
Ideal for neighbourhood vibes and no-nonsense cocktails…
We’ve been fans of Three Sheets for as long as their martinis let us remember. We love their Dalston venue and love even more their spot in Soho. Owned and run by brothers Max and Noel Venning, they know what the people of London want.
The Dalston original sits at number 13 on the UK’s Top 50 Cocktail Bars list, and it’s also picked up trophies at the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards. The Soho outpost carries that same pedigree into a moody, narrow space of flickering candles, dark green booths and soft teal leather. Their approach is refreshingly unpretentious: approachable, well-made cocktails and reinvented classics that people actually want to drink.
Some say you shouldn’t mess with something that’s as perfect as a classic martini. But we’re glad Three Sheets put their spin on it. In our humble opinion, they serve up one of the crispest, cleanest dirty martinis in town. What’s their secret? Belvedere, koseret tea, olive oil, picpoul and sea salt, apparently. You can even get a bump of caviar with your martini for an extra £8, though we’re personally looking forward to caviar ‘bumps’ going out of fashion. Just sayin’.
The fries here are actually mustard chips; British Maris Piper dusted with mustard powder, served with aioli and their house-made Guinness brown sauce. It’s a traditional bar snack done the Three Sheets way. They’re the ideal thing for soaking up some of those martinis if you don’t want to give into the wind too early, quite honestly.
Cool and oh-so-chrome, this Shoreditch seafood spot has made the martinis part of its identity. The interior, designed by Harry Nuriev of Crosby Studios, is unapologetically futuristic: exposed high ceilings, stainless-steel surfaces, weighty pipes doubling as architectural pillars, and an intentional hyper-industrial aesthetic that feels like dining inside a glamorous construction site. It’s monochromatic, metallic, and very Shoreditch.
As any seafood bar worth their Maldon flake would tell you, oysters and martinis have long been natural companions. Adding fries to the equation creates something approaching the perfect bar snack trifecta (sorry, Caesar salad). Wait ‘til you hear about those fries; thin-cut and crispy, served with aioli and prawn head salt, which is very addictive, indeed.
Elect olives instead of lemon and your martini comes with a briny edge that echoes the shellfish. More decisions to make; you can choose from an array of gins and vodkas including Nikka Coffey gin or Grey Goose vodka. Ours is the latter.
Ideal for beef dripping potatoes and pre-dinner fortification…
Hawksmoor built its reputation on steak, but their dedicated martini bar at St Pancras is where it’s at for the classic drink and a side of fries.
The bar menu features the restaurant’s beef dripping hash browns. However, if you ask nicely you can get a bowl of fries or those legendary (for good reason) triple-cooked chips: fluffy inside, shatteringly crisp outside, and seasoned with beef dripping and rosemary salt. We’re salivating thinking about them. Hold on, just need to wipe down our keyboard…
…Where were we? Oh yeah, martini. If you’re after that whole New York martini experience (isn’t that why we’re here?), this is probably one of the best places in London to get your fix. The Martini Bar sits within the St Pancras hotel, Sir George Gilbert Scott’s Grade I-listed gothic revival masterpiece, and the room is nothing short of spectacular: soaring decorative ceilings, Gothic arches, ornate carved stonework, mosaic floors and stained-glass windows. Every surface is lavished with gilded stone carvings and intricate paintwork. It might just be the most beautiful bar in London.
No matter how you take it, a menu of martinis is dedicated to variations. We like their Steakhouse Martini – green peppercorn tincture and olive brine give it a splendidly savoury edge, while chardonnay adds a creamy finish. It’s shaken rather than stirred, so comes with a touch more dilution and a slightly softer punch. And that’s just fine by us.
Oh, and they sell a Little Caesar with Cantabrian anchovies for £8, if you’re looking for that magic number again. Oysters too.
The martini and fries combination works because it refuses to take itself too seriously while still demanding quality on both counts. A badly made martini won’t be saved by excellent chips, and perfect fries deserve better than warm gin and too much vermouth. London’s best versions understand this balance.
With Hawksmoor still on the mind, we’re checking out London’s best steaks next. Care to join us? Of course you do.
It’s official; London has gone crazy for matcha, and in 2026, you’ll struggle to walk down a London street without tripping over a coffee shop advertising board showing off their latest matcha concoctions.
Once consumed mainly in small, formal tea ceremonies, TikTok and Instagram have rocketed this vibrant green tea into the stratosphere, a trend that shows no sign of abating. Gen Z are shunning the pre-flight pint for matcha green tea, according to the Guardian, a trend we respect rather than want to replicate, admittedly, and the ubiquitous Blank Street even dropped ‘Coffee’ from its name in a rebrand that felt decidedly matchacore.
Yep, matcha is everywhere, and its distinctive earthy sweetness has captured the city’s imagination. However, all over London you’ll find spots serving over-sweetened milky drinks that may or may not actually contain matcha (more likely batcha). So how does one find the best matcha drinks and treats in London?
We’ve done the hard work and nearly turned ourselves a Shrek colour of green in the process. From dedicated matcha bars and flaky, matcha-loaded croissants to luxury hotel matcha cocktails and more, here are the best spots to get your fix of matcha in London.
We should mention that, worryingly for enthusiasts, talk is brewing of a worldwide matcha shortage, so consume your matcha mindfully, just as it was originally intended.
Sumi, Notting Hill
Ideal for possibly the best matcha mille crepe cake in London….
It’s impossible to claim that anything is definitively the best in London, but we reckon Sumi’s matcha mille crepe cake comes close. The origins of this particular creation remain debated, but the marriage of French patisserie with Japanese culinary meticulousness makes perfect sense. At Sumi, that union is faultlessly executed.
Earthy and sweet, the cake arrives as a bright and beautiful stack of delicate crepes layered with whipped cream and flavoured with savoury matcha. The colour alone is striking – that deep, almost mossy green signalling quality powder rather than the lurid hue of lesser versions. Each bite is light and airy without losing structure, the cream between them restrained not cloying. The balance here is everything: the gentle bitterness of the matcha tempers the sweetness, and as you work through each forkful that distinctive earthy flavour just develops further.
Topped with a dollop of creme fraiche and finished with a shower of matcha powder, cutting through those layers is deeply satisfying – there’s a quiet pleasure in watching your fork glide through that precise geometry. A mainstay on the menu since the restaurant’s opening, and one we hope never comes off.
Ideal for experiencing 100% ceremonial grade matcha…
Husband-and-wife duo Claudia and Otto Boyer founded Jenki after growing frustrated with matcha being an afterthought on London menus. They went to Uji, Japan’s birthplace of matcha and benchmark for quality, to source the best, learned the art of making matcha, then opened their first bricks n mortar store in Spitalfields in 2021. Jenki comes from the Japanese word “genki”, meaning full of life, and they’ve certainly breathed new life into London’s matcha scene.
Skip forward a few years and Jenki has just been awarded Matcha Brand of the Year 2025 at the European Coffee and Hospitality Awards in Berlin, which definitely speaks for something given all the shops selling subpar matcha. Now with five locations including a recent Canary Wharf opening, Jenki serve thousands of matchas daily across the city. The Canary Wharf site, designed by Studio Rain Wu, features floor-to-ceiling glass and sustainable surfaces made from upcycled materials. It might just be our favourite of the lot.
Only 100% ceremonial grade matcha from Japan is used in their drinks and everything is whisked to order. The Flat Green (their take on the flat white) is a bestseller and if you only come here once, this is the one you should try. It has less milk than a matcha latte, meaning a more concentrated flavour, allowing the tea’s earthy notes to shine.
Seasonal specials are worth a return visit – their winter immunity smoothie combines ginger and turmeric for warmth and anti-inflammation, matcha for sustained energy, and manuka honey for its antibacterial, soothing qualities – colds beware.
Since you’re in London, not Japan, the JENKI London Fog – Earl Grey Matcha Latte is another must try. A homemade syrup of black tea with notes of bergamot and citrus, and vanilla bean is stirred into your milk of choice and topped with ceremonial grade matcha for that extra punch. It’s quite possibly London’s best matcha drink.
If you’re a banana bread fanatic, pick up a slice of their Matcha Banana Bread. It’s baked fresh in-house and made with JENKI Matcha, dark chocolate, and perfectly ripe bananas, all of which lend it a spuriously healthy air. If you further want to legitimise its consumption – you’ll need to replace those calories you’ve just burned standing in line for 30 minutes.
Chef Masaki Sugisaki’s Chelsea restaurant continues to push boundaries with its fusion of Japanese techniques and European ingredients. The setting – a converted Victorian building off Walton Street, once an artist’s studio – features a striking quartz bar, an elegant Victorian fireplace, and an intimate mews courtyard for al fresco dining. But it’s the dorayaki that brings matcha lovers here.
These Japanese pancakes take weeks to develop; the batter alone required three weeks to perfect in the r&d phase. The result is impossibly light and fluffy, a cloud-like vessel for some thoughtful fillings. The Matcha and Jasmine Dorayaki is a thing of quiet beauty. Velvety matcha and jasmine tea white chocolate ice cream sits between ethereal pancakes, finished with kuromitsu Chantilly and genmai white chocolate crunch.
Don’t be heartbroken if that particular Dorayaki isn’t on the menu though. Things change with the seasons but the craftsmanship remains constant. A previous favourite featured white chocolate matcha ice cream with plum wine compressed strawberries and Okinawa shikuwasa dango mochi.
For those wanting to extend the experience, there’s a fine tea selection including the Organic ‘Green Velvet’ Matcha, vibrant green with a bold aroma. This is matcha with refinement.
Ideal for sweet treats from a 155 year old teahouse legacy…
One of the oldest matcha brands in the world, Tsujiri has been crafting green tea since 1860 when founder Riemon Tsuji dedicated himself to the art in Kyoto. Fast forward 166 years and that heritage has landed in London, with outposts serving ceremonial grade O-Matcha from Uji alongside a parade of Instagram-worthy desserts. It’s a heady combination.
They know how to make a destination-worthy treats. The matcha soft serve sundaes draw queues at all three of Tsujiri’s sites, piled high with red bean paste, mochi and crispy toppings in various combinations. The Matcha Bubble Sundae is a particular highlight: chewy tapioca, crunchy cornflakes and smooth, creamy matcha ice cream creating a riot of textures in a single glass.
Bring a friend who shares your obsession and order the matcha crepe cake too – soft, delicate layers filled with perfectly balanced matcha cream that dissolves gently on the tongue. The matcha basque cheesecake offers that same melt-in-the-mouth quality, while the matcha tiramisu latte brings something a little different to beloved Italian classic. In warmer months, the warabi mochi and shaved ice desserts come into their own.
Before you leave, browse Tsujiri’s retail selection: matcha powder, Tsujiri Matcha Nama Chocolate and matcha madeleines all available to take home, making this a one-stop shop for the matcha-obsessed. There are branches in Camden and Westfield Stratford, but it’s the flagship store in Soho’s Chinatown we love most.
Ideal for slowing down and savouring that matcha moment…
Katsute means ‘once’ in Japanese – a word that represents nostalgia, history, and moments in time. It’s a fitting name. The original Angel site sits among the antique dealers of Camden Passage, all floral wallpaper and vintage pendant lighting with Japanese touches woven through. Once you’ve tried what they do here, you’ll find yourself weaving through again and again – the name becomes less about the past and more about that first, formative taste while losing yourself in the moment.
At the Brick Lane branch, you’ll need to remove your shoes to sit in the traditional tatami-style space downstairs. Don’t miss the matcha mille crepe cake, which has become something of a cult favourite across the capital: layers of delicate crepe encasing lightly whipped matcha cream, executed with the kind of precision that makes you pause mid-bite. It’s our second favourite in London after Sumi, and if you’re properly smitten, you can buy a whole cake to take home.
You’ll also find matcha hot chocolate, matcha affogato, and a superb selection of loose-leaf teas imported from smaller Japanese producers – the sort of carefully sourced leaves that reward slow steeping and close attention. Beyond Angel and Brick Lane, you’ll also find outposts inside Uniqlo in Covent Garden (complete with a roof terrace) and at Broadway Market. Katsute, you’re really spoiling us.
Named after the famous tree-lined avenue in Tokyo where the original shop gained cult status, Omotesando Koffee now has outposts across the globe. Luckily for London, the Fitzrovia branch brings Japanese minimalism just a few doors off Oxford Street. It’s a world away from the chaos just outside.
Coffee is the main attraction here, and thank goodness: their signature blends, made from beans sourced worldwide, are exceptional. But the matcha latte has earned its place at the table, made with high-grade powder from Uji and served with the same precision as those coffees.
The matcha latte itself is a study in balance – grassy and vegetal with a gentle bitterness that lingers, the milk softening the edges without masking the tea’s complexity. For those who crave a creamier finish, there’s the Matchaccino. This is matcha for the connoisseur; not at all sweet, just rich, earthy and silky. Pair your drink with their signature kashi – a baked custard cube with a caramelised crisp exterior and gloriously gooey centre.
The light wood interior feels contemporary and effortlessly cool, the kind of place where you can feel quietly smug about your excellent taste. It’s small, with just a handful of window-bar seats, so come prepared for standing room at peak times. There’s sometimes a queue, there’s no toilet, but none of that seems to matter when the sip is this ethereal.
Next time you’re on the Elizabeth Line take a detour toTottenham Court Road and exit via Dean St – it’ll drop you practically on the doorstep of Omotesando Koffee. Thank us later.
Since Gen Z caught on to matcha in a major way, a line is almost guaranteed outside How Matcha!. But long before the hype, this community-driven cafe has become one of London’s most beloved matcha destinations, a Marylebone mecca for all things matcha. The ceremonial grade matcha is sourced directly from farms in Kagoshima and forms the base for inventive creations like the Wasabi Matcha Shot, the Dirty Matcha (a celebrity favourite, we’re told), and the Immune, blending matcha with cinnamon, ginger, turmeric, black pepper, bee pollen and honey.
At the Marylebone branch, DJ pop-ups and events happen; it’s certainly a scene. Baristas wear shirts that don’t quite match the energy of a tea ceremony with slogans like ‘F*** Coffee, Drink Matcha’ and ‘Will you Matcha Me’. That said, the baristas love their craft and have a very chill vibe, talking passionately, and always eager to show you the process and recommend drinks to suit your tastes. The menu can seem a little overwhelming, but if you’re as indecisive as we are, you can’t go wrong with the Spanish Blossom iced matcha.
The original Marylebone site built such a devoted following that they expanded to a three-floor flagship on Ledbury Road in Notting Hill, complete with oak-panelled walls, a basement Kintsugi Room for rituals and quiet moments, and a sun-drenched courtyard garden. It’s pretty and serene.
Ideal for matcha desserts and a quiet escape in Covent Garden…
This independent Japanese patisserie has been putting out some of London’s best matcha pastries for years, all made with decadent, pure green tea from Kyoto.
The matcha Swiss roll is the one to beat – light sponge wrapped around gently whipped matcha cream and dotted with sweet red bean, each slice restrained and assured. The matcha croissant, topped with a grassy ganache, runs it close.
But don’t stop there. WA’s matcha tiramisu layers sponge dipped in intense matcha syrup with light mascarpone cream, all set on a chocolate sablé base that stops it tipping into cloying territory. And the matcha milk roll – soft, swirly bread with rich matcha dough, baked until creamy and scattered with crunchy almond slices – lingers in the mind long after. It’s still lingering there now, come to think of it. For special occasions, whole matcha rolls and 16-inch matcha tiramisus are available to preorder.
Sure, most come for the desserts, but the savoury options mean you can make a meal of it at WA Café. We’re particularly taken with the homemade vegetable Japanese curry wrapped in soft dough, coated in breadcrumbs and baked until golden.
Indicative of the success of matcha across the city (and, as with many of the entries in our rundown), there are now several branches of WA Café across London. The Covent Garden branch on New Row offers a calm retreat from the crowds, while the Ealing Broadway original has a loyal local following. A newer Marylebone site has extended their reach further.
Arrive early for the best selection – popular items sell out by mid-afternoon. Before you leave, pick up a pot of their matcha rusks: crisp, delicate biscuits made from the edges of their signature milk loaf and infused with that same fine-grade Kyoto matcha.
Tab x Tab, the husband-and-wife-run brunch cafe on Westbourne Grove, has become a west London institution. Industrial-chic interiors and a seasonal menu draw weekend crowds for dishes like truffle scrambled eggs, loaded avocado toast, and French toast with grilled peach, lemon thyme mascarpone and orange blossom syrup. But the drinks are where our attention falls today.
Premium loose-leaf teas from Lalani & Co form the base for their matcha, served hot or iced with precision. They sit alongside specialty coffees, making this an excellent destination for those who cannot quite decide between caffeine camps.
Come summer, the Floral Fizz is worth seeking out: osmanthus green tea with refreshing tonic, topped with a creamy matcha foam. Everything here feels considered, right down to the gorgeous crockery. A place to linger.
Can earthy green tea powder make a ceremonial-grade cocktail? The answer, it turns out, is yes. The five-star Marylebone hotel Nobu has partnered with Jenki to create what they claim are the world’s first matcha cocktails. Served on their summer terrace, they’re proof that matcha has ambitions well beyond the teacup.
The Yuzu Jenki Punch blends Roku Gin with ceremonial grade matcha, yuzu, vanilla and coconut water. It’s light and refreshing, vibrant and zesty, with a delicate vegetal sweetness that complements the citrus rather than fighting it. The vanilla arrives as a subtle surprise at the finish, rounding everything out.
Those avoiding alcohol should order the Minted Matcha, mixing matcha with mint, shiso, lime and soda to crisp, clean effect. They serve a matcha latte too, for the semi-purists, but the cocktails are the real draw here.
The collaboration extends beyond drinks. The terrace menu includes a selection of mochi, including a Raspberry Jenki Matcha, alongside their Kakigori – traditional Japanese shaved ice in strawberry and matcha as well as the usual cantaloupe and watermelon. Perfect for warmer days spent watching Marylebone drift by.
For afternoon tea, expect matcha scones with raspberry shiso jam, yuzu curd and clotted cream. It’s a refined setting for what might be matcha’s most glamorous outing in the capital.
The French-Japanese concept born from fashion brand Maison Kitsuné has been a matcha pioneer since it first opened in Paris in 2014. Café Kitsuné’s London outpost – the UK’s first – occupies the ground floor of the Pantechnicon, a striking Grade II listed building in Belgravia that houses five storeys of Nordic and Japanese dining and shopping. The matcha is sourced directly from Uji, and the space itself feels calm and considered amid the polish of Motcomb Street.
The matcha latte is excellent, made even better when you dip the brand’s signature fox-shaped cookies into it (kitsune translates as ‘fox’ in Japanese). The iced strawberry matcha latte is worth seeking out too; sweet, slightly tart and dangerously easy to drink. But it’s the pastries that really shine.
The double-baked matcha croissant is exceptional. It’s shatteringly crisp on the outside, the layers giving way to a mellow, creamy matcha frangipane laced with caramelised lemon and topped with flaked almonds and a dusting of powdered sugar. The matcha and raspberry cookie is generous and satisfying: buttery with a soft, cakey texture, the matcha subtle rather than overpowering, the raspberry adding a gentle tartness. A matcha and lemon marble cake rounds out the selection.
Order from the small hatch on the ground floor and collect your drink before finding a seat – there’s more space upstairs on the first floor.
Ideal for matcha tiramisu and rooftop drinks with a view…
Sharing the Pantechnicon building with Café Kitsuné, SACHI offers a more refined kappo-style dining experience blending Japanese and Nordic influences.
The dessert section features a matcha tiramisu that has become something of a signature and is a must-try. Beautifully light vanilla mascarpone cream sits atop matcha-soaked savoiardi biscuit, the bitter-vegetal notes of the green tea playing off the creamy richness. It’s darn delicious. Pair it with the Ura Gasanryu Koka Honjozo, a clean, restrained sake whose dry finish cuts through the cream without competing with the matcha’s earthy bitterness. This rooftop bar provides panoramic views and draws on Japanese garden aesthetics for a contemplative setting to really think about those flavours.
Come just for dessert and cocktails or make a meal of it. Executive Chef Chris Golding, formerly of Nobu and Zuma, oversees an ambitious menu that spans sushi, robata and tempura. Lookout for specials like their matcha soba noodles with ikura, shiso and a creamy bottarga butter sauce.
Ideal for a morning pick-me-up and health-conscious matcha fans…
When healthy fast-casual chain The Salad Project opened its Notting Hill site at 110 Westbourne Grove last October, it came with an unexpected addition: a dedicated matcha bar. It serves hot and cold matcha classics alongside playful creations inspired by their signature salads – think miso maple walnut matcha, hot honey matcha, and a spritzy green goddess. Light breakfast bites turn the space into an all-day destination, making it a welcome addition to W11’s neighbourhood dining scene.
The popular Marylebone bakery Boxcar generates real enthusiasm (both actual and virtual) for its matcha croissant. Head chef Zisis Gkalmpenis and executive pastry chef Liza Kermanidou oversee the pastry programme at both the original Baker & Deli on Wyndham Place and the newer Bread & Wine in Connaught Village, turning out hand-laminated pastries fresh each morning to the denizens of W1.
The matcha croissant has become something of a cult classic- and one look tells you why. It’s a circular swirl of hand-laminated pastry, the golden layers rippling around a vivid green centre of delicious creamy high grade matcha pastry cream. The shape alone has earned it viral status, but the eating is just as good: flaky, buttery pastry giving way to a soft, yielding matcha-filled heart that’s sweet without being cloying. It sits alongside other standouts from the morning selection – cinnamon rice pudding danish, orange blossom brioche – but this is the one people queue for.
Pair it with a matcha latte and find a seat facing St Mary’s Church in Bryanston Square. The interior is cosy and sleek, and there’s a no-laptop policy at weekends, making this a place to luxuriate in your own company.
P.S. At the Bread & Wine venue in Connaught Village, stay into the evening for their Matcha Margarita – tequila, matcha and agave, unexpectedly good. A neighbourhood bakery done right.
Ideal for Japanophiles who want it all under one roof…
London’s largest Japanese food hall occupies a prime spot just off Leicester Square, and for anyone who wants to combine their matcha fix with a proper browse through Japanese groceries, snacks and homeware, this is the place.
The Japan Centre’s basement depachika-style layout – modelled on the beloved food halls found beneath Japanese department stores – wraps around open kitchens and a central courtyard where you can sit and eat. And if you’re here to eat matcha, you’re in for a treat.
The in-house bakery turns out matcha roll cakes, matcha muffins and matcha custard-filled dorayaki alongside seasonal specials like sakura-dusted doughnuts. Head to the Mochi Donut Bar for hand-decorated matcha and raspberry mochi donuts paired with fruity bubble teas, or grab a matcha latte from the ground floor counters – look out for seasonal specials like the adzuki matcha latte.
For the full experience, the supermarket stocks an impressive range of premium matcha powders, Japanese teas and matcha-flavoured snacks you won’t find elsewhere – perfect for stocking up before heading home. It gets busy at lunchtimes, so arrive early to grab a table.
London’s matcha scene has matured well beyond the basic latte. Whether you want ceremonial grade whisked to order, a boundary-pushing cocktail, a gorgeously laminated pastry, or simply a budget-friendly drink to nurse on your commute, the capital now has options across every price point and neighbourhood. Kanpai!
The transformation of Bath’s restaurant scene, from one dominated by chains and tea rooms to one of the South’s culinary powerhouses, has been nothing short of astounding.
Just a decade ago, only those hungry punters craving a Cornish pasty, sausage roll or scone would have been truly satisfied, but recent years have seen a slew of independent, forward-thinking eateries opening in the city, and we’re very much here for it.
No, really, we’re very much here, strolling the honeyed streets in search of a good feed. If you’re in the city centre doing the same, then you’ve come to the right place, cause we’ve got a whole twenty recommendations here for you, some fancy some frugal, but all very much delicious. Here are our favourite places to eat in Bath; our roundup of the best restaurants in Bath.
