Brrreakfast in Brrrmondsey

Pretty much since I moved SOTR, I've been wanting to have breakfast or brunch at Bea's of Bloomsbury's Maltby Street diner. Earlier this week, a few friends and I made plans to go there this morning, and I'd been looking forward to pancakes with bacon and maple syrup and a bottomless mug of coffee all week long. My favourite breakfast is certainly enough of an incentive to don my snow boots and trek up the road to Druid Street in the winter wonderland / snowpocalypse (delete as appropriate) that is London this weekend. But, alas! When I arrived at the location, 'neath the arches under the train tracks, the doors were locked and a quick check on Twitter revealed that snow, or at least the cold, was stopping play.

The Ropewalk, Maltby Street

Luckily, there are a number of other options for hungry south Londoners in the section of Maltby Street known as the Ropewalk. As it was a little too early—and too cold—for gin, we went to Comptoir Gourmand, where a vast array of delicious, freshly baked, flaky pastries are available. I ordered the closest substitutes I could find for the breakfast I had really wanted, which turned out to be a sausage brioche, followed by an almond croissant. The former was yummy—a posh, French take on the sausage bap, with the moist, slightly sweet brioche contrasting nicely with the sausages and the caramelised onions. The croissant was good too, although I do sort of wish I'd bought an eclair to take away instead. As I never trust the coffee in French-run places, I ordered an americano, which was fine, but nothing to write home about.

Gourmandises at Comptoir Gourmand

After breakfast, we had a wander down the Ropewalk. A stall selling posh South American hot chocolate was offering samples, which we thought it would be rude to turn down. Then, we had a browse in Lassco, a hipster antiques store specialising in furniture reclaimed from various London locations, from church pews to tarted up London bus seats. I was sorely tempted by a two-tiered coffee table from the 1960s with a design featuring Christopher Wren architecture, but it was pretty pricey, so it was probably lucky it had already been sold. They are having a sale on at the moment, though, so if you've ever wanted a liquor cabinet shaped like the front of a boat or a Moroccan lantern, check it out. They also sell waffles with bacon and maple syrup, we discovered too late.

The Tower of London, the Gherkin and the Shard in the snow

I had a few errands to run in the West End, so I walked along the north bank of the Thames to Covent Garden. The snow was already turning to slush, but I was glad I was wearing my snow boots. I think I've had enough snow for one season now. Bring on spring!