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As you may know #TeamCoco are a bunch of foodies, no matter where we are in the world, alongside our passion for travel and adventure, is a need for cuisine; whether that be street food, canapés or a seven course Michelin star taster menu. Yet, there is one thing that tends to go in hand with each meal… drinks. From coffee to champagne, the right drink can make or break the food you’re eating.

The main drink that trips us up however is wine. Whether you’re in a bar, restaurant or fancy establishment, you are normally presented with a glass of the wine in which you are expected to commence the see, swill, smell and sample routine. For a while we had no idea what we were actually doing and if you’re thinking ‘I literally have no idea what I’m meant to do’ then keep on reading! As to master this little trick has widened our horizons and has totally changed our perspective on wine and our palette!

The traditional explanation of this routine is that you are tasting the wine to make sure it’s not corked, which is odd nowadays as this rarely occurs and also seems a bit pointless if the bottle doesn’t even have a cork… Originally the ‘head’ of the table tasted the wine to prove that it is safe to drink, which is why the person buying the wine is usually presented it first.

So with these two points essentially being null, why do we still go through this little ritual? Well its all part of the experience. Swirling the glass draws oxygen into the glass and aerates the wine, enhancing the scent. Smelling the wine allows you to draw on certain ingredients within the wine which will essentially intensify the flavour.

Swirling the glass also makes the wine slosh around, leaving residue on the sides of the glass, this is because the wine is evaporating. It’s at this point people utter phrase ‘it’s got good legs’ which for us was a moment where we would just nod and agree.

The legs of are the droplets left on the side of the glass after you have swirled the wine. The legs often indicate two things; alcohol content and sweetness. The more droplets the higher the alcohol content, which often results in a warmer sensation in your throat after drinking. The slower the droplets drip down the glass, the sweeter the wine.

After these little assessments is when you take the first sip, simply take a sip, open your mouth slightly and let the wine rest in your mouth for a few seconds to let it oxidise and release its aromas and flavour before closing your mouth. This is your chance to speak up and let them know if the wine is not to your taste, is faulty or has been corked, if you leave it until you’ve drank half your glass, the waiter/sommelier won’t take you seriously. If you think it’s great then let them know and drink up!

These few tips are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to wine tasting so if you truly want to be a wine connoisseur, then we definitely recommend booking a wine tasting session!

If you’re lucky enough to escape for some winter sun, you are bound to find family vineyards, authentic wineries and more! If not then although the UK may not be the first place that comes to mind for a wine tasting but the cold winter months can be the perfect time to discover a new hobby and finally master the art of wine tasting.

Last Sunday, Team Coco and Team Coco pup Charlie-dog tried out The Green Room’s dog-Friendly bottomless brunch at the National Theatre. A casual neighbourhood diner set amongst the stunning concrete landscapes of Southbank, The Green Room’s bottomless brunch is the perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon — heatwave or not!

The result of a collaboration between the National Theatre and local social enterprise Coin Street Community Builders, the Green Room is a light-filled dining space set in the middle of an urban oasis. Featuring recycled props from National Theatre shows and a charming sustainable garden maintained by the Bankside Open Trust and community and theatre volunteers; the Green Room balances unfussy contemporary design with the warmth of your local neighbourhood diner. Their Bottomless Brunch offers two to three course menus with the option for either bottomless Proseccos or bottomless Bloody Mary’s. Perfect if you’re the type who prefers the hair of the dog, (no pun intended) to cure last Saturday night’s hangover.

Upon entering The Green Room, you are immediately greeted by the smiles of its friendly staff, and your pooch is greeted with his or her own dog bowl to refresh from the heat. Indoor and outdoor spaces blend seamlessly not just to for diners to revel in the fresh air of British summertime, but it also allows your pooch to wander and explore the Green Room’s generous open spaces. While the bottomless brunch offers two to three course options, you’d be hard done to choose with all the great choices on offer. For starters, we tried the extremely indulgent bacon mac and cheese fritters, the spicy buffalo wings with blue cheese dip, and the Crayfish taco. The Crayfish taco was particularly excellent for London’s current sweltering weather, combining zesty flavours and fresh seafood. For mains, we dug into the Double duck burger — which is even better than it sounds! A combination of smoked duck breast, duck bacon, and maple mustard dressing, the double duck burger is a great and hearty choice for anyone who’s worked up their weekend appetite. Finish off with a salted caramel & chocolate tart — and rest assured that you’ll be going home with a happy heart and a happy tummy.

