Italy’s most extraordinary wedding venues exist in regions where mass tourism hasn’t yet transformed the landscape. The recent controversy surrounding Jeff Bezos’s lavish Venice wedding, which sparked widespread protests from locals feeling their city was being exploited as a billionaire’s playground, highlighted the growing tensions around overtourism in Italy’s most famous destinations.
After speaking with the experts at infinity-weddingsandevents.com, who’ve spent nearly two decades cultivating relationships with venues across the country’s lesser-known regions, we’ve uncovered destinations that offer something genuinely different. These celebrations feel genuinely connected to their surroundings rather than designed for international markets.
Procida: Italy’s Most Photogenic Island
The smallest inhabited island in the Bay of Naples, Procida has maintained its authentic fishing village character whilst neighbouring Capri and Ischia transformed into tourist destinations. The island’s compact size, just four square kilometres, means every venue offers sea views, yet its relative isolation has preserved a pace of life that disappeared elsewhere decades ago.
Local families still paint their houses in traditional pastel shades, fishermen depart at dawn in wooden boats their grandfathers built, and restaurants serve whatever the morning’s catch provides. This isn’t calculated charm but genuine island life that happens to create extraordinary wedding backdrops.
Wedding venues here centre around the harbour areas where colourful houses cascade down to crystalline waters. Waterfront restaurants transform their terraces into exclusive celebration spaces, serving sea urchin pasta, locally-caught fish, and wines from Campanian vineyards. The island’s size creates natural intimacy for celebrations, with guests staying in converted fishermen’s houses and traditional island accommodation.
Ferry transfers from Naples add an element of adventure that guests find memorable rather than inconvenient. The island’s limited accommodation naturally caps guest numbers, creating weddings that feel more like extended family gatherings than formal events.
Emilia-Romagna: Where Culinary Tradition Becomes Celebration
Often called Italy’s gastronomic heartland, Emilia-Romagna produces the country’s most celebrated ingredients: Parmigiano-Reggiano, prosciutto di Parma, traditional balsamic vinegar, and handmade pasta traditions passed down through generations. This region approaches food with a reverence that transforms wedding celebrations into culinary journeys. Here, local families have turned their historic properties, traditional vinegar houses, and working farms into venues where the wedding feast becomes as significant as the ceremony itself.
The landscape of rolling plains and medieval towns provides venues where couples can incorporate traditional food production into their celebrations. Acetaia producers offer ceremonies amongst centuries-old balsamic vinegar barrels, complete with tastings that unfold like wine ceremonies. Working farms arrange truffle hunting expeditions for wedding parties, pasta-making workshops led by local nonnas, and wine tastings in ancient cellars.
These experiences require substantial planning but create celebrations where guests participate in traditions rather than simply observing them. The region’s central location makes it accessible from major Italian cities whilst maintaining its agricultural character and artisanal focus.
The Dolomites: Alpine Drama Meets Italian Sophistication
The Dolomites represent a unique convergence of Alpine grandeur and Italian refinement, where German-speaking communities have maintained distinct cultural traditions within Italy’s borders.
This UNESCO World Heritage region offers dramatic mountain landscapes that change colour throughout the day, from pale pink dawn light to deep purple sunset shadows. The area’s complex history, shifting between Austrian and Italian control, created a unique cultural blend reflected in architecture, cuisine, and wedding traditions that incorporate both Alpine and Mediterranean elements.
Mountain venues here range from restored medieval castles perched on rocky outcrops to contemporary luxury properties designed to complement rather than compete with the landscape. The region’s exceptional wine production at high altitude creates opportunities for vineyard ceremonies with mountain backdrops, whilst luxury mountain lodges offer intimate celebrations centred around roaring fires and panoramic terraces.
Seasonal variations dramatically alter the celebration options. Summer provides access to mountain huts reached only by cable car, whilst winter celebrations embrace cosy luxury with snow-covered peaks providing theatrical backdrops for indoor ceremonies.
Marche: Italy’s Undiscovered Renaissance
Le Marche delivers the renaissance architecture, rolling countryside, and artistic heritage that made Tuscany famous, yet remains largely overlooked by international visitors.
This region, stretching from the Apennine Mountains to the Adriatic coast, harbours medieval hilltop towns where time appears suspended and artisan traditions continue uninterrupted. Urbino, birthplace of Raphael, anchors a region where renaissance palaces have been converted into exclusive wedding venues without losing their authentic character.
The landscape provides extraordinary variety within short distances: vineyard ceremonies overlooking gentle hills, coastal celebrations on clifftop terraces, and mountain venues offering both intimacy and grandeur. Local artisan traditions, from pottery to textile weaving, can be incorporated into wedding celebrations through workshops and demonstrations that connect guests to the region’s cultural heritage.
Working vineyards throughout the region offer harvest-time weddings where couples and guests participate in traditional grape picking, whilst restored farmhouses provide venues where wedding parties can stay together across multiple properties. The region’s excellent local wines, often unknown beyond Italy’s borders, provide opportunities for unique wine pairings unavailable elsewhere.
Sardinia’s southern and western coasts remain largely undeveloped, offering pristine beaches and crystal waters rivalling any Caribbean destination. Unlike the island’s famous Costa Smeralda, these areas maintain their wild character, with venues situated amongst ancient olive groves, overlooking empty beaches, or carved into clifftop positions that feel entirely private. The island’s unique culture, neither entirely Italian nor Mediterranean, creates celebration opportunities that incorporate traditional Sardinian music, dance, and cuisine distinct from mainland Italian traditions.
Beach venues here provide the unusual (and wholly welcome) combination of luxury facilities with unspoiled surroundings. Organic farms throughout the region have developed accommodation and celebration spaces where wedding feasts feature ingredients grown on the property, seafood caught that morning, and traditional Sardinian specialties prepared according to recipes passed through generations.
The island’s interior mountains offer equally dramatic venues where ancient stone settlements provide backdrops for ceremonies amongst shepherd’s huts and prehistoric ruins. These locations require careful planning but reward couples with celebrations that feel genuinely removed from contemporary life whilst maintaining all necessary luxury amenities.
Basilicata: Italy’s Hidden Mountain Kingdom
Basilicata, tucked between Puglia and Calabria, remains one of Italy’s least visited regions despite containing some of the country’s most extraordinary landscapes. The region’s dramatic terrain ranges from the otherworldly rock formations of Matera to pristine mountain forests and secret coastal stretches along both the Tyrrhenian and Ionian seas. This dramatic geography creates wedding venues of unusual character, from cave hotels carved into ancient rock to mountain lodges overlooking vast wilderness areas.
Matera’s ancient cave dwellings, recently transformed into luxury accommodation, provide wedding venues unlike anywhere else in Europe. These Sassi districts offer ceremonies in spaces where people have lived continuously for thousands of years, creating celebrations that feel connected to deep history whilst incorporating contemporary luxury. The surrounding landscape of rolling hills dotted with ancient churches provides endless photography opportunities across terrain that changes dramatically with the seasons.
Mountain venues throughout the region offer extraordinary privacy and natural beauty, with many properties accessible only by private transport, creating inherently exclusive celebrations. Local cuisine reflects the region’s isolated character, featuring ingredients and preparations unknown elsewhere in Italy.
Le Cinque Terre’s Quieter Neighbour: Liguria’s Eastern Coast
Beyond the famous Cinque Terre villages, Liguria’s eastern coastline harbours equally spectacular scenery with significantly fewer crowds. This stretch of coast, reaching towards Tuscany, features dramatic cliffs, hidden coves, and terraced hillsides where local families have cultivated olives and grapes for centuries. Fishing villages here maintain their working character whilst offering wedding venues that capture the region’s maritime heritage and dramatic coastal setting.
Clifftop venues provide panoramic sea views whilst maintaining connection to local traditions through partnerships with fishing cooperatives and local farms. Wedding celebrations often incorporate boat excursions along the coast, visits to working olive mills, and tastings of the region’s distinctive wines produced on impossibly steep terraced vineyards. There is, of course, fantastic local pasta.
The region’s excellent transport connections to major Italian cities make it accessible for guests whilst preserving its authentic character. Venues range from restored medieval towers perched on cliff edges to contemporary properties designed to showcase rather than compete with the spectacular natural setting.
The Bottom Line
These destinations reward couples seeking celebrations rooted in genuine local culture rather than international wedding formulas. Each region offers distinct advantages: Procida’s island intimacy, Emilia-Romagna’s culinary theatre, the Dolomites’ mountain drama, Marche’s renaissance elegance, Sardinia’s wilderness luxury, Basilicata’s ancient mystique, and Liguria’s coastal authenticity.
New Year’s resolutions at the ready, people; you only have a four months to prepare! With minds preoccupied with saving money during a cost of living crisis, geopolitical tensions, national obsessions, and personal growth (or right now, personal survival), it feels like the world’s most pressing concern has been put on the back burner.
But it’s still there, burning. Despite hopes that a global pandemic would have world leaders re-evaluating our relationship with the planet and perhaps even prompting a steelier focus on reversing decades of environmental damage, it seems like the pandemic didn’t solve climate change, after all.
That said, you can still make a difference to the planet on a personal level, with these 9 IDEAL ways to be greener in your daily life in 2026.
Wash Clothes On A Cold Setting
One of the biggest uses of energy in the home is the washing machine, especially for large households when it seems like the washing of muddy trouser knees and turmeric-stained white T-shirts is on a never-ending cycle.
Interestingly, a whopping 80-90% of washing machine energy usage goes into heating the water for your wash. You will, of course, want to always have clean clothes available, which is why you should look to wash on a cold setting. You might even prolong your clothes’ life in the process, a double whammy for the environment since fast fashion is also a major contributor to climate change.
Choose Reusable Over Disposable
In our convenience-driven world, single-use items have become the default choice for many daily activities – from coffee cups and water bottles to shopping bags and food containers. Yet these disposable products represent one of the most unnecessary sources of waste in modern life.
Making the switch to reusable alternatives is surprisingly simple and can dramatically reduce your environmental impact. Start with the basics: invest in a quality reusable water bottle and coffee cup, keep cloth shopping bags in your car or by the front door, and opt for beeswax wraps or silicone covers instead of cling film. For packed lunches, durable containers beat disposable bags every time, while cloth napkins and tea towels can replace their paper counterparts at home.
The numbers are compelling – a single reusable shopping bag can replace hundreds of plastic bags over its lifetime, while one person using a reusable water bottle can prevent roughly 156 plastic bottles from entering landfills each year. Beyond the environmental benefits, you’ll likely save money in the long run, as the initial investment in quality reusable items pays for itself many times over. Plus, there’s something satisfying about breaking free from the cycle of constantly buying and throwing away disposable products – it’s a small act of rebellion against our throwaway culture that genuinely makes a difference.
Get Into The Habit Of Turning Things Off
In households across the land, there’s always a charger left on with 100% long ago reached, plugs engaged for no reason, bathroom lights shining bright in the middle of the night and TVs sitting on standby.
Encourage your household to get into the habit of turning anything off when it’s not in use. Leaving the TV and lights on in an empty room is an enormous waste of energy yet it is so simple to remedy. The key, here, is to lead by example and make it a priority for your household to switch off all lights, plugs, switches and chargers when they’re not in use. So, what are you waiting for…go check now!
Recycle & Dispose Of Waste Properly
It has become increasingly obstructive to make waste management easy around the home, with prevailing questions like ”can I recycle cooked food?” and ”are all plastics recyclable?” not answered satisfactorily by a cursory search on Google.
But it’s essential to recycle in order to reduce the amount of waste we send landfill, helping reduce your home’s carbon footprint and the need for the fresh production of raw materials, too.
Should you be undertaking any building work at home, proper waste disposal is vital, too, whether that’s through skip rental, or via a local company who specialises in rubbish removal in London, Glasgow, Manchester and beyond.
Green Home Initiatives
It may also be worth looking into green home initiatives which can help to cover the cost of retrofitting your home, helping you both reduce your energy consumption and potentially lower your bills. Generally more likely to be available in urban areas, such initiatives involve installing eco-friendly lights and applying loft and cavity insulation.
For those serious about leading a green lifestyle, it’s best to be proactive and demanding of the authorities. Consider urging your local government to implement similar strategies.
Heating is, obviously, essential in the home but there are lots of ways that this can be made greener. This might involve switching to an eco-friendly boiler or even shifting to using a ground pump, which is an environmentally-friendly and low cost way to eliminate the need for gas pipes and oil tanks at home.
Installing solar panels is another option for introducing a cleaner energy source at home, but doing so isn’t without its complications. Not only is the initial cost high, but some experts have suggested that energy used to manufacture single panels for homes may not actually offset the energy created by those panels.
Install A Smart Thermostat
A smart thermostat allows you to control your central heating remotely, which means that you can be more efficient with your usage and always keep the home warm when you are there, too! Many of these thermostats also learn, adapt and automate as you use them, helping you to be more efficient with your usage and keeping your energy bills and consumption down.
You can do the same for your lights; smart lightbulbs now exist, too!
Buy An Electric Car (Or Ditch The Four Wheels Altogether)
If you are serious about leading a greener lifestyle, then switching to an electric car is an essential step. It’s understandable if people were hesitant before, with charging ports scant and the cost of the vehicle prohibitive, but things have massively changed in the last couple of years, and the technology and infrastructure has improved so much that range anxiety should no longer be an issue.
There’s also a much greater availability of electric vehicle out there, which means that prices can be lower. Of course, you could go a step (or many, many steps) further, and give up your car altogether, prioritising a more local lifestyle and simply walking or cycling everywhere.
Grow Your Own Vegetables
Growing your own vegetables in the garden may not suddenly render your family self-sufficient, but it can go some way to reducing your carbon footprint.
Really, the point here isn’t the crops themselves, but rather, growing your own can be good for you, physically and mentally, and can help your family develop a deeper connection with nature and the changing of the seasons, which is fundamental to a more sustainable approach to green living as a whole.
Standing as Africa’s crown jewel for safari enthusiasts, Botswana offers an unparalleled wilderness experience that combines pristine landscapes with extraordinary wildlife encounters.
This landlocked nation has mastered the art of sustainable tourism, maintaining vast untouched territories whilst providing visitors with access to some of the continent’s most spectacular natural phenomena. From the shimmering channels of the Okavango Delta to the stark beauty of the Kalahari Desert, Botswana presents a safari experience that transcends the ordinary.
The country’s commitment to conservation is evident in its approach to tourism-favouring quality over quantity with smaller camps and limited visitor numbers. This philosophy ensures that each safari experience feels intimate and authentic, allowing travellers to connect deeply with the African wilderness.
With that in mind, here are seven extraordinary destinations that showcase why Botswana remains the ultimate safari destination for discerning adventurers.
Okavango Delta: The Jewel Of The Kalahari
The Okavango Delta represents one of nature’s most remarkable achievements-a vast inland delta that transforms the arid Kalahari into a lush oasis teeming with life. This UNESCO World Heritage Site covers approximately 15,000 square kilometres during peak flood season, creating a labyrinth of channels, lagoons, and islands that support an incredible diversity of wildlife.
The delta’s seasonal flooding, which peaks between June and August, creates a unique ecosystem where desert and wetland species coexist. Visitors can glide silently through papyrus-lined channels in traditional mokoro dugout canoes, guided by expert local polers who share intimate knowledge of this aquatic wonderland. Game viewing from these water-level perspectives offers unparalleled photographic opportunities, particularly for elephants cooling themselves in the shallows and hippos emerging from deeper channels.
The delta’s islands, known locally as ‘islands of paradise’, support dense populations of large mammals. Red lechwe bound gracefully through the floodplains, whilst leopards and lions have adapted to this semi-aquatic environment, often crossing channels to reach prey-rich islands. The birdlife is simply extraordinary, with over 400 species recorded, including the magnificent African fish eagle and the elusive Pel’s fishing owl.
Chobe National Park: The Elephant Capital Of Africa
Chobe National Park boasts the largest concentration of elephants in Africa, with herds numbering in the tens of thousands. The park’s diverse ecosystems, from the Chobe River frontage to the vast grasslands of Savuti, create varied habitats that support different wildlife communities throughout the year.
The Chobe River section offers unparalleled opportunities for observing elephants as they congregate along the riverbanks, particularly during the dry season when massive herds cross from Namibia’s Caprivi Strip. River cruises provide front-row seats to one of nature’s greatest spectacles-hundreds of elephants drinking, bathing, and playing whilst buffalo, hippos, and crocodiles share the same waters.
Savuti, within Chobe’s interior, presents a completely different experience. This ancient lake bed, now dry grassland punctuated by remnant sand islands, becomes a predator paradise during the zebra migration. The famous Savuti Channel, which mysteriously flows and dries according to tectonic activity, creates dramatic seasonal changes in wildlife distribution and behaviour.
