A Lady in London

One of the hardest things about being an American expat in London is being far away from family. It’s not rare that I wish I could live in England and have my family here at home with me. But sometimes I find a good surrogate, and last week I found just that at The Goring hotel in London.

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London’s food scene is buzzing. Seemingly every week a new restaurant opens, many of them greatly anticipated. Ametsa with Arzak Instruction, a little sibling of the famous three-Michelin starred Arzak restaurant in Spain’s San Sebastian, is no exception. It opened last month while I was traveling non-stop, but I made sure to line up a review as soon as I got back.

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It’s a junior suite. Overlooking Hyde Park. In chi chi Kensington. It’s also my home for the night. The Baglioni Hotel in London is a five-star luxury hotel, and it’s my home for the night. Did I mention that already? I’m pinching myself.

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The Park Lounge is beautiful. Its dark wood interior and luxuriously cushioned chairs are exactly what I picture when I think of Britain. The books lining the shelves on the walls, the oil paintings hanging over the sofas, and the quiet ambiance all lend themselves to making the room an ideal place for afternoon tea at the Milestone Hotel in London.

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Spring has arrived in London. Yesterday was the first warm day we’ve had all year, and the whole world was outside enjoying the sunshine. I was no exception, and spent most of my day in South Kensington. I have always loved South Kensington’s restaurants, museums, and architecture, and I had a great time exploring the neighborhood.

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Bloomsbury is one of my favorite neighborhoods in London. Right smack in the middle of the city, it is home to the famous British Museum, the beautiful Russell Square, and lots of literary lore (ever heard of the Bloomsbury Group? Yeah, that’s there). So when I had an opportunity to staycation there last week, I didn’t hesitate to go.

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There is no shortage of places to have afternoon tea in London. Every hotel offers one, from fashion-themed to ingredient-driven and everything in between. But there are a few classics that stand out above the rest, and one of them is the afternoon tea at Claridge’s in Mayfair.

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As a Californian, there are certain things I do year-round. BBQ, for example. Or wear far too few layers in the winter. And let’s not forget going to the beach. When I moved to London, I took those traditions with me. Which is how I found myself at the beach in East Sussex in February.

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It’s winter in Rye. The streets are dark when I arrive. A black cat runs across the cobblestones, and I fear it is a bad omen. Then a second crosses my path and I start to worry. Looking up, I see white doves sleeping in the stone nooks of the church above the cemetery, and up ahead the mist obscures the narrow streets and timbered houses.

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After having dinner in Balham last week, I decided to continue the trend of getting to know new-to-me London neighborhoods through their dining out scene. To that end, I had dinner at Boqueria restaurant in Brixton on Saturday night.

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One thing I love about living in London is that the city is so big that I could never get bored. Despite being here for five years, there are still areas that I haven’t been to. Balham, for example. Just south of Clapham Common, the neighborhood is one of the current darlings of the London scene. And what better introduction than a meal at one of its most beloved restaurants, Harrison’s?

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