While the Green Room’s bottomless brunch menu was truly fantastic, what truly made our experience memorable was its friendly staff. Our waiters Ryan and Lucy were not only great with us, but also to Team Coco pup Charlie; bringing the “friendly” to the word “dog-friendly”. Finally, before leaving The Green Room, our Charlie also got treated to a little burger of his own, resulting in what we presume to be the best day of his puppy life. (Charlie definitely gives The Green Room five stars) So, if you’re looking for places to spend an idyllic summer afternoon, check out The Green Room’s bottomless brunch, and don’t forget to bring a furry friend along with you!

Question! (say it like Beyonce, go on) …. On a Taco Tuesday in central Los Angeles are you going to settle for the local bar’s offering of limp, soggy excuses for tacos or go on a quest to hit not just one, but two of LA’s most gossiped about food trucks?!

Answer: Of course you are going to scour twitter to find these beacons of tortilla joy and take that all important ‘food against the sky’ shot your social media followers are dying to see.

Last week the wonderful team at Discover Los Angeles tipped us off about the trucks we had to visit and so we found ourselves heading up the queue at Korean BBQ dreamland, Kogiat their Downtown LA spot, which is just across from the incredible The Broad (seriously, go!) and the MOCA.

The truck itself looks like something out of the skateboard movies of our teenage dreams, fully metal, covered in stickers and manned by a very efficient team of chefs.

We kicked off Taco Tuesday with a short rib Taco at Kogi BBQ which, at the bargain price of $2.50 was a two bite piece of meaty BBQ heaven. The warming spice of the meat is balanced by the griddled corn tortilla and we’d wager is probably the best thing you can get change on three dollars for.

Our appetites whetted we hunted down our next taco stop; Guerrilla Tacos. You might remember these guys from our interview with head chef, Wes Avila, when he teamed up with Breddos Tacos here in London (see here for more on that). This time we’re visiting him on his home turf, in the iconic, spray painted taco mothership. You’ll always find the Guerrilla Taco truck pitching up outside a coffee shop or wine bar; marrying the street food deity perfectly with a little pick me up.

An aqua fresca and innovative sweet potato taco set us up perfectly for an afternoon of adventuring. Just full enough to trek up to the Griffith Observatory but not too full that we couldn’t entertain indulging in a sneaky little donut on the way!

If you are planning a trip stateside we’d wholeheartedly recommend checking out www.discoverlosangeles.com for all your foodie delights…you can thank us later!

For a low-key Lunar New Year celebration, our girl Hannah Tan-Gillies visited The polo Bar at The Westbury Mayfair for an afternoon of pastries and scones, with an Asian-inspired twist.

We skipped the hustle and bustle of crowded China town and headed over to lush Mayfair for a new kind of Lunar New Year Celebration. Because this year, The Westbury Mayfair ushered in the ‘Year of the Rat’ in true style with an afternoon tea experience with an Asian-inspired twist.

While The Polo Bar retained its quintessentially British elegance, The Westbury Mayfair didn’t skimp on the Asian treats throughout the Afternoon Tea experience. We began with some champagne and two mandarin oranges (which are a symbol of wealth and prosperity in Chinese cultures). This was followed by a series of sweet and savoury treats with all the culinary savoir-faire that The Polo Bar has become known for.

We highly recommend the Tea Quail eggs, which combine umami mayonnaise with green tea, red shiso, and croustade. These savoury bites come in crunchy edible egg cups which makes for the perfect mouthful. The Polo Bao ‘char siu pork’ steamed buns are another highlight and will satisfy even the most discerning Chinese Food lover. The finger sandwiches, of which our favourite was the smoked duck breast with hoisin sauce – are also equally delectable.