Central Kalahari Game Reserve: Desert Wilderness
The Central Kalahari Game Reserve encompasses 52,800 square kilometres of pristine desert landscape, making it one of the world’s largest protected areas. This vast wilderness showcases the remarkable adaptations of life in arid environments, from the iconic black-maned Kalahari lions to the diminutive yellow mongooses that dart between acacia trees.
During the brief rainy season, typically from December to April, the reserve transforms dramatically. Seasonal pans fill with water, attracting massive herds of zebras, wildebeest, and hartebeest in one of Africa’s lesser-known migrations. The sparse vegetation explodes into colour as wildflowers carpet the landscape, creating a photographer’s paradise.
The reserve’s remoteness ensures an authentic wilderness experience with minimal human presence. Night drives reveal the desert’s hidden nocturnal life-caracals, servals, and the elusive aardvark emerge under star-studded skies that offer some of the clearest astronomical viewing on the continent. The silence of the Kalahari, broken only by the distant roar of lions or the haunting call of jackal, provides a profound sense of connection to primordial Africa.
Moremi Game Reserve: The Heart Of The Delta
Situated within the Okavango Delta, Moremi Game Reserve combines the best of both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. This relatively small reserve packs extraordinary biodiversity into its boundaries, offering visitors the chance to experience the full spectrum of delta wildlife within a single destination.
No Botswana safari would be complete without a visit to Chief’s Island, the reserve’s centrepiece, which supports some of the highest concentrations of predators in Africa. The interplay between permanent water channels and seasonal floodplains creates ideal hunting grounds for wild dogs, leopards, and lions. The famous Moremi lions have adapted to hunt in water, often pursuing red lechwe into the shallows-a behaviour rarely observed elsewhere in Africa.
The reserve’s diverse habitats, from papyrus swamps to acacia woodlands, support a remarkable variety of species. Sable antelopes graze alongside zebras on the grasslands, whilst sitatunga navigate the dense papyrus beds. The reserve’s varied topography ensures excellent game viewing year-round, though the dry season concentrates wildlife around permanent water sources, making for spectacular viewing opportunities.
Makgadikgadi Pans: Salt Desert Spectacle
The Makgadikgadi Pans represent one of the world’s largest salt complexes, covering over 12,000 square kilometres of otherworldly landscape. These ancient lake beds, remnants of the prehistoric Lake Makgadikgadi, create a surreal environment that feels more lunar than terrestrial during the dry season.
The transformation during the rainy season is nothing short of miraculous. The pans fill with shallow water, triggering the second-largest zebra and wildebeest migration in Africa. Hundreds of thousands of animals move from the Boteti River towards these temporary grasslands, followed closely by predators. The spectacle of vast herds moving across the endless horizons creates one of Africa’s most dramatic wildlife experiences.
Kubu Island, a rocky outcrop rising from the salt flats, provides a unique vantage point adorned with ancient baobab trees. These thousand-year-old giants, their massive trunks scarred by centuries of elephant activity, create an mystical atmosphere particularly at sunrise and sunset when the salt crystals sparkle like diamonds across the horizon.
Linyanti Wildlife Reserve: Predator Paradise
The Linyanti Wildlife Reserve, bordering Chobe National Park, offers an exclusive safari experience in one of Botswana’s most game-rich areas. The Linyanti River and its associated marshlands create a magnet for wildlife, particularly during the dry season when animals concentrate around this reliable water source.
This reserve has gained renown for its exceptional predator viewing opportunities. Large prides of lions, often exceeding twenty individuals, roam the riverine forests and grasslands. Wild dogs, Africa’s most endangered carnivore, maintain stable pack territories throughout the region. Leopards frequent the massive riverine trees, providing excellent opportunities for observing these normally elusive cats.
The reserve’s location along the Linyanti River creates unique wildlife interactions. Massive herds of buffalo, sometimes numbering in the thousands, create dust clouds visible from kilometres away. The area’s elephant population remains stable year-round, with herds moving between the river and inland water sources in predictable patterns that safari guides know intimately.
Mashatu Game Reserve: The Land Of The Giants
Though technically located in Botswana’s eastern reaches near the South African border, Mashatu Game Reserve deserves inclusion for its unique landscape and remarkable wildlife concentrations. Known as the ‘Land of the Giants’, this private reserve encompasses diverse habitats from riverine forests to rocky outcrops and open grasslands.
The reserve’s claim to fame lies in its massive baobab trees, some measuring over twenty metres in circumference and estimated to be over 3,000 years old. These natural monuments create iconic but wholly distinctive African scenes, particularly when silhouetted against spectacular Botswana sunsets. The reserve’s varied topography, including the dramatic Tuli Block escarpment, provides stunning backdrops for wildlife photography.
Mashatu’s wildlife concentrations rival any destination in Africa. Large herds of elephants move freely across unfenced boundaries, whilst the reserve’s healthy leopard population benefits from abundant rocky hideouts and prey species. The open landscape facilitates exceptional game viewing, with unobstructed sightlines across vast savannas where cheetahs hunt and massive herds of impala create feeding opportunities for predators.
Planning Your Botswana Safari
Botswana’s safari destinations each offer distinct experiences, making it possible to combine multiple reserves for a comprehensive wildlife adventure. The dry season (May to October) generally provides the best game viewing as animals concentrate around water sources, whilst the wet season (November to April) offers lush landscapes, newborn animals, and exceptional birdwatching opportunities.
Most safari camps in Botswana operate on an all-inclusive basis, with experienced guides, gourmet meals, and comfortable accommodations included. The country’s emphasis on low-impact, high-value tourism ensures that visitor numbers remain manageable, preserving the pristine wilderness experience that makes Botswana special.
When packing for your Botswana adventure, prioritise neutral-coloured clothing in lightweight, breathable fabrics – khaki, olive, and beige blend seamlessly with the environment whilst keeping you comfortable in varying temperatures. Essential items include a wide-brimmed hat, quality sunglasses, and high-factor sun cream, as the African sun can be unforgiving.
Pack layers for early morning and evening game drives when temperatures can drop considerably, and don’t forget sturdy walking shoes for guided bush walks. Most importantly, bring a good camera with extra batteries and memory cards!
The Bottom Line
Whether tracking wild dogs through Linyanti’s forests, floating silently through Okavango channels, or watching massive elephant herds along the Chobe River, Botswana offers safari experiences that exceed even the most ambitious expectations. This is Africa as it was meant to be experienced-wild, untamed, and utterly magnificent.
With all eyes on you as you walk down the aisle, and a lifetime’s worth of looks in photo albums and on Instagram, getting your wedding dress right is as crucial to your big day as choosing the right husband.
Of course, your dress is only one part of your wedding day ensemble; you also have jewellery and accessories to consider, and it pays to consider them just as carefully.
But with so much of the focus often falling on the dress, it’s all too easy to let the jewellery and accessories you wear take a back seat. However, every detail of a bride’s look matters and the jewellery and accessories can add that finishing, personal touch to proceedings, able to tie the whole look together effortlessly.
It’s no secret that jewellery and accessories have the power to transform your bridal look. Here are 7 tips on how to choose the IDEAL jewellery & accessories for your wedding day.
Let Your Dress Dictate Your Jewellery
The last thing you want is for your jewellery to clash with your dress. As such, it’s a good idea to always choose your dress first then let it dictate your jewellery.
If you’re having trouble choosing whether to wear silver, gold or rose gold, then let your dress do the choosing for you and match your metals to your dress. If your dress is satin or silk, then silver, platinum and, of course, diamond jewellery pair well.
However, if your gown is a warmer champagne tone, opt for a metal in a warmer colour like rose gold. We also think vintage lace and boho-inspired dresses look especially lovely with gemstones. All that said and when in doubt, pick pearls; not only are they classic and traditional, but pearls also represent eternal love, making them the perfect accessory for wedding days.
There are so many types of jewellery styles to consider that it makes sense to let your dress dictate the jewellery you choose. If your wedding dress has a high neckline, then forgo a necklace and wear a pair of statement earrings insead. On the flip side, you can enhance a dress with a plunging neckline with an extra-long pendant. Or, if your dress has an open back, consider a long, dainty wrap necklace.
Editor’s Extra: There are no thick and fast rules when it comes to wearing jewellery. Remember the days when you had to choose whether you were going to be a gold or silver girl? Well, the days of having to stick to your chosen metal, because – god forbid – you wore the two together, are gone.
Mixed metals have been a serious trend for the last few years, so embrace clashing golds, silvers and bronzes with abandon for your wedding day, should you wish. An Italian silver chain, for instance, can add a touch of elegance and sophistication to any bridal look when layered with other necklaces in different shades. It’s a statement, for sure, but a seriously stunning one at that.
Less Is More
The secret tip to the perfect wedding jewellery is less is more and it’s easy to wear too much jewellery on your wedding day and overwhelm your dress.
Bear that expert advice in mind and consider keeping things simple with a stunning sterling silver set of drop earrings and matching pendant. Alternatively, you can’t go wrong with a matching set of the perfect diamond necklace and stud earrings – this is your time to sparkle and shine after all!
Editor’s Extra: Shoulder sweeping statement earrings are everywhere at the moment. Wondering how to wear them, or rather, how not to? Don’t bother with any other type of jewellery – not even a pair of small studs if you have your ears pierced more than once – as this will look clumsy, clunky and over-stylised.
Clean Your Jewellery
Of course, that sparkle and shine will be dulled somewhat if you don’t follow proper silver jewellery care in the run up to your wedding. This includes wrapping your jewellery in a fabric pouch between wears, keeping it in a cool, dry place, and storing it individually to avoid other pieces causing scratching. You should also avoid contact with chemicals, perfume, hairspray and deodorant.
Whether you love statement hoops, chandlers or perfect dainty drop jewellery, what you choose to wear on your wedding day should reflect your everyday style. Your wedding day isn’t the time to risk a new style, we’d politely caution!
When it comes to choosing a statement piece for your big day, remember that statement jewellery is a way for us to express ourselves creatively, helping the wearer to connect with the character of the piece. As such, it’s essential to find a piece that resonates with you.
We know that we recommended earlier to let your dress dictate your style, but if you have your heart set on wearing your Grandma’s pearls or there is a particular heirloom piece you want to include in your outfit, then take those pieces with you when you go dress shopping to ensure that it matches your dress.
Alternatively, consider turning your heirloom piece into a beautiful new creation that you’ll love to wear, not just once, but time and time again. It’s a great way to honour past pieces, giving them new life and meaning.
For your ‘’something blue’’, consider choosing blue gemstone jewellery. Vivid sapphires are thought to represent honesty, sincerity and faithfulness, and are ideal for the occasion as these symbolise important attributes every marriage should have.
That said, and depending on the tone of your dress, pairing blue jewellery with your dress can be tricky. Aquamarine may be a good option as a bold sapphire may overwhelm your look. Alternatively, consider choosing a traditional blue garter instead – buy a new one and you’ll be ticking off two traditions on one go!
If you’ve decided to wear a veil, then you’re probably feeling a little overwhelmed at the hundreds of different styles and lengths to choose from. Where to start? First, always choose your dress first and your veil second.
The best choice of veil will depend on your gown’s detail, silhouette and train length, should you have one. Although your veil doesn’t need to match your dress perfectly, you will want it to match the same shade of your gown.
Next up is to get familiar with the different styles of veils out there; do you want a floor sweeping chapel veil or a vintage style birdcage? Pop into a bridal shop with your dress and try on a whole load. Oh, and if you do choose an OTT veil, then it’s a good idea to stick with simple wedding jewellery.
If you’ve decided that a veil isn’t for you, then have you considered wearing a whimsical flower crown instead? Flower crowns are an extremely versatile hair accessory and can be made to go with pretty much any dress design. On top of that, they look just lovely!
Consider Your Hairstyle
Your chosen hairstyle plays a crucial role in determining which jewelry pieces will complement your overall look. If you’re planning an elegant updo or sleek chignon, this creates the perfect canvas for showcasing statement earrings or dramatic chandelier drops – your ears and neck will be beautifully exposed to highlight these pieces.
On the other hand, if you’re wearing your hair down in loose waves or cascading curls, consider opting for smaller, more delicate earrings that won’t get tangled or hidden beneath your locks. In this case, a stunning necklace or bold bracelet might be better choices for making a jewelry statement.
Don’t forget about hair accessories either – jeweled hairpins, tiaras, or delicate hair vines can serve double duty as both functional and decorative elements. If you’re incorporating ornate hair jewelry, remember to balance it with your other accessories to avoid overwhelming your look. A heavily embellished headpiece, for instance, pairs best with simple stud earrings rather than competing statement pieces.
Choose A Secondhand Piece
We love the idea of finding a one off, preloved piece for your wedding day. If you’ve ever walked through the jewellery lanes of Brighton, London’s Hatton Garden or Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, then you’ll understand just how much choice there is when it comes to secondhand jewellery.
In fact, the diversity on offer far trumps the variety of new pieces available. So, whether you’re after a vintage piece from a different era like the 1920’s, a modern item which is after a new home, or an esoteric piece with a rare backstory, then second-hand is certainly the smart option.
What’s more, buying a secondhand piece reduces the carbon footprint on the environment, which is definitely an ethical choice for your wedding day. And on that note, we wish you all the happiness and joy, both on your Big Day and for your future years together as a happy couple!
After a half a decade of non stop turbulence and tumult, we are are reportedly (and not in the least bit surprisingly) more under pressure than they’ve ever been, with inflation, war and post-COVID confusion pushing stress to alarming levels.
These unprecedented times have caused Brits to seek relief in places that they may have previously left unexplored, with many dipping their toes into the world of cold water swimming, meditation and yoga, in particular.
Today, we’re exploring the latter in a little more detail. And this just in; you don’t have to be able to twist into pretzel shapes and contort your body something holy to enjoy the physical or mental benefits of a good yoga session. Yep, even if you don’t know your downward dog from your happy baby, a world of stress relief, mindful focus and surprisingly effective exercise awaits.
For those woke to its benefits, the age old discipline’s magic touch has been obvious for some time, but it seems like the mainstream has finally caught on, too. And in a world of stress, pressure and panic, not a moment too soon, we think.
We’re here today for those hungry to embrace a holistic attitude to their health and wellbeing, with these; our 6 IDEAL tips for yoga beginners on how to get started.
Get The Right Gear
Yoga is a discipline with inclusivity at its core. Everyone is welcome, all levels of ability embraced, and a lack of financial certainly represents no hindrance to participation. The fantastic thing about starting out with yoga is that the commitment – both in terms of time and money – is minimal. All you need is loose clothing, which you’ll probably already have lying around, and a little willpower to get the ball rolling.
The only other thing we recommend purchasing is a non-slip yoga mat, for safety reasons. After that, you’re good to go. Now it’s up to you whether you take up the practice in the comfort of your own home, or join a class….
Yoga Class Or YouTube?
While it’s hard to beat the experienced guidance and encouragement of a qualified teacher in a dedicated space, many prefer to begin their yoga journey using YouTube, which is a fantastic way to get started, and it’s free, too.
Online you’ll find everything from energising morning routines to a session for desk related mid-day relief, a relaxing evening number, or even guided practices to help you with your sleep. Some of the best YouTube yogis include Yoga with Adrienne, Yoga with Kassandra, and Tara Stiles, but this is really a case of having a look around and finding what suits you!
Whilst YouTube is undeniably useful, particularly for those with a fear of falling over or farting during an extended warrior pose, in the long run home practitioners shouldn’t miss out on the fantastic sense of community that yoga classes offer, an endlessly supportive and encouraging space where friends are made for life on parallel mats.
Find Encouragement In Community On A Yoga Retreat
We’d wager that, by now, the majority of Brits have tried their hand at yoga at one time or another. Many have found it to be incredibly useful for remedying aches and pains, reducing stress, and toning muscles, too.
That said, we’d also wager that yoga tends to have a pretty low retention rate. It can be hard to stay committed to daily practice when you’ve been through Adrienne’s 10 Minute Yoga For Beginners a good hundred times. Even traditional classes are struggling to keep people interested, with the Yogi Times reporting an annual retention rate of just 18% for teacher-led sessions.
Instead, you may well find encouragement to stick at it within the yoga community, not only via the classes we mentioned earlier, but also at workshops, meet-ups and, for those looking to truly immerse themselves in the practice and community, at yoga retreats.
Indeed, then there are some incredible yoga retreats here in the UK and abroad, allowing you to develop your stretches and poses, as well as experience yoga in a more holistic way, via meditation sessions, healthy eating classes, and more.
Many of the best retreats on these shores are held in truly inspiring, breathtaking places, such as Dartmoor in Devon, the Peak District, Cornwall, and the Brecon Beacons in Wales. Just imagine opening your eyes following savasana to those views.
