Megan Carnegie has been a regular contributor to Time Out Paris and Time Out London.
![Megan Carnegie Megan Carnegie](https://media.timeout.com/images/103003836/750/562/image.jpg)
Megan Carnegie has been a regular contributor to Time Out Paris and Time Out London.
Think Marseille is having a moment? You're not alone. Franceâs third-biggest metropolis (after Paris and Lyon), Marseille has been a Mediterranean melting pot ever since it was founded by Greek settlers an astonishing 2,600 years ago. In the past, itâs had a rough reputation as a town of sailors and gangsters. But now? The city has become a hotspot for young travellers, with fantastic food, galleries, bars and more. From the jaw-dropping vistas of the calanques to wide-open beaches, here are the best things to do in Marseille right now. RECOMMENDED:â°ïž The essential guide to Marseilleâs Calanquesâ” The best boat trips from Marseilleđ The best restaurants in Marseilleđ The best pizza in Marseille Houssine Bouchama is the editor-in-chief at Time Out Paris. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.
Sure, you might be in Bordeaux for the wine, but youâve got to eat at some point, right? Right. And luckily, the food scene here has an equally fabulous reputation for good reason. For one thing, the local produce here is as fresh as it gets; weâre talking lamprey eel, caviar, lamb from Pauillac, beef from Bazas, oysters from Arcachon, asparagus from Blaye, porcini mushrooms â we could go on. The food here comes with a price tag but itâs worth every penny (just make sure to skip the tourist traps). Yes, weâll help. Here are the best restaurants in Bourdeaux. RECOMMENDED:đ The best things to do in Bordeauxđïž The best Airbnbs in Toulouseđ The best restaurants in Niceđ„Ș The best restaurants in Lyon At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.Â
As one of the oldest seaside cities in Britain, Portsmouth (AKA Pompey) blends its historic past with its prospering food, drink and nightlife scenes. This place still serves as Britainâs foremost Royal Navy base, and no trip is complete without a roam around the Les MisĂ©rables-esque dockyard. However, thereâs much more to Portsmouth than its famous maritime heritage â the seaside city has everything from ancient pubs on cobbled streets to unique contemporary art galleries, and football supporters so passionate they must be seen to be believed (particularly Pompey John, who has 60 tattoos and âP.F.Câ engraved into his teeth). With all that and more itâs well worth visiting, so hereâs our pick of the best things to do and see in Portsmouth for the day. RECOMMENDED:đ°The best things to do in WinchesterđïžThe best things to do in Southampton đïžThe best seaside towns in the UKđThe best hidden beaches in the UK At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.
Often dubbed the gastronomic capital of France â and sometimes even of the world â Lyon and its residents are no strangers to good food. It plays host to no fewer than 18 Michelin-starred restaurants, and as if that werenât enough, Lyon is world-renowned for its regional produce: chicken from Bresse, Charolais beef, unctuous cream and butter so rich you could weep into it. But thereâs far more to Lyonâs restaurant scene than belt-busting traditional feasts. From global fusion dishes spotlighting local seasonal vegetables to Sino-Indian Mamak street food, bouchons serving quenelles and baba au rhum to entire menus based around duck, hereâs our round-up of the best restaurants in Lyon. Thereâs no better place to say bon appetit. RECOMMENDED: đ The best things to do in Lyon This guide was updated in May 2024 by Anna Richards, a writer based in Lyon. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.Â
There's truly no better place for a romantic trip away than to the city of love itself, Paris. They donât call it the City of Love for nothing. And many of the hotels in Paris will bend over backwards to ensure your stay is as loved-up and passionate as possible, so it's the perfect place to try and woo your soulmate. Or even pop the question if you're ready. From rose petals scattered on the bed to heart-shaped waffles, these gorgeous lodgings have it all. Whatever your budget, trust our tried-and-tested selection of the best romantic hotels in Paris for an extra special stay. Invite us to the wedding, please! Looking for more options? Check out the best Airbnbs in Paris. Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in and review every hotel featured, we've based our list on our expert knowledge of the destination covered, editorial reviews, user reviews, hotel amenities and in-depth research to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.
