Tsellot Melesse

Germany

Berlin

Squarespace

Store X offers a unique blend of fashion, art and culture in one space. It mirrors Berlin's artistic and fashion-forward identity by providing a platform where creatives from all over the world meet. Their curated selections are one of a kind. I'd recommend exploring their record collection; grab a coffee right there and vibe. Most of the time a DJ there is spinning records. This might be the only time where it’s OK to walk up to the DJ and ask to play a record.

The Store X

YaMe NumNums mirrors Berlin's love for international cuisine, offering a slice of Japan in the heart of the city, reflecting its multicultural and diverse culinary landscape. It stands out for its authentic homemade udon. I mean udon by itself is already insane, but homemade udon? Come on! Also love the owner – real Berliner, female, BIPOC! I'd suggest trying their signature udon noodles. My favourite is miso, sends you right to heaven.

The magic of YaMe NumNums lies in its ability to transport diners to Japan through flavours, offering a sense of tradition and authenticity in every bite. It serves as a culinary bridge, connecting the local community to the essence of Japanese food culture, contributing to Berlin's culinary diversity.

YaMe NumNums

The magic of Silo lies in its ability to bring a slice of Australian brunch culture to Berlin, fostering a lively and welcoming atmosphere. Its vibrant atmosphere and delicious, unique brunch options are exceptional. Their varied menu and quality coffee make it a go-to spot for a lively morning experience. It’s more than a hangover spot! But also incredibly bomb when hungover. I'd suggest trying their unique twist on classic brunch items like the avocado toast or their top-notch coffee that comes from a local roastery.

It’s also located in one of Berlin’s loveliest neighbourhoods, so grab brunch on Sunday there and continue the day at the flea market nearby or head over to Berghain like a true Berliner on Sunday morning.

Silo Coffee

Effy offers a trendy, artsy approach to nail care, providing a unique and creative
experience. Her attention to detail and trendy nail designs are commendable. She’s also real good on short nails – my personal favourite.

Effy mirrors Berlin's creative and artistic side by providing a space for self-expression through nail art and trendy designs, reflecting the city's avant-garde and innovative nature. The uniqueness of Effy's lies in her caring nature. It really is on- on-one time and pure relaxation – she does not only take care of your nails but also of your mind. You’ll leave relaxed!

Effy Nails

Similar Guides

Independent Businesses in Berlin Selected by Tsellot Melesse

Eugy

Ghana

Accra

Club twist is popping! It took me 4 years to get into the Club Twist, if you get in you're made! If you haven't met the bouncer FM you haven't been to Twist.

Club Twist 

After the party it's the after party! It's for the after partiers, when you leave Twist you go to Ace Tantra. Look out for my guys Yeho and Pablo Ghost they'll look after you.

Ace Tantra Club

Mum's Kitchen 

Drinks to order - Ginger Shots, Kokokro & taste their Calamari - it makes sense!

The Republic Bar

All types of vibes from food/drinks to live music and horse riding.

Labadi Beach

Aburi Mountains

Accra's Nightlife with Eugy

Nigeria

Abuja

I really like Play, it's that one spot where me and my guys go to hear loud music or just to unwind and have a night out. The club has a cool vibe to it and we always have fun there.

Play

Whenever I go to Vanilla, I like to order the lamb shank or the goat asun tostadas with some rum. If I’m to go with my guys we just chill at the lounge and drink liquor. But Vanilla is nice in Maitama.

Vanilla

I like when they have karaoke nights here. Depending on how much alcohol is in my system, I will sing some Bob Marley for them.

The Pier 

The best nightclub in Abuja. If you want to hear the latest you have to be at Cubana. A song can drop today and trust me when I say you will hear it at Cubana the same day. The DJs are too tapped in!

Cubana

This place is great for the midweek. Guys just get together, chill and drink beer. Talk about music, talk about life – a place to catch up that is not in the studio. We still talk about all the music we create, but change of scenery, same conversation kind of setting – you get me.

Bature Brewery

Bowling is one of my favourite pastimes, and they have some nice burgers here too; I like to go here alone. People think bowling alone is weird but it's not. Not everything is a competition or about winning, sometimes it's about mastering the game.

The Dome Entertainment Centre

This is a chill spot for a quick munch with their wings and Singapore rice. It does the job.

Metro Cafe

Johnny Rockets is an American franchise so if you want some American type of burger, this is the place for you.