Upstairs At Landrace, Walcot Street
Ideal for light yet generous plates of produce-led Britalian dishes…
Yep, we said that many of Bath’s best restaurants are relatively recent additions to the city, and this is certainly true for Upstairs at Landrace, which emerged during lockdown, found its feet fast, and, thankfully, appears to be sticking around for the long haul.
Housed above the excellent Landrace Bakery, which specialises in sourdough bread made using stoneground British grains, the kitchen up that winding staircase is led by former Brawn and Quality Chop House chef Rob Sachdev, who brings a similarly straightforward sensibility to the cooking here.
The menu comprises a handful of snacks and starters and a couple of larger plates, with the cheddar fritters from the former section already reaching something close to cult status. It’s easy to see why; pillowy, giving and nestled under blankets of finely grated local cheese, they are seriously, seriously addictive. One plate simply isn’t enough.
From the larger dishes, deceptively simple, perfectly-cooked portions of fish are paired with hyper-seasonal veg; on our last visit, and as a bright early summer day lifted the mood in the city, a dish of monkfish, fennel and salsify felt apt. For something packing a touch more heft, rump steak or pork chops regularly appear on the ever-rotating rundown, the latter served as a whopping (and pleasingly pink) chop, complete with bone for gnawing. The new season broad beans, tender enough to be served still in their pods, reminded us that warmer times were just around the corner.
There’s a focus on whole-animal butchery here too, the beast broken down out the back and featuring several times in different forms on the menu. That Gothelney Farm Tamworth pork might appear not only as a chop, but also a hock and head terrine, a leg and shoulder ragu, and as a faggot of its livers. Waste not, want not!
Desserts are exemplary, with the skills of the now even more ambitious bakery below on full display. Should there be a tart on the menu – recently it was a blood orange and almond number – order it.
All in all, Upstairs at Landrace manages to be both light and breezy, and eminently satisfying. Right now, it’s our favourite restaurant in Bath, and long may that continue.
PS. You’re in for a real surprise when you visit the toilet!
You can read our full review of the restaurant here.
Ideal for Marco Pierre White-approved fish and chips…
Though nominally a fish and chips restaurant, the Scallop Shell, on Bath’s Monmouth Place, is so much more than that. Opened a decade ago and already superchef Marco Pierre White’s favourite restaurant in the area, this place is always packed and it’s easy to see why; fish is sourced sustainably, cooked simply yet thoughtfully, the vibe is cheerful and the service smooth. That’s all you could ask for, right?
And though their fish’n’chip offerings are certainly delicious, there’s also a regularly updated menu of other, arguably more interesting, options; whole fish (a whopping sea bass for two on our last visit) blistered and burnished by the grill and bathed in anchovy butter, steamed mussels or clams depending on the catch, grilled scallops in their shell, all served swimming in garlic butter, smoked sardines on toast… You get the picture.
Also of note, during weekday lunches diners can enjoy the restaurant’s ‘Fisherman’s Lunch’, which sees a portion of fish and chips, homemade mushy peas, tartare sauce and nice big mug of Yorkshire tea priced at a keenly priced – really, really keenly priced – £15. Yes, just £15.
All in all, it’s a top, top place for seafood lovers and one we can’t stop returning to for our fix of fresh fish.
If you’re in Bristol, the Scallop Shell now has a sister restaurant there. Called Noah’s, it’s already made it onto our list of the best restaurants in Bristol. And, in summer of this year, the team opened a new restaurant and bar next door to the Scallop Shell, called Sydney’s. Considering their track record for gorgeous, approachable places to eat, we’ve got high hopes for this one.
Ideal for vegetable-forward cooking that doesn’t feel like compromise…
The team behind Root have been doing the veg-led thing since 2017 – back when putting vegetables centre stage still felt like a hard sell – when they opened their first restaurant in Bristol’s Cargo development. A second site in Wells followed in 2022, and both hold Michelin Bib Gourmands. So when they announced they were taking over the former Jamie’s Italian site in Bath (vacant since 2019, if you can believe it), expectations were high. We’re pleased to report that they’ve been met. Emphatically.
This is Bath’s best restaurant opening for quite some time. What makes Root interesting isn’t that it’s vegetarian – it isn’t, strictly speaking. There’s a handful of fish dishes and usually one meat option on the menu. But vegetables are unquestionably the stars here, with the protein playing a supporting role. It’s a reflection of how people actually eat now, increasingly, with the full-on veganism of a few years ago giving way to something more flexible. The kitchen, led by Joe Fowler (formerly head chef at Root Bristol), treats its produce with real intelligence, and there’s a brightness and acidity running through the dishes that keeps everything exciting rather than worthy.
From the snacks, Marmite cheese puffs with Old Winchester and apple ketchup are moreish little things, salty and tangy and perfect with a glass of Pilton keeved cider, while grilled scallops with soy, butter and chives offer a preview of how deftly the kitchen handles the non-veg stuff. They arrive mi-cuit but with just two pronounced bar marks from the grill, straddling the two platonic ideals of a scallop with breezy confidence. They’re cooking cleverly here, no doubt about it.
Deeply roasted Jerusalem artichokes are paired with hazelnuts and a raisin and chilli dressing, the sweetness of the root offset by gentle heat. Texturally, it’s a triumph, the ‘chokes fudgy and close to collapse, the hazelnuts a toasted interlude. Celeriac pastrami – something of a Root signature across all three sites – comes with bread and butter pickles and Russian dressing, the vegetable transformed into something smoky, savoury and deeply satisfying.
It’s the standout dish until the grilled carrots with whipped feta, dukkah and harissa hit the table. They’re buried under a tangle of raw strands of carrot that initially looks like it could drown the dish and render everything cold and thudding. They turn out to be pickled, with a welcome zip that’s just lovely against the undulating charcoal flavours of the dish. It’s a knockout.
The ground floor, with its open kitchen and handful of tables, feels a touch utilitarian – functional rather than somewhere you’d linger. Head upstairs, though, and it’s a different story: a bright, generous dining room with views towards the Abbey and that lovely curved yellow booth seating that’s so pleasing for a couple dining side by side. We can imagine it’s beautiful for a summer lunch, too; we’ve only had the chance to visit in winter so far, but the warmth of the welcome more than compensated. We’ll be back in brighter times, make no mistake.
Ideal for regionally faithful Cantonese and Sichuan cooking, all so close to the station…
Bath doesn’t have a Chinatown, nominal or designated, owing to its size and sensibility, but there are several excellent, regionally faithful Chinese restaurants in the city, the high quality likely a result of the large number of Chinese students here.
Perhaps the best Chinese restaurant in the city, serving signature dishes from the Cantonese, Sichuan and Northern canon of Chinese cooking, is East meets West, its name thankfully just a reference to its location rather than a warning of the flashes of fusion within.
There are two menus here, an English menu and a Chinese version. These descriptors (theirs) don’t describe the language used, as both are presented in the Queen’s, but rather, the likely target demographic of each. Whilst the former has your usual Kung Pao, roast duck with plum sauce, and a range of chicken, cashew and pineapple preparations, it’s in the Chinese menu where things get interesting.
Here you’ll find a hefty rundown of properly spicy, numbing dishes from the Sichuan province, bubbling, rust dappled hotpots centered around tripe and stomach, and the odd preserved egg dish thrown in for good measure. This is exactly what you want on a wet and windy West Country night with winter in full swing.
The numbing dishes served cold are particularly good at East meets West, with a plate of hot and spicy ox tongue a revelation on our last visit. A cold poached chicken in simple spring onion broth – cloudy, piquant and complex – was superb too, as was the signature mapo tofu, which we saw the staff enjoying a huge bowl of out back. Always a good sign…
With Chilli Family Noodles (also on our list) visible out of the restaurant window, the whole thing would have been transportive were it not for the discarded Sainsbury’s bag blowing about folornly in the rain opposite.
Perhaps the best dish of all here, though, was actually one which could be found back on the English menu – slabs of soy braised pork belly that arrived in a sheen of molasses black sauce and quivered when nudged with a spoon. Sitting on top some much-needed pickled mustard greens as the perfect foil, it tasted amazing. None of these dishes top £15.
Pair it all with a Tsing Tao or two, priced at a decent £3.90 a bottle, let the buzz of a busy dining room wash over you, and luxuriate in some of the most effective escapism that a few notes can buy. That, or it’s a £600 flight to Chengdu Shuangliu International. You decide…
Ideal for an elegant, invigorating curry experience…
Though we’re sure that the Dishoom cookbook is out back, with certain pages turmeric stained and curry splattered, we’re also pretty sure that Bandook is Bath’s best Indian restaurant, its gently refined take on Bombay streetfood classics has been a really welcome introduction to the city since opening in 2019.
From the team behind the acclaimed Mint Room in the city, and the winner of ‘best restaurant’ at the Bath Life Awards in 2024, Bandook is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week, with its light and airy dining room chiming perfectly with the restaurant’s intentions to be a place for relaxed, all-day drinking and feasting.
Start with the signature pan puri, those photogenic, enlivening bites of puffed semolina shell filled with chickpeas, tamarind chutney and sharp, invigorating jal jeera water. The version here is exemplary, all crisp exterior giving way to soothing, spiced chickpeas and the energising lift of the chutneys. It’s the perfect way to start a meal.
On the other end of the spectrum, the umami-heavy keema pav is ace, too. It’s a heady affair, with the curried minced lamb possessing enough funk to surely be mutton, and its buttery, pillow bed of brioche bun the perfect foil.
Unsurprisingly, the curries are awesome too, tasting like a true labour of love in their depth and complexity, but with a pleasing lightness at the same time. We could happily bathe in their old style Delhi butter chicken, though we could only dream of coming up for air as smooth and silky. Weird image aside, it’s such a luxurious bowlful.
Though a frothy Kingfisher might feel tempting and appropriate, we love to pair this one with a refreshing Limca soda, which chimes succinctly with the effervescent feel of the whole Bandook package. Cheers to that!
Oh, and Bandook’s resident jazz band, The French Connection, play every Thursday from 7pm to keep you entertained while you eat with their live rendition of swing-jazz.
Ideal for all-day dining and drinking in Bath’s creative quarter…
Just when you think you’ve got Walcot House figured out – is it a restaurant? A wine bar? A brunch spot? – you realise that’s precisely the point. This impressively versatile venue, set in the beating heart of Bath’s artisan quarter (bit of a grand term for a street with some graffiti and a flea market, admittedly), seamlessly transitions from refined dining room to sophisticated drinking den without missing a beat.
The transformation of this former bakehouse mirrors Bath’s own culinary evolution. Where once there were Jägerbombs, student nights and rugger folk downing pints, now sits one of the city’s most accomplished venues, spanning three distinctly different floors. The main restaurant, flooded with natural light through an industrial glass pitched roof, serves food you just want to eat.
A brigade of passionate chefs works with produce from carefully selected local farmers, with meat coming from their own Green Street butchers just around the corner (and just a few paragraphs below), where native breeds are dry-aged on the bone. Go peer through the window and gawk at some seriously handsome stuff.
A recent dinner brought paw-sized, hand-dived scallops with that beautifully caramelised crust but off-raw centre that would have Masterchef judges cooing. Its accompaniments were just the right side of interesting; pretty florets of heritage cauliflower, and a caper and raising purée that balanced sweet and saline notes with precision. What a great dish this was.
Perhaps even better was a main of local fallow deer, its loin served thickly sliced to reveal a perfectly blushing, wall-to-wall pink, the meat rich and deep but not mealy, clearly having benefited from that close relationship with their butchers and the proper hanging it deserved. A lovely little slab of celeriac dauphinoise – nutty, buttery, but surprisingly light – sealed the deal. So that’s that; the main dining room is most certainly a winner.
Downstairs, the intimate Bread & Jam bar crafts some of Bath’s most intriguing cocktails. Their seasonal list shows real invention – a winter Sérol Spritz blends No. 3 gin with nectarine and grapefruit sherbet, while their house negroni gains complexity from a measure of bitter-orange Pampelle. The bar menu – back at street level – matches this creativity and offers a fine focal point for a graze and a gossip: rich, almost sensual wild mushroom arancini arrive under a snowfall of pecorino, while the buttermilk fried chicken has enough nooks, crannies and crevices to be massively satisfying to crunch into.
The wine list is as inclusive as the venue, reading like a careful study of both classic and emerging regions. Many are available by the glass thanks to deployment of a Coravin, and they’ve even collaborated with South African winemaker Pieter Walser of BlankBottle to create ‘Flavour Zone’, a characterful Mourvedre-Shiraz blend that captures the creative spirit of the place.
Mornings bring excellent coffee and house-baked pastries in the Dilly Bar, a space that transforms from daytime café to evening wine bar. Fuck me; you could get lost in here after a few. The breakfast menu shows the same attention to detail as dinner service, from a Full English featuring Green Street’s own sausages and bacon to wild mushrooms with truffle on sourdough. A keenly priced set lunch (£20 for two courses) offers one of Bath’s better-value fine dining experiences.
And that, we think, covers this all-things-to-all-people operation that manages to keep everyone satisfied – no mean feat in such a discerning city.
Though Bosco bills itself as a Café Napoletana, the vibe inside is, quite frankly, more New York hotel bar, with plenty of marble counter seating, dark leather stools (you might want to see a doctor about that), and low filament lighting casting shadows over the more intimate corners of the dining room. This is one of the city’s most romantic spots for an evening date, that’s for sure.
On the plate are some excellent (on their day) pizzas alongside deep fried snacks, bruschetta, Italian meats and cheeses, pasta and a couple of larger plates for good measure. Though the quality of the pizza here has been erratic on a couple of previous visits, the pasta dishes are particularly well realised, with the veal lasagna genuinely excellent, its structural integrity intact, as it should be, but its bechamel sauce positively piquant and oozing.
If you’re looking to graze while you drink in the dining room’s amorous vibe (as well as the excellent house negroni), then the cicchetti section of the menu is where you’ll feel most at home. We’ve been known to base a whole meal around their taleggio arancini, fried zucchini and bouncy but giving polpette in the past. Bolster the spread with a little coppa and gorgonzola dolce, imported from Lombardy, and you’ve got yourself the finest Italian feast in the city.
A Bath institution and a restaurant of much seniority compared to many of the others on our list, Nepalese restaurant Yak Yeti Yak is one of the city’s longest serving restaurants for a reason.
Head down the staircase to this inviting, stone-cobbled room and – immediately after you’re hit with the intoxicating aroma of incense and black cardamom – you’ll be met with a warm welcome like you’re one of the family. Generous portions of intricately spiced, instantly-likeable Nepalese dishes follow.
Though the vibe is certainly snug and intimate here, the cooking certainly isn’t what you’d call ‘homely’; there’s some real flair on display in the nimble but keenly seasoned momos, whilst the signature Yak Yeti Yak chicken – inspired by Katmandhu’s hole in the wall bars – is delicate and sophisticated in flavour.
Don’t miss the regal, saffron-infused Kesariko dhai – a yoghurt dish with origins in the kitchens of Himalayan royalty – which sends you on your merry way back up that flight of stairs and onto street level a very satisfied diner indeed.
The restaurant also runs the YYY Foundation, which does excellent work on long-term community projects in Nepal, including raising money for women’s hygiene products and contributing to the rebuilding of several primary schools. Do check it out.
Ideal slurping bowls of spicy, nourishing noodles…
You wouldn’t perhaps expect to find a bowl of seriously nourishing, Sichuan-pepper laden noodles in a tightly-packed dining room tacked onto the back of a public toilet…
Scrap that last sentence; that’s exactly where you might expect to find a bowl of seriously nourishing noodles were you in one of the worlds street food capitals such as Guangzhou or Bangkok, but Bath, let’s be honest, isn’t exactly known for rugged, rough and ready dining.
That’s what makes Chilli Family Noodles all the more special, and, in our view, one of the best restaurants in Bath. Here, and despite what at first appears to be an expansive menu, the choices are simple; choose between stewed beef, minced chicken, spare ribs or tofu, choose from flat, fat or thin noodles (or rice), and prepare for a mouth-numbing, lip-tingling bowl of pure heaven, and all for just £12.50, whichever way you choose to fill your bowl.
Though the restaurant name and menu quite rightly steer you in that direction, regulars to Chilli Family Noodles will know that the real highlights lie in the ‘something extra’ section of the menu, with the mouth-watering chicken (served cold) a real winner whether you’re looking for something refreshing in summer or nourishing in winter. It really ticks all the boxes.
And with a row of wok-burners out back, you know you’re in for that all-important ‘hei’ from the stir-fries, too. Mine’s a pak choi with extra garlic, if you’re getting them in.
Do be aware that the restaurant only takes cash, though you’ll be very well fed indeed for under £30 for two (there are several cash points just across the road).
For a similar vibe, we’re big fans of Noodle Bath (just off Kingsmead Square), too.
Ideal for the best Vietnamese food in the South West of England…
Vietnamese cuisine isn’t particularly well represented in the city, but Noya’s Kitchen is doing its best to change that with fresh, zippy Vietnamese food served at a variety of special events, lunches and supper clubs.
We’re particularly here for Pho Wednesdays, when bowls of the famous noodle and broth dish are devotedly served. A must order are Noya’s crispy pork with ginger and water chestnut dumplings topped with a blob of homemade chilli cranberry jam. They are divine.
You know when you’ve eaten one too many beige, protein-defined meals? In a sometimes beige, often protein-defined city, Noya’s the place to head for some respite.
In the summer, see if you can get a seat out in the popular garden; sunny, pretty and decorated with colourful parasols, it’s the ideal place to be on a summer’s day. The staff know their bun cha from their bun bo hue and are as charming as they come. You’ll leave here feeling happy, content and with a spring in your step.
Good news: recently, the team have started offering banh mi for takeaway, Tuesday to Friday from midday to 2pm. Available in lemongrass pork or crispy tofu for £9.50, they make for a superbly generous lunch.
Ideal for fine wines and the perfect drinking food…
Beckford Bottle Shop has made serious waves during its decade on Saville Row, picking up a hugely coveted Bib Gourmand award from Michelin and some fawning reviews in the national press. We certainly concur with that validation; the formula is one so very hip in London right now, of a wine bar which just happens to serve some really enticing small plates. It’s less ubiquitous here, which makes this bottle shop all the more enjoyable.
Two recent visits brought with them plates of precise seasonality and a keen sense of place. On the first outing, highlights included some superb devilled livers on toast, as well as Bath chaps – slow braised pig cheeks, pressed, breadcrumbed and deep fried – with a rustic, rough apple puree, and a decadent, dark chocolate mousse finished with pumpkin seed.
Even better on a more recent visit, a buttery, invigorating anchovies on toast was lifted by gently pickled shallots, whilst the now obligatory order of courgette fritti was texturally satisfying, its exterior crisp, its centre tender and giving. The accompanying aioli managed to be both delicate and decadent; a fine balancing act, indeed.
Both dishes – salty and satisfying – felt like the perfect drinking food in elegant Bath, and the accompanying Melissaki orange wine (available by the carafe), its texture dense and acidity gentle, was the ideal foil for the food.
Seemingly warming to a theme, a plate of salt cod brandade on toast was gorgeous, too, the wine now slipping down a little too easily. From the meatier side of the menu, a few blushing pink, thick slices of venison loin sat on a sharp tomatillo puree, a menu outlier but one which worked brilliantly well. The Nebbiolo d’Alba matched it with aplomb.
To end, an affogato of burnt butter ice cream, the restaurant’s own rum caramel, and a strong, bitter espresso, was the perfect way finish everyone off.
Ideal for a light-hearted atmosphere and gentle re-interpretations of classic British fare…
Part of the same acclaimed restaurant group as the Beckford Bottle Shop from just a few yards up the road, Beckford Canteen has only been open for just shy of three years, but it’s already become a fixture of (admittedly, increasingly predictable) national restaurant reviews and awards.
To be fair, it’s easy to see why Beckford Canteen is enjoying such precocious praise, of being one of the best restaurants in Bath already. First off, the dining room (set in a former Georgian greenhouse) is airy and easy-going, with plenty of window seating for watching the hustle and bustle of Bartlett Street go by. Service here, as with the bottle shop north up Saville Row, is flawless, cheery and mellow, a great encouragement to settle in for the afternoon.
The menu echoes this light-hearted atmosphere, with gentle re-interpretations of British classics like a sweet and verdant pea and mint soup, and the restaurant’s already iconic rarebit crumpet ticking all the right boxes. Better still is the pork jowl terrine, ensconsed in a translucent, giving jelly that tastes of the best ham hock stock.
On a recent visit, a panisse topped with wild garlic and trout roe was ordered three times – all you need to know – and the restaurant’s signature, impossibly crisp layered potatoes seemed to be on every table. If there is a whole fish, cooked on the bone and doused in brown butter with shrimp, then that is another must order on a menu full of them.
With every bottle on the tight but carefully composed wine list also available by the glass – the restaurant’s house Picpoul de Pinet, at £7.50, is crisp and refreshing – this is a meal that needn’t break the bank, too, the inclusivity of the ‘canteen’ moniker feeling wonderfully fitting.
The restaurant has recently announced via their Instagram a new lunchtime set menu. Running Wednesday through Friday, it will be keenly priced at £25 for two courses, or £30 for three.
The thoroughfare that takes in Kingsmead Square, Saw Close and Barton Street is perhaps Bath’s buzziest, full of hens and stags, seagulls and pigeons, waifs and strays, and three of the restaurants on our roundup of Bath’s best – The Oven, Chaiwalla, and our latest entry, the Persian mezze and charcoal kebab specialists at Baba’s Mezze.
Opened with little fanfare in October of 2024, you might be tempted to call Baba’s Mezze something of a ‘hidden gem’, were it not for the inviting smell of charcoal, smoke and caramelising fat that wafts out of the always open door and onto Barton Street whenever you walk past.
If that nostalgic aroma isn’t even to beckon you in like a freshly baked apple pie on a cartoon windowsill, then instead be enamoured by a glimpse of the twinkling Souk-inspired lighting and the warmth of the Persian rugs – a kind of curated, thematic dining room, sure, but one that promises a great feed.
And so it delivers. Ignore the piratical, tea-stained treasure map of a menu. Instead, admire its brevity, a refreshingly short and confident affair with seven cold and seven hot mezze, and a handful of larger items ‘from ‘the firepit’. From the former section, the signature baba ganoush is superb; roughly hewn rather than pureed, and smoky as you like. The yoghurt-based mezze mast o khiar is an exemplary version, too, given its characteristic perfume from dried mint and rose powder. Drag the restaurant’s grilled, butter anointed flatbreads through both and luxuriate.
And then, onto the main event; the kebabs. For us, a koobideh kebab – that heady, fatty minced lamb number wrapped around thick metal skewers and gently grilled – is always irresistible, and Baba’s is a fine rendition; not charred and gnarly, but rather, tender and full of the flavour of lamb fat. Its liberal basting of saffron butter certainly hasn’t harmed its immaculate texture.
The wine list is an interesting affair too, with the majority of bottles hailing from Greece, Turkey and Lebanon. That said, the Georgian Tbilvino Saperavi (£38) was just the ticket with that lamb koobideh, its deep, dark ruby colour and a rich bouquet of dark berries and subtle spicing, alongside robust tannins and well-balanced acidity, complemented the overtly succulent nature of the lamb brilliantly.
It shouldn’t come as a huge surprise that Baba’s Mezze has hit its stride so quickly. The owners here, Ben Shayegan and Ben Goodman (one Persian and one Greek), have extensive experience in Bath’s dining scene, with the Shayegan family owning several restaurants in the vicinity, including The Oven, Raphael and Amarone. The head chef here, Mehdi Paratesh, hails from Tehran and boasts 15 years of experience working the charcoal grill. We’re so glad they’ve brought that expertise to Barton Street.
