http://www.spottedbylocals.com/london London Spotted by Locals Tue, 23 Feb 2010 10:11:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 http://www.spottedbylocals.com/london/kitchen-and-pantry http://www.spottedbylocals.com/london/kitchen-and-pantry#comments Mon, 22 Feb 2010 07:12:28 +0000 Deanna Romano http://www.spottedbylocals.com/london/kitchen-and-pantry With the steady invasion of coffee chains it can be a struggle to find independent coffee shops in London. However bypass all the usual suspects which line Portobello Road, then turn into Elgin Crescent where you’ll find Kitchen and Pantry. Furnished with big brown comfy sofas, wooden kitchen tables, and buzzing with chatter, the grinding [...]]]> http://www.spottedbylocals.com/london/kitchen-and-pantry/feed 0 http://www.spottedbylocals.com/london/bertie-and-boo http://www.spottedbylocals.com/london/bertie-and-boo#comments Mon, 22 Feb 2010 07:09:25 +0000 Charl Asuit Bertie and Boo - A playground for young and old Britain is best known as a nation of tea drinkers although there are a handful of people, like me, who prefers coffee. I prefer the strong ones like espresso. But sadly, this caffeine fix can only be quenched at the more commercialised ‘designer coffee’ brands. This is why finding good, quaint and independent cafes has [...]]]> http://www.spottedbylocals.com/london/bertie-and-boo/feed 5 http://www.spottedbylocals.com/london/the-fat-delicatessen http://www.spottedbylocals.com/london/the-fat-delicatessen#comments Sat, 06 Feb 2010 02:35:39 +0000 Charl Asuit The Fat Delicatessen - For the fat appetite Somewhat hidden from the busy Balham High Road is The Fat Delicatessen. Perfect place to sit quietly with a good book and a nice macchiato. If you’re quite hungry, there is also a selection of snacks and small plates that would surely fill you up. It is also one of the few places that have [...]]]> http://www.spottedbylocals.com/london/the-fat-delicatessen/feed 4 http://www.spottedbylocals.com/london/the-beehive http://www.spottedbylocals.com/london/the-beehive#comments Sat, 06 Feb 2010 02:35:09 +0000 Charl Asuit The Beehive - Bringing back swinging London Walking into The Beehive is like crossing a time portal. The smell of good coffee beckons you and at the threshold, you are transported back to swinging 60s London. The Beehive offers the “Fantastic Four” in Greenwich – a cafe, record shop, vintage clothing shop and a collectibles shop. Oli Vintage & Retro is a delight [...]]]> http://www.spottedbylocals.com/london/the-beehive/feed 0 http://www.spottedbylocals.com/london/gilgamesh http://www.spottedbylocals.com/london/gilgamesh#comments Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:32:36 +0000 Deanna Romano Gilgamesh - A night in Babylon Gilgamesh was the son of the greatest King in biblical times, and is believed to have lived a heroic and adventurous life. To his tribute, the Gilgamesh restaurant encapsulates his greatness by creating a breathtaking visionary restaurant. The construction of the place alone appears to have been bigger than Ben Hur, as it hosts the [...]]]> http://www.spottedbylocals.com/london/gilgamesh/feed 1 http://www.spottedbylocals.com/london/sketch http://www.spottedbylocals.com/london/sketch#comments Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:27:57 +0000 Deanna Romano Sketch - Sketch it For the perfect combination of glamour and eccentricity, head to Sketch, off Regent St, Mayfair. Sketch is made up of a few bars and restaurants, one of which has a Michelin star, however the main attraction of Sketch is its quirky interior. Each room is unique, however the design is consistent; opulent, edgy and alluring. For [...]]]> http://www.spottedbylocals.com/london/sketch/feed 0 http://www.spottedbylocals.com/london/the-wet-fish-cafe http://www.spottedbylocals.com/london/the-wet-fish-cafe#comments Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:27:28 +0000 Ben Pendrey The Wet Fish Cafe - Modern Comfort Food So named because it was previously a wet fish shop, (the term ‘wet’ refers to fish that have not been frozen since being caught) the old cream and emerald Art Deco tiles from this previous incarnation now form part of the tranquil, dark-wood ambiance.  I love the old Oriental sideboard with deep carvings of rural [...]]]> http://www.spottedbylocals.com/london/the-wet-fish-cafe/feed 0 http://www.spottedbylocals.com/london/the-kitchen-table http://www.spottedbylocals.com/london/the-kitchen-table#comments Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:27:19 +0000 Ben Pendrey http://www.spottedbylocals.com/london/spotters-reporting/the-kitchen-table-2 Forget all bad experiences you have had with nasty, greasy breakfasts, this place will set your universe the right way up. A bit of a well-kept secret, Kitchen Table is tucked away from the bustle of West End Lane, frequented by locals, this child-friendly café has a real homely feel. In fact, proprietors Tom and Jenny [...]]]> http://www.spottedbylocals.com/london/the-kitchen-table/feed 0 http://www.spottedbylocals.com/london/portobello-market http://www.spottedbylocals.com/london/portobello-market#comments Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:26:47 +0000 Ben Pendrey Portobello Market - Plenty of Produce Portobello Market started as a fresh-food market in the 19th Century, but expanded in the 1960s to include the renowned Saturday antiques market at the eastern end of the street, and an assortment of clothing and accessories stalls to the western end. It is of course more recently known for that Richard Curtis film, Notting [...]]]> http://www.spottedbylocals.com/london/portobello-market/feed 0 http://www.spottedbylocals.com/london/cafe-vergnano http://www.spottedbylocals.com/london/cafe-vergnano#comments Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:25:57 +0000 Ben Pendrey Cafe Vergnano - Coffee Redemption Never again will you have to put up with a milky latte when you really wanted a cappuccino, or experience third-degree burns to your tongue when you take a sip from a takeaway cup. Cosily housed in a refurbished spot in the railway arches of Hungerford Bridge, Cafe Vergnano 1882 is a comfortable mix of dark [...]]]> http://www.spottedbylocals.com/london/cafe-vergnano/feed 0