After what felt like a never ending winter, the sun has finally arrived. Now all you need to do is make the most of party season, starting next Friday 4 May, at the chic Hotel Normandy on the even chicer rue Saint-HonorĂ©. But before going under the knife for a year-long renovation project, itâs hosting the crazy party to end all crazy parties - appropriately named Last Dance. Facebook Event Don your finest shape-throwing garb for a serious line-up: kicking off on the ground floor with 100% rap and old school R&B classics, then move onto sets from Teki Latex, Kiddy Smile, Arthur King, Mounir KatchĂ© and Whitney Weiss. Behind the bar will be Ben with the Mezcaleria mixology team, with free signature cocktails before midnight. Then head to the 7th floor to contribute your own demolition art - that means adorning the walls of the hotelâs disused apartments with paint bombs, brushes and graffiti cans. Essentially, whatever you say, goes. Itâs pipped to be the best no limit party since the Royal Monceauâs in 2008. History in the making. Where ? HĂŽtel Normandy. 7 Rue de l'Ăchelle. Paris 75001When ? Friday may 4th, 22PM to 4AMHow much ? 15âŹ
Cocktails are a treat, that's for sure. But when in Paris, one simply must, right? And Paris's cocktail dens are certainly a must-try, from speakeasy-style hideaways to late-night DJs, and live music to drag shows. The mixologists here have really earned their stripes, at least at the best spots the city has to offer. Among the Capital's glut of beer and wine bars, youâll find more unique and inventive cocktails then you can shake a stick at. Whatever you're after, here are the best cocktail bars in Paris right now. RECOMMENDED:đ· The best wine bars in ParisđŠȘ The best restaurants in Paris đ„ The best breakfast in Parisđ The best things to do in Paris This article was written by the editorial team at Time Out Paris. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. Â
Five-star hotels rarely do half measures in Paris â and always promise delirious and haute couture experiences. Whether you have something to celebrate, someone to treat or just a lot of cash money to spend, we have selected the most amazing hotels in this category for you â and the level is (very) high. On the menu: sleep among works of art between centuries-old walls, eat in starred restaurants and toast under the stars on high-end rooftops and get pampered in spas a hundred times grander than your home... In short, you won't have to count the stars for too long to fall asleep peacefully. We'd say up to five max. Browse our pick of the most luxurious stay in Paris, from the old-school classics to the buzzy avant-garde spots. And if you're after something with a little more va-va-voom, check out the most romantic hotels in Paris. RECOMMENDED: The best four-star hotels in ParisRECOMMENDED: The best hotels in Paris with poolRECOMMENDED: The best spa hotels in Paris Looking for more options? Check out the best hotels in Paris and the best Airbnbs in Paris Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every hotel featured, we've based our list on top reviews, hosts and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.Â
The charm of Montmartre has never faded; with its narrow cobbled streets, buzzing late-night bars and breathtaking views over Paris, this is one of the city's must-visit areas. And not least because of the ever-looming beauty of the SacrĂ©-CĆur. As for places to rest your head, there is a huge selection â from romantic love nests to rock n' roll halls of fame, we have selected our favourite hotels, hostels and bed and breakfasts. And if you fancy a tailor-made itinerary of this dreamy hilltop village, check out our 24-hour guide to Montmartre. Looking to book a hotel for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics? Stay in Montmartre and you'll be in prime position to witness the Olympic road cycling from your hotel window (or at least very nearby). RECOMMENDED: The best hotels near the Eiffel TowerRECOMMENDED: The best hotels near Place de la ConcordeRECOMMENDED: The best hotels in the OpĂ©ra District Looking for more options? Check out the best Paris Airbnbs Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in every hotel featured, we've based our list on top reviews, hosts and amenities to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.Â
Lyon really has it all. Want to admire trompe lâoeil murals in a former silk weavers' district? Fancy trawling for antique gems at a flea market? Or feel like getting starry-eyed at the FĂȘte des LumiĂšres, the cityâs world-famous festival of lights? Between the old guard and the vanguard, Lyon has an energy that is hard to match, in France or further afield. So, are you ready to explore the city of delicious food and Les Gones? Great. Here are thirteen of the very best things to do in Lyon. RECOMMENDED: đœ The best restaurants in Lyon Planning your next trip? Check out our latest travel guides, written by local experts.
It might be the worldâs capital of wine, but Bordeaux has far more to offer than grapes and vines. The UNESCO-listed port city offers a beautiful mix of small pedestrian streets, historical monuments, bouji boutiques and mega-museums. Plus, being just over two hours from Paris on a high-speed train, it makes for the perfect weekend break. So, are you ready to crack open the capital of Franceâs Nouvelle-Aquitaine region? Great. From vineyards to vinyls, these are the top nine things to do in Bordeaux. Planning your next trip? Check out our latest travel guides, written by local experts.
Sure, bouillabaisse is great â but thereâs far more to Marseilleâs dining scene. This being France, youâd expect at least a few life-changingly good restaurants. But Marseilleâs long and varied historical and cultural heritage makes its food scene particularly expansive and exciting, whether youâre into fine dining, fresh-as-anything fish or piping hot street food munched en route to the beach. From New York-style brunches to oh-so-French pastries and hand-rolled pasta by candlelight, Marseille caters to all tastes. Hereâs our selection of the best places to eat in one of the most delicious cities in Europe.