On the sweeter side of things, we also recommend the Pineapple Tart, which is made with freeze dried pineapples, delicately wrapped in 20-carat edible gold leaf. The Mandarin & Chocolate Cake is equally delicious and is made with black tea mousse and mandarin gel.

The pièce de résistance, however, has to be the Matcha Mousse; which is made with Melaka Mousse, Matcha almond sponge and Matcha Meringue. To top it all off, this sensational dessert also has Matcha ‘moss’ and hazelnut ‘soil’ which is home to an edible chocolate bonsai tree.

The Asian-Inspired Afternoon Tea is accompanied with a selection of loose leaf teas from Whittards. These include a coconut tea, an oriental English breakfast tea, and our personal favourite a lychee tea. ‘Bobba’ fans can also enjoy an authentic cup of ‘Bubble Tea’ with a generous serving of pearls too. The Asian-inspired The Westbury Mayfair is available every weekend from 12 noon to 6pm.

THE WESTBURY MAYFAIR

With the arrival of the proverbial chill that comes along with winter, and the increasing frequency of classic Christmas tunes on the radio; Londoners prepare for the most joyful, and stressful, time of year — the holiday season.

We all know the very specific anxiety that comes with the weighty responsibility of booking a restaurant for your NYE dinner. Regardless if you are booking a restaurant for your friends, family members, or even your old high school mates you haven’t seen in over a decade; one cannot escape the pressure to get it right. After all, it’s not every year you get to ring in a new decade. So, if you are the one tasked with the weighty responsibility of booking the venue for dinner, then we’ve got you covered. We’ve rounded up some of London’s most best NYE parties, so you don’t have to.

Cora Pearl

There’s champagne a plenty at Cora Pearl’s five course Parisian cum British New Year’s Eve Party. This lovely gem in Covent Garden was inspired by a Parisian courtesan and offers a fantastic whisky-cured salmon, and Cow curd agnolotti to ring in the new year.

www.corapearl.co.uk/nye-party

Norma

Norma is a little Slice of Sicily right in Charlotte Street. Here you can enjoy its incredible seafood menu. We recommend the truffle-stuffed whole pumpkin and the pork chops in marsala sauce.

www.normalondon.com

Roast

A truffle feast, fireworks, and a magic show – what more do you need for the perfect NYE dinner? Not to mention – some pretty epic views of the Thames.

www.roast-restaurant.com/new-years-eve

The Goring

This classic Belgravia spot – is perfect for a more private NYE affair. The specially crafted 6 course NYE menu is perfect if you and your significant other are pushing the boat out to welcome the new decade.

www.thegoring.com

Margot

Margot’s one-night-only NYE menu includes Scallop Carpaccio, Lobster-stuffed ravioli, and some roast beef. Need we say more?

www.margotrestaurant.com

Flora Indica is not your usual curry house or cocktail joint. Indian dishes with a modern twist, luxurious interiors and daring herb-inspired drinks, we sent Rachael Lindsay to give it a go…

Laden down with my rucksack after a weekend of travel, I gingerly ask the serving staff if there is anywhere I can store my bag.

‘Perhaps in the TARDIS?’, the smiling restaurant manager gestures to a full-size blue phone box in the centre of the room.

Flora Indica’s design is inspired by an 1855 catalogue of Indian plants and spices, after which the restaurant is named. A group of Scottish botanists produced the book whilst travelling through India, recording every newly discovered chilli, lime and clove.

Designer, Henry Chebaane has blended steampunk and British Raj elegance for the interiors of this restaurant based in Chelsea, London. Brass piping and Victorian gadgets sit alongside flower motif tin tiles and Tweed upholstering. The TARDIS is an allusion to time travel, back to an era of innovation, discovery and serious excitement about botanicals.

The cocktail menu is devoted to this excitement, and the cocktails here are exquisite. The Bombay Blossom bursts with Earl Grey, rose water, lychee and Rangpur gin and the Chillitini has just the right amount of fire, beautifully matched by notes of citrus and pomegranate.

The waiting staff are as enthusiastic about the dishes as the cocktails and our waitress relishes the opportunity to recommend her personal favourites. She guides us through the menu, pointing out the £44 taste tour of India with its selection of chef-suggested dishes, or the option of choosing our own tapas-style small plates followed by larger curries and sides.

