Charl Asuit (1974)

Misato is one of those few places in Central London that offers good food at a cheap price. For under £10, you can get a meal that you can probably share with another person, if you are a light eater. Might be thinly stretched if you are a big group.

Actually, if you plan to go dining at Misato, you are likely to get a table quicker if you have a small group – three being the maximum. See, there is always a queue at Misato, where you and your party could be waiting for up to 45 minutes! So here’s my little tip, if you have a dining party of more than 3 then go and ask to be sat in pairs. That way, you could get a table quicker. Service here is quite fast and you’ll be gone quicker than you had been standing in the queue so you really won’t miss the rest of your friends. Please also note that Misato is a cash only restaurant.

When you order from the barbeque menu at Koba, you will be told that you will do the cooking. There’s a really hot plate that sits at the middle of your table, which is fired up by a gas hob underneath. Then they bring your selection of meat and/or seafood, raw, which you then grill on the hot plate.

Should you order the modeum (assortment), it is quite tempting to grill everything at the same time but I recommend that you don’t. Put only what you will be eating immediately. The staff at Koba will happily recommend the sequence of what you grill and eat. For some people who haven’t experienced ‘hotpot’, dining at Koba’s could be quite an experience.But apart from the cook-it-yourself concept, you also get to enjoy the delights of Korean cuisine. If you don’t fancy the barbeques, there are other dishes on the menu that the Koba’s chefs will gladly prepare for you. My personal favourites are the Korean pancakes.

Convenient is the best word to describe the Alexandra Pub or the Alex as referred to by the locals. This is primarily due to its location in Clapham, the converging point for young professionals coming from within the vicinity or beyond. It is easily reached by the Underground on the Northern Line and cannot be missed as soon as you come out from Clapham Common tube station.

It is also convenient in the sense that you need not worry about what you wear. The Alex offers a laid back atmosphere where you can meet up with friends either after work or during the lazy weekends. It is also a great place to go to watch a major sporting event like football or rugby.

The Alex has two floors of seating (and at times standing) area and each floor has a bar making it convenient to order more beer, ales and cider. The interior is a typical pub scene with plenty of memorabilia items on the walls and unused corners. The upper floor has recently undergone some refurbishment to better suit private parties and large groups.

Located on the first floor of the fabulously expensive Sanderson Hotel, agua is a luxury spa providing treatments to relax the mind and the body. Tranquility greets as you enter the all-white interior where every room is separated with floor-to-ceiling curtains only. Even with such flimsy dividers, there seems to be no noise heard at all.

When you come in for a treatment, you leave your worldly possessions at the lockers and don the fluffy white robe and slippers provided to you at check in. You then chill-out on the white chaise loungers as you wait for your massage or facial. With such calming surroundings, it is quite difficult not to snooze away before or during your treatment.

Actually, you can possibly take a nap afterwards on the meditation beds. Or if the treatments left your stomach grumbling, you can also order light meals where it is served to you in the chill-out zone. It is possible to stay until closing time even if your treatment only lasts for an hour making it an all-day pampering experience.

agua is quite pricey but it is perfect for those extra-special ‘me’ moments or a perfect present for that someone special.

(Note: £15 day membership fee is added to your bill if you are not a regular member or a hotel resident.)

Koko in Camden is one of London’s premier music venue. It has provided a stage from the less known alternative acts to big mainstream artists including the Sex Pistols, Eurythmics, Coldplay and Madonna.

The history of Koko as a theatre is carefully preserved in the interiors with multi-level balconies, booths and private boxes. It does make it sometimes difficult to think that the building dates back to 1900.

Various music-based groups have made residency at Koko’s like Club NME and Buttoned Down Disco offering a regular sets of party gigs at different days of the week. Famous DJs like Krush and Kentaro have also staged special set shows, which, incidentally, was one of my best nightout ever and a personal favourite. Then there are the live music acts from rock to funk to pop.

Ticket prices vary depending on the act so best check the website for more information and to book tickets. Most, if not all, of the gigs are for 18s and over so if you look younger than your age, be prepared to show proof.