Johnny Rocket

This is a place you go to when you want to celebrate yourself or someone. The prices are high but the food is nice.

Tar Tar

Nice spot to go to on the weekends for some wings and chips in the garden.

The Junkyard

A Guide to Abuja, Nigeria, by Odumodublvck

Hak Baker

United Kingdom

London

Top cafe, top food, top proper east end people

E Pellicci

Basing House

Good priced and top quality Sunday Roasts. Morn like these silly gastro pubs. Good price beer and authentic East End Pub feel. Ain’t much of that around, too conversation just don’t act moody, we’ll sniff you out!

Isle of Dogs

Members club - I ain’t got a membership but I got the blag to get in there. Good food and wild impromptu nights. Variety of people

LAYLOW

Home of Thirsty Thursday. Best free party in town and can't go wrong. Free entry free beer and Live music.

Rolling Stock

Venue fluctuates but if ya in town and it's on go to 'Glitterbox' top old skool sounds and good ravers

Ministry of sound

London with Hak Baker

France

Paris

I like to time travel and there’s nothing like an antique shop when you need to be transported to an era. Soubrier is not just any antique shop. I told the owners their business is older than my country. It’s four storeys of fantastic. I spend hours here dreaming and have asked several times if they would consider letting me move in.

Soubrier Antiquites and Decor

Because our first installation of Josephine’s Bookshop was right across the street from the Jardin du Luxembourg, I walked through there everyday. Of course, I spent almost my entire time in Paris working so I never got to go horseback riding or play the giant chess game or take the horticultural classes, but I have all those reasons to go back again and again.

Jardin du Luxembourg

Open everyday from 8am to 2am, Les Éditeurs is a booklady’s restaurant. You’re surrounded by thousands of them, you get a bookmark with your meal, and they respect when you just need a place to read for a few hours while you eat, think and write without interruption.

Les Éditeurs

When you’re in Paris, but you’re really from Virginia and you’re missing soul food, there’s Treize – which not only provides fantastic wi-fi, but also Southern American delicacies like biscuits. They took such great care of us and even have a drink on the menu dedicated to Josephine Baker.

Treize

The Queen Elizabeth II flower market runs along the Seine in the heart of the Île de la Cité with flower sales carried out by a dozen independent merchants. However, the site has gone without investment for decades, and the owners say it is in decline. I love supporting independent merchants and try to do so whenever, wherever and however we get a chance. This place is filled with different stalls, it smells amazing, the colours and design are like medicine to my flower-loving soul. Buying flowers, plants and trees here for Josephine’s feels like a semi-revolutionary act.

Les Marché aux Fleurs Reine Elizabeth II

5 Thought-Inspiring Places in Paris Chosen by Jeannine Cook

Toumba

Jordan

Amman

MNFA is the mecca of the underground scene in Amman. It’s the place to hit up if you’re out for music, great company and the opportunity to let go and be yourself. Its wonderfully curated lineups constantly introduce new sounds to the community and pushes the boundaries of what is expected from a club night in Amman. It’s situated in a previously unused car park two floors underground where there is no phone signal, forcing you to be fully present in the moment. The setup is both brilliant and minimal, making it very pleasant to be in while not taking the attention away from the music; rather, enhancing the listening experience. It’s not the place to go to if you’re looking for typical, predictable dance music, but if you’re willing to broaden your horizon and experience a top-tier club night. [MNFA is] easily outdoing most of what I’ve experienced in Europe.

MNFA

Out of all the historical spots in Amman, the Citadel has to be my favourite. It’s not a hidden gem by any means but the nature, the ruins, the history and the unparalleled views make it a must-visit for anyone coming to Amman.

Amman Citadel

7hills is a skateboarder-run, grassroots, non-profit organisation based in Jordan. The skatepark they built has become a hub for the youth of Amman, especially the skateboarding community. If you’re into skateboarding and just want to be involved in local grassroots workshops, get to know the community or have a great time in the sun, it’s a great spot to visit and meet the people who run it while you’re there.

7hills Skatepark

The Royal Automobile Museum is a must-visit for car enthusiasts as well as history enthusiasts who want a different and interesting way of experiencing a chunk of the country’s past. The museum features over 80 of the late King Hussein’s car and motorcycle collection, some of which date back to 1909. Along with the cars, which are still in pristine condition, you get some information about the historical importance of each vehicle to the king and the country, as well as information about the cars themselves.