Most yoga retreats cater to all levels, even beginners, and teachers will listen to individual needs. When it comes to choosing the right yoga retreat for you, think about what you want to do and get out of it; some yoga retreats are purely vegan, others have a complete ban on booze, and some combine yoga with other activities like hiking.
Know Your Limitations
Few people want to label themselves beginners, even if they are just that; there’s a certain stigma that the term carries which we’d all like to avoid. But yoga is an activity which you very much want to take in your stride, slowly and steadily, because though it may be surrounded by a warm glow of positive energy, it can actually be rather dangerous when done incorrectly.
Yep, with more and more people downward dogging than ever, yoga related injuries are unfortunately on the rise. So, treat the practice with respect. As you’re so often implored during a session, ‘listen to your body’. Be aware of the most common yoga injuries to help you do things by the book; dive in too deep, too early, and risk it being your last good stretch for a while.
Embrace The Mental Benefits
Though yoga may primarily feel like a physical workout, those entering the discipline often cite the benefits to their mind as the reason they stuck with it. Yep, this isn’t just some wooly, hippy nonsense about ‘love and light’; there’s some serious, scientifically backed stuff going on here. In a world where distractions and deadlines increasingly define our everyday, the ability to unwind and untangle in a holistic and healthy fashion is invaluable to devotees.
Countless studies have shown that being present and aware in our everyday tasks (a concept rooted in mindfulness practice and yoga) leads to better mental health and a more positive outlook on life. Harness this positive outlook in the early stages of your yoga journey, and you’ll find it an incredibly rewarding experience. For those who excel, the spiritual side is just as important as the physical.
Start Small & Be Consistent
One of the biggest mistakes beginners make is diving headfirst into an ambitious daily 90-minute practice, only to burn out within a week. Instead, commit to just 10-15 minutes a day – consistency trumps intensity every single time when building a sustainable, beneficial yoga practice.
Choose a specific time that works with your natural rhythm, whether that’s rolling out your mat first thing in the morning before the day’s demands kick in, or using it as a transition ritual when you get home from work. The key is making it non-negotiable, like brushing your teeth. Even on days when you’re not feeling it, show up on your mat – you can always just do a few gentle stretches or spend the entire time in child’s pose if needed.
Remember, yoga isn’t about perfection or pushing yourself to exhaustion; it’s about showing up regularly and creating space for yourself. Those 10 minutes will naturally expand as your body begins to crave the practice, but let that evolution happen organically. Many long-term practitioners will tell you that their decades-long love affair with yoga began with just a few sun salutations each morning. The magic isn’t in the length of your practice, but in the simple act of returning to your mat, day after day.
The Most Important Pose
It’s often said that ‘savasana’ – the final pose of your practice in which you lie flat and still – is the most important part of any yoga session. But it’s also a pose which many feel superfluous and want to rush through. Big mistake.
A successful yoga session is all about setting your intentions for (or drawing a line under) the day, reconnecting with your body and the earth, and finding a little inner peace. The savasana represents the concluding paragraph of your session and should be treated with patience and respect. Without it, yoga would simply be a series of stretches; its true potency comes from those final few moments of peace.
If you’ve got thin, fine, or flat hair that refuses to grow past your shoulders, you’ve probably found yourself staring longingly at those gorgeous, voluminous locks on Instagram, wondering if hair extensions could actually work for you. Well, here’s some brilliant news – they absolutely can!
And you’re definitely not alone in coveting thick, glossy locks. According to research, the global hair extensions market has experienced notable growth, advancing from $3.25 billion in 2024 to $3.43 billion in 2025. That’s a lot of people wanting fabulous hair! But (and there’s always a but, isn’t there?) you’ll need to know what you’re doing first.
Extensions can instantly transform your hair game, adding that thickness, volume, and confidence boost we all crave. The thing is, fine hair is a bit of a diva – it needs extra TLC and the right choice of extension type to really shine. How long your extensions last depends on a few key things: the quality of the hair, how they’re installed, and honestly, how well you look after them.
So, let’s dive into the nitty-gritty of how long different extensions really last on fine hair, what affects their lifespan, and most importantly, how to get that gorgeous volume without damaging your precious strands. By the time you’ve finished reading this, you’ll know exactly what to expect and how to get the best bang for your buck!
Understanding Extensions For Thin Hair
Fine hair doesn’t just look different – it behaves completely differently too. Extensions that work beautifully on thicker hair might not be the best choice for delicate strands, which are more fragile and prone to breakage.
Weight matters (and we’re not talking about yours!): The lighter your extensions, the kinder they’ll be to your natural hair. Think of it this way – would you want to carry a heavy rucksack all day? Your hair feels the same about heavy extensions. They can pull on those fragile roots, leading to breakage, traction alopecia (scary name, we know), or just plain scalp discomfort. For fine hair, lightweight individual extensions designed specifically for delicate strands are your best friend – they let you enjoy all that gorgeous volume without putting your natural hair through the wringer.
It’s all about the attachment method: Some ways of attaching extensions are just better suited to thin hair than others. Take tape-in extensions, for example – they lie flat against your scalp and spread the weight evenly across each weft. Perfect for fine hair! On the flip side, bulky weaves or thick clip-ins can look a bit obvious and put unnecessary stress on your roots. Nobody wants that.
Common mistakes (we’ve all been there): One of the biggest blunders people with fine hair make is going completely overboard with density or length. We get it – if you’re doing extensions, why not go big, right? Wrong! Oversized sets that are too heavy for your natural strands will actually shorten the lifespan of both the extensions AND your own hair. Ouch. Skipping professional installation or neglecting aftercare? That’s another sure-fire way to reduce how long your extensions last.
The key is tailoring your choices to YOUR hair type – that way, you can enjoy those fuller locks while keeping your natural strands happy and healthy.
How Long Different Extensions Last On Thin Hair
Right, let’s get to the juicy bit – how long do these gorgeous extensions actually last on thin hair? Well, it depends on what type you choose and how well you treat them. Here’s the lowdown on the most popular options:
Clip-In Extensions (6-12 months)
Clip-ins are like the little black dress of the extension world – versatile, reliable, and perfect for fine hair. They’re brilliant because they give you instant results without any long-term commitment. Since you remove them at the end of each day, they’re not putting any constant strain on your scalp or follicles.
If you’re only wearing them occasionally – think nights out, special occasions, or when you’re feeling fancy – a high-quality set of Remy human hair clip-ins can last 9-12 months or even longer.
However, if you’re using them every day and constantly heat styling them, they won’t last as long. The clips themselves can lose their grip over time too, so it’s worth rotating where you place them to avoid putting repeated pressure on the same bits of hair. For thin hair, smaller wefts placed strategically will blend much more naturally than those chunky strips, giving you that natural-looking volume without any damage.
Tape-In Extensions (6-8 weeks)
Now, tape-ins are widely considered the absolute best method for thin hair – and honestly, we can see why! They use medical-grade adhesive tape that’s virtually invisible once it’s in (magic, basically). Because each weft is lightweight and sits flat against your scalp, they distribute weight evenly and avoid that bulky look some other methods can give you.
On thin hair, tape-ins usually last 6-8 weeks before they need reapplying. But here’s the clever bit – with proper care (we’re talking about avoiding oil-based products near your roots), you can reuse the same hair multiple times. That makes them pretty cost-effective in the long run, which your bank account will definitely appreciate!
A professional stylist can remove and reapply the wefts in fresh positions, keeping your natural hair safe from any stress. Win-win!
Sew-In Extensions (6-8 weeks)
Sew-ins (also known as weaves) involve braiding your natural hair and literally sewing the wefts onto those braids. While this method is absolutely gorgeous on thicker hair types, it’s not always the kindest choice for very fine strands. The tension from all that braiding can put stress on fragile roots – and nobody wants breakage.
However, if you’ve got thin-to-medium density hair that’s strong enough to handle braids, sew-ins can still work brilliantly. When they’re properly installed and looked after, they’ll last around 6-8 weeks before needing to be removed and reapplied. The key is keeping your scalp clean, moisturised, and free from excessive tension. Your scalp will thank you for it!
Factors That Affect Extension Lifespan
Even with the perfect method, how long your extensions last depends on quite a few things. Let’s break it down:
Quality of hair matters (obviously!): High-quality Remy human hair lasts significantly longer than synthetic or mixed fibre extensions. Remy hair keeps its cuticle layer intact, which prevents tangling and matting. That means smoother wear and a more natural look. Synthetic hair tends to tangle and look frayed faster – not cute.
But here’s where price really comes into play too. While clip-ins considered a relatively inexpensive option since they can be applied at home without any need for glue or tape, cheaper clip-ins often rely on a silicone coating to create that initial shine, which can give them an artificial, plastic-like texture that’s a dead giveaway. On the flip side, there are new generations of premium clip-ins that can cost between £300-400 for 160g of Remy cuticle hair – this is where all the cuticles have been carefully aligned in the same direction. This creates an incredibly silky, natural feel that moves beautifully with your own hair.
Professional installation makes all the difference: When it comes to permanent extensions (we’re not talking about clip-ins here – they’re designed for DIY), professional installation almost always gives better results. Attempting to DIY permanent extensions can lead to uneven placement, bonds that slip, or damage to your natural hair. All of these things will seriously reduce how long your extensions last, and nobody’s got time for that.
Your daily care routine: This is huge! Brushing your extensions gently with the right tools, storing clip-ins properly, and protecting your hair at night with silk pillowcases or bonnets – it all plays a role in extending their lifespan. Skip the daily care, and you’ll end up with tangled, damaged extensions much faster.
How often you style them: We all love a good styling session, but heat styling (especially at high temperatures) wears down both natural and extension hair. The more you curl, straighten, or blow-dry, the shorter your extensions will last. Always use heat protection spray, and try to keep the temperature under 180 degrees Celsius. Your extensions will love you for it.
Your natural hair health: If your natural hair is fragile, oily, or prone to breakage, it might not hold extensions as long as healthier hair would. It’s worth strengthening your hair with nourishing treatments before and during extension wear – think of it as creating the perfect foundation.
Maximising Volume Without Damaging Thin Hair
One of the biggest worries for anyone with fine hair is whether extensions will damage their natural strands. We totally get it – that fear is real! But here’s the good news: with the right techniques, you can absolutely enjoy full, gorgeous hair without compromising on health.
Strategic placement is everything: You don’t need extensions covering every single inch of your head to create a full look (thank goodness, because that would be expensive!). Placing lighter wefts strategically around the crown, sides, and mid-lengths creates natural-looking thickness while keeping stress off those more fragile areas.
Layering techniques work wonders: When extensions are layered properly with your natural hair, they create a seamless blend that looks completely natural. A skilled stylist can cut and shape your extensions so they move naturally with your hair, adding volume without any obvious lines. It’s like having a magic wand for your hair!
Choose the right weight: Extensions come in different weights (usually measured in grams), and for thin hair, lighter is definitely better. They won’t overwhelm your delicate strands, and while heavier sets might look fuller initially, they’ll put unnecessary stress on your scalp and won’t last as long.
If you’ve never worn extensions for fine hair before, it really helps to know what the journey looks like over time. Here’s what you can realistically expect:
Month 1 Your extensions look absolutely gorgeous – fresh, soft, and perfectly blended. You’ll be getting compliments left, right, and centre, and enjoying that instant confidence boost that comes with amazing hair.
Months 2-3 This is honestly the sweet spot. Your extensions are still looking fantastic, and you’ve probably settled into a care routine that works perfectly for you. If you’ve got tape-ins, they’ll need reapplying around now, but the good news is the hair itself can often be reused.
Months 4-6 At this point, you might notice a bit more shedding, some tangling, or slippage, depending on what type of extensions you’ve got. This is totally normal! Professional maintenance becomes really important now to keep them looking natural and prevent any damage to your own hair.
Over 6 months High-quality permanent extensions usually need replacing between 6-12 months, so you might start noticing signs of wear and tear. Clip-ins, however, could still be in brilliant condition if you’ve looked after them well and only used them occasionally. They’re pretty impressive like that!
Maintenance Tips For Longer-Lasting Extensions
The secret to getting the most out of your extensions? Treat them like you would your natural hair – with patience, care, and maybe just a little bit of obsession (we’ve all been there!).
Gentle brushing is non-negotiable: Always start brushing from the ends and work your way up to the roots – never the other way around! Use a loop brush or soft-bristle brush designed specifically for extensions to avoid snagging and pulling. Your extensions will thank you, and so will your natural hair.
Don’t over-wash them: We know it’s tempting, but over-washing strips extensions of essential oils and shortens their lifespan dramatically. For thin hair, aim to wash clip-ins after every eight or so wears, and semi-permanent extensions just once or twice a week. Less really is more here! Wash them with shampoo and conditionr.
Choose your products wisely: Stick with sulphate-free shampoos and conditioners – they’re much gentler. Heavy, oil-based products can break down adhesive bonds and weigh down fine hair (not the look we’re going for!). A lightweight leave-in conditioner or detangling spray will keep everything smooth without adding bulk.
Sleep protection is crucial: Never, ever go to bed with wet hair, and always remove your clip-ins before you hit the hay. For the best results, braid your hair loosely or wrap it in a silk scarf before sleeping. Silk pillowcases are also brilliant for reducing friction and keeping both your natural hair and extensions smooth overnight.
Don’t skip professional maintenance: Regular appointments every 6-8 weeks help ensure your extensions are repositioned, reapplied, or removed safely. It might seem like a faff, but professional care really does reduce the risk of tangles or matting at the roots. Your future self will definitely thank you!
The Bottom Line
Hair extensions for thin hair can be absolutely transformative – we’re talking life-changing levels of gorgeous! But managing your expectations is key to getting the best results.
Clip-ins can last up to a year when used occasionally (amazing value, right?), while semi-permanent methods like tape-ins and sew-ins typically need reapplying every 6-8 weeks. The real secret to long-lasting, natural-looking results? It’s all about choosing the right type for YOUR hair, investing in high-quality Remy extensions, and sticking to a gentle maintenance routine.
By balancing your desire for that gorgeous volume with proper care for your natural strands, you’ll enjoy fuller, healthier-looking hair for months to come. And honestly? That confidence boost you’ll get from having amazing hair every single day? Totally priceless.
The gleaming heart of London’s luxury shopping universe, Bond Street remains the place where credit cards go to die and personal shoppers earn their keep. Between the Hermès windows and Cartier sparkle, the queues for Selfridges and the exclusive boutiques that don’t even display price tags, you’ll work up quite an appetite.
Fortunately, the streets radiating out from Bond Street station offer everything from Michelin-starred restaurants to more approachable neighbourhood spots happy to feed the fashion-conscious and the badly dressed without discrimination.
We’ve pounded the pavements from New Bond Street to Grosvenor Square (gaining several stone in the process) to bring you the restaurants that provide escapism, distraction or just a simple refuel, before you hit the shops once again. Here are the best restaurants near Bond Street.
Corrigan’s Mayfair, Upper Grosvenor Street
Ideal for proper British cooking and power lunches…
Five minutes from Bond Street station on Upper Grosvenor Street, the flagship of chef Richard Corrigan continues to prove that British and Irish cooking can hold its own against just about any cuisine in the world. Or, at least, any in a few mile radius of here…
This is clubby dining room perfection, all leather banquettes and warm lighting, the kind of place where deals get done over well-executed dishes, and everyone leaves blinking into the light wondering how best to cancel all of their afternoon meetings.
The Menu du Jour (£38 for three courses at lunch, £48 at dinner) represents genuinely good value for Mayfair, particularly when those courses might include smoked bone marrow agnolotti with Jerusalem artichoke or carpaccio of pig’s head with chicken liver and foie gras. Not for the squeamish, perhaps, but brilliant if you’re game. Or, indeed, love game.
Dickie’s Bar downstairs serves excellent cocktails if you fancy arriving early, whilst the Peter Hannan côte de boeuf for two has become a signature dish amongst the city’s carnivores. If you feel tired just reading all that, the butter-poached haddock with parsnip and cured egg yolk shows the kitchen’s lighter side, confirming that their pitch-perfect cooking extends well beyond meat.
Do be warned; the ‘cheapest’ (all relative, of course) bottle here is £42 for a Languedoc white, though wines by the glass start from a more reasonable (again, relative; Mayfair, and all that) £9.50.
Book ahead if it’s the weekend, or try your luck at the bar counter for walk-ins.
Ideal for progressive Indian that breaks all the rules…
Chet Sharma’s intimate 33-seater on North Audley Street has been collecting awards faster than you can say “Wookey Hole cheese papad” – their genius take on Quavers that you absolutely must order. Having worked at L’Enclume, Moor Hall and Mugaritz, Sharma brings fine dining technique to dishes inspired by his Punjabi heritage. Family recipes like Sharmaji’s Lahori chicken sit alongside inventive creations, proving tradition and innovation needn’t be mutually exclusive. It’s a match made in heaven.