We try to order one small plate each to start and she stops us in our tracks, ensuring that we try dish upon dish of these spiced morsels, from crispy okra fries to soft Yellow Fin Tuna with chilli caviar and cucumber. The winners, in our eyes, are the Jerusalem artichoke Papdi Chaat which is crunchy and layered with creamy yoghurt and the soft mounds of Amritsari Crab with a Tamarind mash and fragrant mayo made Tadka-style, blended with spices roasted in ghee.

The mains on the menu sound a little more familiar with the likes of Chicken Tikka, Paneer Kofta and King Prawn Malaicurry jazzed up with bergamot, baby spinach and monkfish. They arrive with Red Leicester Naan, pink pomegranate raita, pistachio rice and curly kale with turmeric and ginger. We dig in with delight, testing each taste combination together in turn.

We cannot leave without trying dessert. Our waitress recommends the Shahi Brioche and the Kulfi Semi Freddo, India’s answer to ice cream. The Brioche is sweet and chewy, matched perfect with pistachio crumb, saffron cream and grilled pineapple. The Kulfi is a medley; noodles bring the flavour of traditional Indian falooda, a rose water and sweet basil seed pudding, and the chocolate sauce is aromatic with warming cloves.

Each dish is a little experiment in form and flavour and the interiors reflect this sense of exploration. With the impression that we are leaving a South Asian / Victorian universe behind, we head out to the Old Brompton Road, sadly using the door rather than the TARDIS.

Go to Flora Indica at lunch time, to take advantage of the three-course set menu for £18, and if you feel it’s too early for a cocktail (although #TeamCoco know that this is never the case…), try a fragrant tea with a pretty name like Indigo Sky or Chelsea Rose.

Find Indica Rose at 242 Old Brompton Road in London and browse the mouthwatering menu at www.flora-indica.com.

Nestled in the iconic Waldorf Hilton Hotel in the heart of London is The Parrot, a stylish tropical hideaway with a brand-new cocktail menu bursting with a selection of tasty tipples. The bar, just a stone throw from some of the major West-End theatres is a great location for a pre-show drink.

The bar’s exotic namesake is alluded to in the interiors, from walls lined with bespoke, hand-painted palm wallpaper to lush foliage and an abundance of greenery planted throughout the space. The plush velvet seating in rich turquoise and midnight blue alongside metallic and rattan detailing draw on the opulence of the historic hotel. The bar front itself is decorated in luxurious teal fish scale tiles beneath exposed Edison filament bulbs, conjuring the moody, atmospheric feel of the speakeasy.

The Parrot’s Bar Manager, Massimiliano Terrile, has designed a menu jam packed with tropical-inspired coolers with fresh and zesty flavours to suit every taste. Team Coco was invited down to the launch party and got to sip and shimmy the night away while nibbling on some delish dishes such as Wagyu beef with pickled enoki, wasabi & pineapple and poached lobster with mango, served with edamame beans, macadamia nuts & yuzu and Quinoa with avocado, sesame, pomegranate & mango, bringing light, exotic flavours to this stylish, tropical venue. Here’s some of our favourite cocktails.

Parrot Puffer
Made with Absolut Elyx Vodka, seasonal fruits and vanilla ice cream, the Parrot Puffer is drizzled with syrup and served in one of the bar’s Instagram-worthy parrot shaped glasses.

Blossom Parakeet
Made with Auchentoshan double oak infused with plum, camomile cordial and ginger ale.

Cockatoos
Made with Black Cow Pure Milk Vodka, bitter XO, cider evaporation and cardamom syrup.

Book your table at The Parrot via www.theparrotldn.co.uk

“My parents are ranchers, they work. I play music” quips Chancey Williams with a quick grin and shrug of his shoulders. We’ve collared the former saddle bronc rider, frontman of Chancey Williams and The Younger Brothers Band, the country music toast of Wyoming, for a chat after a chance encounter in the dark but welcoming dining room of the historic Hotel Wolf in downtown Saratoga.