Super chef Jason Atherton has, to date, put his name to 18 restaurants across the world, with The Betterment â a brasserie-style affair housed within The Biltmore Mayfair â his ninth London venue. First, a warning: the hotel, perched on a corner of Grosvenor Square, has all the atmosphere of a wake. But make your way through its cavernous greige corridors and youâll find a compact, swish dining room, opening on to a living-wall-lined alfresco terrace. Although waitstaff are dressed to the nines, their patter is more Soho bar than Mayfair fine dining, which we loved. Special mention goes to our sommelier (one of seven), who boiled the Magna Carta of wine lists down to an excellent red, a ÂŁ40 bottle of Pittnauer Velvet. The menu consists of a set of surprisingly well-portioned dishes, all with seasonal leanings and friendly prices for the area. There were shots of pure brilliance, like the umami-heavy beef wellington, plus a side of snipped snow peas, iceberg lettuce and blue cheese: the ideal marriage of crunch, zing and honk. A bitter chocolate tart was dynamite. Inky, rich ganache in fine, nutty pastry, it came with Tahitian vanilla ice cream like none other. But there were flat notes, too. Like steak tartare topped with globs of tasteless mousse, the meat too dense for scooping up with the beef dripping croutons. Or a john dory fillet, which though exquisitely presented atop coco de paimpol beans (a type of haricot), was a fusion of underwhelming flavours. As for the decons
Parts of the decor at Charlieâs will charm the pants off you: the velvet petrol-blue booths, for example, or the ornate border of tropical wallpaper; even the polished mahogany panelling is quite gorgeous, in that Mayfair library way. But Easter Island-style heads, trellis separators and chairs upholstered with striped towelling push it from playful luxe to a bit of a head trip. After all, thereâs only so much fun you can have in a thickly carpeted room where the loudest sound is the rattling of the silver trolley doing its (perfectly sliced) smoked salmon rounds. Serving traditional wood-grill classics and modern British fare, the restaurant â which gets its name from Brownâs Hotelâs former owner, Lord Charles Forte â serves a menu that comes courtesy of Adam Byatt, who earned a Michelin star for his Clapham restaurant Trinity. Unlike the interior, many of the plates sing. A pre-dinner radish and whipped codâs roe combo was an en vogue surprise while slices of raw kingfish came prettily topped with pickled rhubarb and blood orange. With most ingredients being simple things sourced from the UK, the devil is in the detail, such as a rich, coarse mushroom purĂ©e served with sirloin of beef or the toasted hazelnuts strewn over green beans. From those radishes to the celestial sourdough rolls and digestif petit fours and macarons â added freebies help justify the pricey bill. But in the golden era of relaxed fine dining, Byattâs cooking (and covetable crockery) is ultimately let
Laverbread, mugwort salt, coal cream â the menu at Wilder reads a lot like a Robert Macfarlane book. Or a potions list for a Hogwarts herbology class. But I am extremely hot for it. In the cavernous basement of Terence Conranâs Boundary building youâll find brooding low lighting, spindly Scandi furniture and bushels of foliage suspended from the ceiling. All of which set the tone for what is a pretty serious menu. Richard McLellan (formerly of The Typing Room and Pied Ă Terre) and the team rely entirely on ingredients sourced from UK pastures and seas, from the homemade vinegars to fish from Sir Tezâs country estate. Flavours, therefore, are growers not showers, so eat slowly and ask lots of questions. Or just close your eyes and try to guess. Because besides a forgettable brown-butter herring on toast and tempura sprouting broccoli with codâs roe, everything we ate at Wilder was divine. Knobs of salsify (a neglected winter root veg) with fermented cabbage, creamed chervil and buckwheat was like the winter âsaladâ of dreams, while a surf ânâ surf of pleasantly crude sea trout and mussel was given added oomph by leek and wild garlic. A tempura nettle leaf appeared between courses, dusted in smoked codâs roe and kelp emulsion â it was like a Skip that had won the lottery. But itâs with the desserts that Wilder comes into its own. Ice cream made from goatâs milk and beremeal (an ancient grain grown in Orkney) was malty, salty and reassuringly savoury. If I was ever to walk Land
Please note, since this review was published, Moncks Brasserie has relaunched as 'Moncks', an all-day restaurant and bar. Time Out Food editors, FEBRUARY 2020. Named after the seventeenth-century lord Christopher Monck, this European brasserie is housed on his former Clarendon Estate, which later became Dover, Albemarle and Bond Streets. More noteworthy is that itâs from the team behind Park Chinois, the glam spot originally launched by Alan Yau. Whatâs also fun is that thereâs a steep stairway that connects the two venues through the cloakroom (our waiter gleefully showed us). And while its interiors are different to those of its Cantonese cousin, theyâre no less swish: all marble, oxblood-red leather accents, pleated William Morris-style wallpaper skirting the ceiling and bold, modernist prints on the walls. Food-wise, expect an unthreatening selection of brasserie classics. The butcherâs burger with sweet-sour caramelised onion relish ticked all the boxes, while the steak tartare was brilliantly textured, if a little under seasoned. It was a pity that the rosemary chips were chronically oversalted and lacking the promised herbs. Veg-based dishes provided some salvation: truffled asparagus had a tangy mustard dressing and buttered spinach was, well, buttery. The kitchen struggled to match the splendour of the interiors, but Iâd happily return, if only to be treated like the Mayfair local Iâm not.
