The recipe for the perfect specialty coffee shop sounds simple: great coffee served by friendly baristas in a beautiful, relaxed setting. In practice, though, it's all too easy to miss the mark on one or more of these ingredients. Commons at Old Street Works nails all three and scores plenty of bonus points for their Oreo canelés. Yes, you read that right!
Last Saturday, I took a day trip to Leigh-on-Sea: a new-to-me seaside destination that's just a 45-minute train journey from London. Once a busy fishing port, Leigh has stacks of character with its cobbled streets, historic buildings and wide array of wonderful restaurants, cafes and shops, as well as some great specialty coffee spots and a lovely sandy beach. Just be sure to check the tide times if you fancy a swim!
The Barn has long been one of my favourite European specialty coffee roasters so I was excited to hear that they were opening their first London coffee shop. I've been to several of the German roaster's coffee shops in Berlin and was actually visiting their Mallorca café the week the London location opened. Since my return, I've been a couple of times. It's a great addition to Fitzrovia — already an excellent neighbourhood for coffee.
When I planned my recent trip to Mallorca, I decided to stay in Palma and explore other parts of Mallorca by taking day trips. During my stay, I visited four of Mallorca's most beautiful destinations by public transport and small-group tour. Warning: this post contains beautiful beaches (platjas), stunning coves (calas), charming mountain towns and much more!
My Osprey Daylite Expandable 26+6 Travel Pack had its second foreign excursion this month when I took it on a five-day trip to Palma de Mallorca in Spain. Once again, I was impressed with how much I could pack in and how comfortable it was to carry. Read on to discover how the backpack worked as a personal item on a BA flight and what I packed.
Colourful houses, a legendary carnival, a world-famous market and, of course, that film with a certain H. Grant and J. Roberts. These are just a few of the images London’s Notting Hill neighbourhood conjures up. But there’s a lot more to the area than elegant architecture and *that* movie. My one-day itinerary will help you uncover Notting Hill’s rich cultural and social history — and make the most of its excellent dining and shopping.
If The Phoenician Scheme left you longing for more Wes Anderson, you might like to pay a visit to West London's Foreign Exchange News. The beautifully designed coffee shop would fit right in to Anderson's universe and — just as importantly — the coffee is great and there really is a working bureau de change inside!
While I was back in Oxford last weekend, I finally made a long-awaited visit to Green Routes, the flagship cafe of local roaster Routes Coffee. Located on Magdalen Road, Green Routes serves top-notch specialty coffee and brunch in a cosy, multi-level space. It's well worth the stroll (or short bus ride) from Oxford city centre to East Oxford.
With reasonable weather forecast for the recent bank holiday, I visited the historic town of Windsor. Less than an hour from London by train, Windsor is a great day trip destination whether you're into English history, the Royal Family or simply fancy a stroll along the River Thames. Most visitors (including me) head straight for Windsor Castle, but there's lots more to see and do — even when it rains (sadly, it did!).
London's Borough and Bankside neighbourhood, on the South Bank of the River Thames, has long been a popular destination for locals, tourists and food lovers alike. And in recent years, exciting new openings have made the area a specialty coffee destination in its own right. Whether you're after a post-market caffeine hit or want to elevate your lunch-break coffee game, this guide has you covered.
While spending a long weekend in Riga last month, I checked out some of the Latvian capital's many excellent specialty coffee shops. Most of the cafés I visited were located in the Art Nouveau district, although there are also some good options in the Old Town. Sadly, Easter Monday closures meant I didn't make it to all of the venues on my list, but read on to discover my favourite Riga coffee spots.
With Easter approaching, I took advantage of the long weekend to book a spontaneous city break in Riga. Compact and walkable, the Latvian capital blends rich history with a creative energy and beautiful architecture, from the pastel-hued Old Town to elegant Art Nouveau landmarks. Planning a trip to Riga? Here's how I spent 72 hours in the city and my recommendations for places to eat, drink, shop and explore.
If you're partial to a perfectly brewed pourover coffee, there's never been a better time to visit London. One of the newer additions to the city's specialty coffee scene is Calico Coffee, a beautiful café in the Waterloo neighbourhood. I've visited several times since it opened in December, drawn back by the well-curated coffee menu, welcoming staff and peaceful design.
Long-time readers know that I was lucky enough to call Cambridge my home for six years. But since moving to London over 16 years ago, I haven't been back as often as I should. I decided to make the most of last Saturday's glorious weather by taking a day trip, exploring Cambridge's 'town' and 'gown' sides. Read on to discover my ultimate itinerary for a perfect day in Cambridge: things to do and places to eat, drink and shop.
London has welcomed some truly special new specialty coffee shops in recent months. One of my favourites is Special Guests, a beautifully designed cafe in Marylebone that serves an exceptional range of coffees.
