Travel 3 — Haute So Fabulous — HAUTE so FABULOUS

London, in all its brilliance, never really stops evolving — its rhythm, its flavour, its way of reinventing the familiar. Just when you think you’ve found your places, the city reveals a few more, sometimes fully new or just new to you — tucked behind leafy streets, down glowing side alleys, or within quietly humming neighbourhoods that feel both new + nostalgic. As an extension, this is a second edition of my first guide of Essential Dining; The London Edition + is exactly that: an extended exploration of the spaces that continue to shape my love affair with the city’s dining scene each time I’m there. From soulful kitchens where heritage meets heart to modern classics rewriting the rules of comfort, these are the restaurants that linger long after you’ve left the table — each one its own little love letter to London’s endless appetite for beauty, flavour + story.

JIKONI

Ravinder Bhogal’s “no-borders kitchen” is a love letter to heritage + home. Influenced by the flavours of East Africa, India + the Middle East, Jikoni is warm, soulful, + deeply personal — a place that reminds you food is about connection as much as taste. It’s comfort elevated — storytelling through spice, memory + care. Bhogal was one of the first chefs in London to introduce a true fusion of migrant cuisines, rooted in emotion rather than trend. The restaurant’s feminine energy + textured interiors reflect her approach — heartfelt, nurturing, + quietly radical. (My image here is, as always my own but not one from my time in JIKONI as I was too busy eating)

BOOK here at — JIKONI
19-21 Blandford St, London W1U 3DH, United Kingdom

CARLOTTA

Big Mamma’s Marylebone outpost brings Italian-American glamour to London in signature style — think plush interiors, red velvet, + unapologetic indulgence. A dinner here is less a meal, more a mood; playful, sexy, + made for evenings that unfold slowly. It’s pure theatre — deliciously over-the-top in all the right ways. From the same group that gave us Ave Mario and Gloria, Carlotta channels 1980s New York glitz with a dose of Italian drama. Oversized martinis, glossy pasta, + a soundtrack that practically insists you stay for dessert — it’s all perfectly, intentionally extra.

Book here at BIGMAMMAGROUP
77-78 Marylebone High St, London W1U 5JX, United Kingdom

NOPI

Yotam Ottolenghi’s Soho restaurant is where texture, colour + flavour collide. Each plate feels like a work of art — layered, vibrant, yet entirely grounded in fresh produce. Elegant without being fussy, NOPI is that rare balance of sophistication + soul — a restaurant that somehow still feels intimate, even in the heart of Soho. Known for its communal marble tables + impeccably composed vegetable dishes, NOPI embodies Ottolenghi’s signature celebration of abundance. It’s also one of the few places where you’ll genuinely leave inspired to cook again — the flavours linger, as does the joy.

Book here at — OTTOLENGHI
21-22 Warwick St, London W1F 9LD, United Kingdom

OPSO

(I usually get better photos but this one is all I got. BEST scrambled egg ever I will say).. Modern Greek dining gets a London twist at this Marylebone favourite. OPSO — meaning “a delectable morsel” — serves up fresh Mediterranean fare with creative flair. Bright, social, + beautifully designed, it’s ideal for long lunches that stretch gently into evening + the feeling of being somewhere that could just as easily be Athens. Founded by the team behind Athens’ Michelin-starred Funky Gourmet, OPSO bridges classic Greek hospitality with cosmopolitan London energy. Expect taramasalata that could convert the unconverted, refined meze, + an atmosphere that somehow balances refined and relaxed all at once.

BOOK here at — OPSO
10 Paddington St, London W1U 5QL, United Kingdom

CANTEEN

Down on Portobello Road, Canteen hums with the easy rhythm of West London life. Italian-leaning plates meet a buzzy, communal atmosphere — all energy, laughter + excellent food. The sort of place where a casual lunch can stretch into golden-hour drinks + the conversation always feels good. From the team behind The Pelican and The Hero, two of London’s most sought-after pubs, Canteen carries that same effortlessly cool, convivial spirit but with a little more polish. Expect comforting pastas, robust flavours + a neighbourhood crowd that feels like they’ve known each other for years.

BOOK here at — CANTEEN
310 Portobello Rd, London W10 5TA, United Kingdom

ACRE

In the heart of Notting Hill, ACRE is Thomas Straker’s ode to simple food done beautifully. It’s the kind of spot that feels familiar yet quietly elevated — where local produce + casual elegance meet in harmony. Think sunlit breakfasts, rustic lunches, + unfussy dinners that celebrate real flavour + the art of uncomplicated cooking. There’s an honesty to the menu — a confidence in letting ingredients speak for themselves. Having cut his teeth in some of London’s best kitchens before going viral for his butter recipes, Straker’s return to restaurant form feels refreshingly grounded, with a distinctly local soul.