Now extending its all-day charms to evening dining from Thursday to Saturday, this casual spot is on the lesser-visited strip of Essex Road, which on the evening we visited was already pleasantly bustling. Styled as a 1950s Milanese diner (pillarbox red tiles, trendy terrazzo flooring, retro Italian produce), itâs easy to love, just like the menu. A combination of classic cicchetti, antipasti, pasta, pizza and meaty secondi, youâll also find rarer delicacies on here, like vitello tonnato, or cacio e pepe arancini. When it flexes its deli muscles, Latteria is first-rate: our antipasti board came with generous helpings of cured meat, from fennel salami and bresaola to mortadella and prosciutto, plus sottâolio (literally âunder the oilâ) artichokes and homemade rosemary focaccia. The ham and cheese arancini were grenade-sized. Then there was a dinner plate-sized chicken milanese with a fine, crisp coating, while a creamy burrata served over expertly dressed datterini tomatoes. Only the under-seasoned tagliatelle al ragĂč was a major disappointment: stick to the grazing dishes. But, sat on the fair-sized terrace, savouring the dynamite tiramisu, itâs clear that Essex Road locals have a gem on their hand.
Japanese and Italian may seem unlikely bedfellows, but chefs in the Land of the Rising Sun have been perfecting paper-thin pizza crusts and mastering the art of al dente for years. This Italo-Japanese mash-up â itameshi â is the MO at Angelina, an elegant addition to Dalston Lane Terraceâs restaurant strip. Inside, itâs a place of two halves: the front is all monochromatic fancy dining with ashen marble tables, bold foliage and lantern lighting, while the back is home to a bustling L-shaped bar overlooking the kitchen. Changing twice-weekly, the five-plate tasting menu is, at ÂŁ39, a steal. It includes extras like homemade focaccia and bonito-dusted doughnuts with anchovy aioli. Our bustling Thursday night visit began with veggie fritto misto: battered sage and pumpkin, with hefty cavolo nero leaves the triumph of the trio. Sea bream sashimi, delicately infused with bergamot, came alongside a lukewarm celeriac and feta dish (truly the only bum note of the evening). While âstartersâ were umami-heavy nods to Japan, the two main plates leant towards Italy. A giant raviolo came souped in a tonkotsu-style broth and dotted with crisp guanciale hunks. Later, I could have lapped the velvety soy butter on a John Dory fillet by the gallon. The devilishness of the detail carried right through to a monte bianco-style dessert: pumpkin biscuit base, with chestnut cream and a chewy, browned meringue top. While the space itself whispers âsophistication,â the service is down-to-earth loveli
At the quieter end of Charlotte Street, this British small plates restaurant has everything youâd want from a neighbourhood joint: a cosy dining room, killer cocktails and an owner whoâs clearly proud of what heâs serving. The concise menu is divided into meat, land, sea and cheese, with the standout dish being an artichoke, spinach and parmesan dip. Photogenic it was not, but the deeply cheesy khaki-green concoction was, when slathered on toast, the perfect comfort food. Also good were the kangaroo meatballs (a wild card for that evening), served on sticks with a gherkin-flecked burger sauce, and a generous slab of crispy-skinned miso salmon with manuka honey and a whisper of samphire. But other dishes were forgettable â like the tiny pot of smoked mackerel pĂątĂ© (ÂŁ7.25), which although nicely textured, lacked seasoning, while tenderstem broccoli came swimming in a nondescript oyster sauce. Despite the pride in sourcing top-quality ingredients, The Cutting Room could be much braver with flavours and textures. In such prime restaurant real estate, youâd be best off coming for a quick bite and a cocktail like the Cycling in Paris (a genius blend of gin, elderflower cordial, vermouth and peach bitters), best enjoyed on the street-facing terrace.