The Chequers has long been one of Bath’s best pubs, standing on its humble, residential spot close to the Royal Crescent and the Circus for close to 250 years. A great place for pints since forever, it’s only recently started gaining very well-deserved traction for its food too.
Pull open the door and you’re immediately hit with that waft of a great pub welcome. Nope, not the smell of stale beer and flatulence but, rather, the din of chatter, chiming glasses and clinking cutlery. Stride up to the welcoming central bar that’s the beating heart of the dining room and order a stout if you’re so inclined, as the Chequers is still proudly a pub, but if you’re lucky enough to have nabbed a dinner reservation (booking ahead is highly recommended, particularly for their excellent Sunday Roast), you’ll be richly rewarded with a rundown of pub classics given the odd reinvention or twist.
A case in point is the current menu staple of crispy lamb, which here sees shoulder cooked down until giving and pull-able, and pressed into a terrine mould with plenty of ultra-gelatinous stock set around it. It’s then breaded and deep-fried, because everything tastes better than way. A bright, delicately spiced carrot and cumin puree mellows everything out. What a dish this is – yours for just £9.50.
You could order from the mains section of the menu, with dishes like Wiltshire venison loin, blackberries, cavolo nero and celeriac certainly singing of the seasons, but really, the highlight of a meal at the Chequers is stuff on the special’s blackboard just to the right of the bar, which lists a couple of big beefy bits (a tomahawk for two on our list visit), as well as dayboat fish, cooked simply and sympathetically, as produce this good always should be.
A late September visit brought with it a whole brill with sea vegetables and pickled shrimp, which was excellent, but even better was a skate wing so thick it looked more like a chop, that came anointed with a generous lashing of deep, brooding peppercorn sauce. A scattering of crispy sage leaves sealed the deal; this was a lovely dish. The accompanying triple-cooked chips will get pressed and mashed into that sauce if you know the move.
Yes, it’s that kind of place, of tradition and classical cooking with just a little innovation, which is often what you want from your gastropubs, don’t you think? Not that The Chequers would want to be called a ‘gastropub’, we’d wager. A pub will do just fine.
And yes, of course there’s a crackling fire to gather around in the depths of winter. We think we might stay here a while, actually…
With an enviable vantage point presiding over Bath and the Charlcombe Valley below, the Hare and Hounds isn’t just a pint with a view; they also serve fantastic food here.
Work up an appetite for it with a calf-stretching upwards climb to the pub (700 feet above sea level, if you’re asking) along Lansdown Road, your breathtaking walk rewarded with breathtaking vistas and a fine feast at the summit.
Get your name down for the famous Hare and Hounds lamb scotch egg while you’re ordering your first pint, as this one often sells out. After a bite, you’ll understand why. Do a bit of zero waste ordering and go for the lamb sweetbreads next, crisp and golden and served with a braise of warm lamb’s lettuce (no relation to the sheep you’ve been working your way through) and peas.
You could be properly weird and order the Sri Lankan lamb shank for mains, but the fish and chips are really, really good here, all lacy bronze beer batter and perfectly steamed Cornish hake within. Chunky chips, a chunky tartare sauce and a chunky (huh?) lemon wearing its best muslin cloth jacket seals the deal.
When the weather is kind, there’s no better place to dine al fresco than the Hare & Hound’s terrace, admiring the Somerset landscape and rewarding yourself with another cloudy cider for the road. You did earn this one, after all.
Ideal for pleasingly old school dining at a pleasingly old school price point…
Back down at street level, and the views are almost as gorgeous from Chez Dominique’s dining room, this time looking out over Pulteney Weir and its roaring waters (cue a conversation about whether you could survive being dropped into it, naturally).
Back in the room and eyes on the menu, and it’s not perhaps quite as Francophile as the restaurant’s name suggests, with gochujang mayonnaise, curried lentils, chimichurri and a whole host of other apparent interlopers making their way onto the table. That mayo forms part of a very agreeable starter, in fact, bringing vigour and succour to slices of ox tongue.
There’s something reassuringly old school about Chez Dominique. From the mahogany furniture and blue glassware all the way to the frivolous font on the menu, it’s the kind of place where you order your own starter, main and dessert without fear of being corrected with the old “let me explain how our menu works”. From the mains, a skillfully roasted chicken breast, crisp skinned and tender fleshed, comes with creamed leeks and a sauce poivrade, a gently acidic, black pepper-heavy sauce that’s thickened with a roux rather than cream. It coats that chicken just right.
With several very drinkable wines in the mid-twenties for a bottle (and just £13.50 for a carafe), and a lunch menu that’s just £29.50 for three courses, Chez Dominique is also one of Bath’s best value restaurants. A truly fabulous place to spend an evening.
Ideal for Bath’s finest 100% vegetarian dining experience…
A chic vegetarian restaurant just a Bath stone’s throw from the Abbey, Oak posits itself as something of a collaborative experience, with a team of ‘grocers, growers and cooks’ behind the gorgeously inviting menu here.
Formerly known as Acorn and honestly even better as its iteration as Oak, the restaurant is one of the first plant-based (pedants; fuck off) joints in the country to be listed in the Michelin guide. It’s easy to see why. Delicate but generous seasonal dishes like smoked ricotta agnolotti with asparagus and wild garlic not only deliver on flavour and freshness, but also on price point; dishes hover around the tenner mark, with nothing going above £12.95. For food of this quality, it’s an absolute steal.
That sense of value is exemplified by Oak’s five course tasting menu, a veritable feast for just £52, with wine pairing an almost philanthropic £27. In 2024’s eating out climate, you’ll rarely find a bottle for that price, let alone a bespoke pairing situation. Salut!
Ideal for a truly authentic, elbow-to-elbow tapas bar in the heart of Bath…
When on the hunt for the best tapas in Bath, we’re big fans of Pintxo, just a few doors down from the Theatre Royal. But a more recent discovery and, for our money, even better, is Ole Tapas, a tiny, first floor tapas bar that’s impossible to find and almost as impossible to snag a stool in. Incidentally, it’s only just around the corner from Pintxo and on the same street as the Gin Bar (just sayin’), if you do need to wait for a perch.
Whilst we’re loathe to use the word ‘authentic’ about a tapas bar in a Roman city in England, Ole is about as authentic as it comes, all tight seating and knocking elbows with your neighbour, noisy chatter, noisier flamenco music, and some great small plates designed for picking over as the cañas are kept flowing.
Ole’s berenjenas con miel are a fine version indeed, these salty, sweet batons of deep fried aubergine dressed in just the right amount of cane honey reduction. They are just the thing with a few cold ones, as is the croquette of the day, on our visit the classic ham; runny, gooey and just a touch tacky, as it should be. The classics keep coming; plump, pert boquerones that aren’t dressed too sharply, patatas bravas blanketed in a wellmade, viscous salsa brava rather than a ketchup/mayo mash-up, and albondigas with the requisite bounce.
Another cañas slides over to your space on the counter, and you conclude that this is the best tapas you’ll find in Bath. The city’s residents seem to agree, but fortunately, you can book Ole Tapas. Doing so a week or two in advance is highly recommended.
This little corner of South West England isn’t too blessed with seriously good pizza options, so we’re ending our tour of our favourite restaurants in Bath in The Oven.
The oven in question, central to the restaurant not only in name but in its prime position in the dining room, is manned by pizzaioli Fabrizio Mancinetti, with the pizzas here loosely based on the Neapolitan canotto style.
Translating as ‘dinghy’ and defined by their imposing, inflated crusts, the dough at The Oven boasts the requisite heft to carry some generous toppings, whether that’s the Sicilian sausage, mushrooms and toasted walnuts, or the goat’s cheese, caramelised red onion, rocket and pine nuts. Yes, nuts on a pizza; trust us, it works. While this won’t be the best pizza of your life, it’s a good spot with quick, efficient service.
Honourable Mention: Green Street Butchers, Green Street
Ideal for a taste of Bath’s best sandwich…
Okay, we accept that it’s not a restaurant, but if you’re looking for some of the best food in Bath, then we simply had to give a shout out to the sandwiches served at these esteemed butchers on Green Street.
You can get a sense of the quality here by perving on the various cuts of beef hanging in the window, all dry-aged, barked, and marbled to perfection. Inside, the presence of house cured guanciale in the fridge and freshly-baked focaccia on the shelf further points to the premium nature of the place.
So, to those sandwiches. You have a choice of three at Green Street Butchers; rotisserie chicken, roast beef or porchetta. The latter is particularly good (it turns out the butchers here are Italian, and it shows), with a thick, single slice of tender pork-stuffed pork and the most bubbly of cracking bedded between a bap, its accoutrements of tarragon salsa verde and celeriac remoulade bringing the whole thing to life. Incredible, and almost impossible not to order a second.
Of note, the team behind the butchers (and Walcot House, which we’ll come to in a moment) have recently opened a centrally located pasta bar. Called Solina, it’s become popular, fast.
Ideal for one of the best falafel wraps in the UK…
It might seem hyperbolic to dub somewhere so small and unassuming as a Bath institution (or even, as it happens, a ‘restaurant’ as there are no seats) but this cheap and cheerful spot is more than deserving of that title.
The smell alone as you wander by this hole-in-the-wall, takeaway only operation in Kingsmead Square should tell you everything you need to know; inside, the cooks are doing incredible things in the most humble of spaces.
14 miles south of Bath, Frome punches well above its weight in Somerset’s food scene. A former wool-trading market town that fell into post-industrial decline, it has spent the last two decades drawing in savvy independent operators who have decamped from London and Bristol in search of a slower pace, all without abandoning their professional ambitions.
The change has been profound. The Times named Frome the ‘sixth coolest town in Britain’ back in 2014, the Sunday Times has crowned it ‘Best Place to Live in the Southwest’ three times since 2018, and property prices have responded accordingly (bit of insider trading from a Times editor, perhaps?). Swanky Babington House is up the road, Bruton’s gallery scene is a short drive away, and a whole host of tedious types in waxed gilets have made Frome their weekend base.
Don’t be put off by that. The same forces also brought serious cooks looking for affordable rent and a customer base willing to pay for quality. The alumni list is telling: chefs from Moro, Monty’s Deli, Quo Vadis, to name but a few. The result is a food landscape that, pound for pound, punches well above what you’d expect from a town of 28,000 people.
Here are the best restaurants in Frome.
The High Pavement
Ideal for Moorish tapas, sherry and charcoal-grilled meat…
This family-run Moorish tapas restaurant on Palmer Street requires reservations a month or two in advance, a lead time that would raise eyebrows pretty much anywhere in the country, in this economy, let alone this mellow corner of Somerset.
Yet that’s how long you’ll have to wait for a meal at The High Pavement. But once finally ensconced in the buzzy dining room, you’ll be in safe hands. Stuart and Aimee have run the place for over a decade, originally opening only Friday and Saturday evenings with a weekly changing menu, before expanding to Thursdays and shifting to the tapas format that better suits their style of cooking and the huge demand for a taste of that cooking.
The kitchen works a charcoal grill for dishes like barmarked curls of Cornish squid with zhoug and nicely barked venison with a sticky Pedro Ximénez reduction, alongside cold plates of muhammara with Turkish pepper paste and pomegranate molasses, white bean hummus with a truly pungent confit garlic alioli, and deep-fried goat’s cheese with date syrup and almonds. There’s a careful balance at work between sweet and savoury in each of these dishes, with a judicious use of acidity keeping things light and lively. Only a couple of plates top a tenner, too, which only furthers the appeal.
The sherry list runs to around 20 bottles, and the terraced garden (fitted with a sail for inclement weather) provides unexpected outdoor dining in the heart of town. The locals-know-locals atmosphere means half the restaurant often recognises the other half, which adds to the party feel on busy nights, as copitas are clinked across tables by ruddy-faced regulars.
The Good Food Guide describes this French bistro-with-rooms on Catherine Street as ‘Gallic to the core, a real blast from the past’, which captures the intentional throwback quality of Bistro Lotte pretty succinctly.
The restaurant runs from an Edwardian townhouse whose high ceilings and panelled walls suit the opulent ambition, with the open kitchen adding theatre to the ground-floor dining room without so much bluster that you can’t hear your dining companion groan. Outside tables and a glass-frontage catch the sun from dawn to dusk, ideal for your first coffee of the day or a French 75 before dinner.
For breakfast, it’s beautifully laminated pastries. Then, it’s croques, galettes, tartiflette and crêpes for lunch, before dinner rolls out the big guns; escargots, boeuf bourguignon, steak frites and confit duck leg. The cherry clafoutis and dark chocolate mousse with Chantilly cream continue the theme for dessert. A coronary episode is your petit four. That’s the vibe here and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
There’s a carefully sourced quality amongst all the richness. Meat comes from neighbouring Cayfords Butcher (literally next door, sourcing from local farms), sourdough is baked daily, and your resplendent plateau de fruit de mer has been furnished by the good folk at Kingfisher Brixham (available to preorder when the season is right). Keeping things inclusive, the wine list arrives in keenly priced carafes. Bottles of Wignac cidre rosé offer something different, a move we’d highly recommend.
Bar Lotte, a few doors up Catherine Street, extends the offer with cocktails and live music from local jazz and blues acts twice weekly. Ten guest rooms above the bistro make it a practical overnight option, especially when you’re getting carried out in a stretcher, food coma (or, perhaps, too much of that cider) having rendered you legless.
Owen Postgate opened Frome’s original Rye Bakery in 2017 with a clear philosophy: affordable food focused on flavour and responsible farming, realised in the milling of their own heritage wheat from local Somerset farms. It pays off; Rye have built a reputation as one of the country’s best bakeries.
This, their café, sits prettily in a converted Victorian chapel on Frome’s Whittox Lane, complete with retained church organ, original pews upstairs, and the kind of vaulted ceiling that makes eating a bacon sandwich feel vaguely ecclesiastical.
Images via Rye Bakery Facebook
The café menu is built around seasonality and a stated commitment to ‘ecologically minded farming’: heritage sourdough, sausage rolls with a heavy pelt of black pepper rolled into sweet pork mince, seasonal Danish pastries (a recent festive redcurrant number was bliss), and savoury options like pig cheek and ham hock stew for those hanging around ‘till close at 4pm.
It’s not all they do, though; the Rye operation has expanded considerably since those early days…
Rye’s second site at Station Approach now houses the main bakery operation, complete with an in-house mill and a custom-built wood-fired oven installed in 2022. It functions as bakery, shop and pizzeria.
Pizza nights go down Thursday to Saturday from 5pm, with wood-fired bases and toppings like nduja with hot honey, glassy red onions, fresh ricotta and fior di latte. The wine bar attached places a heavy onus on natural wines from smaller suppliers and the outdoor seating area fills on summer evenings when DJs and live acts perform.
Images via Rye Bakery Facebook
The broader Station complex also incorporates Owen’s Sausages and Hams (their weekly-changing ‘silly sausage’ hot dog pulls crowds), South Indian specialists Lungi Babas (pre-order thalis and masala dosas via their website to guarantee availability), and cheese specialist The Cheese Lord, whose raclette station keeps Frome fat every Friday through winter. The whole space functions as something between food hall and outdoor festival when the weather cooperates, and is a lovely place to hang out.
Ideal for seasonal British bistro cooking and bold wine…
The Frome outpost of Bath’s Walcot Group arrived in April 2024, occupying a split-level site at the foot of cobbled Catherine Hill. Billing itself as a neighbourhood restaurant, Little Walcot’s kitchen credentials are perhaps a little more serious than that: menus developed by Stephen Terry (Great British Menu winner who earned his first Michelin star aged 25) and Piero Boi, with day-to-day operations handled by Jack Stallard, formerly of The Pig near Bath.
The Walcot Group also runs Green Street Butchers in Bath, which supplies the dry-aged beef that appears across the menu (their sandwiches have led to us naming the butchers one of Bath’s best places to eat).
On looks and paper, so far so good. We’re pleased to report Little Walcot is successful in its delivery, too, backed up by a cooking style that’s seasonal British executed with professional precision: hand-rolled pasta, home-baked bread, sustainable seafood arriving direct from boats.
The group also owns Solina Pasta in Bath, so a dedicated pasta section makes sense. Solina sends over the pasta fresh, and the team work their magic with it on site. A recent pappardelle with pork and fennel ragù was a winner, a reassuring presence on a cold winter’s evening.
Indeed, comfort food is the register here. A Blythburgh pork chop arrives pleasingly mi cuit, covered in its cooking juices alongside a hard baked, off-bitter apple sauce, whilst roast monkfish comes with a shellfish and butterbean stew, cavolo nero and datterini tomatoes. The latter was as good as it sounds.
The restaurant has a great looking dining room – beautifully low-lit, plump burgundy banquettes, booths and chairs, bare wood tables and brick walls. The burgundy trim seems to echo the seriousness of the wine list, of which a house Gamay – the Walcot Group’s own collaboration with Beaujolais producer Christophe Pacalet – is a highlight at £11.50 a glass or £46 a bottle.
Downstairs works as a neighbourhood bar: morning flat whites, after-work Guinness (they claim – quite rightly – the best pour in Frome), cocktails taken seriously. The Sunday roasts pack out the upstairs dining room and of course, come sponsored by Green Street Butchers. As if the whole ‘all bases covered’ thing wasn’t yet obvious, they also host regular music nights.
Part bottle shop, part tap room, part cheese counter, Palmer Street Bottle is run by the same team behind Bath’s Kingsmead Street Bottle and festival favourite The Whole Cheese, so the priorities are clear.
Ten taps rotate through craft beer served by key keg, with breweries like Kernel, Sureshot and Vault City making regular appearances, alongside natural wines and local ciders. The food exists to accompany the drinking, which is exactly as it should be in this setting. Sourdough toasties ooze with Ogleshield, the rarebit arrives with a great little coleslaw and plenty of cornichons, and the sausage rolls (meat or veggie) do the job, too.
Cheese boards and charcuterie provide more substantial grazing if you’re settling in for the afternoon. Which, as it happens, is one of our favourite things to do in Frome. It’s a small room – three tables at the front, a few more at the back – but the kind of place where staff will talk you through what’s pouring with genuine enthusiasm rather than just listing ABVs.
If you’re keen to keep the party going after close, a refill station lets you take beer or wine home by the bottle, and the deli counter sells cheese to go. Cheese and wine party back at yours, then?
Frome’s first coffee house, opened in 2002 by Jude Kelly at the end of medieval Cheap Street where a leat (a small channel carrying water from the river) still trickles down the middle of the road. The building is one of Frome’s oldest, spreading across multiple levels including an upstairs dining area and outdoor seating for watching the foot traffic on market days.
The draw beyond the smooth, satisfying coffee is La Strada’s ice cream side quest. Here, ‘Senso’ gelato is made in-house from organic Ivy House Farm milk from nearby Beckington (the same farm that supplies Harrods, Fortnum & Mason and Harvey Nichols), and flavours mix permanent options (pistachio, rich chocolate) with seasonal rotating choices (jasmine and honey, Pimms sorbet in summer).
It’s seriously good ice cream, whatever the weather.
Not a restaurant, admittedly, but impossible to omit from any eating guide to Frome. This monthly street market takes over the town centre on the first Sunday of each month from March to December, closing streets across the entire town centre to accommodate over 200 traders and drawing around 80,000 visitors annually. The operation is managed by a team of four Frome residents and staffed by local event workers; the not-for-profit structure feeds money back into the community.
The food offering is split between the Somerset Farmers’ Market section (cheese, cider, local produce from established growers) and the street food traders, where quality varies but the best stalls justify the crowds. It’s a regularly changing roster, so we won’t play favourites here.
The flea market and designer-maker sections provide distraction (as if you needed it!) between eating, live music stages dot the route, and the atmosphere tilts closer to festival than farmers’ market. Parking fills early; the park and ride from the health centre is the sensible option. Arrive before 11am to beat the crowds, or after 2pm when stalls begin discounting.
A short drive south of Frome, up into the Mendip Hills, The Holcombe sits at the highest point of a village that recorded just eight households in the Domesday Book. The views across to Downside Abbey are predictably lovely, and the nearby church doubled as a Poldark filming location, which gives you a sense of the prestigious landscape.
Alan Lucas and Caroline Gardiner, both trained chefs who spent 30 years running catering and events companies in London, took over the pub in November 2019. The timing was (their words, not ours) terrible – they spent most of their first year redecorating rather than serving customers. But the result is an 11-bedroom restaurant-with-rooms that’s picked up 2 AA Rosettes since reopening, which is no mean feat.
The kitchen works from an on-site garden and polytunnel, which supplies much of the seasonal produce for Lucas’s contemporary British cooking. It’s a genuine garden-to-plate operation rather than a marketing flourish: the gardening team and chefs collaborate on planting schedules, and anything not used on plates goes into stocks.
The dining room centres on a double-sided log burner, with a terrace for summer evenings. Note the limited opening hours. Wednesday to Sunday only, with lunch service restricted to Friday through Sunday. That said, the Holcombe is very much worth planning for; a destination meal away from the Frome crowds that’s one of the best in Somerset. What a lovely place this is.
Islington, it’s safe to say, is a place you can expect to eat and drink well. The home of the champagne socialist and champagne football, of allotment enthusiasts, Little Italy and apparently more restaurants than days of the year; if you can’t find some good grub here, well, you’re just not looking hard enough.
But with such choice comes a paradox; sifting through the standard and sub par to find something truly exceptional can be time consuming. Don’t worry, we’re here to help; here’s our guide on where to eat in Highbury & Islington, and the best restaurants in this part of North London.
Xi’an Impression
Ideal for thick handpulled noodles seconds from the Emirates Stadium…
Pre-match sloppy frankfurter, this ain’t. Just seconds from the Arsenal ground, Xi’an Impression brings dishes from the Shan Xi province to the heart of Highbury with aplomb.
At the woks is chef Wei Guirong, who honed her skills in Soho’s Hunanese restaurant Ba Shan before setting up shop here, with a view of The Emirates stadium and a view to bringing the flavours of her birthplace to this little corner of North London.
Man, it’s good; the signature biang biang noodles, known for their belt-like shape, are the obvious highlight. Thick and slippery, these are masterful; starchy enough that they double back on themselves in the bowl appealingly, bringing even more tension. Top them with a tangle of stir-fried Xinjiang chicken that sings with Sichuan peppercorns, fermented soy beans and chilli, and slurp the rust-coloured juices that pool below the noodles. Ruin your shirt in the process.
By Irene Cheng
It’s not just the noodles that deliver here. The Rou Jia Mo, often referred to as a Chinese hamburger, here features succulent, savoury shredded pork and a fluffy bun. It’s excellent, as are the pig’s ears in chilli oil; gnarly and gelatinous in the best possible way.
With a BYOB policy and all of the above clocking in at under thirty quid, Xi’an Impression still represents great value, despite its ever rising popularity and, accordingly, prices. It’s walk-in only here and the dining room is compact,so be prepared to wait.
Ideal for a thoughtfully rendered desi pub experience in the heart of Islington…
A beautifully conceived riff on the Great British-Indian tradition of the desi pub, The Tamil Prince on Islington’s Hemingford Road presides over the former site of the Cuckoo, and much of the pub’s layout and features remain faithfully present.
The food and vibe, however, has very much changed, with Prince Durairaj, a chef with roots in Tamil cuisine and time spent at Gopal’s Corner and Roti King, presiding over the kitchen here, whilst Glen Leeson, former general manager at Bao, works the floor.
The two originally joined forces in 2021, working on a Tamila street food concept in Hackney Wick that quickly gained traction, and a bricks and mortar place followed swiftly, just a year later.
We’re so glad it did, as the Tamil Prince is one of the most enjoyable places to settle into for a meal just about anywhere in London, with a fine selection of craft beers from local breweries and innovative cocktails (like the off-menu The Prince – a heady, intoxicating blend of cardamom rum, lime, and rosewater marked with the Tamil Prince logo) really hitting the spot.