The Royal Automobile Museum

The Spilled Milk is an arts space in Jabal Amman, co-founded by Youth’s Dijit. The space acts as a hub for unique art and design work by predominantly local artists, with the aim of injecting a dose of novelty into Amman’s art scene and providing a source of income for independent artists. One of their first collaborations was with Terso, a project selling vintage Egyptian movie posters, some dating back to the 50s and 60s. They also have a selection of records on sale handpicked by Dijit himself. This shop is definitely worth the visit if you want to buy some unique local pieces.

The Spilled Milk

This is the local flea market in Amman. It opens every week from Thursday afternoon to Friday night. It’s everything a flea market should be: busy, loud, messy and full of hidden gems. This one is for vintage, secondhand and novelty fashion enthusiasts who enjoy the process of finding good pieces as much as buying them. You can spend hours here and not finish the whole thing, but you’re guaranteed to leave with a couple of pieces that will make you feel proud of the effort you put in and make you want to hit it up again next week.

Friday Market

Robin is unparalleled when it comes to finding unique jewellery pieces in Amman. This is not the place to visit if you’re looking for ultra-modern, avant-garde pieces, but you’ll find the most amazing antique silver and gold jewellery that could give the best modern designers a run for their money. Some of the older 100 to 200-year-old plus pieces will have a hefty price tag on them, but you’ll be able to find your next statement piece for a reasonable price here too.

Robin For Silver & Orientals

Toumba’s Top 7 Things to Do in Amman, Jordan

Matt Wilkinson

Cornwall

The name says it all - a tiny hut, hidden away near beautiful Portscatho. This is a legendary local institution, serving awesome, fresh takeaway grub. Their feast nights are off the scale, and their recipe book is great as well.

Hidden Hut, Portscatho

I always go to this old-school pub whenever I’m back - it’s like a classic, trinket-filled, Aladdin’s cave of a place. Amazing views too, as it’s just metres from one of the most epic harbours on the planet. Go when it’s stormy!

The Ship Inn, Porthleven

The paddleboarding club at my local beach, Gyllyngvase. Absolutely anyone can paddleboard - here you can take lessons or just head out on your own.

Wesup, Falmouth

Whether it’s foraging, game butchery, bush-crafting or canoeing, this camping and glamping activity spot - with a central hub for socialising - is remote and beautiful.

7th Rise, Penperth Farm

The most westerly surf spot in the country, and one of the most breath-taking beaches on the planet, in my opinion. Great for walks, too.

Sennen Cove

Finisterre have really taken beachwear to the next level. Their surf clothes are tailor-made for the cold climate, and their streetwear is great too.

Finisterre HQ, St Agnes

Cornwall with Matt Wilkinson

La Même Gang

BloomBar

"Try their shisha. They've got amazing flavors!"

Luna Rooftop Bar 

"Ask for the kelewele lady. Late night sweet tooth."

Labone Junction

"Go on Sunday evening. It's the best time, best burgers."

Accra with La Même Gang

MARICAS

Spain

Barcelona

Fridays and Saturdays at La Concha are unforgettable nights that for some reason get filled with lesbians while DJs play tracks such as 2 Times by Ann Lee, Bla Bla Bla by Gigi D'Agostino or Better Off Alone by Alice Deejay.

La Concha

Raval’s finest classic queer Almodòbar vibes bar. It was the only place we went to for years. It’s a meet up for all queers in Barcelona, owned by queer individuals. A must in Barcelona.

Madame Jasmine

For some reason this classic neighbourhood Spanish bar gets filled by queers. It’s the perfect place to go for some beers, cheese and ham with friends on a chilled week night.

Bar del Toro

This is our favourite celebration dinner place. It’s a bit pricey, but perfect if you want to have some natural wine and exquisite Mediterranean food. Make sure you get some service by Jeanne – a young version of Shane from The L Word.

Bar Brutal/Can Cisa

Books, magazines, posters and a lot more at Barcelona’s queer-owned first kiosk. A must for some reading and coffee.

Odd Kiosk

The first Sunday of every month Queer Pong Club hosts a day and night event for lesbians to play with darts, pool, ping-pong and more.

Queer Pong Club

The Best Queer Spots in Barcelona, Selected by Maricas

Ramesh

Ibiza

A new addition to the island in 2019 and the beginnings of pushing the boundaries from classic mediterranean cooking. Antía and Matias arrived from living in New York and brought younger vibes to a sleepy Santa E. Watch out for them hosting pop-up supper clubs at places like LOS ENAMORADOS or LA GRANJA. Remember to order their Kale Caesar Salad, your taste buds will not forget it.