Dinner at this family-run Upper Street trattoria epitomises the âcucina poveraâ (âpoor cookingâ) of the Southern Italian region. Daubed on toast and served on a terracotta crock, the fave e cicorie (broad bean purĂ©e with wilted chicory) was velvety, earthy and humming with garlic. History hats on: back in feudal times, farmers torched any spent crops before re-planting, but allowed Apulian locals to glean any remaining grains first. They ground the leftover wheat into a smoky flour, which was used for breads and pastas and still serves as a memento of the hard times. Terra Rossa does this dark, nutty âgrano arsoâ (burnt grain) pasta with yellow tomatoes and black olives on a bed of purĂ©ed broccoli: smoky and bitter, it was like no pasta dish Iâd ever tried (and vegan too). The pappardelle arrived topped with chunks of dark wild boar meat, which came off in delicate threads when prodded. Despite the pasta being ever so slightly too al dente for my taste, the ragĂč, inky with negroamaro wine, delivered just the right side of richness. Although it nails the Puglian charm inside â think nonnaâs lacy doilies hung from the ceiling, rustic wooden furniture and exposed brick walls painted white â the best seat in the house is on the pavement itself. In summer, with the doors thrown wide open, itâs the sort of spot youâd linger (just donât order the Bloody Mary: it was all tommy juice). In a street saturated by good dining, Terra Rossa has a lot to shout about â fresh, high-quality ing
Youâd be forgiven for striding past Golden Union without a second glance. Pitched between Oxford Street and deepest Soho, its simple white frontage and red neon sign make it easy to miss. A frying cupboard in the window hides the charmingly retro dining room at the back, which, complete with a red and burgundy chequered floor, white tiled walls and soft, low-hanging lighting, feels more breezy American diner than Central London chippie. Thereâs even a jukebox, which the staff are constantly rebooting with tunes (diners are too happily involved in their food, which can only ever be a good thing). Provenance is king here: they promise they can trace all their fish, which is sustainably sourced from Scotland, Norway and the North Atlantic, back to the very boat it was caught on. A hefty âsmallâ cod (ÂŁ13.95) had flaky yet buttery flesh and was beer battered to crispy perfection, while a hulking battered hake was pleasantly sweet (ÂŁ15.50). Mains all come with a moreish mound of chips, made from Grade A East Anglian spuds. The pledge to use two types of oil, changed four times a week is evident, as nothing was overly greasy or heavy. Ideal really, because the sides âthink deeply nutty mushy peas and girthy gherkins â are worth making room for. Special mention goes to the surreal fake foliage-filled window at the back. Underlit and spotlighted, it just the right side of naff. Clientele is a mix of tourists and locals, many of whom stick around long after theyâve polished off the l
âHomemadeâ and âhandcraftedâ are Emiliaâs favourite words â appearing no less than seven times on the menu. This cute Aldgate corner joint wants to make its reverence for the art of pasta-making as clear as the polished glass frontage. Made fresh each morning with illustrations of each shape adorning the menu â from the recognisable rigatoni to the more unusual casarecce (short strips that appear to have curled up on themselves) â pasta provenance is its pride and joy. The compact selection of seven mains (or eight, if you include the salmon carbonara swap) is pleasantly balanced between veggie and meaty. Rigatoni with flaked yellow tuna fillet and tomato sauce was given a satisfying kick with peperoncino, a type of Calabrian chilli pepper, while a salsa di noci (walnut sauce) dish had satisfying umami notes. The non-pasta was less joyful: a buxom burrata was served with thin discs of fresh (from frozen) white baguette, green beans arrived wizened and wrinkly, topped with a bland pesto, and our desserts (salted caramel brownie and lemon cake) were tough around the edges. From its soft lighting to its admirable list of craft soft drinks, I was all set for Emiliaâs to be the Franco Manca of pasta, but its over-egging of the âartisanalâ pudding set the dishes up for a fall. A solid choice for a quick, carby hit when youâre in the area, itâs not going to change your life, but it will certainly fill your belly.
After earning their frying stripes at Kerb, Hawker House and Flat Iron Square, the Mother Clucker team have come to roost by the restaurant-heavy Exmouth Market. Bar the wall of flashing LED signs, its black frontage doesnât look like much, but the inside is dotted with ferns and walls are adorned with more stickers than a Panini World Cup collection. A mix of irreverent poultry-based catchphrases (âWho got the key to the cluck truckâ) and dude-ish illustrations, theyâre worth gawping at while you wait for your grub. Brined in sweet tea for 24 hours, soaked in buttermilk and double-fried, MCâs delicious (halal) chook has a dark-brown peppery crumb â think Southern-style with half the grease and double the crunch. Wings were slightly lacking that finger-lickinâ juice, but the fried chicken burger was packed with tang (lime mayo) and crunch (lettuce leaf, plus that killer batter). Our dream combo, though? Four hefty âstripsâ â which were basically fillets â (ÂŁ5.50) with crispy cayenne-dusted skin-on âcajunâ fries (ÂŁ3), dunked in homemade hot sauce and washed down with an ice-cold Tang â all with change from a tenner. Thereâs no table service and the food comes quick, so itâs not somewhere youâd linger long, but if youâre peckish and in the area, itâs pure poultry in motion.
