Ideas for quirky meals out - London

[devildeepbluesea]

DD and I are off to London for a few days during HT and I’d really appreciate some suggestions for unusual places to eat (lunchtime / late afternoon). She will eat anything and we’ve already eaten sushi, Italian, the Rainforest Cafe (it was shit), Thai.

Happy to consider anything, but quirky and unusual would be great. She’s also a massive Harry Potter fan, if anyone knows of anything HP-themed. TIA!

I have some coffee/cake type suggestions...

If she is into cute, there is the Cute exhibition at Somerset House, and alongside it, the Cute cafe (you don't need to have an exhibition ticket to go in). It's closed on Mondays.

In the same 'pretty' vein, Peggy Porchen on Elizabeth St (Victoria' headed toward Belgravia) is popular for instagrammable pics and a pretty (expensive!) cupcake.

There is also CA pancakes on Vauxhall Bridge Rd (just by Victoria station) for those fluffy Japanese souffle pancakes....

For a nice little view and some free ballet memorabilia viewing, you can go to the Royal Opera House, the top floor bar for a cuppa and cake (also useful loos in ROH).

Wun's tea room is also quite fun!
https://tearoom.bar/

My Old Dutch. Serves pancake meals of all types. There's one on Kensington Church Street and another on New Oxford Street in Holborn.

DD loves Ave Mario in Covent Garden.

Not exactly quirky - but the Flat Iron chain (steak) puts an enamel mug of salted popcorn on your table, and gives a little token with the bill to exchange for an ice cream. My teens liked that.
Also agree with pp recommendations for My Old Dutch and Peggy Porshen.

Also, Borough Market is great for street food.

I came on to say dinosaur tea at the ampersand hotel!

It is...my dd was desperate to go so we went last school holidays. Honestly it was so busy it was just awful. Virtually impossible to stop and even look, let alone buy anything. Was just walking with the crowd. Such a shame.

Placemarking because I fancy some of these.

I'd recommend Bao Soho as a fun place for a quick meal. It's not as deliberately quirky as some of these suggestions, but it's tasty, reasonably priced if you're not starving, and the sort of place that you can't find outside big cities. Five minutes walk from Oxford Circus.

I agree, it's just mad at the weekends.

g.co/kgs/zGxq9hA
Dans le noir is always good. You are served your food blindfolded so that you have to reply on your sense of taste.
The Clink at Brixton Prison is also a good experience, but I doubt you will get a table next week.

Great thread, bookmarking!

If you want cheap, cheerful and speedy, Bistro 1 in Soho is good - my kids thought it was very posh because of the free olives 😂

I have never been, but I fancy taking the teens to The Top Hat.

Bit gimmicky and not cheap but six by Nico?

Quick update now we’re back - @Talisin thanks for the St Moritz recommendation, it was a massive hit with both of us

Thanks to everyone else too. We pop to London every few months and now I have a list as long as my arm to keep us going.

@devildeepbluesea fab!!

Any mode details op 😁