THE HIDDEN SECRET OF LONDON

Guys, I am thrilled. We are here, arrived in London. The first fashion has already been inhaled and as we speak we are celebrating life with gin tonics made by incredibly handsome bearded men.tonics.. Soon we will close our eyes in The Hoxton, because yes, if you sleep in London, you do it in one of the coolest little hotels in the city. And in one of the trendiest neighborhoods of the city: Shoreditch. Of course, deliberately chosen, because then we can go brunching by bike tomorrow in my old neighborhood. If you have a weekend in London planned and have no idea where to go. I mean, Oxford Street: walk over it once and you know you might as well stroll through Kalverstraat. Covent Garden: nice, but seen it. Where you really need to go is the Clerkenwell neighborhood. It's happening guys, but really. Two years ago I dropped my two suitcases here and got to call this my home for a while. Now it is the place to be. For your best cup of coffee, for the trendiest Friday afternoon drinks and your best hungover Saturday brunch.

Exmouth Market (Clerkenwell, London)

The Quality Chop House, Food Shop & Butcher

I cautiously called Mr. X. If it was okay that we only had steak and asparagus for dinner. With a uhhh, cheap glass of merlot on the side. A surprised - well not so keen with the wine - voice sounded on the other end of the line. Well, because I laid down about 20 pounds for two medium-sized steaks. Twenty-five euros, girlfriend. Anyway. Even if you just go to browse. For the freshest vegetables, fruit, the still warm pieces of carrot cake and the best French cheeses, you go to the Quality Food Shop. By the way, I've never had such a good steak...

Gail’s Bakery

If after two years they still think you live around the corner when you slip in for that perfect soy latte, then you know you are a regular. And not only do you drink the best soy latte here, you understand that a homemade scone with clotted cream belongs with it.

Caravan

With a blush on my cheeks, I now admit that I sat here at least once every weekend with a bloody mary in front of me. The best brunch plates come out of the kitchen here, filled with perfectly poached eggs, avo on toast, and coconut bread with lemon curd cream cheese and poached rhubarb. Bet you'll be back on the doorstep in the evening? Then the super nice staff serves the best cornbread in the city and sweet potato chorizo croquettes with saffron mayonnaise that will knock you off your chair. Oh and by the way, that handsome bartender also makes the best cocktails.

Briki

Jetlag bothering you (just kidding) and looking for coffee? The guys at Briki are making the perfect coffees for you at seven in the morning. Grab a homemade muffin and you are all set to explore the city.

Barber Streisand

Here you drop your loved one for a trendy London look. You know: bun, beard, tattoo kind of guy. You can find them here, you know.

The Klinik

And when you have dropped your loved one at the Barber, you pop in at The Klinik yourself. Not for your monthly AA moment of course, but for a nice pink color or a blow-dry.

Exmouth Arms

Here, all of hip and young London gathers on Friday afternoons. Now, any moment of the day is a good moment for a pint for the Londoner, but on Friday afternoons they really go wild. This is where you want to be to kick off the weekend and make new friends.

Space EC1

Nothing they sell here is necessary, but everything they have in the store, you want to have. From the most Instagrammable makeup bags to the funniest cards and flamingo garlands for your party.