Lodged in Whitechapelâs trendy New Road Hotel, this British chophouse mixes clashing, geometric chairs with exposed ceiling innards and mirrored panelling. A younger, smouldering Marco Pierre White holding a cleaver is blown up on the walls and menus. The playlist was almost as nostalgic as the snaps, an â80s mashup of Bowie, Eurythmics and Spandau Ballet. As for the food, itâs poshed-up British fare with a French accent, inspired by Londonâs â60s chophouses, which served individual portions of meat to wealthy customers. This is still the case: the cheapest steak here is ÂŁ26.50, but it was cooked to perfection. My French friend asked for hers blue and it was served teal, no bother, along with blistered tomatoes on the vine and a freshly made bearnaise that was liquid gold. There were decent fish and veggie dishes, too: melba toast with smoked mackerel brandade was more like pĂątĂ©, coarse enough to fork but gloriously fishy. Without much fanfare, the entire menu is pork-free and halal. If you fancy diverging from Whitechapelâs stellar curry houses, this semi-shrine to MPW has the chops and ticks the boxes.
Who let the dogs in? This summer your four-legged friends can accompany you to some of Londonâs most chic spots. Weâve picked the cityâs most pawfect dog-friendly establishments.  Daphneâs Round up your puppy entourage and head down to chichi Chelsea restaurant Daphneâs â for the first time ever, theyâre allowing dogs to join owners for a spot of lunch. Pets must, of course, adhere to Daphneâs Doggy Code of Conduct, which means staying in the designated poochie area (the conservatory) and definitely no eating off the table. The best-behaved of the lot will be rewarded with doggy biscotti. Ahh. Hunter 486 at The Arch Not only does The Arch Hotel supply luxurious dog beds and bowls but the chefs at its restaurant Hunter 486 cook a made-to-order menu for your mutt. Doggie delights include poached chicken breast with rice, sardines, salmon and spinach or a veggie option of spinach, beans and carrots. Just a heads-up â in this case, itâs totally okay to âtestâ your dogâs food. Weâd do the same.
Half of prisoners re-offend within a year of leaving custody, but skills and employment can cut that rate. Liberty Kitchen is a social enterprise scheme teaching the tricks of the street food trade to former and current prisoners at HMP Pentonville. As well as the knowledge and skills required to cook up a mean plate of meatballs, the chefs will leave the 12-week programme with an NVQ in Enterprise. With training like this, men (who make up 90 percent of the UKâs prison population) have better job prospects once theyâre on the outside. You can do your bit by getting your chops around the Liberty cooksâ Ball No Chain range at Kerb in Kingâs Cross or Leather Lane Market. Check out the projectâs website to find out where the boys will be dishing up next. Sign up here to get the latest from London straight to your inbox.
Back in 2016, in the wake of the EU referendum, people started talking about the capital breaking away from the rest of the country. But if Londependence is ever going to be a serious prospect, weâre going to need a flag. Wait â doesnât London already have a flag? Youâve been Googling it, and the answer is, actually, no. Most of the capitalâs 33 councils have a flag of their own, featuring either a coat of arms or a modern design. The tiny City of London has been flying its ensign â a red-and-white St Georgeâs cross with the sword of St Paul â since at least 1663. Greater London â the entity created in 1965 out of the City and the 32 modern boroughs â used to have a flag, but it fell out of official use in the â80s. The Greater London Authority, which has existed since 2000, has never decided on a new one â even though other major cities like Amsterdam, Paris, Tokyo, Chicago and New York have been flying their own flags for years. But could that change? After all, Birmingham voted for a snazzy new flag in 2015 in a competition run by the Flag Institute. According to the bodyâs chief vexillologist, Graham Bartram, thereâs no reason why Sadiq Khan couldnât start a similar campaign: âIf the Mayor is worried about people not feeling like they belong in London, maybe he should look at having a flag,â he says. Naturally, we put the question to the Mayor himself. âIâm happy to look into this,â says Sadiq. âIâll need to deny the rumours that persist that I will unilaterally declare
