Amico Bio – Barbican

January is here and it is one of my favourite months. A lovely way to start the new year was with an Afternoon Tea. Afternoon Tea at Amico Bio was something a little different as it was a vegetarian one with an Italian twist.

Sagar – Covent Garden

When a friend came over from Europe in December, I got to see her briefly for an early evening catch up. But it was so short as time was a real factor. So I was happy that the next day both of us and her friend were free to do a relaxed Indian lunch in Covent Garden.

Nid Ting – Holloway

A nice impromptu weekend treat was going for lunch with my neighbours. It is really great when you get to know your neighbours and they become close friends. It’s nice when you get to spend proper time with them.

Jamie’s Italian – Angel

It has become an annual event to go see a Christmas show. This year, it was Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty. A slightly dark take on the classic fairytale with amazing dancers and sets. After our festive show, it was time to fill our tummies. As we were in Angel, there were quite a few choices. The consensus was to go for Italian food and what better place to head to, than Jamie’s Italian.

Tempus Restaurant at Hotel Russell – Bloomsbury

The outside of Hotel Russell always reminds me of something that you would see in an American movie. There is something about the grandness of this hotel, especially at Christmas time when it is decorated with big red bows. The building overlooks Russell Square.

Camino (Cruz del Rey) – Kings Cross

A close friend’s birthday gathering brought us all together for a tapas evening at Camino. Starting off in the bar area was a good way to start the birthday celebrations.

Patara – Regent Street

It is always nice to have family come visit. An added bonus is that it gives us a chance to explore and try new places to eat. This time, it was my cousin who had come over from LA. I was after a place near Oxford Circus as we needed to be close to the theatre, to get there in time for an evening show.

Waterloo Bar and Kitchen – Waterloo

When a friend of mine was going to be going out of the country for many months, it just wouldn’t have been right if we didn’t go for a leaving lunch.

Kipferl – Angel

For something a bit different, head to Kipferl, situated in the quirky Camden Passage. This Austrian/Viennese cafe has a relaxed feel to it. The cafe area is at the front and the small restaurant area is at the back. The cake counter divides the two areas. The restaurant area is casual too. There are a few seats outdoors.