BOOK here at — ACREDELI
60 Golborne Rd, London W10 5PR, United Kingdom

THE RIVER CAFE

Few places define London dining quite like The River Café. Perched along the Thames in Hammersmith, it’s a masterclass in understated elegance — the kind that doesn’t need to shout to be unforgettable. Founded by Ruth Rogers + the late Rose Gray, it has long been a training ground for some of the city’s most celebrated chefs, from Jamie Oliver to Theo Randall. The food is simplicity at its finest: wood-fired, ingredient-led, deeply seasonal Italian cooking that somehow tastes like sunshine. But what makes it truly special is the feeling — the hum of conversation — think being seated next to Jemima Khan — the light dancing off the river, the sense that you’re part of something timeless. It’s more than a restaurant; it’s a piece of London’s soul.

BOOK here at — RIVERCAFE
Thames Wharf, Rainville Rd, London W6 9HA, United Kingdom

THE BARBARY

Tucked away in Neal’s Yard, The Barbary feels like one of those secret London finds you only ever hear about through word of mouth. Inspired by the flavours + stories of the Barbary Coast — from North Africa through to the Mediterranean — it’s a space where smoke, spice + fire collide in the most beautiful way. The kitchen is open, the counter seating intimate, the energy magnetic. Every dish arrives with that slightly primal, flame-kissed depth that only true open-fire cooking delivers. It’s one of those places that’s hard to get into for good reason — small, buzzy, + full of heart — but absolutely worth the wait once you’re there.

BOOK here at THEBARBARY
16 Neal's Yard, London WC2H 9DP, United Kingdom

There are places in London that hold a certain electricity — not loud or obvious, just quietly charged, alive with creative pulse. Golborne Road is definitely one of them for me. It’s the kind of street that resists regular definition or the typically obvious cool that most of London is so swept with: Moroccan cafés beside antique stores, faded façades giving way to bursts of colour, sound, + scent. And somewhere along its enigmatic curve sits a space that feels as though it exists slightly outside of time, less a boutique + more a living, breathing installation. Universal Providers.

Founded by Marjan Pejoski + Sasko Bezovski, Universal Providers feels like a natural continuation of the duo’s boundary-defying universe — one that began with KTZ, the cult fashion label long synonymous with London’s avant-garde, streetwear, + music scenes. But KTZ was never simply about clothes; it was about culture, conversation, + energy — and that same pulse runs through Universal Providers. Their physical space on Golborne Road, which I visited for the last time recently as it closes after more than two decades, marking the end of one chapter and the evolution into another — an online presence + new projects that promise to carry forward their unparalleled, multi-sensory vision, shaped by a lifetime of creating + collecting extraordinary interior pieces + objects from around the world.

After 20 years on the Golborne Road, I feel the continued evolution of everything Universal Providers is about will continue whatever Pejoski + Bezovski do next. To step inside is to enter an experience that transcends retail. The air hums faintly with sound — sometimes ambient, sometimes ritualistic — while objets, garments, + sculptural forms line the space in quiet dialogue with one another, not forgetting their three little pugs who greet you. There are pieces here that feel like armour, ceremonial in nature, alongside handcrafted artefacts, exquisite furniture, decadent incense, + sound instruments. Everything here has intention. It vibrates with presence + creative intention.

There are stores that sell things, + then there are portals that sell worlds. Universal Providers belongs firmly to the latter. It’s a space that doesn’t shout for your attention; instead, it invites you to tune in. To slow your pace, open your senses. To truly feel something. There’s an alchemical quality to the curation, to every creation — as though the worlds of art, design, + spirituality have been distilled into one unified offering. Every corner reveals something unexpected: a mirror that distorts perspective, a talisman resting beside a book on sacred geometry. The lighting: also designed + created with utter genius — sculptural pieces that feel almost celestial, casting a glow that transforms space into atmosphere. Everything feels like temptation, something to take home.

What’s most striking about Universal Providers to me is its refusal to separate aesthetics from meaning. Here, beauty is not decoration; it’s devotion. And I respect that unreservedly. The entire space functions as a kind of living organism — part gallery, part temple, part creative lab — honouring the idea that art + fashion are not products, but conduits + it represents Pejoski + Bezovski’s collective energy impeccably.

In a city known for its relentless tempo, Universal Providers is a sanctuary. It’s the rare kind of place that asks nothing of you but presence. A place where you can remember that creativity is not an accessory to life — it is life. In short + as the duo move on to what’s next, beyond this physical space, Universal Providers is more than a store + that will live on wherever they create from. It’s an energy field that will continue to vibrate — a frequency for the curious, the seekers, the makers, + those who value the quietly radical.

Visit UNIVERSAL-PROVIDERS.com

Essential Dining; The London Edition Part II