The tasting menus run from £145 to £195, which sounds steep until you taste the Orkney scallop with Indian lemonade or the raw Belted Galloway beef pepper fry – then, you simply shrug as you dip deep into your overdraft, the undulating chilli heat having numbed you from the shock of the bill. For those seeking something a little kinder on the wallet, there’s a tight, super-quick ‘teja’ lunch menu, which is pitched as three courses for £45. Honestly, though, you’ll want to surrender to the full experience here; it’s quite the ride.
Pitch up at the 13-seat counter if you can. It faces the open kitchen and provides dinner theatre, though the mango wood-lined main room has its charms too.
Named Restaurant of the Year by GQ in 2022 and currently placed at number 32 in the National Restaurant Awards, booking ahead is recommended. They can’t accommodate children under 12 due to licensing, which honestly suits the grown-up atmosphere.
Ideal for seafood in Mayfair’s most storied dining room…
Just a few minute’s walk from Bond Street station, Scott’s has been serving the finest seafood since 1851, when it started life as an oyster warehouse. This is where Ian Fleming conceived James Bond’s martini preference, and where the burgundy leather banquettes beneath antique glass columns still whisper of old-school glamour.
The onyx-topped oyster bar finished in stingray skin (no idea, either) remains the heart of the operation, where champagne and Colchester natives make perfect sense at any hour. Dover sole arrives butter-poached (at £56, you’d hope they’d butter poach you too), the roasted shellfish platter for two represents the apex of British seafood, and the lobster thermidor consistently earns superlatives after all these years, despite its retrograde feel. Or, perhaps, because of it…
Interestingly, if you’ve got money to burn, Scott’s has recently launched their own exclusive Chablis collection, crafted in collaboration with Château du Val de Mercy. The ‘Exclusif a Scott’s’ range includes a Petit Chablis 2023 (£82), benchmark Chablis 2023 (£125, £22 by the glass), and Chablis 1er Cru Côte de Jouan 2023 (£155) – each meticulously chosen to complement the restaurant’s seafood-focused menu with their distinctive mineral backbone and crisp acidity.
The pavement terrace fills quickly in decent weather, whilst two private dining rooms cater to those requiring discretion. Some bar counter seats accommodate walk-ins.
Ideal for two-Michelin-starred Indian dining in heritage club surroundings…
Five minutes from Bond Street on Albemarle Street, Gymkhana earned its second Michelin star in February 2024, cementing its position as London’s leading Indian restaurant. The interiors evoke the private clubs of the Raj era – jade green and dark timber upstairs channel Calcutta mansions, whilst the basement glows in Kashmiri red with hunting trophies from the Maharaja of Jodhpur.
It’s an intoxicating room, and that’s even before the tandoori masala lamb chops arrive, heady with cardamom and thrumming with cumin. Bolstered by walnut chutney, they are an impossibly succulent affair. For those who derive pleasure from getting their hands messy in a two star, the kid goat methi keema comes with pau rolls for DIY assembly.
And then, it’s on to the showstoppers. The wild muntjac biryani emerges in puff pastry, dramatically opened tableside to release saffron-scented steam. Kasoori chicken tikka showcases the tandoor’s mastery, impossibly tender but still blackened and blistered in all the right places. God, it’s all so good.
A subject of some controversy lately, dinner requires a £100 per person minimum spend, taken as deposit against the final bill, though the £65 lunch set menu offers exceptional value for two-star cooking. Either way, bookend (treat yourself to a sharpener and a night cap, you deserve it) your meal at the exclusive cocktail lounge 42 upstairs features Indian-inspired drinks alongside extensive gin and whiskey collections.
Book up to two months ahead, and you will need to book. Reservations open at 6am GMT daily.
Ideal for spice-forward elegance that won’t destroy your budget…
Atul Kochhar was the first Indian chef to win a Michelin star back in 2001, and his Maddox Street restaurant (two minutes from Bond Street) shows he hasn’t been resting on his laurels.
It’s still Michelin-level (a plate, admittedly), but the prices here fly in the face of both that recognition and its Mayfair location. The express lunch at £24 for two courses might be Central London’s best-kept secret, particularly when those courses could include Devon crab bonda or Gangtok momos with Kentish lamb.
From the larger menu, the black dal alone justifies the journey, though at these prices you can afford to explore widely. Do so with the signature chicken tikka pie perfectly encapsulates Kochhar’s Anglo-Indian approach – familiar yet surprising. The New Forest venison keema and raw beef pepper fry with fermented Tellicherry peppercorns continue on a theme, showcasing a confidence with spicing that many fine dining-leaning Indian restaurants in London lack.
Ideal for Spanish tapas without the West End markup…
Just around the corner from Bond Street station, this lively Spanish bar has made the humble croqueta its calling card. The St Christopher’s Place location offers excellent value in an area not known for budget dining, with four pairs of croquetas for £24 and most small plates under £10.
The blackboard menu changes weekly but always features their signature crispy croquetas – the black squid ink with aioli and ham versions consistently please the crowds. Beyond the eponymous dish, the flame-grilled pork pintxos with chimichurri and classic tortilla show impressive technique for the price point. There are even sweet croquetas to finish; the salted caramel provides a particularly indulgent finale.
The vibe channels northern Spanish bars with counter seating perfect for solo diners and small groups up to four (no reservations for larger parties). Expect Spanish covers of English songs, enthusiastic staff who genuinely care about the food, and an atmosphere that feels more Madrid than Mayfair. Open from 12pm daily, it’s the perfect place for a mid-shop pitstop. And yes, we realise that’s a clumsy rhyme scheme, but we’re keeping it anyway…
Ideal for patisserie perfection with royal connections…
India Hicks (King Charles III’s goddaughter) has teamed up with the fourth-generation Ayan brothers from Turkish chocolatier dynasty Pelit to create Mayfair’s most talked-about new patisserie. Sitting pretty on North Audley Street, the de Gournay wallpaper and leopard print accents scream expensive good taste, and the chocolates and other sweet treats taste good. What’s not to love? Except, you know, the suspicion that the taxpayer has contributed to this place…
Anyway, the chocolate éclairs represent seven decades of Turkish chocolate expertise, the Basque cheesecake is just the right side of oozing, and the magnolia pudding has already spawned a thousand Instagram posts. They serve wine and barista-made coffee if you fancy making an afternoon of it, plus lobster rolls for those requiring something savoury before the sugar assault begins.
Ideal for Italian-American theatre and tableside Caesar salads…
The hardest reservation in New York has finally crossed the Atlantic, taking residence in the former US Embassy building at The Chancery Rosewood. Not actually open for another couple of weeks, this is where you’ll come for red-sauce Italian-American glamour when the doors finally swing open. And, to be honest, you haven’t managed to score a table at The Dover.
The spicy rigatoni alla vodka is the restaurant’s signature dish across the pond for good reason, though the veal parmigiana and branzino deserve equal attention. Waiters in maroon tuxedos perform tableside Caesar salads and bananas Foster with the kind of showmanship that’s sometimes missing from the sometimes self-conscious London dining scene.
Yes, it’s going to be expensive. And sure, you’ll struggle to get a table unless you’re famous. But the Murano sconces, jewel-toned seating and general sense of occasion make this worth the effort. This is where Rihanna and Taylor Swift eat in New York, which tells you everything about the vibe they’re cultivating.
Book the moment reservations open or prepare for disappointment.
There’s no game quite like golf. Indeed, it could be argued that a round of the good stuff represents one of the most relaxing and simultaneously challenging pastimes there is. The game can take all day if you let it (or more, if you’re searching for your balls in the rough!) and can quickly take over your non-game time, too, if you’re seriously focused on improving your game.
Given the pleasure that comes from playing golf and the satisfaction found in working on your game, especially if you’re golfing with trusted friends, many golfers find great joy in taking a trip devoted entirely to the pursuit.
You might have a weekend or even a full week away from technology and work with just you, your buddies, and a favourite golf course…. Heaven. The time can be restful, rejuvenating and can dramatically improve your swing. Yet a golf trip can also be a real headache if you’re not properly packed and prepared. Whilst we can’t show you how to golf or help you improve your game, we can advise you on the latter; here are 7 tips to help you pack better for your golfing getaway.
Don’t Pack Too Many Shoes
Shoes are big and bulky and tend to quickly use up spare luggage space. As such, you need to consider your footwear carefully when it comes to a golfing trip. You’ll, of course, need golf shoes and it’s a good idea to bring more than one pair, just in case the first gets sodden or ruined by rain and mud.
It’s likely that, unless you’re going somewhere hot and bringing flip flops, you’ll only have room for one more pair of shoes, as the majority of your luggage allowance will be taken up with golf equipment. Investing in a pair of smart casual shoes (a bit of a catch-all phrase, we realise) that you can wear during the day and in the evening in more formal settings is probably the best move, here.
Ideal Tip: Don’t forget to pack some antimicrobial socks to ward off funky smelling feet.
Check Weight And Size Restrictions
Perhaps the most important decision of all, this; you need to decide whether you’re going to hire some golf clubs, or take your own. If it’s the latter, then deciding what clubs to bring depends on your skill set – the must-have clubs are the ones you hit best with, whether that be those trusty Ping Irons or some specialised clubs.
Most airlines consider golf equipment as a standard checked baggage item (usually with a 23kg – or 50lb – allowance), meaning you may need to purchase additional baggage allowance if you want to bring another checked suitcase with you.
If your clubs exceed the checked baggage allowance weight, an overweight baggage fee will apply. When it comes to golf clubs, some airlines also charge an oversized item handling fee, too. The conditions and costs will vary between airlines, so check the size and weight restrictions of any carrier you’re considering before you finalise the details of your trip.
Ideal tip: Depending on the maximum weight restriction, pack any extra clothes in your golf bag – not only does it provide extra cushioning for your clubs, but it also gives you more room to pack other items. Most golf bags have extra pockets so take advantage of this.
Two Outfits A Day
Most golf clubs have a dress code – chinos and a collared shirt at a minimum – which means you’re probably going to need at least two outfits per day (one for golfing and one for the evening after you’ve showered). You also want to look up what the specifics are in terms of attire at the particular course or club you’ll be golfing at. Finally, you might be in need of formal dinner attire if there are evening plans with a dress code, too. Most golfing trips involve the odd trip to a fancy restaurant or suave bar, after all…
If you’re going to be sightseeing or wandering about, be sure to pack light layers to help you deal with whatever weather you encounter. There’s a common Danish catchphrase that says ‘’there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad outfits’’, and we couldn’t agree more. Layers with a lightweight rain mac thrown in for good measure will help you quickly adjust to any surprises in the temperature or conditions you might encounter.
When it comes to packing clothing, you probably want to minimise any wrinkles and creases accrued, given the more formal standards of many golf courses, clubs, and their dress codes. This will involve packing loosely (wrinkled clothes are often the result of an over-packed suitcase).
You also want to fold items differently; fold once length-wise and then roll up what’s remaining into a cylinder. Not only will this help you save space in your suitcase, but it will also help reduce creasing.
Of course, you don’t want to be rolling dress shirts. When folding them, try to stick with natural seams. Finally, using plastic dry-cleaning bags to help further reduce wrinkling. Plastic will help reduce friction, which can cause wrinkling. As a bonus, these bags can be reused to hold your soiled clothing (particularly sweaty clothing) without letting the scent seep into your suitcase or other possessions.
Consider A Golf Trolley Bag
If you’re planning to walk the course rather than hiring a buggy, investing in a proper golf trolley bag can make all the difference to your golfing experience. These bags are specifically designed to sit securely on a pull trolley whilst providing easy access to your clubs and accessories. Look for one with a good base that won’t tip over and plenty of pockets for tees, balls, and refreshments. Many modern trolley bags also feature insulated pockets to keep your drinks cool during those long summer rounds.
The beauty of golf trolley bags is that they’re designed to stay upright when stationary, making it much easier to organise your gear between shots. Plus, you’ll save your back from the strain of carrying a heavy bag for 18 holes, leaving you fresh for that crucial putt on the final green.
Pack A Weather Contingency Kit
British weather is famously unpredictable, and golf courses are particularly exposed to the elements. Pack a compact weather kit that includes a quality waterproof jacket (preferably one designed for golf that won’t restrict your swing), waterproof trousers, and a sturdy golf umbrella. Don’t forget a spare glove or two – wet gloves can ruin your grip and subsequently your entire round.
Consider packing a lightweight towel specifically for drying your clubs and hands, as most courses provide towels but they’re often sodden by the time you reach them. A small bottle of hand warmers can be a godsend during those crisp autumn mornings, and sun cream is essential even on cloudy days – the reflection off water hazards and sand bunkers can catch you unaware. Remember, there’s nothing worse than being caught unprepared when the heavens open on the back nine.
Space Saving Smarts
One space-saving trick is to pack only the medication, supplements and precautionary first aid items you’ll need, rather than the entire medication bottle. This might involve taking out the pills required for the length of the trip and putting them in a pill container or labelled plastic bags.
If you’re someone who gets allergies (a common occurrence on the course), you might want to bring some allergy medication as well – you won’t be able to know what flora and fauna is present on the course until you get there. Just be forewarned that allergy medication can cause cloudiness in the mind and drowsiness in the body. This can affect your golf game and even your ability to drive a golf cart.
Don’t Pack Last Minute
This is a tip that applies to packing for any holiday, not just a golf trip; packing last-minute is a recipe for disaster. It’s easy in a frazzled state to forget something vital, and begin your supposedly relaxing trip stressed and anxious. To avoid this, pack a few days beforehand. This will give you time to realise, register and realign, if you’ve forgotten something before you’re actually away on the trip.
And with that, we wish you bon voyage. Or rather, fore!
Finsbury Park station sees close to 10 million passengers a year, most of them racing through to somewhere else. Arsenal matches, Victoria Line connections, the Piccadilly Line to Heathrow; this Victorian terminus has too often been about getting people places rather than coaxing them to tap out and explore.
Which makes the current restaurant scene all the more surprising. Within ten minutes’ walk of the station, you’ll find one of only a clutch of Uyghur restaurants in the entire UK, a gastropub where getting a table is a tough old business, and a Kurdish bakery selling three naan for a pound-fifty.
Actually, perhaps that isn’t so surprising. The mix reflects the area’s particularly diverse demographics. Turkish and Kurdish families have been here since the 1970s, joined more recently by Syrian refugees and young chefs who’ve worked out that the rent’s cheaper than Hackney and the customers less exhausting than Shoreditch.
We’ve spent the last few months eating our way around Finsbury Park, to bring you this selection of some great places to eat within walking distance of the station. Here are the best restaurants near Finsbury Park.
Dotori, Stroud Green Road
Ideal for when you want brilliant Korean-Japanese fusion and you came carrying cash…
Dotori operates like a restaurant from 1995: cash only, no bookings, closes when the food runs out. In the age of OpenTable and contactless everything, this should be annoying. Instead, the tiny space next to Finsbury Park station fills every night with people who’ve learned to play by its rules.
The bibimbap comes in a stone pot hot enough to cause actual injury, the bottom layer of rice developing that crucial crust while you mix everything together with one of those thin metal spoons that burns your fingers. Their bulgogi beef has the sweet-savoury thing down cold, while the Korean fried chicken could make you reconsider your position on every other deep-fried item you’ve ever eaten in your life.
Downstairs there’s basement seating that feels accidentally discovered rather than designed, the kind of space where you drink Hite beer from the bottle and share tables with strangers because there’s nowhere else to sit. Down here or up there, the sushi is better than it has any right to be in a place that also serves kimchi jjigae, each piece cut with the kind of precision that suggests someone trained somewhere serious before ending up in this little corner of Finsbury Park.
Just remember the cash thing. There’s a Tesco with an ATM across the road, and yes, the person behind you in the queue made the same mistake. The lack of a card machine isn’t quirky inefficiency; it’s a business decision that keeps prices low and taxmen confused. At £30-40 per person for enough food to also have a really good takeaway lunch the next day, neither you nor they will complain.
Ideal for a cheeseburger that ruins all other cheeseburgers, and so much more besides…
Ed McIlroy and Jamie Allan from Four Legs took over this corner pub with what seemed like a simple plan: serve good food without any nonsense. They delivered on (and continue to deliver on) that plan with precision.
The Dexter cheeseburger is the headliner, and at £13 has since become the kind of thing people cross London for; a construction of aged beef and melted Comté that maintains structural integrity despite your best efforts to destroy it. Various national restaurant critics have waxed lyrical about this burger for good reason; it’s fantastic.
