An Off-The-Beaten-Path, Design-Forward Guide to London

If you haven't been to London before, of course, make sure to hit major stops like Buckingham Palace, the British Museum, Tate Modern and the Victoria & Albert Museum. A personal favorite is the Serpentine Gallery off King’s Road, where they have really fun and wild exhibitions.

Soho is great for shopping, of course, but the crowds can get overwhelming, so I suggest you hit your spots and then escape to the quieter streets (Liberty right over to Rita’s), or just audit to King’s Road. I like Marylebone best for strolling in and out of little shops, followed by a drink at Chiltern Firehouse (try for a spot by the bar!). Notting Hill is lovely and has some great spots for shopping in the late afternoon (perhaps a drink at Walmer Castle before heading to Gold or Dorian for Dinner).

Here are some additional (mostly shopping) spots that are top of my list:

Liberty London, Soho: Of course.

• Harvey Nichols, Kensington: The best, most stylish selection with half the crowd.

• Selfridges, Mayfair: Again, of course.

• Rixo, Marylebone & King’s Road: The coolest printed dresses and eccentric accessories.

• Finley’s Wine, Haggerston: Top-notch selection of wines. Let them guide you on the best!

• Dover Street Market, Covent Garden: Always fun to walk through.

• Burro e Salvia, Shoreditch: A great place to buy delicious homemade pastas and sauces.

• Portobello Road, Notting Hill: Prioritize shops over street vendors. They have better quality and make sure you bargain at the famous block print shop!

• Soane Britain: Lovely home store chock-full of all the hand-blocked prints.

• Howe London: Find amazing kitchenware and ceramics here.

• Columbia Flower Market: So pretty and fun to check out, particularly during the summer.

• Marylebone High Street: The best stores. Manchester Street is great for men’s shopping.

• La Portegna, Marylebone: Beautiful leather goods, perfect for gifts & you can have any initials embossed.

• Robert Kime, Kensington: My favorite home store to poke around.

• Trilogy Antiques, Tetbury: Beautiful finds here for the home.

Jamavar, Mayfair ($$$)

Jamavar is wrongfully slept on. Honestly, I have yet to try Dishoom and I can never get into Gymkhana (if you can, go for me), but this place really gets the job done in my opinion. The Indian food is spectacularly good, as are the cocktails and service. Interiors are opulent but warm and inviting, and you’ll notice many Londoners having family dinner here. You’d be mistaken to skip the prawns, sea bass curry or any of the delicious chutneys.

Little Duck the Picklery, Clerkenwell ($$)

I adore this sweet little restaurant in Dalston, an offshoot of Soho’s well-known Ducksoup. Be sure to sit at the Chef’s Counter, which is not separated from but is one big island which essentially encircles the Chef station. Adorned with flowers, produce and more. It’s so warm, inviting, and the food really shocked me: truly incredible. The bread and butter is actually a standout, and you mustn’t skip the roast pumpkin or anything with their sublime housemade sausage. Incredibly cozy, quiet and low key. Perfect for a smaller group or date night, and a reminder that the most humble-looking restaurants are sometimes the most likely to blow you away.

BRAT, Shoreditch ($$$)

This place is unbelievable. It’s been on the scene for quite some time, so I had heard of it but had never made a reservation until my last visit. On a Saturday night, we decided at the eleventh hour to put our names down and thirty minutes later found ourselves at the cozy bar (which actually faces the dining room rather than a mixologist’s station) with the nicest servers pouring us great wine and guiding us through the hefty, carnivorous menu. The Scallops really knocked it out of the park, and the Roast Duck with Confit Apricot and Duck Liver Pâté really wowed me.

Walmer Castle ($$)

The cutest, and perhaps most stylish, pub I have ever been to. Downstairs is ultra cozy, with a bar and fireplace, while the upstairs is spacious and beautifully designed (I wanted to buy everything off their walls!). Of course, make note that it is a pub, so drinks are simple but the food is good — oh, and their Sunday Roast is incredible. If you’re traveling with a group, they have a lovely private dining room tucked in halfway up the stairs. It’s the perfect spot to stop in for a drink or bring friends and lounge around for a longer meal.

Colbert, Kensington ($$$)

I’ve never heard anyone else mention Colbert, but if you are in search of that cozy-yet-chic brasserie-serving-shrimp-cocktail-and-martinis kinda spot found almost more easily in NYC than in Paris (sue me!), look no further. Sidle up to the bar with a cocktail or opt for the inviting, vintage-poster-filled dining room for a comforting meal with great Kensington people watching.

Bambi, South Hackney ($$)

On the livelier side, Bambi is a relatively new restaurant and the perfect spot to book with a group for a fun night on the town. The concept is centered around their stellar collection of vinyl, and they’ve got a DJ spinning tunes from the back bar. But don’t mistake this for simply a bar — know that it’s a really cool restaurant with fabulous natural wines, great food, sleek interiors and a crowd who you can tell knows what they’re doing. Don’t miss the braised butter beans (even my bean-averse sister conceded to this recommendation and was impressed).

Wild by Tart, Belgravia ($$)

This restaurant in Belgravia is a truly beautiful spot. I had been following along with Tart London (a quite cool female-owned catering business, follow them — they post great recipes) for some time and was very excited to try the restaurant when I was recently in town. They have the most delicious, unique cocktails and inventive dishes that are, for the most part, locally sourced. Must-orders include the pickled vegetables to start, Blood Orange and Kohlrabi Salad, Aubergine and whatever Agnolotti is on the menu.

Rita’s Dining, Soho ($$)

A certain favorite here, and I love it for lunch or dinner. Rita’s is an “American” style restaurant and does not stumble from start to end. Their Green Margarita (El Madrina) has become one of my favorite drinks of all time. While they offer no bar to actually sit at, and it’s rather tiny, the atmosphere is divine. We scraped all of our plates clean. Must-orders are the Heritage Pumpkin (to die for) and the crunchy Caesar Salad. I’ve heard the fried chicken is pretty spectacular, as well.

Oranj, Shoreditch ($$)

I was instantly enticed by this funky wine bar in Shoreditch, discreetly tucked away behind a black garage door. It’s low-lit with great music and, surprise (!), a great selection of orange wines (they offer other wines and cocktails as well). Great for a fun dinner or just stopping in for drinks.

Rochelle Canteen, Shoreditch ($$)

Tucked into a little walled garden in Shoreditch, you’ll find Rochelle Canteen, where you’ll dine in the cutest little sunroom/tent on served simple but delicious seasonal plates. Vegetables and high-quality meats are the focus here. I think it’s best enjoyed at lunch.

Ottolenghi, Various Locations ($$)

We all know the name, but not everyone may know that Ottolenghi has quite a few restaurants in London - and I actually prefer his batch of cute, prepared-food cafés over the fancier spots. You can make a combo box with a protein, a few delicious sides like Tahini Cauliflower with Pomegranate Seeds or Smoked Aubergine with Labneh. Add some grains and accouterments, and eat-in or takeaway. Perfect for an easy, healthy, flavorful lunch while strolling about. Locations include Notting Hill, Kensington, Marylebone, Belgravia and more.

Other favorites include:

• Jolene Redchurch/Newington Green for coffee and pastries.

• Daylesford Organic for a midday snack, lunch and takeaway goods.

• Flor and Pophams for gorgeous pastries.

• Campania, Shoreditch ($$): Cozy, classic Italian on Columbia Road.

• The Baring Arms ($): Cozy but elevated pub.

• Maggie Jones', Kensington ($$): Old-school English establishment.

• Sessions Arts Club, Clerkenwell ($$$): Beautiful food in a converted former arts club.