Yep, we’d come here for a pint regardless of the kitchen’s nimble, talented hands, but when you throw okra fries, a balloon-like channa bhatura, the signature sea bream, here coated in a thick spice rub and grilled whole until caramelised, and a side of flakey, buttery roti into the mix, there’s no stopping us here.
Ideal for natural wine and Basque pintxos in an atmospheric setting…
By day, Provisions operates as one of North London’s most beloved wine shops and delis, its shelves basically buckling under the weight of carefully curated artisanal produce from across Europe, tinned fish, freshly baked loaves, fine cheese et al. You could almost imagine this careful sourcing feeding into a pintxo bar or something, the chefs making smart use of this hybrid space and all that great produce to glorious effect…
…Fortunately, they did imagine such a thing. Because as the week winds towards the weekend, something rather special happens at Provisions: Thursday through Saturday nights see this intimate space on Holloway Road transform into TOPA, when from 6:30 until 11, former Michelin-starred Leroy head chef Simon Shand turns out plate after plate of Basque-inspired brilliance.
The transformation is remarkable – the daytime counter makes way for a long, candlelit communal table seating around two dozen diners, with additional spots at window-front counters and wine barrel tables for that essential ‘standing room only’ vibe. Dried chillies hang from the ceiling, and the heady aroma of fresh cheese mingles with whatever’s sizzling in Shand’s remarkably compact kitchen.
The menu, which changes regularly, perfectly captures the spirit of Basque Country dining. Start with the classic gilda (£2.50) – that perfect unity of olive, anchovy and pickled guindilla pepper – alongside a glass of txakoli, the region’s signature sparkling white wine. The pintxos selection is exemplary: Christian Parrat black pudding with crab apple and nectarine (£4.50) shows both technical skill and restraint, while the grilled peppers topped with Fusette Cendrée goat’s cheese (£3.50) are a study in simplicity.
Larger plates demonstrate Shand’s Michelin-starred pedigree while maintaining the convivial spirit of pintxo dining. The sautéed mushrooms with raw egg yolk (£13) is a loving homage to San Sebastián’s famous Ganbara, while the hake with orzo, saffron and courgettes (£24) showcases the kitchen’s deft hand with seafood.
The wine list is predictably excellent – this is Provisions, after all – with over 250 references available. Choose from the carefully selected by-the-glass options, or pick a bottle from the shop’s shelves for a modest corkage fee. Don’t miss the patxaran and tonic (£9), a traditional Basque aperitif that makes for a perfect start to the evening.
‘Topa’ means ‘cheers’ in Basque, and it’s an apt name for a place that so successfully captures the relaxed conviviality of San Sebastián’s old town. While Holloway Road might lack the cobbled charm of the Parte Vieja, these thrice-weekly evening sessions bring an authentic slice of Basque Country hospitality to N7.
London suddenly feels very much alive with the flavours of Malaysia, with the city increasingly conversant in the intricacies of nasi lemak and mee goreng, and well versed in their laksa preferences.
Sambal Shiok is one of a ever-growing number of excellent Malaysian options in the city that pays little lip service to diluting the essential flavours of the country’s cuisine, and we’re very much here for it.
Fronted by Mandy Yin, the food here is influenced by the chef’s Peranakan Chinese heritage, though she freely admits that the ‘authenticity’ of her food isn’t her number one priority. Instead, the dishes at Sambal Shiok bring to the foreground her own take on the cooking traditions and street food of both Kuala Lumpur and Penang, as well as drawing inspiration from her upbringing in the UK.
The restaurant is particularly famed for its laksas, with the country’s two most distinctive styles both available here. Our go-to is always the Penang assam laksa, a thick, sour number that’s anchored by mackerel and shrimp paste, its rich, puckering acidity the result of plenty of tamarind. It’s a bowl that pulls off the impressive balancing act of being both soothing and invigorating, fiery and funky, and is just incredible. Thick, sticky rice noodles cling on to the broth ‘till the last bite. Heaven.
Though we’ll remain faithful to the assam version forever more, Sambol Shiok also does an excellent bowl of coconut curry laksa, in the campur style – thin and soupy, and sweet from coconut milk, but also with the funkiness of the Penang style throbbing freely away in the background. Hey, you could order both!
Just a 5 minute walk around the corner from Highbury and Islington Overground, Sambal Shiok is a popular spot, and booking in advance is highly recommended.
Ideal for soul nourishing Afghan stews at reassuringly reasonable prices…
Something of a North London institution and in a pleasant spot overlooking Islington Green, Afghan Kitchen is reassuring in its simplicity, flawless in its execution. Just eight mains are available here, four meat and four vegetarian, all intricately spiced, soul-warming stews, plus a handful of sides – rice, pickles, bread and chutney. Nothing costs more than a tenner, the sides a couple of quid each at most.
These are profoundly flavourful dishes. Our go-to here is the ghormeh subzi gosht, a fragrant lamb and spinach stew that’s savoury and warming, but also a heady affair, redolent in fenugreek leaves and nutmeg, and with a pleasing astringency from dried limes. The whole affair is thickened with braised, murky-coloured spinach and given freshness with fresh herbs – coriander and parsley are added right at the close. Have it over rice, or with a side of excellent glazed flatbread (only served in the evenings), and a tea that’s only 80p, and luxuriate in one of the city’s best value spreads.
Ideal for one of London’s most reliable gastropubs and a celebration of British beef…
The Draper’s Arms is a gastropub beloved of Londoners, known for its charming ambiance and comforting, broadly British food. Owned by Nick Gibson, this pub emphasises a seasonal menu that showcases the best of local produce, with beef dishes a clear standout.
In fact, half of the mains focus on beef. We’re particularly enamoured with the restaurant’s sticky, gelatinous braised shortrib, which arrives glossy and spoonable on a feather light celeriac purée. Gorgeous.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, if you’re after one of the best roast dinners in Islington, it’s here you should come. The 54 day aged t-bone steak that comes with all the trimmings is a treat, the flamboyantly risen yorkies blessed with plenty of beef fat flavour.
The Draper’s Arms also boasts an impressive selection of local ales and a curated wine list that is more keenly priced than most in this neck of the woods. The building, dating back to the 1830s and has been a cornerstone of the Islington community for nearly two centuries, its Georgian architecture offering a cosy retreat with fireplaces and a picturesque garden for those warmer London days.
The pub is also something of a hub for hospitality gatherings, too, with charity events aimed at supporting the industry often held here (and £1 from every sale of the pub’s iconic suet crust beef bourguignon pie going to Action Against Hunger). On a more anecdotal note, it’s one of London’s most popular places for chefs to hang out on their days off. That should tell you all you need to know.
F.K.A.B.A.M *As of January 2026, now sadly closed*
Ideal for fire, flatbreads and throwing out some hand horns…
Would you like some glitter with your foie gras doughnut, sir? Actually, we doubt they’d call you ‘sir’ here, and Black Axe Mangal (now called F.K.A.B.A.N) is all the better for it. The food matches the provocative art and riff-heavy soundtrack, with big, bold flavours, vital visual appeal, and a fitting taste of the flame provided by their wood fired oven. Flatbreads are the order of the day; the squid ink rendition with smoked, whipped cod’s roe and egg yolk a particular favourite.
It’s a compact place, and only open for dinner during the week, so getting a table is tough, to say the least. The good news is, they do a Saturday and Sunday brunch which starts the ball rolling on a rollicking weekend or adeptly cures the previous night’s ills. Or both. It’s usually both.
Originally opened in 2015 by chef Lee Tiernan, who previously honed his skills for a decade at St John Bread and Wine, and his wife Kate, this establishment quickly became renowned for its rock’n’roll, tattoo’d, trailblazing vibes.
Despite a temporary closure due to the pandemic in March 2020, Black Axe Mangal has made a triumphant return as F.K.A.B.A.M, continuing to serve much of its beloved menu while introducing new elements. After flirting with a set menu format, priced at £58 for five courses shared between two people, the team at BAM recently announced they were returning to a la carte. Regardless of how the menu is structure, some items, like the lamb offal flatbread and charred hispi, are thankfully ever present.
These dishes are complemented by a selection of innovative drinks, including the quirky borscht back, which has earned itself something of a cult following in the city. Here, a combination of a vodka shot, a borscht shot, horseradish, and a frankfurter on a stick is available as a bolt on, for £6.66. Oh, go on then.
*Sadly, at the end of 2025, FKABAM closed its doors. Fortunately, there are rumours of a reinvention, rather than this being permanent. We’ll keep you posted!*
Ideal for perhaps the best Italian food in the city…
Now well into its second decade, Trullo feels like it goes from strength to strength, and is arguably Highbury and Islington’s most cherished neighourhood restaurant, a place where you can take your parents or go on a first date equally, and one where the welcome will always be warm-hearted and the food just downright darn delicious.
Sure, its younger sibling Padella may now be the favourite child, but Trullo is the ultra-knowledgeable, trend-setting older brother who, deep down, everyone knows is still the cooler kid. And it’s not just about the pasta here. This is nourishing, homely, expertly sourced, expertly cooked food that any borough would be proud to call their ‘neighbourhood’ joint.
They have a way with pulses and beans at Trullo, make no mistake. You’re guaranteed to get a gorgeously cooked piece of meat or fish sitting atop a bed of beans, usually with a piquant salsa to help things along. Think Black Hampshire pork chop with borlotti beans and salsa verde or Whole Brixham mackerel with roast yellow peppers, coco blanc and salsa rossa. Think both.
Indeed, any in-season, whole fish cooked on the grill is a guaranteed winner here, as is the legendary beef shin ragu with pappardelle. Right now, the former is a whole Brixham sea bass with charred leeks and a sauce of St Austell mussels and their cooking liquor. It’s a stunning piece of work, the fish arriving longer than its plate and with gently blistered skin, it lifts off the bone neatly, making it a glorious centrepiece for sharing. Pair it with a Gulfi Carjcanti 2020, its its crisp acidity and notes of citrus and white flowers standing up well to the the smokey flavours of the grill.
Originally a fishmongers, the operation at Prawn On The Lawn quickly expanded to fully fledged restaurant to satisfy the fish lovers of Islington, of which, it turns out, there are many. With a daily changing menu owing to what’s fresh scrawled on chalkboard (small plates, platters and whole fish) this is as close to the beach as you’re going to get in inner-city London.
It’s testament to the chef’s skills and freshness of the produce that the dishes produced within the tiny open kitchen are of such sterling quality; a mackerel and ‘nduja dish, in particular, induced rapture. Their taramasalata with seeded crackers has a well-deserved cult following, too.
While you’ll find dishes inspired from all over the world on the menu, it’s often the simple plates that are the best here. Recently, a prosaically titled, prosaically adorned red mullet, olive oil and lemon dish was spectacular in its simplicity.
Situated just a stone’s throw from the Highbury & Islington station, the interior is reminiscent of a seaside eatery, and features an open kitchen and a casual yet chic dining area, where diners can enjoy their meals accompanied by expertly mixed cocktails like classic negronis or cucumber-and-chilli margaritas.
Ideal for punchy, uplifting Thai food in a kinda chaotic dining room…
Thai food in the capital is now so popular that the usual explanatory diatribe seems unnecessary; you probably know farang means foreigner, dishes are designed to be shared, everything revolves around rice, the food of the country is hugely different from region to region……
But just because we’re all now so well versed in the vernacular, it shouldn’t overshadow just how splendid the cooking is at Farang. The larger, sharing curries, cooked low and slow, consistently pack a huge punch of depth and verve, and their gai prik – deep fried chicken wings with a sweet fish sauce glaze – are simply divine.
Sure, the dining room may be acoustically challenging and the service sometimes erratic, but it’s worth looking past these minor obstacles for Farang’s uplifting food.
Ideal for light, airy food in an even breezier space…
We finish up at Westerns Laundry in Drayton Park, in their beautiful, bright dining room (a repurposed 1950s industrial building that once served as North London’s largest commercial laundry), perched at the bar, sipping natural wine and watching the chefs work. ‘Modern European small plates’ are listed on a blackboard to the right of our stools, and the menu leans heavily on the sea’s bounty.
The brainchild of Jeremie Cometto-Lingenheim and David Gingell, who previously captivated the London food scene with their venture Primeur, Westerns Laundry opened its doors in late April 2017. The space now features a 60-cover dining room that opens onto a charming 20-cover cobbled courtyard adorned with olive trees, ideal for the warmer months ahead. During winter, the restaurant’s private dining room is a gorgeously intimate space for a Christmas meal with friends, by the way.
The vibe of the food, just like the room, is light and free from frippery; a thick fillet of blistered hake over lentils and mussels was a recent highlight.
Be warned; Western’s Laundry is a little bit of a walk from Highbury & Islington station, but those who traverse the ten minutes will be richly rewarded.
Marylebone. Though we’ve read it hundreds of times, we’ve still got no idea how to pronounce the name of this well-heeled West End district. What we do know, however, is just where to eat in Le Bone. Or, should we call it Mary for short? How about Boney M? Who cares? We were always taught not to speak with our mouths full anyway…
From Michelin-starred Mexican to traditional British pub classics given a twist or two, there is something for everyone in this food lover’s paradise. With that in mind, here are the best restaurants in Marylebone, London.
St. John Marylebone, Marylebone Lane
Ideal for nose-to-tail dining and a bloody brilliant British culinary experience…
The newest addition to the burgeoning family has arrived, bringing with it a fresh and vibrant approach that is both unmistakably St. John and uniquely tailored to the sensibilities of its chic London neighbourhood It’s already one of Marylebone’s very best places to eat.
Its instantly recognisable, clinical bright white interiors tell anyone who’s previously dined at a Fergus Henderson restaurant that you’re going to get fed very well indeed, and St. John Marylebone delivers on that promise.
The menu here is tighter – daintier, even – than at both the mothership and Bread & Wine, but there’s still some famous flourishes to be found. Here, the iconic Welsh rarebit appears in croquette form and is a gorgeously funky piece of work. Those ”nose to tail” leanings are all present and correct, too, with a recent dish of gently pink lamb’s liver and horseradish a bracing, bruising but utterly memorable affair.
A little earlier in the year, a plate of lamb sweetbreads, wilted young lettuce leaves and the sprightly lift of tarragon have lived in the memory even longer.
With plenty of wine being poured with a flourish by the glass, these smaller plates just feel right as you take your place at a window stool, watch the passing foot traffic of Marybelone Lane and ponder just how far we’ve sunk. It’s obligatory to order a plate of madelines (£8 for a small one, but you know you want the larger batch for £16) for the road.
Make sure to check the daily menu to see what’s ripe, ready and in store; it goes online – posted as a snap of the restaurant’s blackboard – at 11.30am for lunch and 5.30pm for supper.
It’s by no means our first time at Hoppers. In fact it’s become a bit of a favourite. We know what to expect – the bustling vibe, the punchy aroma of spices and coconut, those lacy baskets (hoppers) just right for scooping up a deep, rich curry.
But the true test of a great restaurant is getting it right every time. No-one wants to be raving about a place to your mates only for them to be underwhelmed. So we’re pleased to say that Hoppers still absolutely delivers. Early evening it’s packed – after workers winding down over Arrack cocktails, locals breaking their Ramadan fast with the Buriani Banquet special. There’s an upbeat energy to it all, and the food comes in hot and fast.
We went for the set menu. Starters set the tone. Mutton rolls are crisp and deeply spiced – perfect dipped in the fiery ketchup. A seafood allergy means one of us has to swerve the hot butter squid but substitutes from the veggie menu are cheerfully offered. The chilli garlic broccoli is well worth the detour, leaving the allergy-free to polish off all the squid with lip smacking enthusiasm. And, of course, there’s the bone marrow varuval: two imposing leg bones from which marrow is spooned out onto flaky roti. It’s a signature dish, and rightly so.
As the night moves on, the feeling changes. The post-work crowd disperses, the noise softens and the spicing on the main courses becomes a little gentler. Chicken and lamb karis arrive with an array of chutneys and sambols, a soothing dhal and a cooling raita. The dosas are even better than the eponymous hoppers for mopping up every last slick of sauce. Do we have room for desserts? Hardly, but it seems a shame not to, so the traditional Sri Lankan custard pudding watalappam brings up the rear.
So are we coming back again? You betcha, and we’ll be telling all our friends.
Ideal for a poetic coming together of British ingredients and Thai cooking sensibilities…
Before this bricks and mortar restaurant, AngloThai spent six years as London’s most promising pop-up, which is about six years too many. Now, finally settled into The Gate’s old spot on Seymour Place and already with a shiny Michelin star above the door (metaphorically speaking – it’s actually to the side of the door), John and Desiree Chantarasak’s first permanent restaurant does something fresh, as you may have guessed from its rather prosaic name: it takes Thai cooking and strips it of everything that isn’t grown in Britain. The results are always interesting and quite often spectacularly delicious.
This means no rice (replaced brilliantly by pearled naked oats), holy basil from Suffolk rather than Bangkok, and Devon-caught monkfish in place of sea bass from the Andaman. It’s the same philosophy that earned KOL its Michelin star (the two share the same umbrella restaurant group, MJMK), though here the execution feels more personal – John’s half-Thai, half-British heritage informing every plate and Desiree’s pinpoint knowledge of sometimes esoteric grapes writing the winelist. Indeed, it’s so personal that we’re on first name terms with the owners after only two paragraphs…
The dining room sets the tone: white-panelled walls, tables made from Chamchuri wood shipped from Chiang Mai, and lighting that somehow makes every diner look like they’ve just come back from a fortnight in Samui. In the open kitchen, proper turbojet wok burners (a rare sight in London) whoosh, creating that coveted breath-of-the-wok essence in dishes like long aubergine with sweet basil and a soy-cured egg yolk – a plate that arrives looking demure but punches hard with smoke and umami.
A crab and caviar number is served on a coal-black coconut ash cracker made with the same brass mould used to create kanom dok jok (otherwise known as lotos blossom cookies) in the Kingdom. It could easily feel precious, but there’s proper cooking muscle behind the theatrics, justifying the £35 price tag with a heady salty-sweet interplay.
The lion’s mane mushroom with sunflower seed satay (£20) arrives as pretty-as-a-picture, but in the eating boasts that characteristic Thai balance of both nuance and intensity. It’s perhaps the highlight of the whole meal here.
The kitchen really hits its stride with the larger plates. Hebridean hogget (from Desiree’s family farm, no less) comes in a massaman curry that’s gentle with its spicing but shows proper depth. Though if you’re after heat, the jungle curry with monkfish delivers it in undulating waves rather than all at once. Both are brilliant; dishes from a kitchen with a finely tuned grasp of correct Thai seasoning, but with enough flair and flourish to reemphasise the restaurant’s mission, rather than be stifled by it.
The meal ends, as with basically any Thai fine dining joint, with a riff on mango sticky rice, only this one is centred on reduced carrot juice and sea buckthorn. File in the ‘trust us on this one’ compartment.
Desiree’s wine list leans heavily on biodynamism and Austria, including their own house wines made with Nibiru in Kamptal. It’s exactly what you want with this kind of food – teeing up that complex spicing rather than extinguishing it.
Yes, it’s expensive, and some bores might chunter on about how you can get a plate of noodles in the Thai capital for a hundredth of the price of the tasting menu (an actually pretty reasonable £75). But AngloThai isn’t trying to recreate Bangkok. It’s doing its own, idiosyncratic thing, and, after only a year of being open, is clearly doing it very well, owing to the breakneck speed of that star. It’s well deserved, we think.
Ideal for refined Cantonese dining with a side of theatre…
The jewel in the Royal China crown sits rather demurely on Baker Street, its elegant dining room a canvas for some of London’s finest Cantonese cooking. Award-winning chef Billy Wong’s menu reads like a greatest hits of Chinese gastronomy, though it’s the dim sum offering that really sings.
Those familiar with the group’s other outposts might experience a touch of sticker shock here – steamer baskets hover around the £10 mark, with the prawn and bamboo shoot dumplings (har gau) at £10.80 and the Shanghai-style xiaolongbao with crab meat at £9.80. Still, the cooking justifies the prices. The dumplings arrive gossamer-thin and gloriously translucent, while the xiaolongbao, inevitably compared to those at Din Tai Fung down the road, more than hold their own, their delicate wrappers containing a generous splash of hot soup alongside minced pork and crab meat.
Evening brings dishes of serious ambition. Emperor king prawns (£33.80 each) can be prepared in myriad ways (we’re partial to the ‘crispy with garlic & chilli’ preparation) while more innovative plates like pan-fried dory fish with foie gras sauce showcase the kitchen’s creative, opulent side. A plate of Iberico pork with cordycep flower – that phallic-looking fungi – feels almost restrained in comparison. It’s equally good, though.
The generous dining room, recently refurbished, manages to feel special without being stuffy, its white tablecloths occasionally splattered with XO sauce as enthusiastic diners get stuck in. Service strikes that sweet spot between efficiency and warmth that characterises the best Chinese restaurants in the capital.
An early evening meal here, watching the sun set through those huge windows while dipping into a procession of perfectly executed classics, is one of Marylebone’s great pleasures. The kitchen runs a full service from noon until late (10:30pm most nights, extending to 11pm on weekends), though you’ll want to book ahead – this place fills up fast.
Ideal for Michelin-starred coastal Indian cuisine…
For those seeking a focused, flavour-forward dining experience, Trishna is a must-visit. This Michelin-starred restaurant specialises in coastal Indian cuisine, with an emphasis on fresh British seafood cooked with spice and verve, which sounds like all of the ingredients for a great meal in Marylebone, don’t you think?
Sitting rather ironically on Blandford Street, there’s nothing bland (sorry) about chef Sajeev Nair’s contemporary interpretation of the food of his homeland. Having grown up in Palakkad, Kerala, Nair understands the ins and outs of Indian coastal cuisine intimately, and the signature of funky, rich Dorset brown crab with butter, pepper, and garlic, all mashed and spoonable, has to be one of London’s most satisfying shellfish dishes.
Another Trishna crab classic is the nandu varuval – crispy soft shell crab, green chilli, a rocher of white crab meat, and a smooth tomato chutney all pull in the same direction to great effect. Just delicious.
The lunch and early evening menu, running from midday to 14:15pm and 5pm to 6:15pm, is a snip at £55 for four courses.
Fire & Wine, New Quebec Street *as of January 2026, now sadly closed*
Ideal for live fire cooking and low intervention wines in a charming neighbourhood joint…
After its June relaunch, Fire and Wine has successfully shed its Boxcar skin to emerge as something altogether more refined, yet no less welcoming. Sitting on New Quebec Street, just far enough from the chaos of Bond Street and Marble Arch to feel like an agreeable escape, the atmosphere here hums with the easy conviviality of a neighbourhood gem that’s actually rather surpassed the original brief of being another cooking-over-flame restaurant.
The live fire concept is certainly there, but it doesn’t feel overwrought or burdensome. Charred edges punctuate some plates, of course, but there’s balance and intent, too, the kind that makes you sit up and pay attention rather than get choked by all that smoke.
Start with the stilton gougères – a gloriously airy, cheese-loaded puff that arrives with a cute little dot of apple, the fruit’s sweetness cutting through the pungent blue in exactly the way you’d hope. The pork belly that follows is a study in richness and umami; unctuous meat, a salty little rocher of pecorino puree, and a cured egg yolk that’s delightfully dusty and spreadable rather than runny. It’s indulgent stuff, but doesn’t end up being cloying.
The raw bream offers a delicate interlude, with miso lending umami depth and sea buckthorn providing that characteristic sharp, citrusy lift. It’s pretty, and the fish arrives pleasingly thick cut and clearly handled with care. Then comes the anchovy and tomato concasse on grilled bread, which sounds almost pedestrian until it arrives and you realise this is pan con tomate’s more sophisticated older sibling. The anchovies are high-grade Cantabrian, the tomatoes sweet and concentrated, the bread properly charred with the kind of smoky backbone of a slice that’s been left in the toaster for a little too long.