...according to Greg Lawrence, 68. The Smithfield Market meat auction started as a clearance sale âDecember is a busy, lucrative month for Smithfield traders. The Christmas Eve auction started 150 years ago as a way of getting rid of leftover meat at the end of the year, but in the early â70s it became about selling off incredible premium cuts for next to nothing: the best turkeys, lamb, pork and poultry from England and Scotland, which would otherwise go to the cityâs top hotels and restaurants. Itâs not a big earner for us, but it puts everything great about the market in the limelight.â Lucky bidders can win a prime cut on a coin toss âIâve been running the auction for 40 years now and weâve built up a load of little gimmicks. For instance, when weâve got everyone into a frenzy towards the end, weâll hold up something like a leg of pork and offer it for 20 quid or a toss of the coin. If we win we sell it for that price and if we lose we give it away.â Veganism hasnât dented the trade âI started at Smithfield in 1966. Most of the traders had been officers in WWII and chain-smoked while selling. Now itâs the most disciplined place in the world, with vets and meat inspectors walking about the place. Thereâs huge demand for boneless cuts now, which is a lot more labour-intensive for us, and although veganism and vegetarianism are on the rise, weâre still turning over just under ÂŁ1 billion a year.â Smithfield isnât going anywhere just yet âThe tenants of Smithfield are here by
London loves polar bears, it would seem: one of the cityâs most searched questions of 2017, according to Google, was whether ZSL London Zoo still has any. The short answer is no, but it did for many years. Londonâs last native Ursus maritimus was born on December 1 1967 to parents Sam and Sally, who had arrived from Moscow Zoo in 1960. He was called Pipaluk, a Greenlandic name meaning âlittle oneâ, and soon developed a healthy fanbase. Little siblings Triplet and Paddiwack followed in 1970 and 1972, but moved to other zoos as cubs. But things took a tragic turn in 1975, when Sally passed away after sustaining injuries during mating with Sam. Sam moved to Munich Zoo soon after, but Pipaluk and another Russian-born bear, Mosa, stayed in London for a further ten years. In 1985, when the zoo closed its bear enclosure, Mappin Terraces, they were sent to Dudley Zoo and later to Chorzow in Poland, where Pipaluk died aged 22. Nowadays there are European brown bears roaming ZSL Whipsnade, but the nearest polar bears to London are 160 miles away at Yorkshire Wildlife Park. If you donât fancy the drive, check out the Pipaluk badges, soft toys and storybooks on eBay. Despite his name, this âlittle oneâ was a pretty big deal. Love London? Sign up here to get Time Out tips in your inbox every week.
Of Londonâs 24,000 cabbies, only 2 percent are women. Karen Spates is one of them. So whatâs life like as a female cabbie? âAs a child growing up in London, I was fascinated by the stories of black cab drivers and the prospect of learning The Knowledge and finding all the little London streets. I always wanted to become a cabbie, but my parents frowned upon it. So when I grew up, I went into the City instead, where I worked in insurance for seven years. It was only being made redundant from that job that led me to the career I had really wanted all along. In 2000, I took a job as a driving instructor to help finance my studying for The Knowledge. The average time it takes to study and pass the test is two to four years. It took me even longer than that, because I was supporting my studying by working, but I finally passed in 2012. On my presentation day, I was the only woman out of a group of 40 men. My name was even called out as âMrâŠâ. I only know four other female cab drivers and I keep in touch with them, but none of them work nights â Iâm one of very few in London who do. Most men will call me âmateâ when theyâre giving an address â they just assume Iâm going to be a man. Some say I shouldnât be working nights as a woman, and one man even gave me ÂŁ160 to promise to go home. Working nights has a darker side. Lots of men have offered to âget in the backâ with me and show me a good time because they canât pay. I laugh it off as best I can: at least they canât get me at the
London clearly has a few centuries under its belt, but like the age-defying auntie who keeps fiddling the birthday candles, itâs difficult to say exactly how old the capital is. No wonder it was one of Londonersâ most searched questions in 2017, according to Google. We know that London began with the Romans, who invaded Blighty in AD 43, landing in Kent. This bit of the Thames was handy: sea-going ships had a quick link to the Continent and the river was narrow enough here to cross. According to Jackie Keily, senior curator at the Museum of London, âLondiniumâ was founded in around AD 48 or 49 on the riverâs north bank. Timber waterfronts and the first permanent London Bridge were being built by the early AD 50s, and the first surviving written reference to London dates from around AD 65. So our city is something like 1,969 years old. Try fitting all those candles on a Colin the Caterpillar. Love London? Sign up here to get Time Out tips in your inbox every week.