Hambre

Founders and wine creators, Cassidy and Bernat have set up their super natural wines shop in the quaint town of San Lorenzo next door to the church. San Lorenzo is such a quaint town (I don't even think there is a shop there), simply two banging restaurants, a school, a natural wine shop and a church.

Casa Lhasa’s foundations are: fresh food bought from the market daily, incredible anfitriones (hosts and hostess - in Spanish) and knowledge on natural wines.

Casa Lhasa

NICK and FACU, these two movement coaches are special, their value of movement being medicine boils down to the stories that got them here... The way the light runs into this space is beautiful, it is a real pleasure to train in this room. If you are at all into practicing movement, it is worth a trip to the group class or a 1-2-1. Be prepared to jump around like a frog or a cat and be chased around with a stick. You get a sweat on, improve your core strength and can learn to stand upside down!

ps - they have freezers set up for wim hoff in the back :)

Primal Movement

Have you ever wondered what a crossfit class would be like with a smiley crew of ex-ravers. Well you don’t have to wonder any more if you join Danny Plants Rewild tribe. Whether you are here on holiday for a drop in or want to be a monthly member this kettlebell and pull up crew will make you smile. A warm vibe and great crew to lifty with.

Think - if fabric had a crossfit team.

Rewild Gym

I’ve finally found a yoga studio where you can book online and in advance! Phew. The Studio is new to the island but Nadia (THEHEALTHJUNKIE) is not; she is a veteran of the club scene having been a dancer at Cocoon, Paradise and many other quality parties. Nadia found yoga and set up the studio in 2021. Situated in San Lorenzo and currently with one class every day, it is a boutique studio with a quality teacher, whether you want core strength, or yin, this space is quality.

The Studio / Yoga

Ramon and Inma are a couple that are in service of the bowls, they hold a special energy from the island and their bowls help to take you to other worlds. If you haven’t yet experienced sound healing, try it. If you are a regular receiver of the sound; you know that each healer has their sounds and their style. Sounds for life infuses emotive tracks with the bowls, gongs and the bells, played for you in their light and airy yoga room or they can be set up in the forest or at your house. Send them a DM on INSTAGRAM to book.

Sounds For Life

An absolute classic of the north for sunset, vibes and the bongos. Don’t be fooled into only heading down here on Sundays. It is well worth heading down any day of the week and more of less any time. Good vibes, great for swimming in the sea (I challenge you to swim to the rock shaped like a finger).

Benirras Beach

Toby Clarke has been on the island for ten plus years this time and has created something extremely special with his bandwagon of guides that show you many unexplored spots on the island. Whether you want to book in for a private walk or join their community wednesday 5km saunters. The vibe is lovely, they chat about the history of the island and it is easy to make friends with their crew. Look at their website to book.

Walking Ibiza

A Cave up in the north of the island. If you fancy a history lesson on Ibiza, look up and read about the goddess of Tannit before you head to the cave. If you feeling it bring here a gift like a beautiful bunch of flowers you pick on the way there she will reward you with love.

Tanit's Cave

An extremely cute and vibey hippie market with trinkets from the island, trippy bucket hats, hippie shirts and quality handmade merchandise. Look out for MEKE Coffee stall, for a reup as the market is on Sunday mornings you’ll probably want the coffee hit. Top tip for this market is to book a brunch or lunch table at the GIRI CAFE for after you have finished browsing the market - book 3-4 day in advance.

San Joan Hippy Market

Explore North Ibiza with Ramesh

Indonesia

Jakarta

Located in the busy food street of Mangga Besar, this family-owned stall that has been around since 1958 is what you might want to call legendary. The fried chicken recipe and coconut rice is truly a heavenly combo. Don’t forget to dip your chicken in their tangy sambal consisting of peanut sauce – it will elevate the flavour of the fried chicken!

Ayam Goreng Buni

This fried chicken comes in an eccentric green bowl paired with an eccentric flavour that comes from a mixture of garlic, chilli, tomatoes and tauco (fermented soybean paste best known for Indonesian cuisine). Pak Jaya came from Brebes, Central Java, and tried this recipe in his exploration outside the common ayam goreng recipe across Jakarta.