Mains continue the theme. Thick slices of monkfish tail come with green beans and a peppery jus that has some proper vim about it. The fish is cooked with precision – firm yet yielding, with an agreeable mi-cuit hint-of-pink and just a little bounce. The Iberico pork presa with beetroot and cherries is perhaps the highlight; the pork served thoughtfully rare and tender, the beetroot earthy and sweet, the cherries adding both acidity and a touch of je ne sais quoi. It’s a plate that feels thoughtfully composed rather than thrown together, each element pulling its weight.
Don’t skip the side of agria potatoes – parboiled and crisped up in what we’re told is a German style, skin-on and deeply golden. They work brilliantly as a vehicle for mopping up those rich sauces, and have enough character to stand alone if you’re so inclined. What kind of maniac comes into a restaurant and just orders a side of potatoes though?
Dessert arrives in the form of a grilled croissant tiramisu, because apparently everything must pass through the flames here, and you know what? It works. The croissant adds a buttery, flaky dimension to the classic Italian pud, while retaining all those coffee-soaked, mascarpone-rich qualities you’d expect. It’s clever and actually rather delicious.
The cocktails deserve their own paragraph. The No Politics – gin, Campari, wild strawberry – is a vibrant, bittersweet number that has become a house staple, we’re told, while the Mona Lisa’s vital trio of mezcal, marmalade, jalapeño offers smoky, sweet, and spicy notes in equal measure. Both are expertly balanced and pair brilliantly with the bold, fire-forward cooking.
The dining room retains some of that Manhattan speakeasy-meets-British-pub aesthetic from the Boxcar days, all soothing wood tones and floating foliage. Service strikes that sweet spot between attentive and relaxed, and there’s a warmth to proceedings that suggests many diners are regulars on first-name terms with the team. It makes you want to linger over another glass, another bite, another round of those excellent cocktails.
Four months in, Fire & Wine feels like it’s hit its stride. The concept is clear, the execution confident, and the vibe just right. It’s not trying to be the flashiest restaurant in Marylebone – there’s plenty of competition for that title – but it might just be one of the most satisfying.
*Sadly, as 2025 turned into 2026, it emerged that Fire and Wine would not be reopening. We’re awaiting further news on this one.*
Ideal for meticulously crafted Mediterranean plates at admittedly premium prices…
‘A modern Mediterranean bistro with open fire cooking in the heart of London’. We could be describing the vast majority of recent restaurant openings in the city, to be honest…
…but Lita isn’t your everyday place, let’s be clear. Short for ‘abuelita’, which means ‘granny’ in Spanish, Lita isn’t really your grandma’s homecooking kind of place, either.
Unless your grandma is a young protege with time spent at Michelin-starred The Clove Club, its acclaimed sister restaurant Luca, and as head chef at Corrigan’s Mayfair, all before they turned 30.
This is damn convoluted, but we’re describing the career trajectory of the first Lita head chef Luke Ahearne, who boasts an impressive culinary pedigree. He’s continued that trajectory in some style. In its first couple of months of trading, it fast garnered several fawning national reviews, with Jay Rayner ‘in heavenly raptures’ and Jimi Famurewa breathtaken. Christ, that’s a scene we don’t want to play out in our mind every again.
It’s easy to see why they loved it, though; the food here is genuinely magnificent, with an admirable attention to detail paid to the most seemingly simple of dishes. Two smoked basque sardines, meticulously pin boned before being – at least, visually – bonded back together, arrive over a gorgeously smooth ajo blanco and piquant cherries. It’s a case in point of the kind of cooking Lita has already mastered, boasting a depth of flavour that knocks you back.
Don’t let it disarm you too much; you’ll want to regain focus for the briny, brilliant Dorset clams with artichokes done in the Roman style. That is, braised until giving in a mix of white wine and olive oil. It’s excellent, and you’d hope so too for £28.
Okay, the hulking Galician dairy cow in the room; Lita is expensive. Yes, we know it’s somewhat uncouth to mention prices quite so explicitly, but fuck me; there are snacks in the mid twenties, starters topping £30 and several mains over a hundred.
No pan con tomate in the world should cost £17, even one draped with Cantabrian anchovies, but this is admittedly a very good one. There are few bottles of wine available at Lita below £60. Desserts are stubbornly in the mid-teens.
Yep, this is most certainly a special occasion place, but what a place to sink into. The interior showcases a warm, earthy palette with reclaimed terracotta tiles, a timber-clad bar with a deep red, veined marble top, blood-orange banquettes, and restored antique tables, all reminiscent of a grand chateau kitchen that your nan might have helmed a half a century back. She’ll have balked at the prices here, sure, but she wouldn’t half have been proud to send out some of these dishes.
Ideal for refined French elegance bathed in natural light…
Orrery, named after a mechanical model of the solar system, is an elegant French restaurant located on the first floor of a converted stable block. The abundance of natural light hits you the moment you walk in, the restaurant’s huge arched windows and skylights letting in so much that sunglasses are genuinely needed on London’s brighter summer days. The reflective quality of the starched white table cloths only serve to pronounce this.
The refined menu, designed by Chef Igor Tymchyshyn, features classic French dishes with a modern twist. Though menu descriptions verge on the prosaic (Salmon, polenta, asparagus, veloute, or seabass and chive sabayaon, for instance), presentation is anything but, with artistic flourishes of dots and scrapes occasionally reminiscent of a Masterchef several seasons back. There’s no denying the clarity of flavour here, though.
Though you might tend to prefer a smoke at the end of your meal, the chicken parfait cigar here is the ideal way to start it. Close, instead, with a summery elderflower and strawberry pannacotta, adorned with a big puck of champagne jelly. Boom!
With its stunning rooftop terrace (start with Orrery’s signature Old Fashioned up here) and views of St. Marylebone Church, Orrery is perfect for a special occasion or a leisurely lunch, and stakes a fair claim to being one of Marylebones top restaurants.
Ideal for trying one of the world’s most celebrated, proudly Neapolitan pizzas…
Dubbed ‘The Best Pizza in the World’ and iconised in the film ‘Eat, Pray, Love’, L’antica is a superb, eminently affordable place for a swift, sprightly lunch or dinner.
Forget the unfortunate dispute that disrupted the opening of the first London site in Stoke Newington, the second branch in Baker Street is still proudly serving Neapolitan pizzas of the highest quality. If you’re looking for something that’s full of toppings, this isn’t the place. Here, less is more and the classics are done right.
One thing that perhaps isn’t traditional is their ‘Marita’ pizza a half’n’half (margherita and marinara) that’s one of their bestsellers. It does bloody work, though.
There are now outposts in Soho and Manchester, too, for those not keen to make the trek to Marylebone.
Ideal for schnitzel, spätzle and plenty of sweet treats…
Design by IDEAL image via Fischer’s Instagram
Another of our favourite restaurants in Marylebone, Fischer’s is a Viennese-inspired brasserie that transports diners to early 20th-century Austria. With its dark wood panelling, period artwork, and traditional uniforms worn by the staff, this cosy eatery exudes old-world charm. The menu features Austrian classics such as wiener schnitzel and spätzle, whilst the desserts and cakes are, unsurprisingly, the highlight.
Open all morning through night without a break in sight, Fischer’s is perhaps at its very best when dropping in for elevenses. An Austrian classic, the ‘Franz Joseph Kaiserschmarrn’, feels appropriate at this time; a chopped pancake with cherry compote satiates all kinds of cravings. For something more savoury but still within the realms of ‘brunch’, the Holstein Schnitzel with anchovy, capers and egg is ace, too.
When it comes to the sweet side of the menu, we’re huge fans of the ‘Coupe Liegeois’ made with vanilla and chocolate ice creams, whipped cream and bitter chocolate sauce. Alternatively, go for the rich, indulgent sacher torte with the obligatory mountain of whipped cream, here balanced out smoothly with the addition of layers of apricot jam. Either way, order an espresso to round things all off.
Or, come for a proper feast in the evening; the restaurant boasts a fine selection of Austrian wines and beers and plenty of hearty, meat-heavy dishes to go alongside.
Ideal for a light and invigorating Mexican spread in swanky surroundings…
Can’t get a reservation at Kol? Cavita is another beautifully designed Mexican restaurant whose ‘see and be seen’ backdrop fortunately never detracts from the excellent food on offer here. Be sure to try the divine pig’s head tamal and split the whole grilled octopus if you’re dining with a group, both full of textural intrigue and bursts of piquancy, the celebrated chef Adriana Cavita having a commendable lightness of touch and a wicked way with protein. It’s the perfect combination.
Ideal for pitch perfect fusion food, anchored in the Indian subcontinent…
Design by IDEAL image via Jikoni Instagram
Jikoni, simply meaning ‘kitchen’ in Swahili, is a cosy and colourful restaurant that celebrates the diverse culinary heritage of its owner, chef Ravinder Bhogal. The menu is inspired by her Indian, Kenyan, and British roots, resulting in a delightful fusion of flavours, and a mentality of ‘’cooking without borders’’.
Standout dishes include the iconic prawn toast scotch egg – as good as it sounds and then some – and a pressed, crisped shoulder of lamb with a house ras el hanout, served with flatbread. Oh, and the banana cake with miso butterscotch and Ovaltine kulfi is the one.
Jikoni’s Weekend Brunch, running from 11am to 3pm is a hoot; booking in advance for this one is very much recommended.
Idealfor handsome, honest British pub classics, enjoyed on a sunny terrace when the weather’s right…
Marylebone may not be especially known for its pubs, but The Grazing Goat is an exception. You know you’re in good hands when you see Coombeshead Farm bread and butter opening the festivities, and those hands also make a mean Scotch egg, its anchovy mayonnaise so salty it’s almost spicy, but in the best possible way. It’s giving devilled eggs, but with a difference.
Don’t stray from the snack section, where most of the best cooking is found; a plate of crispy lamb and black cabbage salsa – lightly fermented, sauerkraut-style – is the perfect accompaniment to another round of pints.
If you’ve come hungry, the pub does a mean pie, too. Currently, it’s an excellent chicken and bacon (well, guanciale) affair, the familiar gravy here substituted for a pungent Montgomery cheddar sauce. At £23, it’s a pretty premium pie, but it can comfortably feed two. The Sunday roast is also worth writing home about, but we’re writing online rather than to our folks, so for now we’ll leave it here…
With an outdoor terrace for sunny days, The Grazing Goat is perfect for post-work or pre-dinner drinks and bites when the weather warms up again. Mine’s a Doombar, please.
Ideal for a predictably idiosyncratic and delicious take on a Taiwanese dumpling house…
Another branch of BAO, another knockout restaurant that gets all the finer details just right. At this point, it’s tempting to ask; do these guys ever miss?
As has become the way with new BAO openings, there are points of difference and specialities here that set this outpost apart from the others across the city, from Battersea Power Station to Shoreditch and beyond. The Marylebone rendition of the all-conquering Taiwanese street food group, open ‘all day’ from 10am to midnight, focuses first and foremost on dumplings.
Unsurprisingly for a restaurant so dexterous with dough, they’re superb, with the mutton dumplings in chilli oil particularly pleasing, the body-odour hum of cumin anchoring everything in a pleasing mustiness. And if you don’t find that pleasing, we feel sorry for you…
…Also much trailed and most pleasing are the pan-fried beef dumplings, served as a set of five but arriving as a kind of homogenous single unit, its surface caramelised and its shredded beef interior hotter than the actual sun if you tuck in too soon. Allow them to cool a little and get stuck in, there are fewer things more texturally satisfying on the planet.
Of course, the eponymous headliners are all present and correct at BAO Mary, the classic version perhaps heavier on the peanut powder than normal, but as satisfying as ever nonetheless.
Ideal for Argentinian-influenced pizza that hits different…
From the team behind modern Argentinian grill Zoilo comes this intimate pizzeria that manages to feel both thoroughly modern and charmingly old school. Chef Diego Jacquet might be known for his Argentinian cooking at Zoilo, but Florencio represents a different passion – one born from his global travels and the Italian immigrant influences of his homeland, plus time spent in New York’s vibrant pizza scene.
The pizzas here start with a 48-hour fermented dough that yields a crust with proper integrity – chewy yet crisp, and robust enough to handle some weighty toppings. We didn’t know we needed Argentinian pizza in our life but the Pituca (at £16.90, it’s admittedly weighty on the wallet) changed our mind; earthy mushrooms and sharp parmesan sit atop a white base that allows both ingredients to really sing.
Meanwhile, the Stracciatella (£16.90), smattered with pools of creamy cheese over a fragrant marinara sauce, makes a strong case for simplicity. The Negroni (£9.90) here is a gold standard version, and is an excellent aperitivo obvs, while the wine list offers plenty of good options by the glass.
Evening sees the tiny space transformed by some seriously flattering lighting (your phone camera will definitely switch to night mode), making it an ideal spot for those seeking both sustenance and atmosphere. They operate Tuesday through Saturday, noon till 10pm – perfect for a leisurely lunch or dinner – but plan ahead for Sunday roast alternatives in the area as they’re closed Sundays and Mondays.
Try to snag a corner table and settle in until closing time, especially if you’re planning on getting the excellent banana split for dessert – a gloriously retro affair complete with chocolate chips and dulce de leche.
The wine list, curated by general manager Sebastien Guilleminault, focuses primarily on Italian and French bottles, though guests can also dip into Zoilo’s impressive Argentine cellar next door if they’re feeling curious. Either way, there’s plenty worth drinking, whether you’re after something by the glass or settling in for the full bottle experience. Either way, the hospitality is genuinely warm, and the pizzas are among the most interesting in the neighbourhood.
Ideal for New York-style pies that are worth the wait…
If the queue snaking (‘prowling’? Nah) down Paddington Street is anything to go by, Alley Cats has already established itself as one of Marylebone’s hottest tickets. This walk-in only spot channels pure NYC energy, from its exposed brick walls and chequered tablecloths to episodes of The Sopranos projected onto the wall.
The 14-inch pies here are properly thin and crispy – the kind you can fold into a perfect triangular pocket without the structure giving way. A classic marinara crowned with ice-cold – as it should be – stracciatella (£17) shows they can nail the basics with a keen eye on the finer details, while the vodka sauce option (also £17) offers a more indulgent, increasingly ubiquitous path. The latter, rich and creamy with just the right hit of booze and chilli heat, might have purists clutching their pearls, but it works gloriously well. If you’re feeling thirsty, canned Moth margaritas at £12 each make for a fitting, though bloody expensive, accompaniment.
Those crusts, chewy and characterful, deserve to be dipped in something – the scotch bonnet sauce provides a proper kick, while the ranch offers cooling relief. Actually, order both; you’ll want to alternate between them as you work your way around the circumference of your pie.
The room might be industrial in aesthetic, but there’s genuine warmth to the service, and the buzz of happy diners (when you can hear them over the general hubbub – it’s fucking loud in here) suggests this place is here for the long haul. Getting a table might require a bit of patience, but hey – good things come to those who wait. The good news is they’re open daily from noon to 11pm, so you can get your fix whether it’s a lazy weekend lunch or late-night slice you’re after.
We’ve all noticed it: wellness has gone from niche interest to full-blown cultural obsession. The Global Wellness Institute puts the global wellness economy at a staggering £5.4 trillion in 2024, with projections suggesting it’ll hit nearly £7.8 trillion by 2029. That’s not a trend; that’s a seismic shift in how we think about looking after ourselves.
2025 gave us sleepy girl mocktails, the protein-everything craze, and enough longevity podcasts to last several lifetimes. But what’s coming next? Here are the health and wellness trends set to define 2026.
Better Sleep, Not Just More Sleep
Sleep stopped being something that just happens and became something we actively work on. The ‘sleepy girl mocktail’ (tart cherry juice, which naturally boosts melatonin, mixed with magnesium powder) went viral on TikTok, but the obsession with quality rest runs much deeper than a single recipe.
Circadian rhythm alignment is the phrase you’ll hear more and more: timing light exposure, controlling bedroom temperature, and treating sleep as seriously as diet or exercise. Hotels have cottoned on too, with sleep-focused retreats and specially designed rooms becoming genuine draws for wellness travellers.
The Ockenden Manor in West Sussex runs a Good Sleep Retreat designed by sleep psychologist Dr Maja Schaedel, featuring private consultations, workshops and floatation therapy. The Cadogan in Chelsea offers a Sleep Concierge service developed with Harley Street hypnotherapist Malminder Gill, complete with bespoke meditations, weighted blankets and calming bedtime tea. The Scarlet in Cornwall has introduced an Ayurvedic-inspired Restorative Sleep Break with cliff-top hot tubs, herbal teas and a curated book library to encourage a digital detox.
In 2026, expect the conversation around rest to get even more granular.
The Rise Of Body-Based Healing
For years, healing meant talking. Now, it often means breathing, plunging, or shaking. Somatic wellness, which uses the body to process emotional states, is gaining serious ground as people seek alternatives to conventional approaches.
Breathwork, cold plunges, and sound baths are no longer fringe interests. They’re filling gyms, group classes, and even corporate wellness programmes. Part of the shift is a growing understanding of the nervous system and its role in regulating stress. Drawing from polyvagal theory, practitioners emphasise how physical interventions can help the body return to a regulated state more effectively than talking alone.
London’s Sauna & Plunge in Shoreditch offers ice plunge pools at temperatures down to 3°C alongside infrared saunas and breathwork classes. Third Space Recovery Spa in Canary Wharf now features vibroacoustic beds, a therapy shown in studies to increase parasympathetic nervous system activity, while AI-powered massage robots are launching across the gym chain’s London clubs.
The science is catching up with the practice: researchers have demonstrated the effects of vibroacoustic therapy on heart rate and blood pressure, while breathwork is increasingly recognised by trauma experts as a powerful tool for nervous system regulation. In 2026, this trend moves from wellness centres into everyday life.
Switching Off To Switch On
After years of constant connectivity, people are actively seeking periods of digital silence. The average Briton now spends over three hours daily on their smartphone, with 70 per cent checking their phone within 15 minutes of waking. That dependency has been linked to increased mental health issues, poor sleep quality, and diminished ability to focus.
Enter digital detox retreats and off-grid escapes. Unplugged, which operates over 50 phone-free cabins across the UK countryside, asks guests to lock their devices away for a minimum of 72 hours, citing research that this is the time needed to ‘rewire’ the brain and break digital dependency.
Swinton Estate in North Yorkshire offers off-grid tree lodges without electricity, paired with sound bathing, forest bathing and reiki drumming, while 42 Acres in Somerset combines digital detox with nature restoration projects and a ‘Soil to Gut’ menu of home-grown ingredients.
David Lloyd Clubs predicts 2026 will see rising demand for what they call ‘slower, analogue wellness practices’: mindful movement, restorative yoga, and screen-free spaces to recharge. Trend forecasting platform WGSN has coined the term ‘ping minimalism’: decluttering our tech spaces in the same way we declutter our homes.
Food That Works Harder
Gut health was everywhere in 2025, but the focus is getting more specific. Functional nutrition is about food doing something for you beyond basic sustenance: prebiotics and probiotics, yes, but also adaptogens, nootropics and carefully targeted protein intake designed to support energy, mood and immunity.
If you’re unfamiliar with these, adaptogens are plants and mushrooms that help the body manage stress: ashwagandha lowers cortisol and supports sleep, while rhodiola combats fatigue and sharpens mental stamina. Nootropics support cognitive function: lion’s mane mushroom shows promise for long-term brain health, and L-theanine (found in green tea) promotes calm focus without sedation.
Targeted protein, meanwhile, means strategic use of specific amino acids: tryptophan for mood and sleep, glutamine for gut health and immunity, tyrosine for the neurotransmitters that govern energy and focus.
Trends highlight a shift from ‘free-from’ (no gluten, no dairy, no fun) to ‘fortified-with’ (added benefits, specific outcomes). People want their food to work harder, and brands are responding with increasingly clever formulations. That said, nothing beats healthy eating.
The Fibre Revival
Move over protein. Fibre is having its moment. The social media trend dubbed ‘fibremaxing’ has seen thousands of posts promoting strategic fibre intake through whole foods like fruits, legumes and seeds. PepsiCo’s CEO has called fibre ‘the next protein’, and the company is launching fibre-fortified versions of Smartfood and SunChips in early 2026.
The science backs the enthusiasm. Research from Tufts University links adequate fibre intake to reduced risk of colorectal cancer, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, while studies suggest fibre helps regulate blood sugar and supports healthy gut bacteria.
The problem: over 90 per cent of adults don’t hit recommended daily targets of 25 to 34 grams. Brands are responding with prebiotic sodas, fibre bars and fortified snacks, though nutritionists emphasise that diversity matters more than volume. Experts suggest the trend is evolving towards ‘smart fibremaxing’: consuming a variety of plant-based prebiotic fibres based on science rather than social media targets.
Bodyweight Training Goes Mainstream
Calisthenics has moved from niche park workouts to genuine fitness phenomenon. TikTok named it a community trend of the year, and Google search interest for calisthenics equipment peaked in late 2025.
The appeal is accessibility: push-ups, pull-ups and squats require no gym membership, no equipment and no commute. But the trend has also attracted celebrity backing. Dua Lipa joined Frame Fitness as co-founder and chief creative officer in late 2025, helping bring reformer Pilates into homes with the brand’s digitally connected at-home machines.
The broader shift is towards functional strength and bodyweight mastery over pure aesthetics. Rather than isolated muscle groups, people want to move well, build practical strength and achieve skills like handstands or muscle-ups. Cities are investing in outdoor calisthenics parks, and the equipment market is growing as people look for ways to progress their training at home.
At-Home Health Testing
The direct-to-consumer diagnostics market is booming. Companies like the all-conquering ZOE offer blood tests, gut health panels and hormone assessments delivered to your door. The promise: personalised health insights without a GP appointment.
The appeal is obvious. Convenience, privacy and the sense of taking control of your own data. According to surveys, nearly three-quarters of adults view at-home tests as more convenient than those through their doctors.
But the picture is more complicated than the marketing suggests. Research has found that many self-test kits don’t live up to accuracy claims made by manufacturers, with one evaluation finding only three out of 20 tests could be recommended based on scientific evidence. Sample collection errors, storage conditions and user misinterpretation can all compromise results.
For screening and general curiosity, at-home tests can provide useful starting points. For anything requiring clinical precision, they’re no substitute for professional lab work. The trend is growing regardless, but 2026 will likely bring more scrutiny around which tests actually deliver value and which are simply capitalising on wellness anxiety.
Blending Strength With Flexibility
The gym-bro era of pure strength training is giving way to something more balanced. Hybrid fitness combines high-intensity work with low-impact movement like Pilates, yoga and reformer classes. It’s not about choosing one or the other; it’s about recognising that being strong means nothing if you can’t move properly.
Articles just like this one you’re reading now indicate mobility has become a serious fitness priority, and recovery is no longer an afterthought. The mantra is ‘train smarter, not harder’, with VO2 max (a measure of how efficiently your body uses oxygen) emerging as the biomarker for anyone serious about long-term physical health.
Tech That Actually Helps
Wearables have been around for years, but AI is about to make them genuinely useful. Rather than just counting steps or logging heart rate, machine learning algorithms can now spot patterns in your data and offer personalised recommendations.
Continuous glucose monitors, sleep trackers and heart rate variability sensors are being paired with AI that learns how your body works and suggests what might help. Biohacking used to mean spreadsheets and obsessive self-experimentation; soon it’ll just mean checking an app.
health app
Women’s Health Gets Its Due
For too long, medical research defaulted to male bodies and hoped the findings would translate. They often didn’t. Now there’s growing recognition that women’s health needs its own focus: hormonal cycles, menstrual health, perimenopause and menopause are all being talked about openly and treated seriously.
Menopause in particular has been reframed from something to be suffered in silence to a life stage worth proper attention. Specialist clinics, targeted supplements and tracking apps are proliferating. 2026 will see this momentum continue as more women demand healthcare that actually reflects their experience.
Sweating With Others
After years of solo home workouts, people want to sweat with other people again. Exercise is becoming less about personal records and more about shared experience: community fitness classes, running clubs, communal saunas and social wellness spaces are all thriving.
