There is no other city like London which captivates with its glamour, diverse ambience and modern lifestyle! Take a slice of one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world with none other than Alia Ali Zaki, the founder of London-based luxury brand L’alingi!
She Is A West London Girl
Elegant and feminine yet comfy and casual, Alia Ali Zaki is completely in tune with the West London-girl’s vibes–something her brand reflects with each of their designs Over the years, L’alingi has made a space for itself in the fashion industry with their collection of luxury handbags that carry with them an artistic, whimsical element. And that’s yet another reason we’re loving her must-visit list of places in London. Scroll ahead to find your new favourite London hotspot.
Breakfast Delights
Granger & Co
Soon after Bill Granger opened his first restaurant in Sydney in 1993, it became famous because of its legendary menus. They mix typical Australian food with healthy and fresh cocktails of cereals, fibres, tropical fruit, yoghurts to create exotic flavours which melt in your mouth. Don’s miss having breakfast in Granger & Coone of the first restaurants to bring about the concept of Australian brunch in London.
Eggbreak
Take an egg-break in this London’s Notting Hill restaurant which–in line with its name–specialises in all kinds of egg dishes. From the classic English poached egg to Mexican omelette to hot honey French toast, there’s a lot of yummy food to explore!
Beam
Pass through the family-owned Beam cafe and your taste buds are bound to break into a dance. It is an impressive parallel between Mediterranean cuisine, the Middle Ages and contemporary London spirit. It’s perfect for vegans and vegetarians, featuring dishes such as beam Benedict served on breakfast muffin or full English breakfast which consists of crushed avocado, vegan sausage, portobello mushroom, hash brown, grilled heritage tomatoes, bean and tomato salsa, dukkah and artisan multigrain bread.
Lunch Stops
Secret Sandwich Shop
Based on a Japanese Wanpaku Sandwich, there is no fancier place to snack than Secret Sandwich Shop. Wanpaku means cheeky or naughty in Japanese and this perfectly describes the mixture of flavours and textures that’s offered at this restaurant, tucked in the pillowy Japanese bread shokupan. Let’s not forget to mention the sweet anime visuals, present on the design of boxes, cans, and bottles.
Fine Dining
Dinings SW3
Flamboyant and sophisticated, Dinings SW3 is nestled in Walton Street in Knightsbridge, where you can delight your receptors with Japanese-European exquisite cuisine. The chef and owner Masaki Sugisaki reinvents sushi recipes, using only the freshest seafood sourced from Cornish day boats.
Dinner Dates
Em Sherif at Harrods
Em Sherif in Arabic means “the mother of Sherif”, it is an experimental restaurant which mixes traditional Lebanese cuisine with a contemporary edge. Their trademark dessert consists of broth of orange blossom infused with rose water, caramelised puffed rice topping and pistachio powder…yummy!
Coffee Stops
Hagen Notting Hill (Espresso Bar)
Keep calm and take a sip of Danish coffee, made with love, hospitality and a touch of old school-ness. This conceptual Espresso bar was born as an idea in Copenhagen.
The Roasting Party
Pick up the most aromatic flat white, created by blending milk pairings, moreish flavours and love for coffee.
Sights To See
Notting Hills
You can never wash away the mesmerising colours of Notting Hills, because it blooms every season and splashes more and more hues. Renowned for its Victorian houses, flower gardens, enchanting parks, cosy coffee shops, antique shops, luxury restaurants and boutiques, it blends the XIX-century aesthetic with the busy modern lifestyle.
Victoria and Albert Museum
For the truly committed fashionistas, Victoria and Albert Museum is like a piece of heaven, where the most breathtaking collection of garments from different centuries is curated. Don’t miss out!
Royal Academy of Arts
Spectacular and magnificent, the Royal Academy of Arts was founded in 1768. From ancient to contemporary masterpieces, it is a must-visit for every art lover.
Adding to Alia's list is AiSPi's must visit London Brands
Roberta Einer
Roberta Einer is an experimental luxury brand that is in love with playing with unexpected material combinations. She highlights original cuts, asymmetry and beautiful transparencies that end up in lagenlook (“layered look”), boho, street, party, and more styles.
Ash
The French shoe designer Ash joined creative forces with the Italian entrepreneur Leonello Calvani to establish their label in 2000. From sport vintage shoes to studded high heels, there’s a pair for almost every taste.
Lone Design Club
The eponymous LDC appeared in 2018 as pop-up stores that lasted almost 2 weeks and invited designers to tell their stories. Now, it is a renowned concept store that designs unique and exclusive pieces for those who love to play with fashion.
Loveness Lee
Founded in 2016, they create handcrafted and exclusive textured jewellery with architectural-like design. The perfect finishing touch for your London-inspired outfit!
Sister Jane Dream
Create your own kingdom of pure elegance, chic and romantic allure, exploring the new “Dream” collection of Sister Jane. Classy and aristocratic, you will be entranced by the way the ruffles, voluminous shapes, puffed and gigot sleeves, lace, tulle, frills, and ribbons elevate any outfit.
Written by Penka Slavova Dimitrova
All images are courtesy of the brand.
Visit our London city page to know more about the boutiques there. If fashion is your religion, then read more articles on our journal page. Don’t forget to follow AiSPi on Instagram.