diary of a model
Lily spends her days as a model, rushing from shoot to show and on to yet another casting. On Amayzine, she tells you all about what her life is really like. Under a different name, of course, but that means she can share all the juicy details. This week: even more hotspots in London.
I saw that the previous London post was received with great enthusiasm, so I thought it would be a good idea to write a secret London part two. Since the city is so immensely large (a blessing and a curse), there are still countless trendy hotspots that I can recommend to you. Grab your notebook and write along vigorously.
The Blues Kitchen: There are multiple locations, but I only let my mini-model butt loose at The Blues Kitchen in Shoreditch. And how! There are many live performances, delicious cocktails, and it has a super fun crowd. You have to buy tickets online in advance, and there’s often a line, but you’re guaranteed to have sore muscles from dancing the next day.
Mr Fogg’s Residence: Speaking of cocktails: Mr Fogg’s is one of the most beautiful, old-school cocktail bars you will ever visit. Just type it into Google, you can almost taste the cocktails.
The Cauldron: If you love a bit of magic, you definitely need to go drink a cocktail here. The drinks bubble, change color, and smoke like real potions. Harry Potter's butterbeer has nothing on this.
Unity Diner: Tucked away in a small alley behind Old Street is this vegan heaven. It’s a non-profit diner and bar. From hotdogs to cheesecake, everything is 100% vegan.
Redemption Bar: Around the corner from Unity Diner is this hotspot. All dishes are vegan, sugar-free, and grain-free. They have three different locations, but the one in Shoreditch is my favorite. You can sit outside on their terrace without noticing the hustle and bustle around you. They don’t serve alcohol, but there’s plenty of choice from other delicious drinks (or water, I usually just drink water: calorie-neutral and all that).
Lantana Shoreditch: Another nice healthy spot near Old Street. Lantana is an Australian restaurant: hallooo delicious avocado on toast. It’s almost impossible to gain weight in London. Although, that’s not true, but I skip the unhealthy spots so no one is tempted. It’s still a model diary, right?.
BAO Soho: This is a very small Korean restaurant hidden in Soho. There’s often a line, but it’s worth the wait. Inside, you sit at small tables on stools or around the bar. At the back, you can peek into the kitchen. On your annual cheat day, you can treat yourself to a deep-fried bun with ice cream in between. It sounds bizarre, but it’s oh so delicious.
Look mum no hands!: Londoners are crazy about racing bikes. Every real hipster has one and races to this café. They serve the traditional English breakfast, but also with a healthy or vegan twist for the trendy cyclists with beards.
BLOK: This is my favorite gym. They have yoga, pilates, boxing classes, stretching classes, and they keep coming up with new workouts. There are two locations, in Clapton and in Shoreditch. The one in Shoreditch is clearly newer and more modern, but I love the village atmosphere that comes with the one in Clapton.
Allpress Espresso Roastery & Cafe: A must go-to for coffee lovers. They take coffee and roasting very seriously here and can explain everything about your cup of joe (as long as you don’t call it a cup of joe). Or you can just sit down with a book (or with friends).
Millfields Park: My secret go-to place when the chaos of the city becomes too much for me. You can get lost endlessly, and if you walk long enough towards the northeast, you’ll end up at a stream where many people go swimming on warm summer days. I know that ‘walk towards the northeast’ isn’t the best directions (at least better than: ‘at the third tree turn right’), but if you meet people, they can surely point you in the right direction.
The roundabout at Lauriston Rd: Near Victoria Park, you have Victoria Village. This cute roundabout has a lovely village feel. There are all small cafes, a bakery, and delis. Everyone knows and greets each other. Meanwhile, the local greengrocer greets me too, and I feel completely at home.
It has become a bit of a random collection of spots, but London is just that diverse. So sip your coffee, squat your squat, eat a vegan salad, and for a moment feel like a real trendy Londoner.
XX from Lily