That Global Wellness Institute study from way back in the introduction also notes that mental wellness is one of the fastest-growing sectors, expanding at 12.4 per cent annually. Physical and mental health aren’t separate concerns, and connection is as important as cardio. As longevity doctor Dr Mark Hyman puts it: ‘People with strong social ties and a sense of meaning live significantly longer.’
Preventing Problems Before They Start
The whole approach to health is flipping. Rather than waiting until something goes wrong, people want to know what’s happening inside their bodies right now, and what they can do about it before problems arise.
Longevity medicine used to sound like something for tech billionaires with too much money and not enough hobbies. Not anymore. Recent research has found that up to 60 per cent of consumers now rank healthy ageing as a top priority, and younger generations are getting in on the action earlier than ever.
Genetic screening, blood panels that go far beyond the basics, and epigenetic age testing (which measures how old your body actually is, regardless of your birthday) are all becoming more accessible. Indeed, there have been recent public discussions on how biological age is increasingly becoming a metric that matters, distinct to chronological age. The candles on your cake tell one story; your DNA methylation patterns tell another.
The Bottom Line
The wellness trends of 2026 come down to a few core ideas: prevent problems before they start, personalise everything, and remember that humans are social animals who need each other. Whether you’re tracking your biological age or just joining a calisthenics club, the message is the same. Looking after yourself has never had more options, or more science behind it.
A thousand miles from the coast, in the heart of the world’s largest rainforest, stands an opera house topped with a dome of 36,000 ceramic tiles in the colours of the Brazilian flag. Built in 1896 at the height of the rubber boom, when Manaus briefly rivalled Paris for extravagance, the Teatro Amazonas remains the most improbable cultural monument in South America.
British football fans may wince at the name: this was where England’s 2014 World Cup campaign began to unravel, with Gerrard and Sterling cramping up in the tropical heat as Balotelli’s header sealed a 2-1 defeat. Roy Hodgson had called it ‘the place to avoid’ before the draw, prompting the mayor to declare England unwelcome. As somewhere to play ninety minutes of international football, he may have had a point. As somewhere to spend forty-eight hours exploring, the jungle city makes a compelling case for itself.
The city sprawls across a peninsula where the Rio Negro meets the coffee-coloured Rio Solimões to form the Amazon proper. This confluence, known as the Meeting of the Waters, is the natural phenomenon that draws most visitors, but Manaus rewards those who stay longer than the standard boat trip.
Rewards them with a fine meal, in part. A serious food scene has emerged in recent years, led by chefs like Débora Shornik and Felipe Schaedler, who are doing inventive things with pirarucu, tucupi, and the vast Amazonian larder. Much of their produce comes from the Mercado Adolpho Lisboa, a nineteenth-century iron-framed market where counters overflow with river fish the size of small children and fruits that don’t have English names. Combined with the sheer improbability of a two-million-strong metropolis surrounded by nothing but jungle, Manaus offers something genuinely unlike anywhere else.
Two days allows time for both the city’s rubber-era architecture and a taste of the river. On day one we’ll explore the historic centre, from the opera house to those market halls modelled on Les Halles. Day two sees us head out onto the water for the Meeting of the Waters, returning via Ponta Negra’s riverside promenade. Note that the Teatro Amazonas and several top restaurants close on Mondays, so plan accordingly.
Day 1: Rubber Barons & River Fish
Morning: The Opera House & Largo De São Sebastião
Start at the Teatro Amazonas before the heat becomes serious. Guided tours run from 9am Tuesday to Saturday, with shorter hours on Sundays (9am-1pm). The theatre is closed on Mondays. Entry costs R$20, with half-price for students, teachers, and over-60s.
The interior rewards the visit: Carrara marble shipped from Italy, Murano chandeliers from Venice, wrought-iron staircases from Glasgow. The painted dome recreates the view from beneath the Eiffel Tower. That such a thing exists a thousand miles up the Amazon says everything about what rubber money could buy in the 1890s.
The surrounding Largo de São Sebastião is the city’s most handsome square, paved in a wave pattern of black and white Portuguese stones said to represent the meeting of the two rivers. The church of São Sebastião anchors one end, with cafés and restored colonial buildings lining the rest. Allow an hour for the theatre tour and another to wander the square and surrounding streets.
Lunch: Caxiri
Book ahead for Caxiri, which occupies the top floor of a building overlooking the Teatro Amazonas. Chef Débora Shornik moved from São Paulo in 2012, fell in love with the Amazonian larder, and opened this restaurant in 2016.
The menu changes with the seasons but always centres on river fish, indigenous cooking techniques, and ingredients like tucupi, a fermented cassava sauce with flavours somewhere between citrus, chilli, and umami. The fried river sardines are a signature, and the grilled tambaqui with uarini flour is the sort of dish you find yourself thinking about weeks later. The restaurant takes its name from a traditional fermented drink made by indigenous communities, and that sense of rootedness runs through everything here.
Open for lunch Tuesday to Sunday, dinner Tuesday to Saturday; closed Mondays.
Afternoon: The Market & The Port
Walk downhill from the historic centre towards the river to reach the Mercado Adolpho Lisboa, the market mentioned earlier. Inaugurated in 1882 and modelled on Paris’ Les Halles, the building was constructed with iron shipped from Europe.
The architecture alone warrants a visit, but the real draw is the fish market in the side building. Arrive any time before mid-afternoon for counters piled with species you’ve perhaps never seen in the flesh: tambaqui, tucunaré (peacock bass), the vast pirarucu that can reach two metres in length. The main hall has been somewhat taken over by souvenir stalls, but you’ll still find vendors selling tucupi, farinha (toasted cassava flour), Brazil nuts, and regional spices. Pick up a fresh açaí from one of the small eateries inside before heading out.
Mercado Municipal Adolpho Lisboa
From the market, it’s a short walk to the floating port, an engineering marvel built in 1902 to accommodate the river’s dramatic seasonal rise and fall of up to fifteen metres. The port area gives a sense of how Manaus functions as the Amazon’s commercial hub, with cargo boats loading provisions for communities days upriver.
Evening: Banzeiro
Dinner at Banzeiro, in the Nossa Senhora das Graças neighbourhood about fifteen minutes by taxi from the historic centre. If Caxiri represents the contemporary end of Amazonian cooking, Banzeiro is where chef Felipe Schaedler has spent years codifying the region’s culinary traditions.
He uses ancestral techniques, cooking over fire and embers, to transform local ingredients into something both rooted and refined. The crunchy tambaqui ribs are a house speciality, and the smoked pirarucu is extraordinary. The room has the feel of a proper occasion, with vibrant photography on the walls and a canoe suspended from the ceiling. Book ahead, particularly at weekends.
The cocktail programme uses Amazonian fruits and makes a strong case for starting (and, indeed, ending) with a drink. Saúde!
Day 2: On The Water
Morning: The Meeting Of The Waters
Most tours depart between 8am and 9am from the port area. The meeting itself lies about twenty kilometres downstream from the city, where the black, acidic waters of the Rio Negro collide with the sandy, sediment-heavy Solimões. The rivers run side by side for several kilometres without mixing, creating a visible line between the two colours that has to be seen to be believed. The difference in temperature is tangible if you put your hand over the side of the boat.
Book through your hotel or one of the agencies around the Teatro Amazonas. Full-day tours are the better option, typically returning around 2pm or 3pm. A Brazil travel eSIM is useful for coordinating pickup times and checking Google Maps when you’re back on land, as mobile signal on the river itself is patchy at best.
Lunch: On The River
Full-day tours include lunch at a floating restaurant or riverside spot, which is part of the experience. Expect simply prepared fish, rice, beans, and farofa, eaten while bobbing gently on the water. Most tours also include a stop at floating houses where you can see pirarucu up close, and a visit to an indigenous community.
Afternoon: Ponta Negra Beach
Return to Manaus in time for a late afternoon at Ponta Negra, the city’s urban beach on the Rio Negro. The sand is fine, the water warm and inky-black from tannins leached from the forest upstream.
This is where Manaus comes to unwind: there’s a long promenade with kiosks selling açaí and grilled fish, sports courts, an amphitheatre for concerts, and views across the river that turn spectacular at sunset. The beach sits in the city’s most upscale neighbourhood, about thirty minutes by taxi from the centre.
Evening: Tambaqui De Banda
After the fine dining of day one, a more casual final evening feels right. Head back to the historic centre for dinner at Tambaqui de Banda, on Rua José Clemente just off the Largo de São Sebastião. This is where locals come for no-frills grilled river fish, served with farofa, vinagrete, and rice.
Image via Tambaqui De Banda
The namesake dish is tambaqui de banda: half a fish, deboned and grilled over coals until the skin crisps. It’s simple, generous, and exactly what you want after a day on the water. Grab a table on the terrace with views of the opera house lit up for the evening.
Where To Stay
Hotel Villa Amazônia is the city’s best boutique option, a restored colonial building seventy metres from the Teatro Amazonas with a pool, garden, and the kind of quiet luxury that feels earned after a day in the heat.
Juma Ópera Boutique Hotel & Spa opened in 2020 and occupies historic buildings directly opposite the opera house. The rooftop pool has views of the theatre’s dome and makes for a memorable sundowner spot.
For something simpler, Casa dos Frades sits directly opposite the opera house and offers comfortable rooms at a lower price point.
How To Get There
There are no direct flights from the UK. The most straightforward routing is via Lisbon with TAP Portugal, which operates flights to Manaus from the Portuguese capital. Alternatively, fly to São Paulo or Rio de Janeiro and connect domestically with LATAM, Gol, or Azul. The journey from London takes between fourteen and twenty hours depending on connections.
Eduardo Gomes International Airport lies about fifteen kilometres north of the city centre. Taxis take around twenty minutes to reach the historic centre; confirm the price before departing. Uber operates in Manaus and is often cheaper.
The best time to visit is during the dry season from May to October, when rainfall is less frequent and the rivers are lower, exposing more of the beaches. Temperatures hover between 25°C and 30°C year-round, with humidity that takes some acclimatising.
The Bottom Line
Manaus asks a little more of its visitors than most city breaks. The heat is real, the distances can be substantial, and the jungle setting means things don’t always run to schedule.
But spend forty-eight hours here and you’ll find an opera house that defies logic, a fish market that defies description, and a meeting of rivers that defies physics. It’s one-of-a-kind, and well worth your time.
That proliferance doesn’t make things any cheaper, it should be said straight off the bat. In fact, even fairly conservative estimates of the cost of living for students in London arrive at a figure of between £1400 and £3000 a month. Woof.
Of course, there are ways to make London living cheaper for undergrads, with a raft of discounts, hacks and freebies out there and available, if only you know where to look. We know where to look; here’s how to make your money go further in London if you’re a student.
Savvy Accommodation Choices
Let’s face it; apart from the ever-growing, always-extortionate tuition fees (c’mon Kier, sort it out)
Finding affordable student accommodation in London can be a challenge, but there are ways to make it more manageable:
Intercollegiate Halls: These are halls shared by students from different University of London institutions. They can be a great way to meet people from other universities. Prices vary, but they often include meals, which can save you money on food.
Private Halls: Companies like Unite Students, iQ Student Accommodation, and Scape offer private student halls. These can be more expensive than university halls but often come with additional amenities like gyms, study rooms, and social spaces. Look out for early-bird discounts and referral bonuses.
House Shares: Websites like Spareroom and Gumtree are great for finding house shares. Living with others can significantly reduce your rent and bills. Areas like Stratford, Hackney, and Peckham are popular with students and tend to be more affordable than central locations.
Council Tax Exemption: Full-time students are exempt from paying council tax. Make sure to get a council tax exemption certificate from your university and submit it to your local council.
Student Oyster Card: Get a Student Oyster photocard for 30% off adult-rate travelcards and bus & tram passes.
16-25 Railcard: Combine this with your Oyster card for a third off off-peak travel on the Tube, DLR, London Overground, and National Rail services.
Cycle: Consider cycling. Lime Bikes and Santander Cycles represent a cheap and healthy way to get around. Students can get a yearly membership for just £90.
Walking: London is a walkable city. Use apps like Citymapper to find the best walking routes and discover hidden gems along the way.
Eat Well For Less
Eating out in London can drain your wallet quickly, but there are ways to enjoy good food without breaking the bank:
Markets: Visit markets like Borough Market, Camden Market, and Brick Lane towards the end of the day for potential discounts on food that would otherwise be thrown away.
Student Discounts: Many restaurants and cafes offer student discounts. Always carry your student ID and check apps like UNiDAYS and Student Beans for deals.
Supermarket Savvy: Shop at budget supermarkets like Aldi and Lidl. Look out for reduced items in the evenings at larger supermarkets like Tesco and Sainsbury’s.
Food Sharing Apps: Use apps like Olio and Too Good To Go to get free or discounted food from local businesses and neighbours.
Free & Cheap Entertainment
London is brimming with free and low-cost activities. Make the most of it:
Museums and Galleries: Many of London’s top museums and galleries, such as the British Museum, Tate Modern, and the National Gallery, are free to enter.
Theatre Tickets: Check out the TKTS booth in Leicester Square for discounted theatre tickets. The National Theatre and Shakespeare’s Globe also offer cheap tickets for students.
Outdoor Spaces: Enjoy London’s parks and gardens. Hyde Park, Regent’s Park, and Hampstead Heath are perfect for a day out without spending a penny.
Student Nights: Many, many clubs and bars have student nights with discounted entry and drinks.
Free Events: Websites like Eventbrite and Meetup list free events happening around the city, from lectures and workshops to social gatherings and fitness classes.
If you love to shop, London is home to lots of flea and street markets where you can find clothes at bargain prices.
Student Discounts on Tech: Apple, Microsoft, and other tech companies offer student discounts. Check their websites or visit stores with your student ID.
Streaming Services: Many streaming services like Spotify, Amazon Prime, and Apple Music offer student rates. Share subscriptions with housemates to cut costs further.
Software: Many universities provide free or discounted access to software like Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Cloud. Check with your IT department.
Textbooks & Reading: Don’t pay full price for course materials. Second-hand bookshops like World of Books offer steep discounts on textbooks – you can find promotional codes on sites like Discoup.com for extra savings. Your university library likely has copies of key texts available on short loan, and platforms like Perlego offer Netflix-style subscriptions for academic books if you’re a heavy reader.
Budget Like A Pro
With such a tempting array of spending opportunities in London, getting your finances sorted is absolutely crucial. Once September comes around and you begin university, you can adjust your budget where needed, but planning beforehand is a good start.
Track Everything: Most students benefit from tracking their expenses on their banking app – apps like Monzo, Starling, and even traditional banks now offer brilliant categorisation features that show exactly where your money’s going. Set up notifications for when you’re approaching spending limits in different categories.
Needs vs Wants: This classic budgeting principle becomes your best friend in an expensive city like London. That £5 coffee might seem like a need when you’re cramming for exams, but prioritising genuine necessities will keep you afloat financially. Create a simple list: rent, groceries, transport, and course materials come first; everything else is negotiable.
Bill Splitting Made Simple: If in shared accommodation, students often find combining their household bills and splitting them can save everyone money and hassle. Use apps like Splitwise or Tricount to track shared expenses fairly. Set up direct debits for utilities so no one forgets, and consider getting a joint account just for household expenses that everyone pays into monthly.
The 50/30/20 Rule (London Edition): Adapt this classic budgeting framework to student life: 50% for essentials (rent, food, transport), 30% for wants (entertainment, eating out), and 20% for savings or paying down student debt. In reality, London students might need to flip this to 60/25/15, but having a framework helps.
Emergency Fund: Even a small buffer of £100-200 can be a lifesaver when your laptop dies during essay season or you need an unexpected trip home.
Part-Time Work & Internships
Balancing work and study can be tough, but a part-time job or internship can provide extra cash and valuable experience:
University Job Boards: Check your university’s job board for on-campus opportunities. These jobs are often flexible and understanding of your study commitments.
Hospitality and Retail: London has a plethora of cafes, restaurants, and shops that often hire students. Look for positions in areas with high foot traffic like Covent Garden or Oxford Street.
Internships: Many companies offer paid internships. Websites like Higherin and TARGETjobs can help you find opportunities relevant to your field of study.
Tutoring: If you excel in a particular subject, consider tutoring other students. Websites like Tutorful and MyTutor can help you find clients.
Utilise Student Services
Make the most of the services your university offers:
Student Unions: They often have free or discounted events, societies, and sports clubs.
Libraries: University libraries are a great resource for free study materials and a quiet place to work.
Career Services: Take advantage of your university’s career services for CV workshops, interview preparation, and job fairs.
Deciding On A University
When it comes to different college options in London, a college quiz match can help you narrow down the best fit for your academic goals and personal preferences. London hosts over 40 universities and higher education colleges, from the prestigious Russell Group institutions like UCL, King’s College London, and LSE to specialized creative arts colleges like UAL and performing arts academies like RADA.
Consider factors like course offerings, location within London (central locations often mean higher living costs), campus facilities, and the strength of industry connections in your field of study.
The Bottom Line
Living in London as a student doesn’t have to mean constant financial stress. By taking advantage of a whole host of student-specific deals and offers, you can enjoy all that this incredible city has to offer without breaking the bank quite so comprehensively.
There’s a particular cruelty to the fact that our homes, ostensibly our sanctuaries, can operate as low-level stress generators without us even noticing. We blame work, relationships, the news. Rarely do we suspect the ceiling, the wall colour, or that pile of magazines we’ve been meaning to sort through. Yet these seemingly innocuous elements affect our bodies in ways we don’t consciously register: raising cortisol, disrupting sleep, keeping us in a state of low-grade alertness even when we’re trying to relax.
The good news? Identifying these hidden culprits doesn’t require hiring a specialist, and fixing them rarely demands a gut renovation. Some of the most effective interventions are remarkably simple and refreshingly unexpected.
Look Up
You probably haven’t given much thought to your ceiling lately, but your brain certainly has. Research from the University of Minnesota found that ceiling height genuinely affects how we think, with higher ceilings prompting more abstract, expansive cognition. The phenomenon, known as the Cathedral Effect, explains why entering a grand building can produce that sudden sense of possibility.
The sweet spot appears to be around three metres for creative thinking, though lower ceilings actually benefit focused, detail-oriented work. That cramped home office might be inadvertently helping you concentrate on spreadsheets, even if it’s less conducive to big-picture thinking. The lesson isn’t to raise your ceilings, but to match activities to spaces: brainstorm in the living room, do your taxes in the box room.
The Clutter Problem
Perhaps no interior factor has been more thoroughly linked to stress than the stuff we accumulate. A UCLA study of dual-income couples found that those who described their homes as cluttered or full of unfinished projects had disrupted cortisol patterns throughout the day, the kind of hormonal profile associated with chronic stress and poorer health outcomes.
The mechanism is insidious. Every unread book, unsorted pile, and abandoned project demands a slice of cognitive bandwidth. The brain registers visual chaos as unfinished business, triggering a persistent low-grade alarm. It’s not about tidiness for its own sake; it’s about cognitive load. Your brain literally cannot relax when surrounded by reminders of things left undone.
The fix needn’t be dramatic. Start with surfaces: clear your bedside table of everything except what you actually use before sleep. Contain visual noise in closed storage where possible. And resist the urge to create ‘doom piles’ of items awaiting decisions; your cortisol doesn’t care that you’ve tidied them into a neat stack.
The evidence for biophilic design has moved well beyond intuition. Studies using virtual reality have found that people recover from stress significantly faster in rooms containing plants, nature views, or even green-toned décor. The effects aren’t subtle; physiological changes begin within the first few minutes of exposure.
This builds on the famous 1984 study by Roger Ulrich comparing surgical patients: those with views of trees required less pain medication and left hospital sooner than those facing a brick wall. A recent Texas A&M study confirmed that indoor plants had the highest utility among room attributes for promoting both physical relaxation and mental clarity, followed by visible greenery through windows.
For homes without garden views, the applications are straightforward. A few well-placed houseplants, green textiles, or nature photography can provide measurable benefit. Even a single potted fern on your desk counts. If you’re historically terrible with plants, start with something forgiving like a pothos or snake plant; the stress-reduction benefits aren’t contingent on horticultural excellence.
Our nervous systems are remarkably adaptable to consistent background sound, which is why people can sleep peacefully beside busy roads or ticking clocks. It’s the unexpected sounds that spike our cortisol: a door slamming, a car alarm, a notification ping at odd hours.
Indeed, research on emergency responders found that night-time alarms caused significantly greater stress responses than identical daytime sounds, precisely because our sleeping brains are especially vulnerable to the unpredictable.
This principle extends throughout the home. The refrigerator’s hum becomes invisible; the intermittent rattle of a loose component does not. A dripping tap, an inconsistently creaking floorboard, the irregular ping of a poorly sealed window: these create a background of low-level vigilance that accumulates over time. Addressing sources of sonic unpredictability, whether through repairs, maintenance, or upgrades, removes friction you may not have consciously registered but your nervous system certainly has.
Interestingly, this is one area where safety and serenity align perfectly. Well-maintained home fire alarm systems contribute to both: providing the deep psychological reassurance that comes from knowing your household is protected, while operating silently in the background until genuinely needed. That peace of mind, the knowledge that something is quietly taking care of you, is itself a form of stress reduction.
On the positive side, a 2025 scoping review found that self-selected music and nature sounds reduce cortisol, lower blood pressure, and improve heart rate variability. A carefully curated playlist isn’t indulgence; it’s preventive medicine.
Blue and green tones are genuinely linked to lower cortisol levels, improved concentration, and reduced anxiety. This isn’t purely cultural association; there appear to be real physiological responses to different wavelengths of light.
Studies have found significant stress reduction in people exposed to blue environments, while green spaces, even indoor ones, speed recovery and boost mood. And the nuance is that colour effects are context-dependent. Red and orange aren’t inherently stressful; they simply serve different cognitive functions, promoting alertness and energy. Reserve them for spaces where you want to feel activated (a home gym, perhaps) and save cooler tones for bedrooms and relaxation areas.
If a full repaint feels excessive, soft furnishings offer an easier entry point: a teal throw, sage cushions, or blue bedding can shift the chromatic balance of a room without commitment.
What’s Missing From The Air
Aromatherapy has suffered from its association with wellness trends and dubious health claims, but the neuroscience behind certain scents is increasingly solid. Lavender, in particular, has been shown in multiple studies to reduce anxiety through specific effects on brain chemistry, inhibiting certain calcium channels and increasing parasympathetic nervous system activity.
You needn’t invest in expensive diffusers. Research suggests even a few minutes of inhalation is effective, meaning dried lavender in a bowl by your bed, a few drops of essential oil on your pillow, or fresh stems in a bedside vase can deliver genuine benefits. If lavender isn’t to your taste, chamomile and bergamot show similar promise in early research.
Perhaps the most profound hidden stressor concerns something less tangible than paint colours or pot plants: agency. Feeling in control of your environment has been shown to buffer against stress, while perceived helplessness amplifies it. One major study found that autonomy predicted wellbeing more strongly than wealth across 63 different societies.
This has surprising implications for design. Spaces that feel oppressive or impossible to modify erode our sense of control. Conversely, being able to adjust your environment, whether that’s dimming lights, opening windows, rearranging furniture, or simply having designated spots for your belongings, reinforces the agency that protects against anxiety. A perfectly designed space you can’t personalise may ultimately prove less calming than a modest one you’ve shaped yourself.
The practical application is to build adjustability into your home. Layered lighting you can dim or brighten. Furniture that can be rearranged. Storage systems that flex with your needs. The goal isn’t a static ‘finished’ interior but a responsive environment that bends to your life rather than demanding you bend to it.
The Bottom Line
Once you start noticing these hidden stressors, you can’t unsee them. But that’s precisely the point. A home that addresses natural light, greenery, clutter, colour, scent, sound, and personal agency doesn’t just look better; it actively supports your nervous system, lowering baseline cortisol and providing the restorative environment our increasingly frantic lives demand.
