My 2024 Coffee, Food and Cocktail Favourites

Today I'm sharing the most delicious and caffeinated of my end-of-year recaps, where I pick my favourite specialty coffee shops, eateries and bars from among those I visited for the first time in 2024 — in London and on my travels around the world. 

This year's list — the 14th edition of my annual specialty coffee and food awards — was harder than ever to compile with so many great cafes, restaurants and individual dishes to choose from in London and on my travels to Sri Lanka, NYC, Cannes, Sofia and Brighton, among other places. Read on to discover my top recommendations.

1. Best coffee shop — London

Nostos (St James's Park)

I'm often asked which is my favourite London coffee shop — a very difficult question, given the huge range of excellent specialty coffee spots in the city these days. But if you're looking to push your coffee boundaries with innovative brewing methods and an outstanding selection of coffees from world-class roaster, look no further than Nostos Coffee in Victoria. Try the freeze-distilled flat white or opt for a perfect pourover — either way, you'll always get an exceptionally warm welcoming.

Also of note: Moonstruck (Stockwell).

2. Best coffee shop — Rest-of-World

Loveless Coffees (NYC)

Manhattan has many great specialty coffee shops, but when I'm in New York, I always make time to hop across the river to Brooklyn where some of the city's best coffee can be found. Take Loveless, for example, where top-notch coffees (roasted on site) and delicious brunch dishes are served in the colourful, airy cafe. I had a fantastic Colombian Gesha whose strawberry notes I can still almost taste now! The coffee beans I bought tasted as good brewed at home. 

Also of note: Urban Embassy (Sofia), Isle of Gelato (Ella) and Pharmacie Coffee Roasters (Lewes).

3. Best restaurant

Kolae (London)

Kolae opened in London Bridge just before I went to Thailand in late 2023 and I wanted to wait a while in case it didn't live up to the delicious food I ate on my trip. I needn't have worried: I've been three times and each time, the southern Thai small plates have been flavour-packed and moreish, from the grilled chicken skewer and the squash, to the pork belly and the fish curries. The cocktails are great too.

Also of note: Themparadu (Nuwara Eliya) and L'Écrin Plage (Cannes).

4. Best dish

Prawn akara at Akara (London)

Borough Market has long been among the best places to eat out in London but the past couple of years have seen even more superb new openings than ever. Sister restaurant of the acclaimed Akoko, Akara serves creative Western African dishes in a modern, minimalist setting. I hadn't heard of the titular akara — a crispy black-eyed bean fritter, served with your choice of filling and spicy dipping sauce — until I visited, but it was so tasty I certainly won't forget it. Next time, I might forego my main in favour of more akaras!

Also of note: Carnitas tacos (assorted) at Carnitas Ramirez (NYC) and pig cheek croquettes at The Ginger Fox (East Sussex).

5. Best brunch

Café Britaly (London)

When you're in the mood for comfort food and can't quite decide if you want to go British or Italian, why not go Britalian instead? Peckham's Café Britaly lets you do just that and brunch is a great time to visit. I almost went for the fish finger roll, but opted for the classic Britalian carbonara with a fried egg on top. And whatever you order, make sure you get a side (or two) of cinnamon pizza dough. The coffee is from specialty Britalian roaster Terrone.

Also of note: Cafe Kumbuk (Colombo). Plus pretty much all the egg hoppers I ate in Sri Lanka, like at my hotel in Ella, pictured below!

6. Best sweet treat

Bulgarian Rose at Cosmos(Sofia)

Bulgaria is the largest producer of rose oil in the world and the flower is widely celebrated throughout the country including in the signature dessert at Cosmos, a fine dining restaurant in Sofia. And it was was just as delicious — and beautiful — as I was expecting: sponge cake with yoghurt ice cream, pink pepper, strawberry and rose sorbet, and rose meringue, finished by blowtorch at the table.

Also of note: Giant Rolo at Embers (Brighton) and Donutelier doughnuts (London).

7. Best cocktail

Mole negroni at Superbueno (NYC) 

My trip to New York in November got off to a fantastic start, mixologically speaking, when I visited two of the World's 50 Best Bars on consecutive nights: Superbueno (no. 27) and Double Chicken Please (no. 14). Be prepared to queue at both if you don't have a booking, but the creative and impeccably mixed cocktails are well worth the long wait. 

The Japanese cartoon cat-inspired Pocket of Sweet at Double Chicken Please was an inventive take on the Old Fashioned and slipped down all too nicely. But if I could only pick one cocktail from NYC, it would have to be the Mole Negroni at Superbueno. All their drinks are inspired by Mexican street food and the mole negroni was the perfect blend of smoky, sweet and bitter. The bartenders are as super-friendly as they are super-talented!

Also of note: Eucalyptus Resin and Green Apple at Tayēr & Elementary (London), Balkan Milk Punch at Sputnik (Sofia) and Arrack Sour at Ropewalk Bar (Galle).