London Calling: Spilled Milk #24

It's one of the best times of the year to travel. Where are you going?

Spring has sprung and for many looking to travel a bit in the coming weeks, especially those with kids, summer is already over-scheduled!

Traveling in May and June, especially on a whim, offers some amazing bargains.

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Even for those with deeper pocketbooks looking for fancier digs, the crowds haven’t swelled yet, the restaurants aren’t over-booked and flights are easy to make (assuming you aren’t just firing up the G8).

The EU/UK are removing Covid travel restrictions in the run-up to the summer travel season. Most have removed all restrictions and France, Germany, Italy, Spain only require vaxx proof and some forms to be filled out, pretty minor if you ask me. According to online resources, Denmark, Greece, Hungary, Switzerland, Iceland, Croatia, Ireland, Latvia, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Norway, Bulgaria, Poland, Romania, Lithuania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden and the U.K. are all open with no restrictions at all. Greece still requires masks until June 1, 2022. Portugal, Austria, Estonia, Finland, Belgium, Cyprus, Malta and Luxembourg all have some minor travel restrictions of some kind until June 1st.

Before you book, remember a few things:

1.     The situation is fluid so keep checking our State Dept. website https://travel.state.gov/content/travel.html

2.     All countries care about where you are coming from, so make sure you check against your full itinerary

3.     There is a new airline launched during the pandemic called PLAY. It’s based in Iceland and flies from the US to Rekyavik, and plans to expand to 5 other US cities soon, mostly on the east coast. That’s great news because Iceland is a GREAT place to visit in the summer and the fares on PLAY are dirt cheap. Even better news is that they are adding almost 2 dozen other European cities to their routes, so you can fly to Iceland, stay a few days and then go on to somewhere else on a connecting ticket.

So where should you go? I say London.

Spring in London is like spring in NYC, it’s timeless, priceless and it’s not too hot yet. I think a quick jaunt across the pond right now is a perfect idea…

Where to stay:

London has some incredible hotels and you can look them all up, but for a quick stay I would grab a room at The Ned. It’s a 5-star property in the city, but convenient to Chelsea, Covent Garden etc. The rooms are 1920’s glam, the service is superbly over the top and the eating choices in the hotel are remarkable too. Overall, without agonizing over the decision, stay there.

Where to eat:

Look, there are a hundred places on my London list, but this is my off the cuff, have to go, must eat list…

Gymkhana. Yes it’s in Mayfair, yes it’s spendy, but the food is so otherworldly I cant keep myself from going whenever I am in London. The kid goat variations on the menu are worth the trip all the way from Minnesota.

Marksman, a gastro-pub to rule them all. Two floors of food and fun, with some insane takes on old classics… meat buns, seafood towers, brown butter tarts, all spun out in new variations that thrill.

Master Wei Xi’an, I thought I could go through a whole list without noting all the truly exceptional Japanese, Burmese, Malaysian and Thai restaurants that are wowing London right now. And I did, and there are a dozen of my favorite Chinese restaurants in London too, and Afghani, and Turkish… so much food and so little time. But I eat Chinese food everywhere I go and this eatery specializes in the food of Shaanxi province, and you should go. Over-order and you will thank me. And the noodle dishes should not be skimped on.

St John, because you simply have to. It’s the OG in so many ways and still has it. Fergus Henderson and his team still are the cream of the crop, and this time of year the small fatty fish are running so grab some of the smoked mackerel or other little fish goodies while you can.

Manteca. Imagine St, John shot through an Italian prism. Smart and delicious Italian cuisine, but you still know you’re in London when you are eating there, and after all that’s the point of travel.

Chishuru, a stunner of a restaurant serving incomparable Nigerian food that will convince you that I have been right about Africa’s vast range of superb cuisines for the last 15 years I have been screaming about it. Chef and owner Adejoké Bakare is crushing it on all levels. There is a set menu, and it changes all the time, but trust me when I tell you that this might be the hottest place in London right now.

Brat, a purely genius hybridized experience from a Welsh chef cooking Anglican-Basque food that is without adornment or fuss. It’s in Shoreditch and worth the trip from anywhere. If the slow cooked turbot is on the menu, order it. I love this kind of food. Simplicity.

Oh, and The Clove Club for a 2-star splurge, love that place.

Have you been to London? Any favorite spots? Share with the rest of us!

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