Most of these fixes require neither significant expense nor professional help. They simply require taking seriously something we’ve long intuited: our surroundings shape our inner lives in ways both subtle and profound. The research has finally caught up with what poets and decorators have always known; that our homes are not merely containers for our lives but active participants in our wellbeing.
Need a new look? Consider upping your jewellery game. Once considered a niche market, men’s jewellery has now exploded onto the fashion scene, with sales booming over the past few years. Social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok have given guys the confidence to wear jewellery more boldly than they have in decades, with influencers and celebrities showing how these accessories can transform an outfit from basic to eye-catching.
It’s worth remembering that throughout history, men adorning themselves with jewellery was not only common but expected among those of status. From ancient Egyptian pharaohs with their elaborate gold collars to European monarchs dripping in precious gems, jewellery has long been a thing for men. Just look at King Henry VIII – fingers loaded with rings, neck wrapped in gold chains, and clothes studded with jewels. Today’s trends are merely a contemporary revival of this long-standing tradition, adapted for modern sensibilities.
With this in mind, here are some men’s jewellery trends to try in 2026, IDEAL for enhancing your personal aesthetic…
Rings Rules
The ring renaissance is well underway, with celebrities sporting some seriously impressive finger bling. Bold cocktail and signet styles are particularly hot right now, often worn in multiples across both hands for maximum impact. A-listers are increasingly ditching the minimalist look in favour of more expressive, character-filled pieces.
Textured and rough-hewn rings with organic finishes are catching on too, offering a more rugged alternative to super-polished pieces. These artisanal designs often feature hammered metals, unique stone settings, or deliberately imperfect finishes that celebrate craftsmanship over perfection. Materials like blackened silver, bronze, and even titanium are becoming popular choices for guys seeking something beyond traditional gold.
These statement rings work as conversation starters rather than just accessories. Many men are picking rings that reflect their interests or values – perhaps incorporating materials or symbols that mean something to them. Whether it’s a family crest, a meaningful symbol, or just an eye-catching design, today’s rings make deliberate statements about who you are.
The pearls comeback in men’s fashion owes a lot to Harry Styles, who helped reintroduce modern men to this classic gem. But this isn’t actually new – it’s more like we’re going back to how things used to be. Pearls were treasured by men across many cultures throughout history, symbolizing wealth, power, and sophistication. Among the earliest men to wear pearls were those of royalty and nobility, from Chinese royals in 2300 BC to Indian Maharajas, who adorned themselves with magnificent pearl necklaces and elaborate headpieces.
Once pigeonholed as strictly feminine in recent Western fashion, pearls have now jumped gender boundaries to become a sophisticated option for today’s man. Whether worn as necklaces, bracelets, or solo earrings, these lustrous orbs add an elegant touch that sits perfectly between traditional and contemporary.
Modern takes range from classic white strands to more experimental designs with baroque pearls in various shades – black, grey, and even iridescent options that challenge what we expect from pearl jewellery. Some designers are working pearls into unexpected pieces like cufflinks, tie pins, or even as accents on leather bracelets, offering subtle ways to embrace this refined trend.
Hip Hop Chains
The chunky chain necklace owes its place in modern fashion to hip hop’s pioneering artists who transformed these pieces from mere accessories into powerful symbols of success and cultural identity. Legends like Slick Rick, Big Daddy Kane, LL Cool J, Run-DMC, and Salt-N-Pepa established the trend of wearing layered, substantial chains as a defining style statement,
Worried about looking over-the-top in everyday settings? No need – modern interpretations offer surprising subtlety and sophistication. Monissanite chains give you the sparkle without going overboard, letting you make a statement while keeping it tasteful. Think about thickness and length carefully – a moderately substantial chain worn at mid-chest can add interest to even a basic white tee without looking excessive.
If you’re new to this trend, start with a single, well-crafted piece. Focus on quality rather than size, and consider chains with interesting link patterns instead of excessive width. Cuban links, curb chains, and rope designs offer distinctive character without needing diamond embellishments to stand out. The right chain can become your signature – something instantly recognizable as uniquely yours.
Layered Necklaces
Taking a page from Brad Pitt’s recent style playbook, layering multiple necklaces creates depth and visual interest that a single piece just can’t match. This technique has caught on with style-conscious men who appreciate how layering can transform even the simplest outfit into something with personal flair.
The trick to good layering is varying lengths and textures – maybe combining three gold chains featuring cool gemstones and meaningful pendants. Start with a shorter chain that sits near the collar, add a medium-length piece with a small pendant, and finish with a longer chain to create a cascading effect. This graduated approach creates a sophisticated look while making sure each piece stands out.
Think about building a collection of chains you can mix and match depending on the occasion, your mood, or seasonal wardrobe changes.
The Connell Chain
Looking for something more low-key? The thin silver chain made famous by Paul Mescal’s character Connell Waldron in ‘Normal People’ is your perfect starting point. This minimalist piece proved that sometimes less really is more, creating such a cultural moment that searches for similar items went through the roof when the show aired in 2020. The chain even got its own Instagram account with thousands of followers devoted just to this simple accessory.
The beauty of the “Connell chain” is its effortless simplicity – a subtle accent that enhances rather than dominates your look. The understated nature of the thin silver chain makes it work for practically any situation, from office environments to casual outings. You can wear it with everything from formal shirts to basic tees without it ever feeling out of place.
For guys new to jewellery, this subtle chain is the perfect entry point – noticeable enough to enhance your appearance without requiring the confidence needed for chunkier pieces. It’s proof that dipping your toe into men’s jewellery doesn’t have to involve bold statements or spending loads of cash.
Stacking Bracelets
Wrist bling has really taken off, with style icons like Ryan Reynolds and Brad Pitt regularly spotted wearing multiple bracelets at premieres and casual outings. This trend is one of the easiest ways into men’s jewellery, with endless options for personalisation.
Combining two or three complementary pieces – maybe mixing leather, metal and beads – creates a personalised stack that adds interest without going overboard. The contrast between different textures and materials is what gives this look its character; a woven fabric bracelet next to a metal cuff creates much more impact than wearing several similar pieces together. Think about building your collection around a signature piece – perhaps a quality watch or a meaningful heirloom – and adding bracelets that enhance rather than compete with this central item. Balance matters; if one bracelet has bold colours or chunky hardware, pair it with more subtle companions to keep things harmonious.
Worried about workplace appropriateness? Start with subtle options like thin leather bands or understated chain bracelets in neutral metals. These show personality while staying conservative enough for most work environments. As you get more comfortable, you can gradually add more distinctive pieces.
Stacking also lets you incorporate meaningful items – perhaps bracelets picked up during travels or gifts from important people – creating a wearable collection of memories rather than just decorative accessories.
Single Earrings
The lone earring continues to make a serious style statement, with icons like Bruce Springsteen and George Michael showing just how timeless this look can be.
Whether you go for a simple stud, a small hoop, or something more eye-catching, the single earring naturally communicates nonconformity while remaining surprisingly versatile. The key is picking something proportionate to your features – too large and it can overwhelm, too small and no one will notice it. Think about your face shape, personal style, and where you’ll typically be wearing it when making your choice.
If you’re new to ear jewellery, a small, simple design in sterling silver or gold is a great starting point. Those feeling more confident might explore distinctive options – perhaps a small dangling design or something with a meaningful symbol or subtle gemstone. Whatever you choose, quality matters with this highly visible accessory.
The Bottom Line
Whether you’re new to men’s jewellery or looking to refresh your current collection, there’s never been a better time to explore the possibilities. Remember, the key to wearing jewellery successfully lies in authenticity – choose pieces that genuinely resonate with your personality and lifestyle rather than simply following trends. You want to enhance your personal aesthetic without feeling forced or unnatural.
Ideal for improving your chances in an increasingly competitive marketplace…
In 2026, with unemployment at its highest level since 2021 and vacancies falling for the 39th consecutive period, the job market feels more competitive than ever.
As a result, employability is a term which carries some serious weight right now. With it, the world (or at least, the job market) is your oyster. Hell, it’s an all you can eat buffet. But if you’re lacking in that elusive attribute, it can feel like you’re constantly being passed over for job opportunities.
While there’s a danger such knock backs can take your self esteem and bank balance down a few notches, fortunately, employability isn’t something innate and inherent; it can be learned, cultivated and finessed.
We’re here today to talk about doing just that. From bespoke tailored suits to mindset resets, here are 7 ways to improve your employability today, IDEAL for improving your chances in an increasingly competitive marketplace.
Embrace AI
If there’s one skill set that’s rapidly becoming non-negotiable across industries, it’s AI literacy. No, you don’t need to become a machine learning engineer overnight, but demonstrating a working knowledge of AI tools is fast becoming as fundamental as proficiency in Word or Excel once was.
The numbers speak for themselves. According to research from Lightcast, job postings requiring AI skills have tripled in the past two years, and roles listing AI proficiency now advertise salaries 28% higher on average than those that don’t. For candidates with multiple AI skills, that premium jumps to 43%.
Crucially, this isn’t just about tech roles. Marketing managers, sales professionals and customer service positions are all increasingly seeking candidates comfortable with tools like ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot and workflow automation. Start by familiarising yourself with generative AI for tasks you already do: drafting emails, summarising documents, brainstorming ideas. From there, consider a short online course in prompt engineering or AI-assisted data analysis. The barrier to entry is lower than you might think, and the payoff in terms of employability is significant.
Look The Part
First impressions count. Whilst we wish this wasn’t the case, and candidates were judged purely on merit, appearance plays a huge part in this. Indeed, in a survey conducted by Twin Employment of 2,000 hiring managers, research found that ‘’33% knew whether they would hire someone in the first 90 seconds’’.
That’s not all, they also discovered that half the interviewers believed that a candidate could be eliminated from the process early due to the way they dressed. Indeed, according to a ResearchGate study, how you dress and interact can make a huge impression on people surrounding you, especially in a workplace.
Some roles demand that appearances matter more than others, but as a general rule, looking smart, slick and well presented suggests a level of care and attention to detail which will be transferred to your output in the office.
Don’t Spread Yourself Too Thinly
The ability to be employed…it sounds easy doesn’t it? Make yourself available, flexible, and willing, and the work will come.
If only it were that easy. We all have responsibilities and ambitions beyond the workplace, and the system can often seem intent on exploiting you rather than letting you grow at your own pace. In a crowded, contracting job market, it may seem counterintuitive to caution spreading yourself too thin, but in reality, some discernment and focus in your job search is far more likely to land you the role you deserve.
Refine and tailor your application to suit each job specifically, personalising each and every CV you send out to suit the demands of the job you’re applying for. It might mean you submit fewer applications in the same amount of time, but if these applications are more successful, it’s worth the effort.
Curate The Confidence
Employers are going to pick up on confidence levels, both over and under, and it might be a wise move to deploy a few simple tactics to project yours at just the right level.
There are numerous ways that you can do this. For instance, you might want to think about your handshake. A firm grip will imply a certain conviction, for sure. Maintaining the right level of eye contact is also vital; no creepy stares fixed for too long, sure, but holding that gaze for just the right amount of time can subliminally suggest confidence, make no mistake.
It’s also important to ask questions. Remember this interview thing is a two way street and making your own enquiries about the position suggests that you feel as though you’re likely to be chosen and can shift the power dynamic in your favour.
Extra Training
Extra-curricular personal and professional development are hugely impressive on the CV, suggesting that you treat your career with sincerity and have something to offer above and beyond the other candidates. Achieving superfluous, meaningless qualifications is pointless, but tailored, specific training relating to the role you’re applying for speaks volumes about your dedication and seriousness to the job.
Don’t overlook practical credentials either. Workplace first aid training, for example, is valued across a surprisingly broad range of industries, from offices and retail to hospitality and construction. It signals responsibility, calm under pressure and a willingness to look out for colleagues — qualities that translate well beyond emergency situations.
During the interview, on the flip side, you should make enquiries about how seriously your prospective employer takes personal development in the workplace. Such an enquiry will be evocative of your rigour regarding the new role.
Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For Feedback
If you’re making it to the interview stage and then getting knocked back, firstly, check out our 5 IDEAL tips on what not to do in the interview process. Here, we give pointers on turning up just the right level of prepared, on not pretending to be perfect, on body language, punctuality, and which questions are right (and wrong) to ask in those early stages. Do have a look, once you’ve got to the end of this article, of course!
Should interview success still not be coming naturally, it’s perfectly acceptable to ask for feedback from those who conducted the Q&A. Many employers will be happy to give you some pointers that will help you to work on your performance for the next interview.
Practicing your interviewing skills with a friend or family member can help you to perform better under pressure, making those quick quips and conscientious responses second nature over time. Your answers will be more relaxed and you’ll be able to focus on impressing the person in front of you.
Mindset Reset
Getting frustrated with your job hunt will reflect poorly in your interview performance, make no mistake. Even if successes seem hard to come by, it’s important to dust yourself down, and approach each day as a new opportunity, wiping the slate clean after each failed interview.
Every time you don’t get a job, use it as a learning opportunity to figure out what you can do better next time, via feedback, further practice and self evaluation. Maintaining this type of positive mindset will help you to succeed, through both preparation and perseverance. Good luck!
The Bottom Line
Job opportunities in the post-COVID, AI-adopting marketplace are likely to be more competitive than ever before. By enacting the above advice, you can maximise your potential, ready to tackle whatever is to come. Good luck!
A small town of around 3,000 residents straddling the River Brue, Bruton spent centuries going about its business: wool trading in medieval times, silk production in the 18th century, then the gentle rhythms of agricultural life. And in some ways, that remains true; the High Street still has a butcher, a baker, and a hardware shop where they know what size screw you need before you’ve finished describing the problem.
But in 2014, the international art dealers Iwan and Manuela Wirth opened a Somerset outpost of their Hauser & Wirth gallery on the outskirts of town. The art world followed. Then the food world. Then the property developers, the weekend refugees from London, and the Sunday supplement journalists breathlessly declaring Bruton ‘the new Notting Hill’ or ‘the Cotswolds with edge’. Just a couple of months ago, Conde Nast claimed once again that it was ‘the coolest town in the UK’.
The comparison feels slightly off – Bruton has neither the self-conscious polish of Notting Hill nor the honeyed grandeur of the Cotswolds. What it has is something rarer: a genuine tension between the ancient and the contemporary, the local and the global, the pastoral and the avant-garde.
A weekend here reveals both sides of this equation. The countryside remains stubbornly, beautifully Somerset – all rolling hills, muddy footpaths, and views to Glastonbury Tor. But within a few minutes’ walk you can move from a medieval dovecote to world-class contemporary art, from a 17th-century pub to a Michelin-starred tasting menu. It’s this unlikely proximity that makes Bruton worth the journey, even if there is a constant risk of bumping into George Osborne strutting around.
Day 1: Galleries, Gardens & Gastronomy
Morning: The High Street & The Dovecote
Start with coffee at The Old Pharmacy on the High Street. By day, this 500-year-old former apothecary operates as a café and grocery store; by night, it becomes a candlelit wine bar. The coffee is from Roundhill, the pastries from Rye bakery, and the shelves are stocked with provisions from Somerset’s farms – absolute best-in-class sourdough, cheese, cider, charcuterie. It’s run by Merlin Labron-Johnson, who you’ll hear more about later.
From there, wander up the High Street. Rose & Lyons is worth a browse for colourful homewares and independent fashion; the Bruton Museum, housed in the Dovecote Building, offers a small but absorbing collection of local history. Look out for John Steinbeck’s writing desk – the Nobel Prize-winning author spent six months in a cottage outside Bruton in 1959, researching his book on King Arthur. When he and Elaine left, they both independently described it as the happiest time of their lives. If you’re after cheese, detour down to Godminster on Station Road for tastings of their organic, heart-shaped cheddar.
Back on the High Street to Sexey’s Hospital, a handsome row of 17th-century almshouses founded by Hugh Sexey, auditor to Elizabeth I and James I. The Jacobean chapel is still in use. From there, climb the path up to Bruton Dovecote, a roofless 16th-century tower now owned by the National Trust. The structure once housed hundreds of pigeons – medieval takeaways, essentially – but now offers something better: a view across the Somerset Levels towards Glastonbury Tor. On a clear day, it’s a reminder of just how deeply this landscape is layered with history and myth.
Lunch: Hauser & Wirth
Make for Hauser & Wirth Somerset, a pleasant ten-minute walk from the High Street along Dropping Lane. The gallery occupies a collection of Grade II-listed farm buildings at Durslade Farm, sensitively restored by Paris-based architects Laplace. Since opening in 2014, it has welcomed over a million visitors and helped establish Bruton as a genuine cultural destination.
For lunch, you have two options on site. Roth Bar is a site-specific artwork and functioning bar created by Björn and Oddur Roth – the son and grandson of artist Dieter Roth – using salvaged materials. It’s a pleasantly eccentric spot for a cocktail or a light bite.
For something more substantial, Da Costa opened in September 2024, replacing the former Roth Bar & Grill. Named after Iwan Wirth’s grandfather, who emigrated from northern Italy to Switzerland and opened a restaurant there, it serves a menu of Italian-inflected dishes using produce from the farm’s walled garden. The 74-cover dining room has the rustic warmth of a mountain lodge, with a wood-fired grill at its heart.
Afternoon: Oudolf Field & the Radić Pavilion
After lunch, explore the exhibitions, which rotate throughout the year, showcasing both established and emerging artists from the Hauser & Wirth stable. But even if the art’s not your thing, the setting is worth lingering over. Behind the galleries, Oudolf Field – a perennial meadow designed by Dutch landscape architect Piet Oudolf – provides a seamless transition between the gallery buildings and the surrounding countryside. At its summit sits the Radić Pavilion, a boulder-like structure designed by Chilean architect Smiljan Radić, originally unveiled at the Serpentine Gallery in 2014 and installed here in 2015. Entry to the garden is free.
Dinner: Osip
Dinner demands advance planning. Osip is Bruton’s culinary crown jewel: a Michelin-starred restaurant (with a Green Star for sustainability) run by chef Merlin Labron-Johnson in a 300-year-old country inn in nearby Hardway, about a ten-minute drive from the town centre. In late 2024, Osip relocated from its original premises on the high street to this larger site at 25 Kingsettle Hill, complete with four guest bedrooms above the restaurant, and it’s only gone from strength-to-strength since.
There’s no printed menu. The kitchen works from what the team grows on their nearby farm and what’s available from local producers, creating a daily-changing tasting menu that’s an expression of the Somerset landscape at that particular moment. The wine list emphasises organic and biodynamic producers.
Prices reflect the ambition: expect to pay £150 for the tasting menu or £195 for the signature menu, with wine pairings from £95. At lunch (Thursday to Sunday), a lighter menu is available at £95. Book well ahead – tables are released 120 days in advance and disappear quickly.
Fuel up at At The Chapel (you may well have stayed here, of course) before you set off – the bakery produces some of the best pastries in the West Country, and the full English is done with care and grace. We’re big fans of the signature muffin with Cumberland sausage, streaky bacon, a runny egg, and tangy cider-onion relish.
Your second morning is for walking. The footpaths around Bruton are well-maintained and well-signposted, threading through farmland, woodland, and the kind of pastoral countryside that makes you understand why Steinbeck was so happy here.
Should the paradox of footpath-choice have got you stuck, the best option is to walk to The Three Horseshoes in Batcombe for lunch. Take the route via Greenscombe and Spargrove (Route B on the Bruton Town Council walking maps, available online), which is about four miles and takes around 90 minutes. The path climbs through beautiful countryside at Greenscombe before dropping to Spargrove, where you join the River Alham for a gentle meander through Batcombe Bottom – one of the prettiest stretches of walking in the area.
Avoid the more direct route via Hedgestocks, which involves walking along the B3081: narrow, winding, and not safe for pedestrians.
Head chef Nye Smith (formerly of Six Portland Road) runs the kitchen day-to-day. The style is hearty, unfussy British cooking: think devilled kidneys on toast, chicken and ham pie, and puddings that require a post-lunch nap. The Michelin Guide has taken note, as have we in our guide on where to eat in Bruton.
But don’t let those recommendations worry you into thinking this is fancy fine dining. There’s a proper locals’ bar with real ales and local cider, a dining room with flagstone floors and an inglenook fireplace, and a walled garden designed by Libby Russell. Five beautifully appointed bedrooms upstairs make it a destination in its own right.
Afternoon: Back To Bruton & A Final Glass Of Wine
After lunch, walk back to Bruton via Moor Lane (Route D), which passes through lovely woodland and feels like stepping back a century. Or, if your legs are protesting, arrange a taxi back.
Spend your final hours at the aforementioned At the Chapel, the restaurant and hotel that helped put Bruton on the map when it opened in 2008. The building is a 17th-century Grade II-listed structure on the High Street, incorporating an early 19th-century congregational chapel – hence the dramatic lancet windows that flood the dining room with light.
It’s now owned by Stay Original Company, a West Country hotel group, but the formula remains unchanged: wood-fired sourdough pizzas, seasonal small plates, an artisan bakery producing, and a thoughtfully curated wine shop focusing on organic and biodynamic producers.
Order a bottle of something interesting from the wine store, take it to the south-facing terrace, and watch the afternoon light move across Bruton’s rooftops towards the Dovecote on the hill. It’s a fitting way to end a weekend in a town that has somehow managed to embrace the contemporary without losing sight of the timeless.
Where To Stay
At the Chapel has ten individually designed rooms above the restaurant, ranging from cosy lofts tucked into the eaves to the spacious Dovecote Suite with views to the 16th-century tower. Marble bathrooms, comfortable beds, and freshly baked croissants delivered to your door each morning. Check the website for current rates.
The Three Horseshoes in Batcombe offers five sumptuous bedrooms with freestanding bathtubs, rain showers, and antique furniture. It’s a ten-minute drive from Bruton but worth it for the food and the setting – and you can walk back to Bruton the next morning. Check the website for current rates.
The Rooms at Osip offer four beautifully appointed bedrooms above the restaurant, completing the vision of a holistic destination. If you can get a table for dinner and a room for the night, it’s the ultimate Bruton experience.
How To Get There
By train: Bruton has its own station on the Heart of Wessex line. Direct trains from London Waterloo take around 2 hours 40 minutes. Alternatively, take the faster service from London Paddington to Castle Cary (1 hour 30 minutes) and taxi the final four miles. The fastest trains to Bruton itself can take as little as 1 hour 40 minutes with a change.
By car: Bruton is about 2 hours 30 minutes from London via the M3 and A303. Be warned that the A303 around Stonehenge is notorious for weekend traffic – leave early or late to avoid the worst of it.
The Bottom Line
Bruton offers something increasingly rare in England: world-class art and food in a setting that remains genuinely, unpretentiously rural. You could argue that the arrival of Hauser & Wirth and the London food crowd has changed the town irrevocably – and in some ways it has. Property prices have risen, second homes proliferate, and the High Street has more than its fair share of lifestyle boutiques. But spend a weekend here and you’ll find that the essential character of the place – its ancient churches, its muddy footpaths, its views to Glastonbury – remains stubbornly intact. Forty-eight hours is just enough time to scratch the surface.
With Arctic air gripping the UK at the start of 2026 and temperatures plunging below zero, a cruise to one of Europe’s coldest corners might seem like a hard sell. But hear us out: Norway offers over 55,000 islands scattered along nearly 25,000km of coastline, exquisite seafood, heaps of majestic, mysterious history, and, of course, the Northern Lights. It’s no wonder that sailing and cruise holidays to the country’s iconic fjords have never been more popular.
Indeed, the Norwegian fjords are a marvel of nature, an unforgettable sight of breathtaking beauty and grandeur. Whilst a driving holiday to the country certainly brings with it some gorgeous vistas, there really is no better way to enjoy the fjords than by boat.Sailing along this intricate network of cliff-bordered waterways reveals quietly flowing waters, towering snow-capped mountains, and charming coastal towns.