Ayam Goreng Tauco Dian Jaya

Our parents ate here with their friends; we ate here with our parents when we were little, and now we’d go here to eat fried chicken with our friends. Ayam Goreng Berkah is one of the legendary food establishments from the 1960s in the vibrant area of Blok M, South Jakarta. Come here with friends and share one or two whole chickens.

Ayam Goreng Berkah

This style of fried chicken comes from the westernmost province of Indonesia, called Aceh. Small cuts of chicken fried until it’s very crispy on the outside, yet soft and juicy inside. Ayam Tangkap is fried with daun kari, pandan and bay leaves, giving this fried chicken dish a distinct aroma with a peppery kick in every bite.

Ayam Tangkap

Originating from West Sumatra, you can enjoy ayam pop (seasoned chicken boiled in coconut water and garlic). But this time, you can enjoy the fried version in Jl Jaksa, Kebon Sirih – the famous tourist street.

Ayam Pop Panas at Jaso Bundo

Where to Find the Best Indonesian Fried Chicken in Jakarta

Silk Road has been a mainstay on the London Chinese restaurant scene and certainly remains the best option south of the river. Its Xinjiang-style Sichuan dishes have been consistently numbing mouths and burning tongues for well over a decade now. Although the mountains of long dried chillies have been somewhat curtailed for the less capable spice palate of the clientele, even these more accessible iterations of classic, home-style dishes are delicious in their lashings of black vinegar and hot oil. Our order has been remarkably unchanged for a long time. Order lamb skewers, pork and black fungus fried beef dumplings, cucumber salad, home-style aubergine, home-style cabbage with rice and luxury noodles.

Silk Road

Nestled in a corner of a Brutalist estate courtyard, Zeret always offers a convivial welcome and setting. Tafe Beleynah, the matriarch of this unassuming Ethiopian restaurant, will encourage you to order from the sharing platter, with a view to reordering your favourite options. Portions are ample however, so maybe take note of firm favourites and plan your return with new familiarity of the menu. The platters are arranged on injera – a fermented flatbread designed to grip and dip at the various lashings of vegan and meat stews. Cutlery is not provided as standard (although probably available; not that we’ve ever felt the need). Eat with your hands, get tactile; feed yourself and each other. Order the meat selection or vegan selection with an Ethiopian beer.

Zeret Kitchen

Grove Lane Deli, as we know it, feels like something from a Richard Curtis Movie. Any Camberwell coffee devotee has made GLD part of their daily routine, and if Jackie Chan was right and "coffee is a language in itself", then Danielle – the owner and baker – speaks with great fluency. The coffee, pastries, well-curated selection of posh, dry goods and natural wines make for fun shopping when you fancy a treat. Order the chicken focaccia sandwich (if it hasn’t sold out), burnt milk cookie and coffee. We write this in memorandum of GLD's former self. As of July 2024, it is going through a mysterious transformation – so watch this space.

Grove Lane Deli

We first happened upon Betty's just after they had opened. The owner, Andres, thrust plates of his flamed grilled chorizo and potatoes smothered with salsa verde into our hands, before cordially ushering us through the door past the haze from his daring curbside barbecue. We sat and heeded advice to opt for the sopa del dia – a broth rich in beef collagen and punctuated with bright vegetables, paired with the recommended plump long grain rice and avocado that somehow tasted of something beyond the water usually wasted in its cultivation. Not soon after we’d perched, the fire brigade showed up with something to say about Andres’ barbecuing practices. Some light-hearted bribery with grilled meats and good hospitality reassured them, but now you can find Betty's barbecue on less flammable ground at the Camberwell Farmers Market every Saturday from 11am. Order sopa del dia, avocado and rice, empanadas and the BBQ on Camberwell Farmers Market every Saturday.

Betty's Bakery

A fairly new addition to Camberwell, Delly's has a cracker of a lunchtime deal. Lunchtime main and two sides and a drink for six [pounds], but if I could tempt you away from the efficiency of the meal deal, then go for their beef patty. An incredibly short and flaky pastry with an invitingly umber hue instead of the standard brilliant yellow. Encases a filling that I’m convinced is a repurposing of their stewed oxtail. Whatever it is, it’s delicious and blows Greggs’ steak bake out of the water at a savvy £1.50.