Saddle bronc, in case you aren’t fluent in cowboy, is a rodeo event where a rider rides a horse who is trying to buck him off. I’m sure you know the one and might have even tried your hand on a mechanical one in a terrace bar in Ibiza, it can’t just be me. What you and I might see as a novel thing to do with a metallic green wig on, (surely not just me, still?) is a real badge of honour around these parts. In fact, Chancey in his beige cowboy hat and non-ironic shining belt buckle is one of only two people to have competed in ‘The Daddy of ‘em all’, Cheyenne Frontier Days as a competitor and a performer. He’s shoulder to shoulder with much loved, and missed, Chris Le Doux. Turn on the radio while you are in the state and you’ll be treated to their music and a sweet, sweet throwback to when T-Swizzle did Country.

We’d come to Wyoming to explore the spirit of the Old West and in my British naivety, I’d been expecting a few mocked up spaghetti western Ghost Towns and the opportunity for some Westworld quips for the ‘gram. What I hadn’t reckoned on is how much that spirit is still felt, most keenly in the love and respect that Wyomingians have for horses and rodeo, immortalised in their state emblem of the horse Steamboat. Heck, one of the vibrant artists we met, Jill Pope in Cheyenne, has a 10-year-old grandson who rides bulls in rodeo and the beautiful Morgan and Emily on the Historic Trails West in Casper gossiped about classmates’ horses and high school rodeo in the way that British 16-year-olds could only about crappy part-time boyfriends. Since we’d driven the 1.5 hours from Denver International Airport in Colorado from the watchful gaze of gigantic stallion ‘Blucifer’ over the border to Cheyenne, the land and sky had opened up, traffic had died down and we’d arrived in the Cowboy State. Perhaps this was one of Ford’s tricks after all.

Our road trip started in state capital Cheyenne, outside the striking red ‘Wrangler’ building. This western clothing store has been a beacon in the petite downtown since the late 1800s, but these days you’d be more likely to be agonising over whether you can really rock a diamond-encrusted Stetson rather than afford a nice chunk of bison that used to hang from the meat rails out front. My answer to both, in Cheyenne, you sure can. While Europeans might well scoff at the American idea of ‘history’, Cheyenne has packed it in since being established in 1867.

Wafting my ‘old-fashion AC unit’ fan as we tour the city in our trolley, Esther, the tales from the wild west start to come to life. Driving around we hear about western favourites Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickok, enterprising brothel madams who invited local ladies to tea in the afternoons while providing a backdoor escape route for their husbands and the secretive tunnels that run underneath the town purportedly to heat buildings using steam from the railroad.

What took me aback was the wealth of strong women in the history of Cheyenne. Our trolley’s namesake was Esther Hobart Morris, widely celebrated as a hero in the suffragette movement and America’s very first female Justice of the Peace. Just before her appointment, Wyoming had become the first state to give women the vote, ultimately earning it the nickname ‘The Equality State’. Let’s bear in mind that they were given the right to vote so there were enough voting citizens to meet the population requirement for statehood…but nevertheless, they beat us Brits to it by nearly 50 years. #GirlBoss.

In addition to the historic marvels in town, you can feel the pioneering spirit in modern-day Cheyenne. On a quick evening exploration of downtown I stumble across co-working space/bar/coffee shop Paramount, housed in a vintage cinema, we sup craft ales between sucking at the game corn-hole on the patio at Danielmark’s Brewing and nibble finger food at afternoon tea at the lovingly restored Nagle Warren Mansion B&B with owner Jim. This marriage of the hipster and the Old West makes me want to move right in but saddle up, reader, the trail continues…

Leaving Cheyenne we make a quick pit stop at the highly instagrammable foodie spot, Chugwater. This teeny town of 212 people hosts The Chugwater Chili Cook-Off every June and is home to Wyoming’s oldest operating soda fountain. The faded beige and yellow store sits alone on a dusty main road and pushing the door, the bell tinkles and you step back in time. Sit at the bar, order a maltshake under the watchful gaze of Wendell the elk and his collection of vintage bottles and cans, and fall in love with a tradition that time almost forgot.