Just in time for Halloween, hereâs an announcement to strike fear into any commuterâs heart: thereâs a transport storm a-brewing. From next Wednesday to Thursday, a tube strike is planned across the Central, Piccadilly and Waterloo & City lines. Two overlapping 24-hour walkouts are being staged by workers from the Aslef and RMT unions over ongoing disputes about employment practices. Unless itâs called off, you can expect zero service on the Central and Waterloo & City lines all day on Wednesday 7 November, and on the Piccadilly line from 1.30pm onwards. On the morning of Thursday 8 November there will also be no service on the Piccadilly line. All other lines will be running as normal and TfL is putting on more than 200 extra buses to take the strain of the strike, so it might not be enough to warrant working from home â but you can bank on a knock-on effect on most other Underground lines. Research your journey in advance and prepare for some serious commuter camaraderie. See you in the scrum! Keep an eye on @TfLTravelAlerts for up-to-date information â and sign up here to get the latest from London straight to your inbox.
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! Especially when itâs free and for a good cause. Socially switched-on dairy dons Ben & Jerryâs are touring the UK in partnership with Refugee Action to spread the word about asylum seekersâ right to work, with a final stop at the Student Union at Queen Mary University of London tomorrow. The inside, erm, scoop, according to Refugee Action, is that current government policy makes it nearly impossible for people to work while waiting for their refugee status, which can take up to six months. The charity says itâs a huge obstacle for people who come to this country wanting to rebuild their lives. You can support the âWaiting Isnât Workingâ campaign by signing the petition â and of course by heading to the Mile End campus on Thursday to get a free FairTrade flavour, as well as a hot choc made with the companyâs chocolate fudge brownie ice cream. Itâs a pretty jammy trade-off: have your say in how the government develops its new Immigration Bill and get a free sundae⊠on a Thursday. Find the ice-cream van at Queen Mary University of London Student Union between 11am-4pm tomorrow. Love London? Sign up here to get Time Out tips in your inbox every week.
Since the Granary Square development emerged from its chrysalis six years ago, post-industrial Kingâs Cross has taken on new life. This Friday the area gets even fancier, as Coal Drops Yard shakes off the construction cocoon. Once a coal depot before becoming a glass warehouse and a rave venue, the Victorian buildings have been resculpted by local architect-designers Heatherwick Studio into a zippy shopping district. The first wave of shops and restaurants read like a âNow Thatâs What I Call Trendyâ 2018 tracklist, with retail names Cos, Cubitts, Aesop and Tom Dixon joining alternative lingerie brand Beija, LA concept store Twiin and menâs outfitters Universal Works. Food-wise, Barrafina and El Pastor spin-off Casa Pastor are there, with libations from vermouth specialist Vermuteria and new wine bar The Drop. Destination dining and a dreamy spot to deplete our savings? You can drop us anywhere here, please. Love London? Sign up here to get Time Out tips in your inbox every week.
Since the Prague Spring of 1968, thereâs been a steady climb in the number of Czechs in London, although many of Czechoslovakiaâs Jewish population had already arrived here fleeing Nazi Germany in the â30s. EU freedom of movement has increased the number of Czechs here further, with the most expats living (according to the 2011 census) in Barnet, especially Golders Green, Finchley Road and Highgate. Thereâs even a Czech pelican in St Jamesâs Park: Vaclav, born in Prague Zoo. And thereâs plenty of Czech culture to celebrate in our city. So tell us: whatâs your favourite Czech place in London? Let us know about the deli bursting with rohlĂky rolls and knedlĂky dumplings, your favourite restaurant serving up heartwarming Czech classics or that corner bar hosting Bohemian folk nights. Give us your hitlist in the comments box below, and weâll include the best suggestions in Time Out London magazine.Finished? Then check out our guide to the best of Polish London.
Since becoming famous as Britainâs first out Muslim drag queen, Asifa Lahore has been speaking out on LGBT+ rights and her Islamic faith⊠âAlthough I spent some of my childhood in Pakistan, I mostly grew up in Southall, surrounded by gorgeous sari houses and garment markets. I was between the two countries and cultures, but couldnât pinpoint what made me different. As a teenager I realised I loved being around my young male relatives, because I was attracted to them. While studying at Queen Mary University of London, I told my parents Iâd met a guy I loved, but they didnât understand â we donât have the word âgayâ in Urdu or Punjabi. When they took me to the GP, the Asian doctor stuck up for me and said, âThis is who he is and youâll have to accept it.â After coming out to my parents and entering into a civil partnership with my husband, I saw an advert for Drag Idol UK and decided to enter. I went on stage in a burqa and reached the national finals. It felt amazing because I wasnât conforming to the example of drag artists who had come before me. That competition â and the title of âBritainâs first out Muslim drag queenâ â allowed me to start my career, do documentaries and be vocal about British intersectionality. Iâve had drag gigs turned down because Iâm âtoo politicalâ, and I still get abuse from the LGBT+ community for bringing my religion into it. On the other side of things, many say my drag career and sexuality goes against Islam, even though I follow the five pilla