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JUNE NEWSLETTER '24
I think we’re all in agreement that May is the superior month. Not least for one of our birthdays at the end, but how can it not be with two bank holidays?! We’ve been to the races, swapped London’s Seven Sisters for the cliffs on the coast, enjoyed our first soul festival and found ourselves going back to Dalston again and again. This month we’ve got a new west London opening to shout about and a stylish pub-with-rooms perfect for a low-key staycation. Both big on colour, big on textiles and big on character, so all in all the theme this month has been go BIG. In June we’re also looking forward to a few sleepy staycations and with Fathers’ Day coming up (Sunday 16th) it looks like we’ll be the ones treating them like princesses! Scroll down for our picks sure to impress on their special day.
Where we've eaten
A welcome bit of zhuzh to the King’s Road, this new design-led Mexican restaurant & tequila bar scratches our interiors itch. Slouchy sage sofas and low cobalt coffee tables at the front of the restaurant are designed for laidback drinks and nibbles, with a backdrop of bold murals. The main restaurant is a more refined space in a myriad of deep earthy tones, warm textures & patterns. Downstairs you’ll find intimate arched booths and a private dining room, the floods of natural light up above are replaced with floor-to-ceiling terracotta and parquet flooring, setting the mood for their monthly full moon parties owing to its namesake meaning Mayan, Goddess of the Moon.
The menu is designed to be shared. The tacos are a perfect three bites’ big and we loved that you could choose between flour or corn tacos (flour has our vote). Other menu highlights included the crab tostadas, yellowtail sashimi with granny smith apple slices and creamy seafood rice with grilled octopus and prawn al ajilo.
Where we've stayed
We stayed in this bold boutique hotel for said birthday and it made a very special countryside escape. Located in the quaint village of Hodnet with just two shops to accompany it, it is definitely your R’n’R stay over a big birthday blow-out and that is exactly what we needed. After its recent redesign, the property is a joyful mix of colours, textures and fabrics and feels as special as it does homely. Locally-sourced and seasonal produce can feel like a box-ticking exercise but it doesn’t get more local than the walled kitchen garden across the road from which the restaurant picks from, where they serve familiar classic British fare with a modern finesse. Don’t forget your walking shoes and maybe even a picnic as the enchanting 60-acres at Hodnet Hall Gardens (£9 adults, £1 kids) absolutely deserves a visit and you can quite happily spend all day there.
Our Guide to Fathers Day
Jemima's Pick
A sure fire way to impress my dad is by booking a spot at the original Barrafina in Soho. Red leather bar stools line the marble countertop overlooking the large open kitchen serving all the ambience without the date night feels. The menu consists of modern tapas dishes, our favourites include the deep fried courgette flower, bunuelos de bacalao (cod balls) & the pan con tomate washed down with a bottle of Albarino. I tend to finish the meal by handing dad the bill and letting him know I’ll pick up the tab at the pub. A short walk through Soho’s bustling streets you’ll find the overly popular Devonshire pub where we choose to swap the long queues spilling into the streets for the just as quintessential Queens Head over the road, perfect to finish father day with a pint and G&T.
Caitlin's Pick
Anywhere serving brains on toast is a siren to my old man (he’s got to find them somewhere), so naturally the pioneers in nose-to-tail dining is my go-to for Fathers’ Day and I'm picking Fergus Henderson's first spot, hidden round the back of an old smokehouse in Farringdon.
Nobody loves a pre-drink more than my dad, especially of the grape variety, so before heading to St. John’s we'd stop at Quality Wines for a couple glasses of artisanal wine in what was once a bottle shop before wandering 10 minutes down to this iconic spot. Blending into the historic market location, the decor is no-nonsense in its white-washed walls, paired-back wooden furniture and factory lighting; a stark contrast to the maximal spots above but the staff and energy brings the warmth. Simple cooking done well, St John’s is hailed for its old school offal offering but by no means are fish or veggies cast aside. Don’t leave without the madeleines. They are perfection.
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