Fuelled by a Hawaiian sea salt maltshake, we explore historic Oregon Trail sites the Ruts at Guernsey, a lasting memory from the wagons travelling west for a better life, and Register Cliff and Fort Laramie, an impressive National Parks site that captures the spirit of the principal military post on the Northern Plains. The town of Fort Laramie is home to the treasure trove Frontier Trading Post, with locally made Native American Indian bags and accessories which certainly found homes in my suitcase before we decamped to the homey delights of Fort Laramie B&B.

The B&B is on owners Kathy and Arnold’s working ranch, where they’ve lovingly created a western paradise where guests stay in the plush Officer’s Quarters, a teepee complete with a ‘Go Your Own Way’ cushion and dreamcatcher, cosy repurposed sheep wagon or wood clad Cowboy Bunkhouse clustered around an open campfire and ranch building with communal library, collection of Stetsons and vintage bar

After claiming the teepee, I took to a rocking chair on the ranch building’s wrap-around porch as Kathy rustled up some delicious American fare. Later on, swapping travel tales around the crackling campfire, I’m schooled in the art of s’mores, then, guided by stars and a lantern, I snuggle in my teepee to the lullaby of crickets and maybe a distant coyote or two. Just saying ‘coyote’ would have terrified me a few days previous but being in the Cowboy state must make you embrace nature and toughen up.

Over Cowboy Coffee, brewed over the fire, and crunchy doughnut-like bear signs we reluctantly plan our next move, knowing we’ve experienced some of the best the state has to offer in Kathy and Arnold’s company. Waving goodbye, we hit the trails again, this time for Casper, for a tour of the National Historic Trails Interpretive Centre with Rob – not Ron – Swanson, a peek at the city’s very own T-Rex and an incredible 3-hour trip on the original Oregon Trail in a repro covered wagon complete with a lunchtime steak cookout. Yes, this state is as varied and wild as it sounds. We end our day in Casper with moonshine cocktails at circus-themed Backwards Distillery, live country Lorde covers in the recently launched David Street Station plaza and bar snacks and arcade games at The Gaslight Social. Another city to put on my ‘I could live here’ list.

From Casper we drive through dusty, storied towns like Medicine Bow, just missing the turning for local curio the Fossil Cabin Museum, a cabin constructed entirely of dinosaur bones and stopping for cokes by the historic Virginian Hotel, with its plush dark wood and flocked wallpaper. Every spot in this sparsely populated state is rich in culture and intrigue and by the time we pull into hot springs town Saratoga, we’ve forgotten what year we’re road tripping in and are thrown by lunch at forward-thinking restaurant Firewater, which wouldn’t feel out of place in Brooklyn. Saratoga’s natural springs have made it a tourist hotspot which can sustain diverse local businesses, from the conscious cuisine of Firewater to the vintage western clothing store Strong Tower Design and local dive Rustic Bar, packed to the rafters with locals clocking-off, sharing jokes with the resident stuffed mountain lions.

This brings us back to our opening encounter with Chancey and his band over dinner with local, but NY Times Bestselling, author C.J Box in that dark Hotel Wolf dining room. Chuck (CJ) has recently released the 18th book in his Joe Pickett crime series which centres around the town. He talks with passion and pride about Wyoming and the light he has shone on it through his work. That book, The Disappeared, focuses on the disappearance of a British woman enticed to the area by the promise of freedom for her wild heart to roam free. As I ride out at the riverside Vee Bar Ranch the next morning with my horse Aspen, the wranglers trusting his training to eclipse my non-existent experience, I understand wholeheartedly what brought her to Wyoming and vow to come back to feel the wind buffeting against my non-ironic Stetson.

We flew into Denver International Airport to explore the south of Wyoming on a direct flight from London Heathrow with United Airlines, united.com. To plan your very own wild Wyoming adventure we’d recommend you check out the downloadable itinerary planning tools at visitwyoming.com.

