theculturedgentleman

[theculturedgentleman]

My favourite Chinese restaurants, a request asked by my friends @brainstrip & @onnya

My love for Chinese restaurants stems from my family ties to Hong Kong and Singapore also having godparents of Chinese heritage helped and gave me an exposure to a cuisine I love and cherish.

My favourites are:

Yauatcha: https://maps.app.goo.gl/b3XLV6emCKKh16jo8?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy

Canton Blue @ The Peninsula: https://maps.app.goo.gl/xWWjbUkanqVUeNDr9?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy

China Tang @ The Dorchester: https://maps.app.goo.gl/k6bSVPtUXornEJ419?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy

Hakkasan: https://maps.app.goo.gl/SLuCKVRmDMmxeqHQ6?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy

Ping Pong: https://maps.app.goo.gl/F4CJwNJogLw17Q9D8?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy

Golden Phoenix: https://maps.app.goo.gl/bn3iD428a5zwuyWz6?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy

Royal China: https://maps.app.goo.gl/5jwuY8L7MiPckVx56?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy

[theculturedgentleman]

The actual best areas to stay in London and the hotels to use

Stratford is a great place to have as a base to call home while you’re here due to its excellent transportation links due in part to London’s hosting of the 2012 Olympics and possessing the Westfield Stratford City Shopping Mall which has nearly over 300 shops and 80 restaurants. Another great asset in Stratford would be the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park named as a tribute in honour of her late majesty’s diamond jubilee and the Olympics both of which happened in 2012.

Mayfair, Fitzrovia and Knightsbridge are areas I would definitely say if you have the money then definitely stay here as you’re in the literal heart of the hustle and bustle of the capital with all the main things literally on your doorstep.

Wembley and Harrow are areas dear to my heart as these are the areas where my father spent a lot of his childhood but this part of London is also home to some of the best Indian food imo in the world. This part of London is also a great base to use as you’re really close to Heathrow and relatively close to central london too.

For me the best hotels to look at are:

https://www.ihg.com/london-united-kingdom

[theculturedgentleman]

My favourite restaurants part 2

Nobu

Padella

Sakonis

Bombay Central

The Wolseley

The Delauney

Pizza Pilgrims

Yard Sale Pizza

Roku

Hawksmoor

Emilia’s crafted pasta

Pizza Express for a good relatively affordable meal

[theculturedgentleman]

Best spots to go for some culture

As a jazz lover, I would definitely say pay your respects to the greats at Ronnie Scott’s

Visit all the major museums as they’re all free and incredible.

Go see a film at the BFI where you can see more avant garde films

Go take in a play in or the many west end theatres or if you’re like me and prefer opera or ballet then go to the Royal opera house one of the few remaining old school opera houses still in existence.

If you’re into more contemporary dance then look to Sadler’s wells.

[theculturedgentleman]

My favourite London shops pt1

Oh boy, there are a fair few:

Bookstores:

Foyles

Peter Harrington (specialist bookstore with some truly incredible books that likely will make you cry)

Waterstones but in particular the ones in Piccadilly or Gower Street

Hatchards

Daunt

Blackwells

Stanfords

Books for Cooks

RIBA Bookstore

Food and Drinks

Fortnum & Mason

Harrods

Berry Bros

Selfridges

Neal Yards

Borough Market basically go hungry.

Monmouth Coffee

Twinings

Part 2 coming soon

[theculturedgentleman]

My favourite restaurants part 1

Bob Bob Ricard

The Ivy

Blue Ginger

Brasserie Zedel

China Tang

Nandos cos who doesn't like a cheeky nandos

Ping Pong

Big Easy BBQ

Jikoni

Franco's

Dishoom

[theculturedgentleman]

Getting around my manor (my city, London) and what to do

Buy a TfL oyster card or use contactless as both are valid for the entire transportation system.

Stand on the right side of the escalator otherwise you will get a verbal from a commuter and it will not be polite.

Black cabs aren't the absolute as there is one cab service, I love that are very good and very cheap in comparison and they are https://www.goldlinecars.com/

London also has a incredible bike hire scheme we funnily call 'Boris Bikes' as a nod to our very extravagant former mayor and rather interesting former pm, Rt Hon Boris Johnson.