Images via @the.plimsoll
But focusing on the burger misses what makes The Plimsoll special. The menu changes based on what McIlroy fancies cooking and what’s good in the daily deliveries. That might mean dover sole Grenobloise one week, pigeon bhuna the next. There’s a confidence here that comes from chefs who’ve stopped trying to prove anything – the plaudits and full tables encouraging them forward, unconstrained by place and time. The wine list stays reasonable enough, with several bottles in the £30 region, but this is a pub, so it’s pints all the way for us.
The problem (if you like to gatekeep, we suppose) is that everyone knows about it now. Tables turn every 90 minutes, and getting a reservation requires forward planning and, even then, a fair amount of waiting. That said, the bar takes walk-ins, which means you might get lucky if you’re willing to eat at 5:30pm on a Tuesday. The food’s good enough to justify the compromise.
The Victorian pub bones remain intact, which is to say it looks like a pub, sounds like a pub, and smells faintly of centuries of spilled beer and more recent burger fat that’s dripped onto the floor. They haven’t tried to turn it into something it’s not, which in the current climate of proliferating, standardised gastropubs counts as radical.
Ideal for discovering the distinct flavours and techniques of Syrian cuisine…
The family who run Palmyra’s Kitchen fled Syria with their recipes, their memories, and the clothes they could carry. Now they serve some of the best Levantine food in the country from this stone-walled space opposite the Picturehouse Cinema.
Fruit is used deftly in savoury dishes to glorious effect: pomegranate molasses in the muhammara, dates stuffed into kibbeh, dried apricots turning up in lamb stews. It all leads to a light, bright eating experience that’s just so satisfying. The chicken shawarma is a particular joy; the meat comes charred at the edges but stays uniform and juicy within (an impressive feat considering Syrian shawarma tends to only use white meat), wrapped in structurally sound flatbread that doesn’t fall apart after two bites, despite it being saturated with pleasingly astringent toum.
The mezze showcases the kitchen’s deft touch most aptly. Each dish tastes distinct rather than like variations on tahini and olive oil. The baba ganoush has actual smoke flavour rather than just liquid smoke sadness. The fattoush uses sumac like it means it, not just as colourful garnish. It’s all incredibly fulfilling stuff.
The family who run the place possess that particular brand of Middle Eastern hospitality that makes you feel simultaneously like royalty and their favourite nephew. They’ll remember your order after three visits, ask about your mother after five, and by visit ten you’ll find yourself invited to their daughter’s graduation (it was a wonderful day, by the way). This is neighbourhood dining at its finest.
Open daily from noon to 2am, with outdoor seating that works eight months of the year if you’re layered up and optimistic, Palmyra’s inclusivity and warm welcome has made us loyal regulars.
Ideal for eating Uyghur cuisine at one of London’s very few regional spots…
Uyghur food sits somewhere between Chinese and Central Asian, which is to say it’s like nothing else you’ve eaten. Dilara, run by Abdul and Rose Axmu who fled Xinjiang, is one of just a handful of restaurants in London serving it.
The hand-pulled noodles get made to order, each strand stretched with a confident dexterity that creates just the right texture – firm, pliable, but tender, too. They come in a lagman soup that uses cumin, coriander seed and caraway, but tastes wholly distinct. The big plate chicken lives up to its name, enough food for a couple who have come hungry, the sauce building heat gradually rather than attacking immediately.
The lamb skewers show what makes Uyghur cooking special. Dry-rubbed with cumin and chilli before meeting charcoal, they develop a crust that concentrates the flavour into something almost mineral, and a little funky too. Order more than you think you need; everyone does eventually anyway.
The restaurant packs tables like orderly Tetris blocks, acoustics ebb and flow with unpredictably, and you’ll leave smelling of the grill. None of this matters. In fact, it’s all part of the fun. Hot Dinners called it a place of pilgrimage, which sounds excessive until you’ve eaten here.
Giacco’s owner Leo named his 20-seat wine bar after his grandfather, gets weekly shipments from his mother in Florence, and deploys generations-old family recipes on an almost-illegible chalkboard menu. If that sounds too cute, too contrived, the food will convince you otherwise.
The cheese and charcuterie boards feature imported items selected by Leo’s family in Italy, mortadella with the fat content of butter, pecorino with serious funk, ‘nduja that undulates with chilli heat just right…
…but it’s in the fresh pasta dishes, all scrawled on that daily changing chalkboard, that Giacco’s excels. Here you might find a tuna Genovese-style with tagliatelle, plump little parcels of ricotta, sage and Amalfi lemon, and thick cut pappardelle with confit duck ragu and crispy onions. It’s gorgeous stuff; roughly hewn, homestyle cooking that makes all of those marbled ‘pasta bars’ in Central feel a bit bland and silly.
The wine list focuses on small batch Italian producers with broadly biodynamic leanings, with some French bottles thrown in for variety. There’s plenty available by the glass, and with a plate of that pasta and a slice of homemade tart (an almond and plum number the last time we visited), you can enjoy an eminently satisfying meal for under £50. Cheers to that!
Tuesday to Sunday, hours vary with Leo’s mood and the weather.
Ideal for understanding that good bread doesn’t need to cost more than bus fare…
Three naan for £1.50. We could stop there and Baban’s Naan would be worthy of a place in our rundown of where to eat near Finsbury Park station. Because in a country where coffee costs £4.50, this Kurdish bakery’s freshly baked naan, coming from the tandoor with blackened bubbles and char marks, feels like it’s free.
But to chunter on only about value would do a disservice to the quality of the cooking here. Everything gets made fresh, which means waiting just a little. Queues inevitably snake out the door at lunch. The Kurdish kebab wrap at £5 is an absolute steal, generous with grilled lamb and vegetables, yet digestible. There’s a falafel version too that’s equally good.
You can choose your naan from an impressive range – everything from sesame, garlic, and zaatar to cheese and barley varieties. Their peshwari naan is perhaps the best in town, a pillowy delight with a generous filling of coconut, almonds, mango pulp, and rose water that strikes the perfect balance between sweet and fragrant.
Those two are the most accoutrement-heavy and expensive (relatively speaking, of course) offerings – the rest is ‘just’ naan. Plain, flavoured with zaatar, sesame, chilli or garlic. The simplicity is refreshing, the flavours fresh and to-the-point, the value undeniable.
The crowd includes local workers who’ve done the maths, students stretching loans, and food obsessives making special trips, the latter encouraged, perhaps, by a glowing review in the Independent during COVID times. Everyone waits without complaint, understanding they’re about to eat better than people paying five times as much.
Open seven days a week, 10am to 8pm. Miss it and you’re stuck with supermarket sandwiches, contemplating where your life went wrong.
Ideal for Turkish hospitality without the three-hour flight…
Now in its third decade, Petek has been feeding Finsbury Park meat grilled over charcoal with the kind of consistency and great value that builds devotees. Count us among them…
The mixed shish is the highlight here, with lamb, chicken and kofte on a bed of rice that’s absorbed enough meat juice to be indecent, its own saffron-scented perfume standing up to that mixed meat run-off and creating something wholly new.
The lunch deal brings two courses for £18.50, the kind of pricing that makes you check the date on the menu. They’re playing the long game: lunch leads to dinner, dinner leads to weekly visits, weekly visits lead to loyalty. Everybody wins.
Little touches matter here. Warm pita with olives appears without asking. They’ll swap rice for bulgur if you ask. Turkish Delight comes with the bill, because you haven’t already eaten enough. And the seasoning is always spot on, whether you’re on the Adana lamb beyti or the falafel and helim wrap.
The family running it make each table feel like the only one that matters, even when the place fills with Arsenal fans in various states of emotion, the proposition the same whether you’re Saka or a Sunday league substitute.
Open noon to 11pm daily, with the kind of reliability that’s increasingly rare.
Ideal for breakfast, bargain lunches and BYO dinners…
Frank’s Canteen occupies a somewhat liminal space between café and restaurant without existing in an identity crisis. Eggs Benedict (on a Dusty Knuckle muffin, no less) for breakfast, duck confit for dinner, both executed with equal conviction.
The prix fixe lunch at £21 including wine, Monday to Friday, makes you wonder what the catch is. The catch is the dining room’s small enough to hear every word of neighbouring conversations, though that’s a potential new friendship rather than a problem.
Wednesday evenings bring BYO with no corkage, basically free money in London terms, and there’s happy hours between 4 and 6pm, which means half price drinks and snacks (the mutton croquettes are superb). They also do a happy hours sub – recently stuffed with beef cheek croquette, apple jam, roquito and gouda cheese sauce – that’s big enough to share, so come with someone who appreciates a good sandwich and get them to cut it in half. The cooking has the flavours turned up loud enough to matter, which means nothing tastes like you could’ve just made it at home. It’s all pitched so perfectly.
Opening at 7:30am suggests optimism about human nature, but the shakshuka has enough fire to wake anyone. In the evening, steamed halibut, cockles and courgette is picture perfect, fine-dining worthy, and gives more than enough reason to linger. You know what? We might stick around for dessert…
Jewellery is not just a fashion statement; it’s also an extension of your personality. It reflects who you are and how you want to present yourself to the world.
Whilst there have been, in the past, as many as 16 different personality types posited, the Myers-Briggs test has now largely been debunked as totally meaningless.
Instead, many contemporary psychologists now believe that there are five main personality traits or ‘dimensions’ – Conscientiousness, Extroversion, Openness, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism, with each person having a delicate balance of each, one often more emphasised than the others.
While of course it’s a little reductionist to put people in a personality box (us humans are all very different and complex beings after all), exploring personality traits can be both insightful and fun. With that in mind, here we offer some tips on choosing jewellery pieces that align with each trait. Let’s dive in…
Conscientiousness
Conscientious folk are organised, responsible, and detail-oriented. They value punctuality, discipline, and hard work. When selecting jewellery, conscientious people should opt for timeless, classic designs that exude elegance and sophistication.
Minimalist & Timeless Pieces: Someone who defines as conscientious may well appreciate simplicity and orderliness. Therefore, minimalist and timeless jewellery pieces such as delicate gold or silver chains, classic stud earrings, and thin bangle bracelets would be ideal choices. These pieces are versatile, easy to maintain, and can be worn with a whole host of outfits and levels of formality, making them perfect for someone who values organisation and practicality.
Commitment-Driven Jewellery: Conscientious people take their commitments seriously and often have a strong sense of responsibility towards others. Commitment-driven, personalised jewellery, such as engraved pendants, initial rings and cross necklaces, can serve as a meaningful reminder of their dedication to loved ones or important goals. This thoughtful touch will resonate with their responsible nature and make the piece even more special.
Functional & Practical Accessories: Self-regulation and impulse control is a defining characteristic of conscientiousness, and those with the trait may appreciate functional and practical jewellery items. For example, a stylish watch or a sleek fitness tracker bracelet can help them stay organised and on track with their daily routines while still looking fashionable.
Ethical & Sustainable Jewellery: Conscientious people are likely to be concerned about the impact of their choices on the environment. Ethical and sustainable jewellery options, such as pieces made from recycled materials or sourced from fair-trade suppliers, will appeal to their sense of responsibility and awareness.
Goal-Oriented Charms: To celebrate their achievements and long-term goals, those with a conscientious side might enjoy wearing goal-oriented imagery on a charm bracelet or necklace. These could include symbols representing milestones in their personal or professional lives, such as a graduation cap, a house, or a promotion-related emblem, or simple but subtle signs of wealth or having ‘made it’. This type of jewellery serves as a constant reminder of their accomplishments and motivates them to continue striving for success.
Extroversion
Extroverted personalities are outgoing, energetic, and sociable. They enjoy being the centre of attention and thrive in social situations. For extroverts, bold and eye-catching jewellery pieces that make a statement are the perfect choice.
Bold Statement Pieces: Extroverts are known for their confidence and love for attention, so why not consider something that reflects your larger-than-life persona? A stunning bib necklace or a chunky bracelet would do just the trick. These eye-catching accessories are sure to turn heads and make an extroverted person feel like the star they truly are.
Colour: Another essential factor to consider when choosing jewellery for an extrovert is colour. Bright and vibrant hues are perfect for someone who loves to stand out in a crowd. Think along the lines of colourful gemstone rings, multi-colored beaded necklaces, or even a pair of dazzling rainbow-hued hoop earrings. These lively pieces will not only add a pop of colour to their wardrobe but also showcase their fun-loving nature.
Layering: Extroverts often enjoy experimenting with different styles and expressing themselves through fashion. A layered necklace set or a stack of assorted bangles would be an excellent choice for someone who loves to mix and match their accessories. This way, they can create a unique look that truly represents their outgoing and adventurous spirit.
Openness
Individuals with high levels of openness are creative, imaginative, and curious. They appreciate unconventional ideas and have a strong sense of aesthetics. Always open to embracing new experiences, for these free-spirited souls, unique and artistic jewellery pieces that showcase their individuality are ideal.
Unique Conversation Starters: Open-minded folk often appreciate bold and unique designs that make a statement. Opt for eye-catching pieces such as large pendant necklaces, oversized rings, or chandelier earrings that showcase your creative flair and willingness to stand out from the crowd. For example, a stunning geometric necklace or a pair of sculptural earrings can serve as conversation starters and reflect your imaginative nature.
Artisanal & Handcrafted Jewellery: Those with a high degree of openness tend to value craftsmanship and originality. Handcrafted jewellery made by skilled artisans is an excellent choice, as each piece is one-of-a-kind and reflects the creator’s artistic vision. Look for personalised bracelets for sale made from unusual materials or featuring intricate designs, such as a wire-wrapped gemstone or a hand-painted enamel bracelet.
Vintage & Antique Jewellery: People who value openness often have a keen interest in history and nostalgia. Vintage and retro inspired pieces offer a connection to the past while showcasing timeless elegance and charm. Consider investing in a beautiful Art Deco brooch, an Edwardian-era filigree ring, or a Victorian locket to add a touch of historical allure to your collection.
Customisable Jewellery: As creative individuals, those with the openness trait coursing through their veins may enjoy the opportunity to express themselves through customisable jewellery. Personalised pieces, such as monogrammed pendants, initial rings, or birthstone bracelets, allow you to showcase your individuality and create a meaningful connection to your accessories. Additionally, consider working with a jeweller to design a custom piece that reflects your unique vision and style.
Expressing Subcultural Identity: Jewellery can express your subcultural identity, whether in music, fandoms, or lifestyle communities. Pieces with band logos, album art, or iconic symbols showcase your interests and help bond with others. Subcultures have unique styles, like gothic designs or bohemian natural stones. Customising jewellery adds a personal touch, and tattoo-inspired pieces with intricate designs resonate deeply. Flesh tunnels and ear weights are also popular, adding a distinctive flair. Choose jewellery that aligns with your passions to enhance your style and connect with like-minded individuals. Let your jewellery tell your story.
Birthstone Jewellery: Leading on from the above point, people with the openness personality trait are drawn to wearing birthstone jewellery as it allows them to connect with their inner selves and the world around them. Birthstones are believed to possess unique energies that resonate with an individual’s astrological sign, enhancing their personal qualities and promoting self-discovery. By wearing their birthstone, individuals with openness embrace the healing properties of these gemstones, which it’s believed can help release blockages in their physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.
Zodiac Jewellery: People with the openness personality trait like to wear zodiac jewelry as it allows them to express their individuality and connect with others on a deeper level. Wearing zodiac jewellery resonates with their curious nature, as they explore the cosmic heritage and symbolism behind each piece. This type of jewellery also serves as a conversation starter, enabling open-minded individuals to share their interests and beliefs with others. By wearing zodiac jewellery, those with the openness trait can showcase their unique personality, embrace their astrological identity, and foster meaningful connections with like-minded people.
Talisman Jewellery: People who are open are often drawn to talisman jewellery due to their innate curiosity and desire for new experiences. Wearing talisman jewellery like a dreamcatcher, the yin-yang symbol, or the evil eye, allows them to explore the world of symbolism, spirituality, and personal growth. These individuals appreciate the unique qualities and meanings behind each piece, as they resonate with their imaginative and insightful nature.
Talisman jewellery also serves as a tool for self-expression, allowing open-minded individuals to showcase their creativity and individuality. By wearing talismans, they can harness the power of them to support their personal development and enhance their connection to the world around them.
Finding authentic spiritual jewellery can sometimes be challenging, but many specialised jewellery wholesalers now curate collections of meaningful pieces from various traditions and cultures. Whether you’re looking for chakra stones, healing crystals, or sacred symbols, a reputable jewellery wholesaler can provide access to a diverse range of spiritual jewellery that resonates with your personal journey.
Ethically Sourced & Sustainable Jewellery: As with Conscientious jewellery wearers, open-minded people often have a strong sense of social responsibility and concern for the environment. Choosing ethically sourced and sustainable jewellery options aligns with these values and allows you to make a positive impact through your purchases. Look for brands that prioritise fair labour practices, use recycled materials, or support environmental initiatives, such as conflict-free diamonds or reclaimed gold.
