The List of Cuppa Places

I don't go to coffee places as much as I used to when living in Ireland or Germany, where it was a very regular thing, but still, not all I drink is booze and I do have my little cuppa favourites in London. Here's my Top 5 (cause I don't have enough for a Top 10, really...):

1 Bertie and Boo's, Balham High Rd.

Its design is so cute it makes you want to vomit. But then again, Bertie and Boo's target audience clearly are young mums with their babies and toddlers. So it's your own fault if you squash into one of the old school desks and eat a delicious sandwich or have a cup of really good, yet not overprized Chai Latte. It has already won all kinds of awards, but sadly, it's in Balham, of all places. But if you ever end up in that neck of the woods, B. and B.'s is worth a visit for sure.

2 Mess Cafe, Hackney Central

Mmmmmm, lovely Mess. It is a Hackney institution with its breakfasts and burgers and smoothies and it has sorted out my hangovers a lot in the past and will certainly continue to do so in the future. At the same time it is not exactly a "cosy coffee place" where I'd meet a friend for a cuppa and a chat. But on a sunday morning/afternoon it is unbeatable.

2 The Empire Cafe, Hackney Empire

This Cafe is in my house, which certainly is a big plus. It also serves lovely looking (haven't actually eaten there yet) food for not too much money and if I was working in Hackney (and didn't live in the same house) I'd probably spend a lot of my lunch breaks there. In my current situation I only very occasionally pop in for a cuppa, cause it's nice and smart and never too full and makes me feel like I don't have holes in my shoes for a moment.

4 Parioli, Lower Clapton Rd

This is not the cheaptest place, selling Italian delicatessen and proper nice food. But it's the perfect place for a nice cuppa while reading a book when it's cold outside or raining. Or to meet a friend for a coffee and a chat. And if you are looking for nice cheese, salami or mortadella, grissini and other Italian things to take home, go there. Or if you want ice cream. Which is what I mostly want. Lovelyniceamazingyummy Italian ice cream. (Do you remember me complaining about the nearest ice cream place being an hour away? All I had to do was cross the street. Oh how I laughed.)

5 Hurwundeki, Cambridge Heath Station

This is a funny place. It's quiet and calming inside, all dark wood and traditional coffee place style and smell. In the rather big outside bit you will find all kinds of random antique toys, and buses thundering past. It's probably where I go most of all the cafes, cause it is a bit special, innit. Also I hear their cakes are amazing.

The List of Boozers

So here we go! (Eventually...)

You all know me and you know I love me a nice pint. Sometimes I love them a bit too much, but you know. That's why I moved here in the first place. London's lovely Pubs. Some lovelier than others. I will take you on a crawl through my favourite bars and pubs in no particular order.

1 Biddles Bros on Lower Clapton Rd

It is small and quirky and they often have live music, which you wish they hadn't, cause it's always too loud for even basic conversations. But they also have the acest pub dog in the history of pub dogs and a brilliant toilet, which is about the same size as the rest of the pub and mostly contains one lonely, but very pretty sink. Staff are nice and prices are alright and most importantly: It is just across the road.

2 The Anchor and Hope

You know how sometimes you just love a place, cause you had a nice time there once or something happened there a while ago and you just feel nice and warm whenever you go back? That's
one of them places. Nothing special happened, really. Just a nice winter afternoon and a couple of pints and Ros and me deciding that we want to move to Berlin at some point. We've had bigger moments in other boozers, but they've been overshadowed by different stuff over the time or turned out to not be that important afterall. But the Anchor and Hope with it's lovely view over the River Lea and the Hackney Marshes just is possibly the most peaceful place in London and the perfect place for a warm-me-up pint on a cold winter's walk.

3 The Chesham Arms

Looks a bit weird from the outside with it's England flags all over the place, but the Chesham is rather far from being a nationalistic hole. It's run by the loveliest Greek family, who happen to have a heart for flowers and the royal family. And football. Best thing about the Chesham: Its pretty, hidden beer garden, definitely the best place to go on a summer evening in Hackney!

4 The Boot on Cromer Street

I love the Boot for its Irishness and its randomness. It is full of pigeon breeders and has trophies, artefacts and comics, books, sports gear and all kinds of photos all over the walls. Gabby and I love the place, which is close to King's Cross, but hidden enough to be usually rather empty. The boot has everything a good pub needs: good beer, a pool table, an old Irish bar man with twinkly eyes, and a history. Charles Dickens used to drink here. He also wrote about it: 'This Boot was a lone house of public entertainment, situated in the fields at the back of the Foundling Hospital; a very solitary spot at that period, and quite deserted after dark. The tavern stood at some distance from any high road, and was approachable only by a dark and narrow lane; so that Hugh was much surprised to find several people drinking there, and great merriment going on'.

5 The Tram and Social, Tooting Broadway

The Tram and Social is a cool boozer in Tooting Broadway. There is sofas and random pictures and things, two stories to sit and a brilliant bar with nice staff. The setting is great, because this place actually used to be a tram station. the Tram's only problem is that it is pretty much the only cool bar in the whole of Tooting. So it is always packed, at least on weekends. But come during the day or during the week and you'll have a good time and lots of room for relaxedness!

6 The Faltering Fullback, Finsbury Park

This pub has everything: Random stuff hanging from the ceiling, a pool table and a big outside bit, treehouse style. The treehouse was built singlehandedly by one guy, who usually climbs around on it, too. I once met a dickhead in the Faltering Fallback who said he'd been in the Harry Potter Films as well as in Lord of the Rings. Nevertheless, it's mostly on the list for its treehouse.

7 The Strongroom, Shoreditch

I probably wouldn't have put this one on this list hadn't I been there 2 weeks ago and found them serving Rothaus beer on tap! But such good taste should be rewarded and so this nice Shoreditch boozer shall be mentioned!

8 The Glasshouse Stores, Brewer Street

This is where I usually go when ending up in Soho. This is mostly because of it being a Sam Smith's pub, which means it is C H E A P. I like the variation of different customers, too, tho. There's the old locals as well as the odd tourist, the bunch of central London office workers and the occasional gay (for example me).

9 Old Bull and Bush, Hampstead Heath

Just another one of those places that is only on the list, because I spent a nice time there. It's right next to Hampstead Heath and the perfect place to be after a long walk through the park or a swi in the ponds. At least in the summer - big outside bit!

10 Pub on the Park, London Fields

I like going there when it is not the weekend best. Because being the Umbrella of London Fields, it is always very crowded - or becomes so whenever it starts raining (which is all the time). The bar staff are very friendly and it is very close to my house. Double pluses.



More London Lists to follow soon!

A life without pugs

And I was so good in July. Sigh.

The problem with this blog is, at times when nothing happens I am too bored to write about the nothingness. And at times when things happen, they usually happen all at once and leave no time for writing about them.

Like in August, some silly kids burnt half of London down, rioted in front of my house and made me afraid of leaving the house in the middle of the day for the first time in my life. Also, I had half a dozen job interviews, actually got a couple of jobs and have been working my first shifts. Plus I went to Brighton, Bristol and Manchester. Ros' sister Lins came to london and Loriot died and I lost a phone and bought a new one.

All in all a brilliant month, despite the Loriot thing. But, y'know. He was very old and he had lots of pugs* in his life, so I think it's ok.

September I decided to start off a little differently. Cause it has been a year this month that I moved over (2.9. it was...). Champagne! Music! Fireworks!
And I know it a little now, this London and I have some ideas of what I like and what not so much. So this month is the month of lists. Cause I love lists.


Let's go.






*pug as in the dog. Quote: "A life without pugs is possible, but senseless." Loriot.