London, England

By Ashley Rudolph

I'm happy to report that I successfully made it through an crash course on "how to survive a trip to London when things just aren't going as planned". I had the flu and a series of fevers, practically lost my voice, survived a transit strike, and my flight was canceled on the way home! That said, I still managed to have a really great time eating and drinking my way through London and I'm excited to share my favorite spots.

Where to eat and drink in london

Like any big city, London has a myriad of options to choose from for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I was sick for most of my time there, so unfortunately, I didn't get to try all of the places on my list. On the bright side, when I made it out, I had some awesome meals (and cocktails) in London, here are my faves:

Afternoon tea at Sketch. Warning: walking into Sketch is like entering a fairytale. You walk through a hallway that looks like it's straight out of Alice in Wonderland, past an enchanted fairytale forest, and into an all pink everything room (that's made just for Instagramming). We spent a full afternoon and partial evening at Sketch having afternoon tea and drinking at their bar and yet, we didn't want to leave. When you're in London, Sketch is a must.
Prêt-à-Portea (aka Designer Afternoon Tea) at The Berkeley. I loved The Berkeley from the moment I walked in. If you like, love, or appreciate fashion, you'll love their afternoon tea service. Not only are the tea, champagne, and finger sandwiches delicious, you'll get to snack on desserts inspired by the likes of Dolce and Gabbana, Manolo Blahnik, Burberry, Charlotte Olympia, and Moschino. You can easily spend 4-5 hours here.
Afternoon tea at The Connaught. The Connaught offers a classic London afternoon tea service. I enjoyed my time at The Connaught so much that once I missed my flight to Croatia (oops!). Pro-tip: always order the champagne add-on at tea and take your sweet time enjoying *everything*.
Brunch at Granger & Co. I love Granger & Co and I knew that it would forever remain on my faves list when I took one bite of my ricotta and banana pancakes back in 2015. I returned to Granger on this trip and had them again (no surprise, yum!) but really appreciate the friendly service, delicious cocktails, bright and airy vibe, and of course, their awesome menu.
Dinner or (drinks) at Oblix at The Shard. You go to The Shard to marvel at what is arguably one of the best #views of London. Dinner at Oblix, with it's panoramic views of the city, exceeded my expectations. The beef tenderloin was perfect and my cocktail (delivered in a heart-shaped contraption) was delicious! Pro-tip: the sommelier here is extremely knowledgeable. If you're drinking wine, ask for a tailored recommendation.
Drinks at GŎNG at the Shangri-La Hotel. GŎNG is another must see if you're in the mood for #views. It's on the 52nd floor of the Shangri-La Hotel and they make sure that each guest gets a window seat during their visit. It's the perfect spot for an evening cocktail (or 3), each drink is presented beautifully - expect fresh flowers for garnish or unique glassware. My friend's whiskey cocktail came in a mini leather boot!
Sunday Roast at Dean Street Townhouse. This was one of my favorite meals! The Sunday Roast three-course menu is a little aggressive, I could barely make my way through each insanely delicious course. The highlight for me wasn't even the main course - their sticky toffee cake is to die for.