Agreeableness
Agreeable personalities are kind, empathetic, and cooperative. They value harmony and are often drawn to symbols of love, peace, and unity. When choosing jewellery, agreeable individuals should look for pieces that represent their compassionate nature.
Charitable Jewellery: As altruistic individuals, those with an agreeable personality type may appreciate jewellery that supports a cause or charity. Many brands offer pieces where a portion of the proceeds goes towards helping various organisations. This allows the wearer to make a positive impact while also enjoying a beautiful accessory.
Symbolic Jewellery: Agreeable people often have a strong sense of empathy and understanding. Therefore, they may appreciate jewellery that carries symbolic meaning, such as pieces featuring symbols of love, friendship, or unity. For example, a necklace with an intertwined heart and infinity symbol could represent the everlasting bond between two people.
Nature-Inspired Jewellery: Given their compassionate nature, individuals with an agreeable personality type may feel a deep connection to the environment and its inhabitants. As such, nature-inspired jewellery pieces, such as leaf-shaped earrings or animal-themed pendants, can resonate with their love for the natural world.
Delicate Designs: Agreeable individuals tend to avoid drawing too much attention to themselves, preferring to focus on the needs of others. As a result, they may gravitate towards delicate and minimalist jewellery designs that subtly complement their outfits without being overly flashy or ostentatious.
Neuroticism
Those whose personalities come with a side order of neuroticism tend to be sensitive, anxious, and prone to experience many of life’s rich tapestry of emotions in a short space of time. Because of this, they often seek stability and reassurance in their lives. For those with high neuroticism, calming and soothing jewellery pieces can help provide a sense of balance and serenity.
Personalised Jewellery: Customised pieces, such as engraved pendants or initial rings, can provide a sense of security and familiarity for individuals with a neurotic personality. These personalised items show thoughtfulness and understanding, which can help alleviate any anxiety they may have about receiving gifts.
Understated Designs: Simple jewellery pieces like delicate chains, thin bangles, or small stud earrings can be comforting for those who are high in neuroticism. These understated designs do not draw too much attention, allowing the wearer to feel at ease in various social situations.
Symbolic Jewellery: Since neurotic individuals often possess emotional depth and empathy, they may appreciate jewellery with symbolic meanings. For example, a necklace featuring a tree of life pendant can represent personal growth and resilience, while a piece with an infinity symbol can signify everlasting love or friendship.
Healing Gemstones: Many people believe that certain gemstones possess healing properties and can help balance emotions. For someone with a neurotic personality, consider jewellery featuring stones like amethyst (for calming), rose quartz (for self-love), or black tourmaline (for protection against negativity).
Comfortable Materials: It is crucial to choose jewellery made from comfortable materials, such as hypoallergenic metals or soft fabrics, for individuals with a neurotic tendency. This consideration ensures that the wearer feels at ease and does not experience any irritation or discomfort.
The Bottom Line
Selecting jewellery that aligns with your personality traits is a fun and insightful way to express yourself. By dialling down into what makes you so unique, you can choose pieces that not only complement your style but also enhance your sense of self. So, next time you’re shopping for jewellery, keep these tips in mind and let your true personality shine!
Or, you could of course wear what makes you feel good…
*This article was written to entertain, rather than make affirmative claims about personality types and traits. The science on those traits hasn’t yet reached a consensus.*
Did you know that the most expensive jewel in the world is the Hope Diamond valued at more than $250 million? This diamond has over 45 carats and it’s as large as a smartwatch, requiring handling by specially trained professionals and 24/7 monitoring to ensure its safety.
However, handling jewellery with care shouldn’t only be reserved for record breaking diamonds. Indeed, it’s good practice for all kinds of gems, gold necklaces, silver rings, and more. What’s more, you can prevent your jewellery pieces from looking dull by cleaning them regularly, as long as you follow a few simple storage and handling methods along the way. These are those; our 7 top tips for looking after your jewellery to ensure its longevity.
Keep Your Jewellery Away From Sunlight & Oxygen
When you’re not wearing your jewellery, whether it’s a picture bracelet collection or a simple gold chain, you should keep them in a special box in a safe place in your house. Make sure that the lid of the box closes completely to prevent sunlight and oxygen from getting inside.
When oxygen gets in contact with valuable gems and precious metals, these items tend to oxidize. This process is automatic and usually irreversible, and will ruin the aesthetics of your jewellery over time. By keeping them in a special box, you prevent the oxidizing process and preserve the condition of your gems and necklaces.
Put Chalk Or A Silica Bag Inside Your Jewellery Box
That’s why expert jewellers recommend placing silica bags inside jewellery boxes, which will absorb moisture from the air and keep your jewellery items in good condition. You can use small chalk bags too.
Do Not Store Gems Together
Although gem pieces are certainly durable, they are not indestructible. That’s why you shouldn’t store small emeralds with rubies, topaz gems or diamonds together. They might rub on each other and develop scratches over time.
Even if these scratches are microscopic, they will still alter the beauty and value of your gems. You should use multiple boxes to store gems or a large jewellery box with multiple compartments. Diamonds are the strongest of them all, and can easily scratch other gems or jewellery pieces you might have.
Keep Your Jewellery Away From Water Sources & Chemicals
Some homeowners put jewellery items in a special box and store the box in the bathroom. This is not a good idea. As mentioned earlier, jewellery that gets in contact with moisture will be in trouble.
Similarly, some homeowners store a jewellery box close to harsh chemicals and dangerous substances. They might, for instance, hide the box in the garage next to a couple of buckets of paint. This is not a good idea as chemicals can quickly damage the beauty of your jewellery items.
The problem with chemicals is that they can cause discolouration. Additionally, toxic chemicals might be difficult to remove once they get in contact with other metals, and slowly erode the quality of the piece over time. To prevent this, keep in a safe box free from moisture and chemical interaction.
Clean Jewellery Periodically
Even if you take appropriate precautions, some jewellery items and gems might still get dust and debris on their surface. This is almost inevitable, especially if you wear your jewellery items regularly. In this case, you should develop a habit of cleaning your jewellery periodically, even if there’s no issues visible to the naked eye.
Ideally, this should be done once or twice a month. Use only lukewarm water, a creamy soap, and a toothbrush to clean your necklaces and earrings. Don’t apply too much pressure and wipe down excessive moisture afterwards. Gently, of course. The purpose of this cleaning process is just to remove accumulated dust and debris, not scrub away furiously at blemishes. Doing so would only worsen the issue.
If you have rings or necklaces with grime and debris that can’t be cleaned with a toothbrush, you might want to use an ultrasonic cleaner. Talk to an experienced jeweller on what type of ultrasonic cleaner to use and how to best deploy it. These devices can also be rented for simple jewellery cleaning tasks.
Use Straws To Prevent Necklaces From Getting Tangled
Some necklaces are like earphones – they tend to get tangled and it can be a time-consuming process to untangle them. Untangling silver necklaces is also risky because you might break the whole silver chain or make the small individual rings scratch each other. The same story is true for gold necklaces.
Luckily, there is a simple way you can get around this problem; use a straw. Disconnect the ends of your necklace and place one end through the straw. Let it pass through the straw and out the other end. Now you simply connect the ends back.
The straw will prevent entangling no matter how many necklaces you have or how close to each other you store them. Make sure that the straw is sufficiently large to accommodate your necklace. In some cases, you can find special jewellery straws online that are purposely built to prevent entanglement. Amazing!
Keep Jewellery Pieces Away From Small Children
There are two good reasons for doing this. First of all, small children might play with jewellery and then leave it somewhere tough to locate. We’ve all been there, but you don’t want to spend another entire afternoon looking for your grandfather’s ring, do you?
Secondly, children might accidentally swallow small jewellery pieces such as earrings, rings, pearls, and so on. Particularly important for when travelling but equally true when at home, use a jewellery box that can be locked with a key and store it high up in a closet or cabinet to prevent this.
The Bottom Line
As you can see, taking care of your jewellery pieces is not that complicated. These tips will preserve the beauty of your gems and necklaces for decades to come. On top of that, well-maintained jewellery items will likely have a higher resale value, if you do choose to cash in.
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 the best places to eat in Bath; our IDEAL 20 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 last week 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.
And with the announcement late last year that the restaurant (and bakery downstairs) were expanding next door and broadening the scope of their operations, the Landrace 2.0 (as it’s being referred to) now aims to place a firmer focus on whole-animal butchery, 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 – last week 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.
That expansion we mentioned has also led to the roll-out of La Pizza, a pizza operation that will exist in some form the the cafe part of the building, with the focus falling on 18 inch pies built for sharing. Right now, it’s in the process of a soft launch, but we’ve tried the courgette and stracciatella number in recent weeks, and it was ace. Keep your eyes peeled for more.
PS. You’re in for a real surprise when you visit the toilet!
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 seven years 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 – £12.50. Yes, just £12.50.
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, this summer, the team have 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 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 grazing on seasonal small plates while you explore a world of wine…
Corkage is a wine bar first and foremost, with a fine selection of showstoppers, heavy hitters and a few more esoteric bottles for good measure, many of which are imported by the owners here Richard Knighting and Marty Grant.
It’s a welcoming, inclusive affair on this stretch of Chapel Row; you won’t be judged for not knowing your stemmy from your steely, that’s for sure. In fact, exploring is greatly encouraged, with 50ml tasting samples available to help you find your ideal glass or bottle. We love that arms open approach.
This wine bar, it should be said on a rundown of Bath’s best restaurants, also happens to serve excellent food. A selection of seasonal small-ish plates to graze on while you pontificate on your wine, the ham hock terrine – suspended in a grassy green jelly – with a generous smear of split pea fava dip is a hearty old thing for just £8.50. The close-to-collapsing, spoonable beef short rib with house focaccia, beef dripping roasties and shavings of parmesan is even better.
For those erring on the ‘nibbles’ side of things, Corkage’s crisp squares of fried polenta with sharp, creamy whipped goat’s curd for dragging through, are something of a menu mainstay. Out back, an agreeable alfresco terrace area is a lovely spot to soak up some sun, order a second round of that polenta and have another glass.
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 earlier this year, 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 mi-cuit 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 £7, 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 £20 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 a grown-up menu of the UK’s finest wild fish and game…
This relatively new addition to Bath’s burgeoning dining scene from Mike Robinson, co-owner of London’s only Michelin starred gastropub, the Harwood Arms, might already be the best restaurant in the historic Somerset city.
Having opened in the late summer of 2020, following the first national lockdown, the Elder has found its groove immediately, with a focus placed firmly on locally sourced, seasonal ingredients and a menu that showcases the best game and wild fish of the region. Considering Bath’s position an hour from the coast and with good access to the UK’s largest fish market, Brixham in Devon, as well as its proximity to Quantock Hills, where wild deer roam, it feels like the menu writes itself here.
But that would be doing a disservice to the intricate, respectful cooking on show at the Elder; there’s some serious thought going into these dishes. The Dorset crab tart is a revelation, but even better is the Muntjac deer tartare on brown butter crumpet, which is a stunning piece of work. Leave room for the desserts, if you can; the seasonal fruit souffle (raspberry on previous our visit) is faultless.
And if that wasn’t enough, the restaurant has recently opened its very own oyster bar, with freshly shucked native oysters served on their gorgeous, south facing terrace. Well, it would be rude not to, right?
Last year, The Elder announced something of a revamp, menu wise. Both simplifying proceedings but also seemingly taking things up a notch, replacing the old a la carte offering with the introduction of a 7 course tasting menu, with a choice between meat and fish for the first starter and the main, as well as a dedicated vegetarian option. Priced at a generous £90 per person, the menu is designed around wild, seasonal, ever-changing, sustainable British ingredients. Let’s hope that crab tart finds its way back onto the menu soon!
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 six years 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. If the Beckford Bottle Shop is this good after just a handful of years on the Row, we’re very excited for the future here.
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 two 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.
And just today, the restaurant has 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 last year, 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.
Now that summer isn’t far away, things are only going to get better here. Indeed, 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 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 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 £49, 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 the kind of place of which Bristol has too many, but Bath has none, until now. We look forward to checking it out soon.
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.
Whilst it’s verging on the perverse to bring up the onset of autumn as the new breaks about summer 2025 being the hottest on record, just like the inevitable passing of time it’s something we simply have to look straight in the eyes, as we ponder another summer coming to an end.
Indeed, with September approaching and the occasionally balmy days threatening to frost over before too long, gardeners across the UK are beginning to consider packing up the garden furniture, adding a new layer of Ronseal to the decking, and preparing their green spaces for the chilly embrace of autumn.
But this shouldn’t mean that the UK’s gardens are a barren wasteland come the chillier seasons. In fact, with the right planning and creativity, your garden can transform into a sheltered sanctuary to relish, even as temperatures cool. With that in mind, here are 11 garden zoning ideas for autumn.
Cosy Fire Pit Zone
Nothing says autumn quite like huddling around a crackling fire pit, bangers bursting and spiced cider getting sipped amidst the crisp air. Firstly, you need to select a hardy, fire-resistant surface area in your garden to establish a fire pit. Some of the safest surfaces include:
Patio Slabs/Stone Pavers: These provide a heat-resistant and stable base for your fire pit. They also come in various shapes, designs, and colours, allowing you to match it with your garden aesthetic.
Concrete: A concrete pad can provide a safe and solid base for a fire pit. It’s resistant to heat and can handle the weight of a fire pit with ease.
Crushed Stone/Gravel: Crushed stone or gravel allows for good drainage and prevents any flammable material from being under the fire pit.
Fire-Resistant Mat: These are specifically designed for use with fire pits, and they’re made from heat-resistant materials. They can be placed under the fire pit on any surface, including wooden decks.
Brick: It’s quite resistant to heat and provides a classic, rustic look.
Sand: A thick layer of sand underneath your fire pit can act as a heat buffer.
Around this focal point, arrange comfortable seating, using warm-toned cushions and blankets for a greater sense of cosiness.
Colourful Autumn Borders
As the experts at Jacksons Nurseries encourage, it’s essential to plan ahead by cultivating plants that produce vibrant autumnal hues for a gorgeous autumn spectacle. There are several plants that thrive in the UK’s autumn climate, offering vibrant colours and spectacular displays.
One of them is the Acer tree, also known as the Japanese Maple, which provides a beautiful range of autumn colours, from fiery reds to deep purples. They are relatively easy to grow and can be planted in containers or directly in the ground.
Astilbe, a perennial plant, comes into its own in the autumn. It has feathery, plume-like flowers and fern-like leaves, which look particularly striking when they turn a golden brown colour in the autumn.
Sedum, also known as Stonecrop, is another great option. In the late summer and autumn, it produces clusters of star-shaped flowers that are a magnet for bees and butterflies. The flower heads remain attractive even after the blooms fade, providing interest throughout the winter.
Michaelmas Daisies – also known as asters – are perfect for adding colour to your garden in the autumn. These daisies, named because they bloom around the time of Michaelmas Day (September 29), come in a variety of colours, including purple, pink, and white.
Finally, consider planting grasses like Eulalia (Miscanthus Sinensis). In the autumn, this ornamental grass produces feathery plumes and its leaves turn to a lovely golden colour. It’s perfect for adding texture and interest to beds, borders, and containers.
These plants create a border that not only provides privacy but also adds a captivating cascade of ruby reds, burnt oranges and golden yellows to your garden landscape, though though do be aware that they should all be planted in early spring if it’s to be abundant by autumn. This one really is about playing the long game, we think.
Boundary Fencing For Privacy & Aesthetics
As the leaves begin to fall and the days grow shorter, ensuring your garden remains a private and inviting space becomes even more important. Consider upgrading or installing boundary fencing to create a defined, secure perimeter around your garden. Opt for materials that complement the autumnal palette, such as wooden panels stained in rich, warm tones or metal fencing with intricate designs.
Not only does boundary fencing provide privacy, but it also acts as a windbreak, protecting your garden from harsh autumn winds. For added visual interest, you can adorn your fencing with climbing plants like ivy or clematis, which will continue to add greenery and texture even as other plants begin to fade. This simple addition can transform your garden into a cosy, secluded retreat, perfect for enjoying the crisp autumn air in peace.
A Garden Room
Garden rooms offer an ideal solution for adding more functional space to your home, while blending seamlessly into your outdoor surroundings. Not only can these structures provide a dedicated area for hobbies, work, or relaxation, but they can also contribute a visually appealing element to your garden’s design.
Trends indicate a rise in multifunctional garden rooms that offer shelter, warmth, and convenience, extending the usability of your garden into the colder autumn months. These insulated spaces often include amenities like electricity and heating, transforming your garden into a year-round sanctuary.
