I'm taking a break from my Guatemala and Belize blogs to pick out some of my favourite specialty coffee shops, restaurants, bars and individual dishes from all those I visited for the first time in 2025, in London and on my travels around the world.
This year's list is the 15th edition of my annual specialty coffee, food and cocktail awards. And with great trips to destinations like Guatemala, Palma de Mallorca, the Gorges du Verdon and Riga, plus plenty of fab new-to-me specialty coffee shops in London and the rest of the UK, this year's list was particularly hard to compile. But compile it I did, and these are my favourites.
1. Best coffee shop — London
Special Guests (Marylebone)
Over the past year or so, London has seen the arrival of several new high-end specialty coffee shops, and Special Guests is perhaps the most impressive. Head down to Marylebone, take a seat at the counter and choose from among the selection of rare Geshas, coffees with interesting processing techniques and special coffees from Special Guests' archives.
Whatever you order, it will be perfectly brewed by the knowledgeable and friendly baristas — and you'll probably want to buy some beans to take home. The three coffee shops shortlisted in my 'also of note' section are all exceptional too: it's hard to go wrong with any of them.
Also of note: Calico Coffee (Waterloo; pictured below), Scenery (Borough) and Profile Coffee (Highbury).
2. Best coffee shop — rest of world
Alegría Café (Antigua)
I was very happy to return to origin in 2025 and spent my entire trip to Guatemala drinking coffee that was grown, processed, roasted and brewed locally. Antigua has one of the best specialty coffee scenes of any producing country I've visited and the first coffee shop I went to — Alegría — was also my favourite.
With expertly brewed coffees sourced from local producers, Alegría is also a relaxing and colourfully decorated café that more than lives up to its name of 'happiness'. While you're there, stock up on beans, local honey or some of the gorgeous ceramics on sale.
Also of note: Kalve Espresso Room (Riga; pictured below) Nano Coffee Lab (Palma de Mallorca) and Green Routes Cafe (Oxford).
3. Best restaurant
Arbequina (Oxford)
I grew up in Oxford and return regularly but it took until 2025 for me to visit the much-lauded Arbequina on Cowley Road. It was well worth the wait: the tapas bar, located in a former chemist's, has a top menu of Spanish classics, many with innovative twists.
Go with a group so you can order everything! We loved it all, especially the crispy chickpeas, deep-fried burrata and patatas bravas. Even better, their second location, in the Covered Market, is opening in early 2026.
Also of note: Marc Fosh Restaurant (Palma de Mallorca), Food (Leigh-on-Sea) and Angela's (Margate).
4. Best dish
Grilled lobster at Betty's Go Slow Grill (Caye Caulker)
I ate so much lobster while I was on the Belize island of Caye Caulker I thought I might turn into a crustacean! And why not when almost every beach-side barbecue serves a grilled lobster with two sides for 40 BZD (about £14)?
I went to Betty's on my last day on Caye Caulker, just before flying back to Belize City and then home. The meat was perfectly juicy, served with garlic butter, rice and salad. And the views of the turquoise Caribbean sea made it taste even better.
Also of note: La Noir de Bigorre ham and crisps at Ibai (London; pictured below), nduja chicken at Gold (London) and the epic bread course at 3 Pavāru (Riga).
5. Best brunch
Dante at Claridge's (London)
As I didn't make it to my beloved NYC this year, stopping by the London pop-up of Dante — a family favourite restaurant of ours — was the next best thing. The elegant Claridge's dining room is a rather different setting from the 110-year-old Greenwich Village eatery but the experience was just as great.
I went for the cheeseburger, followed by soft-serve ice cream with lemon, sea salt and olive oil, accompanied by the 'fluffy' pineapple margarita royale. The food, drinks and service were all impeccable and it's a lovely place for a special brunch.
Also of note: Bacan (Palma de Mallorca; pictured below), La Tapa Loca (Brighton) and Maracuyá (Isla de Flores, Guatemala).
6. Best sweet treat
Chocolate panna cotta at The Loch & Tyne (Windsor)
Earlier this year, I took a day trip to Windsor Castle and elevated my afternoon with a delightful meal at Adam Handling's Michelin-listed gastropub, The Loch and Tyne. All three courses were delicious but the wobble-worthy chocolate panna cotta with strawberries and elderflower was particularly good.
And as a bonus recommendation, Adam Handling's Chocolate Shop in Covent Garden is a great place to buy chocolates that are as beautiful as they are delicious.
Also of note: Bacon maple pastry at Pophams (London), lemon meringue pie at Gloria (London) and raspberry pastry at Mikla (Riga).
7. Best cocktail
Untitled smoking phone booth at Ulew (Antigua)
2025 was a bumper year for top-notch cocktails and it was extremely difficult to narrow down my shortlist. But although the drinks I enjoyed at Side Hustle and La Vieja de Jonay Hernandez came close, nothing could beat Ulew in Antigua, Guatemala, for the combination of mixology, creativity, service and theatre.
There is no menu so you just give the bartenders a few hints about the kinds of flavours and drinks you like and they will create something just for you. I asked for something with "un poco de teatro," and got this work of art, based around tequila and lemon, and served in a miniature phone booth (a nod to the entrance to the speakeasy). Marvellous stuff!
Also of note: Margarita al pastor at Side Hustle (London; pictured below), The Incredible Hulk at La Vieja de Jonay Hernandez (Palma de Mallorca) and lavender cocktail at Hotel Gorges du Verdon (La Palud).
Please share your own food and coffee favourites of 2025 in the comments. I wish you a delicious and well-caffeinated 2026!
Read my other 2025 round-ups: Top travel experiences, top 5 books.
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