North America Travel Service offers a six-night holiday based on our itinerary from £1,132 per person including return flights with British Airways into Denver from London Heathrow, 7 days’ intermediate 4-door car hire, including insurance and satellite navigation, and six nights’ accommodation (2 nights’ room only at Little America in Cheyenne, 1 night at Fort Laramie Bed & Breakfast, 1 night inc breakfast at the Ramkota Hotel in Casper, 1 night room only at Saratoga Hot Springs, 1 night inc breakfast and accommodation only at Vee Bar Guest Ranch in Laramie). Price based on two people sharing and based on travel in September 2018. To book please visit www.northamericatravelservice.co.uk, or call 0161 839 8844.

On a perfect late summer afternoon, TeamCocopup Charlie made his way to The Fugitive Motel. An achingly cool all day bar and restaurant that oozes mid-century modern personality without any fuss.

Located right by the arches on Bethnal Green, The Fugitive Motel is a great place to enjoy everything from artisanal coffee to vegan pizzas and craft tipples with your favourite furry friends.

Fugitive Motel takes inspiration from the classic American motels of the late 1950s and 60s and features plenty of quirky industrial elements mixed in with colourful retro design details. The bar is a mad men style wood and granite bar offering an impressive variety of craft beers from local and international producers. The booths — with some welcome kitsch details — are exceptionally charming. You almost feel like you are transported to an easy diner in palm springs.

The menu is as easy as the interiors and has plenty of sharing options, but the star of the show has to be the pizza. We had the Ole Faithful which is a delicious blend of prosciutto, rocket, olives, and mozzarella. The Smokey One is a great option for meat lovers, and offers spicy nduja sausages, sweet pepper, chorizo, red onion, smoked mozzarella and pesto. The ice cream is worth shouting about too. Don’t leave Fugitive Motel without a scoop (or three) of the Ricotta ice cream, it’s the perfect dessert to indulge in this season.

This versatile all day spot is great for prolonged brunches, co-working, early dinners, late night drinks, shuffleboard competitions, and of course — doggy dates. Fugitive Motelis extremely dog-friendly, with pups even allowed on the booths. During our visit, we had at least two other doggy neighbours who were definitely enjoying their stay. Because no matter what you’re in the mood for,there’s a vacancy for everyone at The Fugitive Motel – especially for four legged guests.

www.fugitivemotel.bar

Hailed as one of New York’s beloved vegan fast casual brand, by CHLOE.’s Covent Garden home is soon becoming London’s favourite plant-based restaurant. If you’re looking to indulge in some tea and cakes, minus all the guilt, then by CHLOE.’s Afternoon Tea is definitely the afternoon Tea for you.

Served in the two candy coloured long tables in the middle of by CHLOE.’s totally Instagrammable space, the Afternoon Tea is composed of British inspired tea sandwiches and cakes — but with a healthy twist! For instance, the tuna in the classic tuna sandwich has been made with chickpeas, the Egg Salad is made with Tofu, and the Smoked Salmon is made with marinated tomato filets, seaweed, and smoked chipotle. Moving onto desserts, the tea cake selection is composed of baby cakes, cupcakes, and scones made with special egg and butter-free flour. All washed down with some tea selections from by CHLOE.’s official tea partner, Good & Proper Tea. (We swear, you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference in taste, but your body will thank you afterwards!) So everyone from vegetarians and vegans alike can rejoice and partake in the quintessentially British tradition without having to worry about a thing.

TeamCocopup Charlie didn’t miss out on the plant-based action too, because he got his own bag of 100% organic and plant based Peanut Butter Dog Treats from by CHLOE.’s in-house brand of healthy doggy treats. So if you’re looking for ways to spend an afternoon with your pup this spring, then definitely pop into by CHLOE. – for some afternoon tea that’s easy on the eyes and even easier on your health. After a busy work week and lots of boozy after-work situations, by CHLOE.’ s British inspired Afternoon Tea was exactly what this mum and pup needed to recharge and refresh for the week ahead.

https://eatbychloe.com/
by CHLOE.’s Afternoon Tea will be available Thursday to Sunday from 2.30pm to 6pm at both UK locations, with bookings to be made via the website, https://eatbychloe.com. This will be the first-time customers are able to reserve a table at both Covent Garden and One Tower Bridge venues. Reservations are only accepted for Afternoon Tea. The Afternoon Tea will be priced at £20 per person with the option to add bubbles for £7.50.