From a cosy home office to a tranquil yoga studio, the possibilities for your garden room are endless, providing a versatile extension of your living space right in the heart of your garden. It’s also one of the only spaces in your garden that you can decorate, giving personal touches and flourishes to your semi-alfresco living – think canvas prints, collages, gallery walls and more. The possibilities are endless!
Wildlife Refuge
Autumn is the perfect time to invite wildlife into your garden. Consider allocating a zone featuring bird feeders, log piles, and a small pond. Install a hedgehog house nestled amongst foliage near your garden’s edge, and plant shrubs like Pyracantha and Cotoneaster, providing vital berries for birds during the colder months.
One of the simplest ways to create a sheltered, private space in your garden is by building a canopy or pergola. Entwined with climbers such as ivy or honeysuckle, this natural refuge offers a sheltered outdoor living area to enjoy a warming brew (or something a little stronger), even under the sporadic autumn showers.
Autumn Proof Your Decking
Your decking shouldn’t only be a summer concern. That said, the seasong’s more inclement conditions call for some proactive, preventative measures. To autumn-proof your garden decking, you’ll need to start by carrying out a thorough inspection and cleaning of your decking. Sweep away any leaves, dirt, or debris that may have accumulated over time, as these can trap moisture and lead to rot.
It’s also vital to ensure the drainage system is functioning optimally to prevent water accumulation. For sheltering from rain, consider a waterproof sealant. These are readily available in most home improvement stores and can provide a weather-resistant layer to protect the wood from moisture damage.
Even better, if possible, install that aforementioned canopy or awning over your decking to obstruct direct rainfall. If the decking is near trees, check for overhanging branches and trim them back to prevent leaf accumulation.
Should your garden be particularly prone to windy conditions, it’s essential to ensure your decking is firmly, securely fastened to the ground. It doesn’t take much for a poorly installed deck to come loose when the winds kick up.
A Grow Your Own Zone
Autumn is not strictly about preparing for winter; it’s also a great time to plant hardy herbs and winter vegetables, ensuring your garden is a hive of activity regardless of the weather. Transform a sunny spot into a productive mini kitchen garden, growing robust herbs, fruit and vegetables that don’t mind a bit of a chill in the air. They will not only provide fresh ingredients for hearty autumn meals but also introduce beautiful textures to your garden.
Produce you can plant in autumn that fare particularly well in the UK include:
Herbs
Parsley: This herb grows well in cool weather.
Chives: They can also withstand the colder weather.
Thyme: Plant it in early autumn and it can be harvested until the first frost.
Mint: Easily grown year-round, but plant in autumn for a fresh harvest in spring.
Fruit
Autumn Raspberries: These start fruiting in late summer and continue into the fall.
Blackberries: Plant in the early autumn for a harvest the next year.
Apples and Pears: These trees can be planted in the autumn for fruit in the coming years.
Vegetables
Kale: Thrives in colder temperatures and can be harvested throughout the winter.
Spinach: Plant in September for a late autumn harvest.
Beetroot: Plant early in autumn and you can harvest young for salads or leave them to grow on.
Swiss Chard: It can be sown in early autumn for a winter crop.
Hardier varieties of lettuce and other salad leaves: These can be grown if sown early in the autumn and provided with some protection from the harshest weather.
Winter onions and garlic: These can be planted for a crop the following summer.
Illuminated Walkways
As the nights begin to creep in earlier, ensure your garden remains inviting with strategic lighting. Light up your garden paths using solar-powered lanterns or install spotlights to accentuate the beautiful autumn foliage, creating a magical and serene environment.
Conservatory Sanctuary
If you have a conservatory, it can become your ultimate autumn sanctuary. Fill it with indoor plants and autumn-themed décor. With a cosy throw and a good book, you can enjoy the autumn vista from the warmth of your conservatory.
Outdoor Kitchen & Dining Zone
As autumn brings the harvest season and cooler evenings perfect for hearty outdoor cooking, consider creating a dedicated outdoor kitchen area that extends your entertaining capabilities beyond summer barbecues. Install a covered cooking station with a built-in grill or pizza oven, complemented by weather-resistant countertops for food preparation.
Position this zone near your house for easy access to indoor utilities, but ensure proper ventilation for smoke dispersal. Add a sturdy dining table crafted from weather-resistant materials like teak or powder-coated metal, paired with chairs that can withstand autumn moisture. Consider incorporating infrared heaters mounted overhead or freestanding patio heaters to keep diners comfortable during those crisp autumn evenings.
This outdoor kitchen zone becomes particularly magical when hosting harvest suppers or bonfire night gatherings, allowing you to prepare warming soups, roasted vegetables, and grilled treats while remaining part of the outdoor festivities. String weatherproof festoon lights overhead to create ambient lighting that extends dining well into those earlier autumn sunsets, transforming ordinary meals into memorable al fresco experiences even as the seasons change.
The Bottom Line
Autumn need not signal the end of your enjoyment of the garden. With these zoning ideas, your garden can continue to serve as a haven of peace and tranquillity amidst the hustle and bustle of everyday life. So, roll up your sleeves and create a garden that not only embraces the change of seasons but thrives in it. The nostalgic, enchanting sights, scents, and sounds of autumn await!
If you’re wondering where to eat near Shoreditch High Street station, then you’ve come to the right place. Whether it’s smoking hot Thai food, forward thinking modern British or handmade, fresh pasta, some of the best restaurants in Shoreditch are just a short stroll away from the station.
Sitting on the Circle Line, and just a stone’s throw from both Old Street on the Northern and Liverpool Street on the Central, Shoreditch High Street Station is one of the most accessible foodie focal points in all the city. But with such an abundance of choice brings a certain paradox; just where to find the best restaurants near Shoreditch High Street that actually live up to the hype?
We’re here to help with that; here’s where to eat near Shoreditch High Street Station.
Singburi, Montacute Yards
Ideal for punchy Thai flavours with a contemporary edge and London’s most coveted reservation…
The rebirth of Singburi in Shoreditch represents one of the most exciting restaurant relocations London has seen in years. Chef Sirichai Kularbwong, along with Nick Molyviatis (formerly of Kiln) and Alexander Gkikas (Catalyst Cafe), has traded the cult chaos of Leytonstone for a sleek glass-fronted space in Montacute Yards, and while the setting has evolved, his masterful command of Thai flavours remains unchanged.
The custom-built live fire grill takes centre stage in the open kitchen, where Kularbwong works his magic on a daily-changing menu that balances tradition with just the right amount of creative flair. The aubergine pad phet has already achieved signature status – double-fried until silky, then given vast swathes of aroma with wild ginger and chilli, turning it into something that tastes far greater than the sum of its parts.
The khua kling, traditionally made with pork or chicken, arrives as an intensely spiced dry curry of minced haddock that’s riveting, revelatory, and might have you hallucinating by the end of it. Meanwhile, the monkfish cheek green curry showcases a more delicate approach, with tender morsels swimming in a coconut-forward sauce that practically vibrates with aromatic intensity.
The transformation from the BYOB, no bookings vibes of old to the current polished operation is commendable in its ambition. Natural wines complement the bold spicing in ways that Singha simply can’t (for better or for worse), and there’s an enjoyably straightforward, satisfying cocktail list. Enjoy a couple of those at the counter; the best vantage point to watch Kularbwong’s focused approach to the stove play out in real time.
Yes, it’s pricier than the Leytonstone days, but with dishes starting at £6.50 and topping out around £20, it remains good value for cooking of this calibre. Just be prepared to fight for a booking.
For sheer proximity to Shoreditch High Street Station, Smokestak can’t be beat; you’ll catch its enticing wafts of wood smoke and grilled meats the moment you hear that familiar refrain to ‘mind the doors please’.
This is a restaurant that benefits from having a group of you round the table; their sharing beef brisket is the star of the show and could feed six easily. Complete with pickles and a few buns, this is finger food elevated to giddy new heights.
Ideal for experiencing the regional flavours of Myanmar in London…
Burmese is a cuisine that feels criminally underrepresented in London, but Laphet is flying the flag for this fabulous food and the city’s residents are taking note.
The dishes at Laphet are divided into small and large plates ideal for cramming the table with complementary tastes and textures, as well as bowls of noodles and broth that can be enjoyed as a single dish, should you be in a hurry.
Salads are keenly represented and their emphasis on crunch, bite and give, as well as an intricate interplay between savoury and sharp, is characteristic of the fine balancing act of Burmese food.
The pickled tea leaf salad is a must-order, and manages to feel both indulgent and light with every bite. And the country’s national dish, Mohinga, a catfish and lemongrass broth piquant with chilli and lime and deeply herbal, is as reinvigorating a bowl as you’ll find anywhere in East London, and that’s saying something, particularly with Kingsland Road so close.
To learn more about the food, history and culture of Burma, check out the excellent book Mandalay by cook and writer MiMi Aye.
Ideal for Thai food that reinvigorates your tastebuds and soul…
We’ve been huge fans of Smoking Goat since its raucous, ramshackle days on Brewer Street, Soho. Rest assured; since the Thai barbeque restaurant’s move to Shoreditch, the vibe remains rowdy, the chill levels still Scoville baiting, and the aroma of smoke even more pervasive, in the best possible way of course.
This is food designed to reinvigorate. Though the fish sauce chicken wings have gained deserved cult status, and their Tamworth pork chop with spicy jaew dipping sauce is a real crowd pleaser, it’s the restaurant’s work with the offal which keeps us coming back.
With liver, heart and kidney featuring heavily in various laap, you could go to the Goat and dine very well on these intoxicating Laotian/Thai salads alone. With several rounds of sticky rice, a som tam salad and a couple of cold ones, it’s the ideal lunch in the city.
Ideal for Basque-inspired grill cooking and the best turbot in London…
We did mention that you wouldn’t have to walk far from Shoreditch High Street Station to enjoy some truly world class cooking, right? Well, above Smoking Goat, chef Tomos Parry’s Michelin-starred ode to his native Wales and the fish-over-flames cooking of the Basque country has resulted in one of the standout London restaurant openings of the last few years.
Bring a couple of friends and order the whole turbot, which is the restaurant’s star dish (Brat is a name for the fish in colloquial old English). It’s even been reported that Brad Pitt and Bradley Cooper are fans, as keen to luxuriate in the king of the sea, its gelatinous flesh and pil-pil style accompanying dressing as the rest of us.
And would it even be a visit to Brat if you didn’t finish with the burnt cheesecake and seasonal fruit? A couple of London’s already most iconic dishes, right there.
If you can’t get a table here, then Brat’s residency at Climpson’s Arch in London Fields is still going strong, too.
Ideal for the most succulent Peri-Peri chicken in town…
Hey, there’s a Nandos just a five minute walk away from Shoreditch High Street Station in Spitalfields Market, but even closer (and quite possibly, better) is Caso Do Frango, whose grilled Peri-Peri chicken qualifies as truly top notch. Considering half a chicken is only a couple of quid more here than the cost of a cheeky one, Caso Do Frango feels like a fairly thrifty treat, too.
At the restaurant, chickens are grilled over wood-charcoal, ensuring a smoky finish and blistered skin, with their secret Piri-Piri blend providing a satisfying kick of chilli. It’s not all about the chicken, though; the supporting acts and side dishes are fantastic, too, particularly the rice with crispy chicken skin and chorizo, rounded off with plantain, which is an inspired touch.
Ideal for elevated Japanese dining that caters to both sushi lovers and skeptics…
This stylish Danish-Japanese chain may have outposts across London, but their Shoreditch location on Kingsland Road manages to feel both special and intimate. Dark leather seating and a striking central bar create an atmosphere that makes you forget you’re in one of the city’s busiest neighborhoods.
While the extensive menu might seem overwhelming at first (there’s a reason it comes with photos), the set menus here are a foolproof way to sample their greatest hits. The ‘As Good As It Gets’ option lives up to its name, featuring standouts like the Hotate Kataifi – delicate scallops wrapped in crispy strands with miso aioli and trout roe – and their Wagyu Bites, which elevate the humble idea of beef on toast to new heights.
True to their name, both the ‘sticks’ (yakitori) and sushi portions of the menu deserve equal attention. The black cod with miso (Gindara no Miso) is butter-soft and perfectly glazed, while the Hell’s Kitchen roll, loaded with tempura shrimp and spicy sauce, proves they can nail both traditional and contemporary takes on Japanese cuisine.
As for drinks, the cocktail menu is impressive, but we opted for a bottle of Picpoul de Pinet priced at a reasonable £36 per bottle, which paired perfectly with the diverse flavours of the meal.
Part of the beauty of dining here lies in the rhythm of the meal; the dishes keep coming, each one a new surprise. At £115 for the ‘As Good As It Gets’ menu (feeding two generously), it’s not everyday dining, but for a special occasion or when you want to impress out-of-towners, it’s worth every penny. Better yet, bring a group – this is food that’s meant to be shared and debated over which stick or roll – or indeed whether stick or sushi – reigns supreme.
Let’s park the Battersea/Clapham border debate once and for all, in favour of finding great food together and forgetting arbitrary quarrels about where one area starts and another begins. Instead, we’re here to break down barriers, borders andbread, all in the time it takes to wait for a train.
Whilst Clapham Junction might be the busiest train station in Europe, its restaurant scene is arguably a little less relentless, but you’ll still find plenty of great places to eat within walking distance of the station. So, without further ado, here are Battersea’s best restaurants and our picks on where to eat near Clapham Junction.
Taverna Trastevere, St John’s Hill
Ideal for authentic Roman cuisine and traditional, crowd pleasing pasta dishes…
A five-minute walk up St John’s Hill from Clapham Junction, Taverna Trastevere brings a genuine slice of Rome to South London. Opened in 2019 by life-long friends Nicolas Vaporidis and Alessandro Grappelli, this split-level restaurant has quickly established itself as one of the area’s most authentic Italian dining spots. The interior is exactly what you want from a Roman restaurant – all warm wooden beams, terracotta walls, and soft lighting that makes everyone look like they’re in a Fellini film.
The menu reads like a greatest hits of Roman cuisine, with particular attention paid to the holy trinity of pasta dishes that define the Eternal City – carbonara, cacio e pepe, and amatriciana (we’re sorry, alla Gricia), which all clock in at £18. While that might seem steep for pasta, the quality more than justifies it. Under the guidance of Roman chef Ivano Paolucci, these classics are executed with impressive precision – the carbonara, in particular, is increasingly spoken about in lofty, hyperbolic terms, with a growing crowd of pasta aficionados and Tory TikTokers making the pilgrimage to SW11 to try it.
The antipasti selection shines – don’t miss the suppli alla Romana (£8), those perfectly crafted rice balls with a molten mozzarella centre that are a street food staple in Rome. The fritto misto (£14) here, confusingly, isn’t lovely, fried tiny fish and tentacles, but rather, various suppli variations and cacio e pepe croquettes that’ll have you fighting over the last bite. And then, admittedly, regretting doing so as a wave of heaviness hits you.
For mains, the saltimbocca (£24) is a standout, the veal escalope cooked sympathetically and properly perfumed with sage, while the pizza menu offers excellent Roman-style thin crust options. The wine list is thoughtfully Italian-focused – their house red, a fresh and juicy Trebbiano, and white, a crisp Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, both start at £6 per glass.
The restaurant oozes that warm, convivial atmosphere of a traditional Roman taverna, complete with outdoor seating perfect for summer dining. The service style matches this vibe – attentive but refreshingly unpretentious, with an all-Italian staff adding to the authentic experience.
Taverna Trastevere is open daily for lunch and dinner, making it equally suitable for a casual weekday pasta fix or a more elaborate weekend feast. While prices reflect the central London location and quality of ingredients (expect to pay around £40-50 per person for three courses with wine), the cooking’s unwavering commitment to Roman traditions makes it a worthy addition to the area’s dining scene.
Clapham Junction station and the surrounding area certainly isn’t short on supermarkets and cash machines, which feels like an odd way to start an article about the best restaurants in Battersea, but bear with us.
You’ll need both for Kaosarn, a Thai bring-your-own-booze, cash-only restaurant whose no-frills, no-frippery mentality extends to the food in the best possible way. Here, the flavours are bold and upfront, with a country-spanning menu of the classics sure to perk up even the weariest of train-traveller.
The restaurant’s Bangkok-style som tam was once named as one of Time Out’s best 100 dishes in London, and it certainly does the job. Order it alongside some grilled chicken (gai yang) and a basket of sticky rice (khao niao) and you’ve got an enlivening, uplifting Thai meal for less than £20.
Ideal for some of South London’s best Neapolitan pizza…
Pizzeria Pellone on Lavender Hill is something of a game of two halves. The first side of the menu is Franco Baresi style; austere, traditional and masterful in its mistake-free delivery. The latter feels somewhat inspired by Roberto Baggio; creative, joyful and exciting.