Delly's

South London’s supreme ocakbasi spot, FM Mangal is a shining example of fire and flame cookery. Although recently renovated and stylised to something akin to a provincial Essex Instagram fever dream – complete with a faux flower statement wall – the grill still burns with great genetic skill and prowess. Work your way through the chef specials, grab yourself an Adana kebab; the bafflingly good sumac grilled onions and the bread is moistened to perfection with meaty juice run-off to mop it all up. Order the FM Mangal chef's special:  lamb beyti aubergine.

FM Mangal

Lockdown sandwich maestros are slinging their playfully named sub-roll bangers from bustling pub destinations: the Grove House Tavern and The White Horse in Peckham. Their lunchtime executive solutions, once the saviour of working from home isolation, are still out for delivery daily. We worked alongside these fellas for a good while and gladly scoffed their sandwiches on the regs – and without fatigue. Don’t miss their evening menu either, perfectly calibrated alongside fun and pint sinking. Order literally any sandwich.

Mondo Sando

An unassumingly credible Dominican food spot. Despite its name, we would recommend to flip the menu and ignore the breakfast. As far as South American food goes, expect lots of fried meats piled high on a plate. This is a real great alternative to the fry-up if you’ve had a few too many beverages the night before. Order the empanadas, parrillada and the pollo a la canasta.

Brunchies

The obvious caff in Camberwell to nurse a hangover would be Rock Steady Eddies, but we prefer to drag ourselves a bit further up Coldharbour Lane to Johnnies. A sensory overload at every turn, this diner is the perfect spot for people watching. At peak times there’s a queue out the door but wait it out if you can. [You'll be] well fed for around a tenner. Order the full English.

Johnnies

Theo’s pizza is one of the closest replicants of Neopolitan-style pizza we’ve come across in London. We spent the best part of a week in the Italian centre of pizza, consuming 17 pizzas in five days, so we got a decent grasp of what was good and how it should be. Although that pizza pilgrimage is still definitely unrivalled, Theo’s does pretty damn well and, if anything, their pizza fritta comes the closest to the Italian original. Aside from strictly pizza authenticity, Theo’s works well as a restaurant with scope outside of their main commodity. Their sharing plates of mortadella, guindilla peppers and puffed fried dough nuggets are a great way to limber up before the main event. And there’s that tiramisu that’s just about perfectly formed and available for takeaway if the gluten overload has rendered dessert a bridge too far. Order the sharing platter, calzone and tiramisu.

Theo's Pizzeria

Many of us have a very precise configuration of what to order at the British-Chinese takeaway. Regularly passed down a generation, these precisely recited orders become admitted into a kind of British oral history. Van Hing can cater to cravings for the classics, like salt and pepper dishes and Singapore noodles, while also hosting Vietnamese-style offerings as well. Van Hing does what it does and it does it well. You shouldn’t expect modern ‘elevated’ Pan-Asian fusion cooking or the like here; it’s a good, solid choice for cheap and quick eats. Order the sea-spiced aubergine.

Van Hing

The steady decline of the independent boozer is a sad marker of hard times. As pub chains and monopolies swoop in across south London, the essential soul of a good pub is being lost to the sterile formula of the modern gastropub nightmare. This is why we revere places like The Hermits Cave. It may not be the most comfortable or the best equipped, but it does have character. There’s no food offering here, but you’re invited to take your pick from the bounties of Camberwell New Road and eat it in the pub, with local hotspots like Silk Road, FM Mangal or Theo’s to accompany your pint.

The Hermits Cave (BYO Food)

Toad Bakery, formerly Frog Bakery, has dominated a market saturated with laminated baked goods. Toad’s creativity in the field is refreshing and despite the cost of butter soaring to almost crisis levels, they never skimp. In a conversation with the lovely owners, Rebecca and Oliver, they admitted that butter was their chief expenditure after staffing costs and it shows. Their Hawaiian spin on a Danish with ham hock and pineapple has been a firm favourite. Their innovative and daring combinations will have you pushing the boundaries of your tastebuds on your morning commute. Regular queues out the door are a sure sign of something good. RIP Frog, long live Toad.

Toad Bakery

Huong Vi Viet had big boots to fill, stepping into the premises of its now neighbour Silk Road. [This is] a family-run and orientated restaurant with multi-generational staff bringing warm hosting and authentic feeling dishes. The offering spans from the rice noodle to salads of the same extraction, soups and pho (we all know and love), but [the menu] eclipses the usual Anglified plod with some real home-style flourishes. Come hungry as the aunties in the kitchen are here to feed with great maternal instinct. The attentive staff will recommend the best dishes to your taste – we love the bún chả nem Hanoi.