Last year (oh gosh how time flies) I celebrated my birthday with all my loved ones around me. This year I wanted to keep it smaller and preferably not stay in The Netherlands. Don’t get me wrong, I am grateful to be able to add another year each year but I also find celebrating your special day such a hassle. ‘Did I buy enough booze’, and ‘did I give everyone the same amount of attention’, or ‘oh shit, my white floor!’ haha. Anyhoo, because Sketch London had been on my bucket list for a while l didn’t have to think long about where I wanted to celebrate my birthday this year. London it was! After I’ve booked the tickets, hotel and afternoon tea, my slight Brazilian jetlag and I were ready to head to London! Because she had never been to London I decided to take along on this birthday trip, the coolest lady ever, my Peaches! I wanted to show her around but there was only one trendy hotspot she refused to stay at and wanted to leave immediately! Curious? Why don’t you take a look a my ‘Landan’ photo diary!
Baby, this is what you came for… A birthday afternoon tea at Sketch London. Sketch has multiple theme rooms one of them is The Gallery, where you can enjoy a wonderful high tea arrangement. When you enter its like you just walked in a real life version of Alice in Wonderland. The (very handsome) waiters wore cheeky green overalls, the caviar men wore pink linnen suits and let’s not forget about the interior! Pink velvet chairs and golden touches everywhere. I.want.to.live.here!
The afternoon tea itself failed to disappoint. Champagne & caviar, macarons, mini tarts, cheesecake parfait, scones and in stead of the standard cucumber sandwiches, rye finger sandwiches with tomato chutney. If there was anything that you really liked you could just order some extra and they’d happily serve it to you. So keep those pink lemon tarts coming! The staff was really friendly and very hospitable, just lovely. Oh and if you haven’t been to Sketch’s loo, you haven’t been there at all. I’m sure Lady Gaga used it as a set in one of her videos #badromance. Sketch London, 9 Conduit street.
Another place I really love to visit when in London is Portobello road. With a lovely market just around the corner and of course: the famous colored houses. The residents are literally going bonkers with all those Insta addicted girls taking pictures on there steps so they’ve plastered warnings all over. So this Insta chick decided to take a pic at an (also very Insta worthy) Austin Powers like ride! Other must visit markets in London: Old Spitalfields Market (indoor for when that proper English weather hits you) Camden Market (you’ll find Amy Winehouse statue right over here) and Bricklane Market the perfect place find all those vintage goodies.
Another day, another hotspot to tick off the bucket list. I used to see this place popping up in my Insta feed with a whole lot of pink everything going on. To be found in the very posh area Belgravia (socialite turned model, turned actress Cara Delevingne grew up here) is cake shop Peggy Porschen. When the weather is nice, it-girls are almost pulling out each others extensions to get a table (or that perfect picture at the entrance). But with this cold weather (I had to buy a sweater later that day) I had no problem shooting. Oh and the cakes, yes the cakes where worth every single calorie! Peggy Porschen, 116 Ebury street.
(Birthday) cake, cake, cake..
The shop is tiny with just a few tables but if you are dressed to the occasion, you can also have your cake (and eat it too) outside on the terrace.
After some mandatory London shopping it was time to hit another spot. I was tipped about this place a while ago by my friend’s sister who lives in London. The Attendant Fitzrovia, a very trendy coffee place right in the heart of the city and I’ll tell you exactly just why it is a must visit (no, not just because it carries a part of my blogs name ?).
Well…The Attendant is situated in a former Victorian underground gents toilet! Yes…you read it correctly. After not being in service for decades someone had the brilliant (or insane) idea to turn it into this happening coffee place. ‘Coffee or pee?’ ?
Once you see it, you can’t un-see it. Having lunch with a classic flush tank still on the wall. I think it’s hilarious!
Having your smashed avocado or work on your laptop between the original porcelain urinals! Tell me, would you?? Unfortunately my visit to The Attendant was very short lived. Peaches was totally grossed out about this place and didn’t want to stay and have coffee! ?
The Attendant has three locations, one in Shoreditch and Clerkenwell. For the ‘loo’ experience you need to be at 27a Foley street.
They forgot ‘The Trend..’ #youhadonejob
xx Mishanou