Enough of the football analogies; this is superb pizza, make no mistake, with authentic Neapolitan recipes here using Caputo flour, Gustarosso tomato sauce and Buffalo Mozzarella straight from Campania. That comes as no surprise; the family owns five Pizzeria Pellones in Naples, and their restaurants in the Motherland regularly receive plaudits.
That said, it’s in the Pizze Le Pizze Gourmet section of the menu where the real excitement lies; the white pizzas here are superb and the Calzone Fritto, heavy on the black pepper and punchy with housemade salami, is a cult classic.
Perhaps precede all of this with a trio of montanare classiche, that absurdly satisfying Naples streetfood snack of golden but greaseless dough (how do they do that?) topped with marinara sauce and parmesan. It’s such a good version here.
Considering the restaurant is just a fifteen-minute walk from Clapham Junction station and the pizzas take just a minute to cook in Pellone’s roaring hot wood-fired oven, if your train is delayed and you’re looking for a quick, delicious feed in the meantime, then this is the place to head. Or, they’ll deliver to the station; back of the net!
Ideal for an exemplary banh mi, one of the best we’ve had outside of Vietnam…
Looking for an even faster, equally as satisfying meal close to Clapham Junction, that can be assembled to-go within just a few minutes? Keen to pair that with one of the most silky and luxurious liquid pick-me-ups on the planet? If you answered in the affirmative, then it’s to Viet Caphe you should head.
Open for less than a year and seemingly still in their soft launch stage, these guys are already knocking out some of the best banh mi in the city alongside a small selection of other light Vietnamese lunchtime staples like bun cha and summer rolls.
Anyway, back to that banh mi, which comes in a rundown of around nine (and growing) versions, most of which revolve around pork. We enjoyed the crispy pork version, which was generously filled with fatty pork belly and crackling, coriander and pickles, with all the rich mouthfeel and piquant cut through that entails. A glorious, exemplary banh mi, and one of the best we’ve had outside of Vietnam. We can’t wait to go back and get stuck into their menu more comprehensively.
Right now, the restaurant is unlicensed, but they also do a fine Vietnamese iced coffee – strong, sweet and indulgent – that can also be taken away. Now that’s a train picnic your fellow passengers will be casting covetous glances at.
Just leave Clapham Junction at the St John Hill’s exit and head up that hill for five minutes. Look for the pastel pink building and block, italics capitals of VIET CAPHE, and know you’re in business.
Ideal for when you fancy Korean comfort food but can’t be arsed to trek to New Malden…
Hana, seven minutes up from Clapham Junction (turn left out of the station, not right), is a family-run Korean spot has been pleasing SW11 palates with faithfully rendered Korean comfort cooking since 2012. The 20-seat space might be small, but when the stone bowl bibimbap arrives hissing like an angry cat and its aroma beckons you in like a waving one, you’re know you’re among as many friends as you could possibly need.
The restaurant once had Michelin recognition (genuinely not sure why they don’t anymore; it’s as good as ever), though you wouldn’t know it from the prices. The family who run it named the place after their daughter Hannah (Hana means ‘one’ in Korean), and there’s something rather lovely about how they’ve stuck to traditional Korean cooking while making Battersea locals feel at home. Inside, it’s all dark wood furnishings, pretty hanging lamps, and service that knows when to chat and when to leave you to your soju. If you truly don’t feel like chatting, you can bury yourself deep in the bowels of the place, behind a translucent byeongpung, and, erm, bury yourself deep in a bowl from the place. That’s a sentence that really doesn’t work, but we’re leaving it in anyway…
The bossam (£16.50) arrives as slow-cooked pork belly with lettuce wraps. No fancy garnishes here; just meat that is tender and fat that is wobbly, ready to be wrapped up with their ferocious house kimchi. Their bulgogi gets its sweetness from fruit marinades, while the homemade Hana mandu are plump dumplings (hey, how about we start calling these guys ‘plumplings’? guys? GUYS?) that put Itsu’s efforts to shame.
But it’s the dolsot bibimbap that really shows what they’re about. That stone bowl comes out nuclear-hot, raw beef cooking as you mix everything together with house gochujang. At under fifteen quid, it’s the kind of dish that ruins you for the watered-down versions you’ll increasingly find on the high street. There’s a round of complimentary banchan too, just as it should be.
Most dishes hover around £10-15, portions are generous enough that you’ll waddle back to the station, and after 13 years in the same spot, they’ve clearly worked out what the neighbourhood wants. Closed on Mondays.
Ideal for soul-stirring South Indian food that will ruin your local brunch spot forever…
South Indian cooking has landed on Northcote Road with Tamila, the latest venture from the team behind north London favourites The Tamil Prince and The Tamil Crown. Since opening in October of last year, it’s quickly made an impact, not for its curries so much, but more for its brunch. Quickly, it’s become the kind of place that makes you question why you ever waited 45 minutes for mediocre eggs Benedict on a particularly ropey Sunday morning. That Gail’s a minute down the road? It’s not longer getting a look in…
Unlike its pub-dwelling siblings up north, Tamila takes a more casual approach. The space is simple – whitewashed walls, wooden tables, booth seating – but the aroma of spices blooming that drifts from the open kitchen brings all the ambience you need here. That, and the steady stream of dosas floating past your table that will have you flagging down the waiter before you’ve even taken your coat off. That sounds like we’re planning to wear those dosas. Come to think of it, they’d make good sleeves…
…Speaking of those dosas – they’re the real deal. The masala version comes as a golden-brown crisp scroll hiding spiced potato masala within, served alongside coconut chutney and sambar that you’ll want to ask for extra of. At £9, it’s also one of the best value breakfasts in the area. The medhu vadai, those savoury lentil doughnuts that could teach their sweet cousins a thing or two about depth of flavour, are another morning winner.
As day turns to evening, the kitchen becomes a different thing, but it’s still satisfying, generous grub that serves up enough intrigue to represent a decent alternative to the area’s more old school curry houses. The Thanjavur chicken curry brings complex, layered spicing and the Chettinad lamb curry carries enough punch to wake up even the weariest commuter. Their dhal is treated with the respect it deserves here – creamy, deeply flavoured, and perfect with their exemplary rotis.
The Gunpowder Margarita has been proving particularly popular with the always-thirsty Northcote Road crowd. If that’s a little bracing, there’s a house Tamila lager that does exactly what you want it to, and a concise wine list that won’t frighten the accountants, who you’ll be dining next to, most likely.
Such has been the success (this place boasts a healthy bottom line, we’d wager) of this south London outpost that a second Tamila is already on the way, set to open in King’s Cross this month. But there’s something special about this original – Tamila feels like it’s been here forever, even though it’s only just getting started.
Ideal for one of the best-priced pizzas pizzas you’ll find in the capital…
Or, if you’re heading south out of Clapham Junction station rather than climbing the hill northeast, then you’ll find a pretty decent, super quick pizza on Northcote Road at Franco Manca.
All-conquering Franco Manca pizzeria doesn’t need much in the way of an introduction; it seems to be on every street corner of London these days. No, that we’re not complaining – it is still one of the best-priced pizzas you’ll find in the capital.
The trick is in their sourdough base, with the addictive tang only a great ferment brings. Options are limited but inclusive, all part of the places’ charm, with no danger of being gripped by the paradox of choice when scrutinising the simple, streamlined menu. A place like this lives and dies by the pizza itself, and fortunately for all of London, Franca Manca appears to be immortal.
On a street largely defined by mid-range chain eateries, Northcote Road’s best ‘neighbourhood’ restaurant is Osteria Antica Bologna, a warm and welcoming Italian which has been in the same spot for over two decades and does all of the simple, rustic things just right.
So, that’s freshly made pasta, ragus that taste like they’ve been bubbling since the restaurant opened, risotto that’s genuinely cooked to order (please allow for 20 minutes) and, if you’re feeling particularly ravenous, a Bistecca alla Fiorentina, that famous chargrilled T-bone steak beloved of Tuscany.
With affordable wine by the glass and a convivial atmosphere every night of the week (except Mondays, when it’s closed), it’s no wonder that Osteria Antica Bologna is such a hit with the locals.
The ideal neighbourhood restaurant and natural wine bar…
It’s the type of place that this corner of town has been crying out for; a natural wine bar that just happens to do deceptively simple, simply delicious things with seasonal British produce, ready to rival the steady stream of openings out East that seem to have perfected this concept.
Enter Ploussard, which ticks all of the boxes above and then some, all in a space that manages to be both austere but warm, the gentle, oscillating thrum of chatter and clinking classes soundtracking the sharing of plates and your own vital conversation.
Of those plates, a lamb and anchovy crumpet is as vibey and as delicious as it sounds, but try sharing one; it’s not possible. Even better – at their very best in fact – were hulking asparagus spears, al dente and vibrant green, laying under good dose of pert and piquant sauce gribiche. The two dishes actually worked beautifully in tandem, in fact – a spear and a touch of that sauce draped over the umami laden crumpet brought a whole new meaning to the sharing plates concept. Yours, as a pair, for under £20.
Though it’s positioning itself as a neighbourhood bistro of sorts, in the mould of Paris’ bistronomy movement, this isn’t a place to just pop in for a quick glass of wine on your way home from work; Ploussard, named after a prized French red grape variety typically grown in the eastern region of Jura, is already packed out every night of the week (except Mondays, when the doors remain bolted).
That said, it’s much easier to simply stroll in on a weekday lunch, and relax into this new Battersea gem. With several wines sold by the glass for just £6.50, it’s a place we can see ourselves relaxing into rather a lot this year.
Ideal for modern French food with some global flourishes…
This creative counter-dining restaurant on Battersea Rise would be impossible to get into were it in Hackney or out west on Westbourne Grove.
As it stands, with this part of Clapham offering up a different type of dining scene, you can usually expect to get a table (or rather, bar stool) at fairly short notice at French chef Yoann Chevet’s brilliant restaurant.
Do so, and you’ll be rewarded with a no choice four-course menu for a bargain £59, which falls broadly under the ‘modern European’ bracket but with a few Asian flourishes – think open ravioli of braised beef with kimchi and tofu.
Don’t worry, you’re not being experimented on with ill-thought fusion food; dishes here are light, perfectly poised and full of flavour. A must visit if you’re in Battersea!
Mien Tay, a Southern-ish Vietnamese restaurant a short walk from Clapham Junction, was one of favourite Vietnamese spots in the city, serving up some of the most faithfully recreated Vietnamese fare we’ve found in London without hitting up Kingsland Road out East.
We loved their rendition of banh xeo, a Vietnamese pancake/spring roll mash-up that is a textural, flavour-balancing delight. Décor was pleasingly stripped back and functional, letting the food do the talking, in typical Vietnamese spirit. Oh, and it was BYOB. All together now – ”Tram Phan Tram!’’ What was not to love?
Anyway, you might have noticed some pretty judicious use of the past tense there. That’s because the Battersea branch of Mien Tay (the Shoreditch and Fulham renditions remain) recently – and quietly – changed both name and owners. Now called Song Hong, the menu and chefs remain the same, though the quality is a little more hit and miss than its predecessor, we think. That said, those hits mean Song Hong is still worthy of a place on our list.
The best fine dining option in the area, this Clapham stalwart run by the effervescent, proudly classical chef Adam Byatt has been given a new lease of life in recent years, it seems, via its increasing ubiquity on TopJaw, and Byatt’s downright educational cooking instructionals on Instagram, that have honestly been feeding our weeknight dinner inspiration for the past few months.
A Michelin star felt like it came late for Trinity in 2016, but boy was it well-deserved. This is not to say it wasn’t superb before the little red book finally recognised its exceptional celebration of British ingredients with flair and respect – but Michelin’s acknowledgement of Trinity as one of the best restaurants in London is pleasing nonetheless. The restaurant has a particular affinity with game, and a visit in grouse season is a must.
If fine dining isn’t your thing, chef Byatt has recently opened a more casual, small plates affair upstairs – suitably named Trinity Upstairs – where the cooking is as attentive and precise as its big brother down on the first floor, but at a more accessible price.
Ideal for classic Thai curry’s and regional specialities…
The second Thai restaurant on our list, and for good reason; could there be a better cuisine at reinvigorating a commuter who’s been worn out by the cut and thrust of the capital, all in the time it takes to wait for that connecting train to Epsom? We certainly don’t think so.
Rosa’s Thai has outposts all over London, with the restaurant gaining popularity for its affordable, punchy Thai dishes with origins from across The Kingdom. The Clapham branch has found a home on Northcote Road, and in a street largely defined by pizzas and burgers, the enlivening hit of chilli and smoke is – even if a little functional – most welcome.
Go for the stir-fry dishes, as Rosa has real woks and burners out back and that all-important ‘hei’ can be sensed on the plate. The chilli and basil stir fry is a very satisfying one plate wonder, akin to Bangkok’s beloved pad gra pao, but using Thai basil instead of the holy stuff. Regardless, it does the job.
The restaurant also focuses on regional specialities. We’re particularly fond of coming here for an order of chicken larb, papaya salad and a side of sticky rice which all hail from the Isaan province in North-East Thailand.
As their website boasts, the restaurant group serves 11’000 pad Thais a week. We’re a little embarrassed to admit just how many of that number were us.
Ideal for chicken shish, falafel and halloumi kebabs…
Excuse the name that calls to mind Thierry Henry suavely, sexily peddling a Renault Clio, and instead turn your attention to the gorgeous, keenly priced kebabs being produced at Bababoom, Battersea Rise’s premier Middle Eastern-inspired restaurant.
With the charcoal grill licking up flames from noon daily, we’d argue that Bababoom is best enjoyed at lunchtime, where one of London’s best deals is found; a properly massive, laden chicken shish, falafel or halloumi kebab, fries and a drink (the frozen lemonade is ace) for just £10. Yep, ten pounds, and that drink can even be beer, which you’d likely be paying around a tenner for alone in some corners of the city. This one runs weekdays until 5pm. Get involved!
For the ultimate grab and go meal just moments from Clapham Junction station, Prezzemolo & Vitale, a relatively recent addition to the area, has brought an authentic taste of Sicilian gastronomia culture to this little corner of south west London.
With shops already thriving in Chelsea, Notting Hill, Borough Market and Wimbledon, the Battersea branch of Prezzemolo & Vitale is housed in the revamped Arding & Hobbs building on St John’s Rd. This Sicilian deli-cum-cafe is stacked with a wide selection of premium Italian charcuterie, cheeses, pasta and olive oil, as well as some items you’ll struggle to find in your local Waitrose, such as guanciale and bottarga.
There’s also an impressive array of seasonal produce imported directly from Italy on a weekly basis – Marsala black tomatoes and Ribera oranges, stand up. So far, so do-it-yourself…
But for a train picnic, you’ll be properly set up here too, with the counter on your left as you enter the deli (still haven’t decided what to call this place!) well appointed with homemade Italian classics that eat incredibly well lukewarm.
Seeing as the gaff (still haven’t decided…) is Sicilian, the caponata is particularly good. A really good version actually, salty, sweet and sour, in that order, and so good lumped across the freshly baked focaccia that’s also sold here. The parmigiana di melanzane and beef lasagne look great, too. Next time, next time…
On top of all that, Prezzemolo & Vitale’s own brand of Italian ice cream, including esoteric flavours like Gianduja, Fior di Panna, and Tiramisu, is available here (or to go) for all the sugarheads out there. Unsurprisingly, the coffee here more than does the job, too.
Soif, Battersea Rise *As of August 2025, now sadly closed*
Ideal for French fare and natural wine…
*Sadly, after 15 years of trading and leaving as a huge influence on London’s wine bar scene, Soif announced last month that it was to close, its last service taking place on 27th July. Soif will be hugely missed by many.*
For many years, Soif was the place in Battersea to drink and dine in classy, pared back surrounds. One of London’s first – and certainly one of its most influential – natural wine bars to take inspiration from the Parisian ‘bistronomy’ movement, Soif has outlasted its sibling restaurant Terroirs, a place that put the biodynamic stuff firmly on the map in the city.
Fortunately, the natty juice is still flowing at Soif, and goes beautifully with the rustic, French country cooking that keeps South London restaurants returning here daily. The pork and pistachio terrine, served with grilled sourdough, is a thing of real beauty whilst the blushing pink veal chop with a complex, piquant charcuterie sauce feels both like a relic of a bygone era and very much on point with modern London cooking.
Always in search of a bargain London set menu deal, we couldn’t head out the door of Soif and back onto Battersea Rise without mentioning their ‘Wine & Chicken Mondays’, which sees ½ a rotisserie chicken – golden, juicy, salty in all the right ways – served with proper aioli (for once not just a garlic mayonnaise), chips and bitter leaves, all for just £20. The only issue is, this one feels impossible to share!
Paired with a glass of floral, funky Pinot Gris from Germany’s Rheinhessen region, you’ve got yourself a light, gorgeous dinner that yesterday’s roast will be looking enviously at.