If you’re looking for some help in shaping your itinerary, then you’ve come to the right place; here are 9 essential places to visit on a Norwegian fjord cruise.
Bergen
Let’s put things plainly to avoid any confusion on your itinerary; just about all cruises from the UK to the Norwegian fjords begin or end in Bergen, widely celebrated for its distinctive charm and bewitching allure. Known as the Gateway to the Fjords, Bergen’s bustling waterfront, colourful wooden houses, and surrounding mountains set the scene for an unforgettable adventure. The harbour is particularly picturesque, framed by traditional buildings with triangular tops in a myriad of colours; you’ll want your camera working for this one.
A former European City of Culture and Norway’s second city, be sure to explore the UNESCO World Heritage site, Bryggen, a historic wharf teeming with tradition.
Ålesund
Venture into Ålesund, a city known for its distinctive Art Nouveau architecture, born from the ashes of a great fire in 1904. This city is your key to exploring the legendary Geirangerfjord, a UNESCO World Heritage site marked by snow-capped peaks, crashing waterfalls, and lush, green valleys. It’s truly a spectacle to behold.
Trondheim
Trondheim, Norway’s ancient capital, pairs beautiful 17th-century architecture with a vibrant, youthful energy. Amidst the charming streets and squares, you’ll find the magnificent Nidaros Cathedral – a pinnacle of Gothic design that took over two hundred years to construct and draws visitors from around the globe.
But that’s not all; the city is dotted with museums, like the National Museum of Decorative Arts and the Trondheim Science Museum, which offer intriguing insights into Norwegian culture and history.
Make sure you hang out in Bakklandet while you’re here, The historic neighbourhood is a feast for both the eyes and the taste buds. With its cobbled streets, colourful wooden houses, and acclaimed restaurants, it’s as charming as it comes.
Back in the city proper, if you find yourself hungry then check out the Michelin-starred FAGN or its more affordable sister restaurant nextdoor, FAGN-Bistro. Both are gorgeous expressions of Norwegian hyper-seasonality, and are not to be missed. The ‘grandma’s brown blue cheese’ dish, in particular, is one of the best things we’ve ever eaten!
For those who’ve had enough of city slicking, fear not; being located on the Trondheim Fjord, visitors can easily embark on a fjord safari from here, experiencing breathtaking views and potentially seeing seals, porpoises, and sea eagles.
Bodø
Onwards to Bodø, the gateway to the Lofoten Islands, an Arctic paradise known for its rugged landscapes, majestic mountains, and distinct red fishing huts. The town of Bodø itself offers awe-inspiring natural beauty and scenic hiking trails.
To truly make the most of the town’s proximity to such spectacular scenery, start by experiencing Bodø on foot. The city centre, harbour, and Bodøsjøen friluft areas provide stunning views and are easily accessible for a leisurely stroll. For keen ornithologists or those interested in wildlife, the city’s coastal location is perfect for bird watching. A trip to the island of Røst will reveal a remarkable colony of seabirds. You can also take a ferry to Kjerringøy, an old trading post offering not only well-preserved buildings but also beautiful natural vistas.
Further embracing the natural opportunities in Bodø, nothing compares to the dazzling display of the Northern Lights, visible from the city between September and March. For active visitors, hiring a bike to explore the Salten region is a fantastic way to encounter the landscape at your own pace, with routes suitable for a wide range of abilities.
For a more challenging outdoor experience, Bodø boasts multiple hiking trails for all levels, with the Børvasstindan mountain range, Keiservarden, and the Seven Sisters mountains being among the most popular.
Before you leave, make sure to witness the world’s strongest tidal currents at Saltstraumen. Whether from the shore or on a boat ride, the whirlpools are a sight to behold. Another option to marvel at Norwegian scenery is to take a fjord cruise or a drive along the coastal route, Kystriksveien, providing panoramic views of the fjords and coastal landscapes.
To combine natural beauty with a touch of local history, a visit to the outdoor museum Bodøsjøen Friluftsmuseum comes highly recommended. Above all, Bodø’s beauty is best savoured slowly, so take the time to stop, look around, and soak up the serene environment.
Tromsø
Dubbed the ‘Paris of the North,’ Tromsø is an enchanting blend of culture, history, and Arctic adventures. Here, you’ve got a front-row seat to the spectacular natural phenomenon of the Northern Lights, and a chance to experience the rich Sami culture.
Deep in the Arctic Circle and known fondly as the ‘Gateway to the Arctic’, it’s especially revered for its midnight sun between May 18th and July 26th. Tromso is also a busy location for festivals: films, music, and cultural festivals take place throughout the year. Some of the festivals you’ll be wanting to time your visit to attend include:
Tromsø International Film Festival
Taking place each January, this is an essential event for film enthusiasts. The festival tends to focus on films from Nordic and North European countries. It’s known for its outdoor cinema where attendees can watch films under the Northern Lights.
Tromsø Sami Week
In February, Tromsø pays tribute to its indigenous Sami roots with a week-long series of events. This includes reindeer racing, cultural exhibits, music performances, and a vibrant market selling traditional Sami crafts and culinary delights.
Bukta Tromsø Open Air Festival
Come July, the Bukta Festival brings rock music to the shores of Tromsø. This open-air festival has seen both national and international rock bands play against the stunning backdrop of the Tromsø Sound.
Tromsø International Snow Festival
In the chilly month of January, teams from around the world gather in Tromsø to compete in this large snow sculpture competition —creating stunning displays that illuminate the city.
Tromsø Jazz Festival
In August, Tromsø hosts a Jazz Festival featuring international artists with a focus on Northern Norwegian jazz talent. The festival is held at various venues throughout the city, including the famed Mack Brewery.
The city is believed to have been founded during the 9th century, but archaeological excavations show that the region has been inhabited for at least 10,000 years. Yep, Tromso is a very special place indeed.
Hammerfest
Venture even further north to Hammerfest, considered the world’s northernmost city. Sounding more like a heavy metal weekender than a city, this lively, poignant place offers mesmerising seascapes and a chance to immerse oneself fully in Norway’s proud history and vibrant culture.
One of the must-visit landmarks here is the Royal and Ancient Polar Bear Society, a museum that provides enlightening details about the town’s hunting past and its relationship with the Arctic environment and its animals. For the outdoorsy types, hiking the two-hour trail to Mount Salen offers a breathtaking view of the city, the sea, and the surrounding landscapes. There’s also the striking Church of Hammerfest, a modernist masterpiece and spiritual haven for visitors seeking tranquillity.
No trip to Hammerfest would be complete without experiencing the phenomenon of the Midnight Sun. This natural spectacle, occurring from May until late July, lights up the sky with a beautiful, warm glow 24/7, allowing tourists to enjoy daytime activities at any hour.
For history enthusiasts, the UNESCO listed Meridian Column memorial commemorates the first official measurement of the Earth’s size. Lastly, remember to wander around the town, soaking up the atmosphere and enjoying the wonderful local cuisine, perhaps trying some fresh Arctic seafood, a local specialty.
Svalbard
For genuine adventurers, the remote terrain of the Svalbard archipelago beckons. Located in the Arctic Ocean, it’s a wild and majestic setting home to polar bears, reindeer and Arctic foxes.
The best way to explore Svalbard is through guided tours, as they not only assure safety but also provide valuable insights about this remarkable region. You could embark on a boat tour to observe the dramatic glaciers, icebergs and perhaps spot some native wildlife like polar bears, walruses, and Arctic foxes. For an immersive wildlife experience, a dog-sledding expedition offers an unforgettable ride across the snow-laden landscapes.
Remember to visit the small yet vibrant town of Longyearbyen, which hosts an array of colourful wooden houses, the Svalbard Museum and a local brewery. During the winter months, the Northern Lights can provide a stunning aerial display, which can be viewed by a snowmobile tour or a night in an aurora camp.
Nordkapp (North Cape)
Journey to the ends of the earth at Nordkapp, Europe’s northernmost accessible point. Arriving by boat, you’ll be treated to the awe-inspiring sight of a steep cliff that juts out dramatically over the turbulent waters below.
Kirkenes
Finally, head to Kirkenes, a quaint town near the Russian border. Here, you can embark on a king crab safari, explore the remarkable Snow Hotel, or witness the ethereal beauty of the Northern Lights. What a way to end your cruise of Norway’s fjords.
The Bottom Line
There is a sense of magic that permeates the air in Norway, with its staggeringly beautiful fjords and vibrant coastal towns. The best way to experience these stunning landscapes is without doubt via boat, and if you carry this guide with you while you’re cruising, the true majesty of the Norwegian fjords will reveal themselves. Bon Voyage!
Twelve bottles for midnight seemed fitting, and the countdown to that moment calls for something special: a liquid that rises to the occasion and makes the final hours of the year feel as significant as they ought to. Whether you’re hosting a full-scale party, settling in for a quiet evening for two, or simply determined to enter the new year with something worth staying awake for, these bottles deliver.
New Year’s Eve demands more than a half-hearted bottle of supermarket fizz grabbed at 4pm on the 31st – though we’ve included one excellent supermarket option for those whose December credit card statements have induced mild panic.
The selection covers every phase of the evening and every type of drinker. There’s Nigerian palm wine for those who want to toast alongside Kiribati (the first place on Earth to see in the new year), English sparkling that gives champagne a run for its money, an Italian aperitivo that Venetians have been drinking since 1920, and a Somerset perry for anyone who’s had quite enough of wine, thank you. We’ve got options for the designated driver, the friend who peaked at 10pm, and the one who’ll still be going strong when everyone else is hunting for an Uber.
Nkulenu Nigerian Palm Wine
Ideal for being first to toast the new year…
We’re starting off our list with a bit of a leftfield entry…
The very first place on Earth to welcome the new year is the island nation of Kiribati, where the traditional celebratory drink is karewe, a beverage made from the sap of the coconut palm. Left to ferment, karewe becomes a gently alcoholic palm wine with a sweet, yeasty character that Pacific Islanders have been enjoying for centuries. The technique of tapping coconut palms for their sap is an ancient one, practiced across tropical regions from Southeast Asia to West Africa.
While authentic Kiribati karewe remains elusive in the UK, Nkulenu Nigerian Palm Wine offers a chance to experience this category of drink. Crafted from the sap of palmyra, date and coconut palms, it delivers that distinctive palm wine character: milky white in appearance, slightly effervescent, with flavours that hover between tangy and sweet. The fermentation creates a drink that sits somewhere around 4% ABV, making it surprisingly sessionable for something so unusual.
Pouring a glass as the clock approaches midnight offers a nod to the very first celebrations happening 13 hours ahead in the Pacific. You could, of course, raise your glass at 11am UK time to toast in sync with Kiribati, though that might raise a few eyebrows over brunch. Regardless, it’s a conversation starter, certainly, and a reminder that bottle-popping New Year traditions around the world extend far beyond champagne.
If you’re going to pop a magnum at midnight, it might as well be the best champagne in the world. That’s not marketing hyperbole: the Piper-Heidsieck 2014 Vintage Magnum was crowned Supreme World Champion at the 2025 Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships, beating over a thousand sparkling wines from 23 countries to claim the top spot. It’s only the fifth champagne house ever to receive the ultimate accolade in the competition’s 12-year history.
This is Piper-Heidsieck’s first vintage magnum release since the 1980s, which makes it something of an event in itself. A blend of 55% Pinot Noir and 45% Chardonnay from 19 villages (87% of which are Grands and Premiers Crus), it spent five years on the lees before disgorgement. The nose delivers orange blossom, apricot and brioche with hints of toasted almond, while the palate offers tangerine, lime zest and a whisper of liquorice. It’s silky, it’s radiant, and it knows exactly what it’s doing.
The magnum format isn’t just about spectacle (though arriving at a party with 1.5 litres of world-champion champagne certainly makes an entrance). Larger bottles age more gracefully, developing greater complexity while maintaining freshness. That’s good news for anyone not drinking this one all at in one sitting.
If you’re going to toast the new year with bubbles, there’s a strong case for making them English ones. Nyetimber has spent decades proving that the South Downs can produce sparkling wine every bit as complex and celebratory as anything from Champagne, and the Classic Cuvée remains their flagship for good reason. A blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier from vineyards in Sussex, Hampshire and Kent, it’s made using the traditional method and aged on the lees for a minimum of three years.
The result is a pale gold wine with delicate bubbles and an enticing nose of brioche, fresh apples and hints of toast. On the palate, there’s bright acidity balanced by a creamy texture, with honeyed notes and a touch of chalky minerality that speaks to the terroir. It’s consistently served at Wimbledon and various royal occasions, so feels fitting for the most significant toast of the year, too.
For New Year’s Eve specifically, there’s something satisfying about ringing in a new chapter with something homegrown. The quality-to-price ratio currently outperforms most champagne at the same level, making this an intelligent splurge rather than a reckless one.
Ideal if the Christmas period has emptied your wallet…
December has a way of draining bank accounts, and there’s no shame in seeking value when you’re bracing for your next statement. The good news is that Aldi’s Valdobbiadene Prosecco punches well above its price point. This isn’t your standard supermarket fizz: the DOCG classification (the highest tier in Italian wine law) means it comes from the steep hillside vineyards of the Valdobbiadene region, where Glera grapes have been cultivated for generations.
In the glass, expect crunchy green apple, honeysuckle and white peach, with a light, creamy quality and delicate floral touches. The Good Housekeeping Institute has given it their seal of approval, calling it ‘dangerously drinkable’. Fine bubbles and bright acidity keep things fresh, making it an ideal crowd-pleaser when you’re catering for numbers.
For a New Year’s Eve flourish, rim your glasses with popping candy or edible glitter before pouring. The popping candy creates a crackling ‘fireworks’ sensation as you sip, which feels entirely appropriate for the occasion. It’s a party trick that costs pennies and makes an £8 bottle feel considerably more theatrical.
Aldi Prosecco Spumante DOCG Valdobbiadene, £7.99, at aldi.co.uk
Select Aperitivo
Ideal for turning that prosecco into something more interesting…
The Aperol Spritz has conquered the world, but in Venice they’ll tell you the original was made with something else entirely. Select Aperitivo was created in 1920 by the Pilla brothers in the Castello district, a year after Aperol appeared in nearby Padua. For over a century, it’s remained the Venetian choice – the deep red bottle you’ll see lined up behind the bar in every bacaro from San Marco to Cannaregio.
Made with 30 botanicals including juniper berries and rhubarb root, Select sits somewhere between Aperol and Campari – more bitter and complex than the former, softer and fruitier than the latter. There’s orange zest and red berry on the nose, with a bittersweet finish that makes it far more interesting than the ubiquitous orange option. The classic serve is three parts prosecco, two parts Select, a splash of soda, ice, and – crucially – a fat green olive rather than an orange slice.
For a New Year’s Eve party, a batch of Select Spritzes is hard to beat: crowd-pleasing, easy to make in volume, and low enough in alcohol that guests can enjoy several without missing the countdown. If you’ve bought the Aldi prosecco above, this is precisely what to do with it.
Let’s be honest: staying up until midnight gets harder every year. The sofa starts whispering sweet nothings around 10pm, and by 11 you’re wondering if anyone would really notice if you just closed your eyes for a moment. Enter the espresso martini, that glorious contradiction of a drink that says ‘I’m sophisticated’ and ‘I refuse to miss the countdown’ in equal measure.
If you’re lagging too much to make your cocktails from scratch, think pre-batch. Tails has done the hard work for you with their already-mixed version of this classic, made with 42BELOW vodka from New Zealand and premium espresso coffee. The quality is genuinely impressive for something that comes ready to pour. Just add ice, shake vigorously for that signature frothy top, and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with three coffee beans if you’re feeling traditional (they represent health, wealth and happiness, apparently).
The caffeine hit is real, so this isn’t the drink for those planning an early night. But for anyone determined to see in the new year with eyes wide open and glass in hand, it’s the perfect solution. No faffing with espresso machines at 11:45pm, no hunting for coffee liqueur at the back of the drinks cabinet. Just shake, pour, and power through to the fireworks.
IDEAL Tip: Serve with a hazelnut and cocoa wafer roll perched across the rim. It jazzes up a shop bought espresso martini beautifully, and gives you that extra sugar hit to keep you going until midnight. Use it as a straw if you’re feeling decadent, but fair warning; it’ll quickly go soggy. The perfect excuse to have another, perhaps?
Tails Espresso Martini, £12.50, available at supermarkets and Amazon
REAL Royal Flush Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Tea
Ideal if you’ve indulged too much over Christmas…
After a fortnight of mulled wine, champagne toasts and one too many sherries at the neighbours’, there’s something to be said for greeting the new year with a clear head. The challenge has always been finding something that feels celebratory rather than penitential. REAL has solved that problem rather elegantly.
Made at their Fermentery on the Waddesdon Estate in Buckinghamshire, Royal Flush uses first flush Darjeeling tea, known as the ‘Queen of Teas’, fermented over several weeks to develop genuine complexity. The result is fragrant and fresh on the nose with notes of grape and stone fruits, while the palate delivers white peach, rhubarb and a touch of blackcurrant. There’s a delicate acidity that mirrors sparkling wine and a long, soft finish that rewards proper glassware.
Multi-award winning and now served by sommeliers at some of the UK’s most prestigious restaurants, this is non-alcoholic drinking for grown-ups. Low in calories and sugar, with no preservatives or additives, it lets you raise a proper toast at midnight without adding to the accumulative December damage.
REAL Royal Flush Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Tea, from £8, at Waitrose, Ocado and Sainsbury’s
Wilding November Perry 2021
Ideal if you still want a drink, but not too hard…
Table ciders and perries have been building momentum over the past year, cropping up on wine lists and in bottle shops with increasing regularity. It’s a trend that shows no sign of slowing into 2026, and for good reason: these are drinks that offer the ceremony of wine without the headiness. Perry typically sits around 5–8% ABV compared to champagne’s 12%, making it ideal when you want something sparkling and sociable but don’t fancy writing off the rest of your evening. Or, indeed, the next day…
Wilding’s November Perry captures the richer side of the category. Picked and pressed at the tail end of October into November, it’s a blend of late-ripening varieties – Claret, Oldfield, Blakeney Red, Hellens Green, New Meadow, Pine and Taynton Squash – from the Perry House Farm orchard in Chew Stoke. Where early-season perries tend toward lightness, this has more body and depth: ripe pear, gentle tannins, and a sweetness that feels earned rather than cloying.
Sam and Beccy Leach run Wilding from their base in Chew Magna, Somerset, where they make cider and perry with an uncompromising natural approach: hand-picked fruit from organic orchards, wild yeast fermentation, no sulphites or additives. The quality has rocketed in recent years, and this is a producer worth watching.
Ideal if you want your new year to go off with a bang…
The soju bomb has become something of a ritual in Korean drinking culture, and there’s no better moment to import that energy than midnight on New Year’s Eve. The premise is simple: drop a shot glass of soju into a glass of beer and down the lot. The execution, ideally, involves a certain amount of theatre and a crowd willing to cheer. And that’s what NYE is all about, don’t you think?
Jinro’s flavoured soju range has made the spirit far more accessible to those who find traditional soju a touch austere. The Peach variant is particularly popular, with its soft fruit sweetness taking the edge off the 13% ABV, though Strawberry, Grapefruit and Plum all have their devotees. At 350ml per bottle, they’re sized for sharing across a few rounds.
While Korean beer can be tricky to track down in the UK, Japanese and Chinese lagers offer that clean, crisp profile that integrates well with the soju. Asahi Super Dry, Sapporo and Tsingtao are all widely available and won’t fight the fruit flavours. Just make sure everyone’s ready before you drop.
Jinro Soju Peach 350ml, from £5, widely available at Asian supermarkets and major retailers
Pantalones Organic Tequila Blanco
Ideal for keeping the party going…
Speaking of Korea, as Rosé and Bruno Mars put it in APT – a song we couldn’t get out of our head this year – “sleep tomorrow, but tonight, go crazy”.
Every party reaches a fork in the road around 1am. One path leads to coats, sensible goodbyes and a taxi. The other involves someone producing a bottle of tequila and the collective decision that sleep is for January (the second). If you’re committed to the latter philosophy, you might as well do it with something sophisticated rather than the dusty bottle of José Cuervo that’s all frost bitten at the back of someone’s freezer. Enter Pantalones Organic Tequila Blanco.
The story behind this one is better than most. Matthew McConaughey and wife Camila founded Pantalones in 2023, inspired by the margaritas they shared on the night they met. ‘Pantalones’ is Spanish for pants, and also slang for guts, which captures the brand’s philosophy of not taking things too seriously. The name alone prompts questions at parties.
The liquid inside is entirely serious, however. Made from 100% Blue Weber agave grown by fourth-generation farmers who have been caring for over 7,000 acres since the 1920s, this is certified organic, gluten-free and distilled in traditional copper pot stills. On the nose, expect cooked and raw agave alongside caramel, lime and vanilla. The palate delivers a smooth, silky experience with gentle sweetness and a clean finish that invites another sip rather than wincing.
Now available at Waitrose across the UK, it works brilliantly in a New Year’s Eve margarita or sipped neat as to keep the party going.
There’s a particular window on New Year’s Eve, somewhere between the champagne toasts and the taxi home, when the mind turns to what lies ahead. This is whisky’s moment. A glass of something amber and contemplative invites the sort of quiet reflection that fizz simply doesn’t allow – though whether you’re making resolutions or mentally filing them under ‘nice idea, won’t happen’ is between you and your tumbler.
The first single malt ever distilled in the Cotswolds deserves attention from anyone who assumes English whisky can’t compete with the Scots. Founded in 2014 by former financier Dan Szor, Cotswolds Distillery has built its reputation on using 100% locally grown, traditionally floor-malted barley and an innovative approach to cask management.
The Signature expression is matured in a combination of STR (shaved, toasted and re-charred) ex-red wine barriques and first-fill ex-bourbon casks in a 70/30 split, then married for 12 weeks before bottling at 46%. On the nose, honey and red fruits emerge alongside hints of treacle. The palate is luscious and silky, delivering marmalade on toast, vanilla custard and gentle cinnamon spice, finishing with a warming oakiness and a peppery tingle.
Non-chill filtered and with no colour additives, this is whisky made with integrity by people who clearly care about the result. It’s the sort of thing to pour for that quiet moment after midnight, when the fireworks have stopped and the year ahead feels full of possibility.
Every party needs someone to bring out The Bottle. The one that says, gently but firmly, that the evening has reached its natural conclusion. In Italy, that bottle is invariably an amaro – and Amaro Montenegro has been performing this dignified duty since 1885.
Created in Bologna by Stanislao Cobianchi, a herbalist who abandoned a career in the church to travel the world collecting botanicals, it was originally called Elisir Lungavita before being renamed in honour of Princess Elena of Montenegro upon her marriage to the future King of Italy. The poet Gabriele D’Annunzio called it ‘the liqueur of virtues’, which feels about right for something designed to draw a line under proceedings with a certain grace.
The recipe calls for 40 botanicals including bitter and sweet orange, cloves, cinnamon and coriander, extracted through boiling, maceration and distillation before a final secret ingredient called Il Premio – a micro-distillation so potent that just one litre is needed for every 15,000 litres of finished amaro. The result sits somewhere between sweet and bitter, with notes of orange peel, vanilla and gentle herbal warmth.
Italians swear it settles the stomach after a heavy meal – and after a New Year’s Eve of canapés, midnight champagne and whatever else you’ve been putting away, that’s no small promise. Pour small measures into whatever glasses are still standing, raise a toast to the year that was, and accept that it’s time to find your coat.
New Year’s Eve is the one night of the year when excess feels justified. These bottles understand the assignment: some are spectacular to look at, some are exceptional to drink, and the best are both. Whether you’re counting down to midnight with champagne flutes raised or settling into the first hours of January with something amber and contemplative, there’s no reason to compromise. The year ahead will have plenty of ordinary evenings. This isn’t one of them.
