During our holiday in Khao Yai, my family and I visited the beautiful Manee Sorn Sunflower Field. It was a really fun experience and this is my full review of the attraction.

Manee Sorn Sunflower Field

Manee Sorn Sunflower Field is a large sunflower plantation in Khao Yai, Thailand. It is a popular tourist attraction and is also known as “Rai Manee Sorn”. There is an entrance fee of THB60 per visitor.

Gorgeous Sunflowers

As our Klook chartered van approached the sunflower field, I didn’t see any sunflowers and thought that they were not in bloom yet.

However, as we got closer, I saw large beautiful fields that were covered with bright yellow sunflowers.

After buying the tickets, we entered the gorgeous fields for a closer look.

Can you spot the bee?

I was literally surrounded by sunflower stalks that came up to my chest level!

The surrounding scenery was beautiful too. The sunflowers were surrounded by sprawling green fields and lush palm trees against a backdrop of mountains in the distance.

We visited at around 4pm, which was a good time because there were still plenty of sunlight but it was not too hot.

I even flew my drone to capture some aerial shots. Unfortunately, it blew up a mini cloud of dust when landing and I got plenty of annoyed looks from the surrounding tourists.

Sunflower Field Market

There was a small market with several vendors selling sunflower seeds, snacks, drinks etc. However I didn’t spend any time here because we were rushing off to Bangkok.

Annual Sunflower Festival

There is an annual sunflower festival held every December at Manee Sorn Sunflower Field. Visitors will get to enjoy various fun activities like sunflower competitions, beauty pageants, and local produce shopping. I’m not sure about the exact date of the festival, but if you are booking through Klook you can check with the driver over email.

When Is The Best Time To Visit?

The sunflower season in Khao Yai starts in early November and ends in late January. I visited at the start of December and several large fields were covered with sunflowers. However, there were also many barren fields. My guess is that the sunflowers will be in full bloom during late December or early January.

Conclusion

I enjoyed visiting Manee Sorn Sunflower Field very much! The sunflower fields were gorgeous and it was my first time seeing something like this.

However, don’t expect to spend too much time here because there isn’t much to do other than taking plenty of Instagram-worthy pictures. I only spent around 30 minutes here, and that included the time for flying my drone.

I’ve read on other blogs that there is supposed to be a mini farm here with baby chicks, piglets, and ponies. However, I did not see it during my visit.

Manee Sorn Sunflower Field
Address: Mu Si, Pak Chong District, Nakhon Ratchasima 30130, Thailand
GPS: 14.572517,101.4410162 / Google Map Link
Opening Hours: Daily 6am to 6pm

During our holiday in Khao Yai, my family and I visited Palio Village, a popular themed attraction. This is the full review of my experience here.

Palio Village

The standout feature of Palio Village is the iconic clock tower

Palio Village is a popular tourist attraction in Khao Yai. It is a recreation of a Tuscan village – complete with cobblestone streets, terracotta buildings, water fountains, creeping ivy plants, and all the other trappings of a quaint Italian town.

We visited on a weekday in December and the place was a little crowded but still tolerable. There is no entrance fee required to enter this attraction.

Palio Village vs Primo Piazza

Primo Piazza

Palio Village is similar to Primo Piazza, which is another Italian-themed attraction in Khao Yai. However, unlike Primo Piazza, Palio does not have any farm animals.

Italian Architecture

Instagram husband duties

Once I entered Palio Village, I was immediately surrounded by Italian style terracotta buildings. The horticulture and creeping ivy contributed to the Mediterranean vibe of the place.

Walking around the premise, it felt like I was inside a real Italian village. The designers have definitely done a good job of recreating the rural Italian vibe here.

Street Performances

For me, the highlight of Palio Village was the entertaining street performances. My favourite was the golden “living statue” – I didn’t even know “it” was a real person until he started moving!

To my pleasant surprise, the living statue was very friendly. My nieces and nephews were frightened of him initially, but they quickly warmed up to him after realising that he was not going to scare them.

It must be really tough to be covered with gold paint and dressed in thick clothes in Khao Yai’s hot weather. Therefore, remember to give this hardworking performer a generous tip if you see him!

I was also very impressed by a young lady who played beautiful music on her violin.

Interesting Variety of Shops

Walking around Palio, I saw many souvenir shops, clothing stores, craft shops, and toy stores.

Nothing really caught my eye here. The wife and I both didn’t like the design of the clothes, and they were rather expensive too.

However, this is a good place to grab some last minute “Khao Yai” souvenirs such as key chains, fridge magnets, tote bags, etc.

Young children will be happy because there are several toy shops here.

Food Stalls and Restaurants

Khao Yai is home to many vineyards and fruit farms, and this is represented by the numerous stalls selling wine, grapes, apples, tomatoes, etc.

If you are feeling hungry, you can check out the food court which serves classic Thai dishes like papaya salad, pad thai, and tom yum soup from around THB50.

I also saw a few restaurants, but we didn’t eat here because we were heading to The Chocolate Factory next for lunch.

Secret Garden

There is a beautiful garden located at the side of Palio Village. It is easily missed by tourists, so make sure you remember to check it out!

Conclusion

Palio Village in Khao Yai is definitely worth visiting. It is a vibrant attraction with a carnival-like atmosphere.

You can take pretty pictures of the Italian architecture, browse through the interesting shops, enjoy the street performances, buy some souvenirs, and try the local food.

However, the attraction is quite small so don’t expect to spend too much time here. It only took us around 30 minutes to finish exploring the whole place.

Palio Village
Address: 146/1 ม.4 Palio Khaoyai ถ.ธนะรัชต์, กม.17, Mu Si, Pak Chong District, Nakhon Ratchasima 30130, Thailand
GPS: 14.5379964,101.400176 / Google Map Link
Phone: +66 44 365 888
Opening Hours: | Sun to Thurs: 9am – 7pm | Fri: 9am – 8pm | Sat: 9am – 9pm |

After a quick stop at Strawberry Picking in Khao Yai, my family and I visited The Bloom by TV Pool, which is a beautiful flower park home to many varieties of flowers. This is my full review of this attraction.

The Bloom by TV Pool

The Bloom by TV Pool is a large floral garden in Khao Yai where visitors can admire beautiful floral gardens against a backdrop of majestic mountains. It is a well-known tourist attraction.

As for its name, I’m not really sure what “by TV Pool” means. If anyone knows please enlighten me in the comments section below!

Entrance Fee

There is an entrance fee of THB100 for adults and THB50 for children. You can also buy packages that include meals but we didn’t eat here because we were heading to The Chocolate Factory for lunch.

It is possible to sign up for a tram tour of the park (additional THB20). However, based on online reviews I read, the tram ride is not worth it because you have to waste time waiting for the tram and the park is quite small anyways.

We visited at 11am on a weekday in December and there was only a handful of other tourists in the park.

Beautiful Flowers

I saw plenty of beautiful flowers in the park. The flower beds were all very well-maintained. If you are someone who likes flowers and nature, you will enjoy walking around the park.

Many Photo Opportunities

There are many photo opportunities in the park! First, we walked through a floral archway.

After that, I took some photos of the wife in front of a ferris wheel.

Next, we headed to a floral carriage and took many photos with it.

We also found a giant red flower!

Finally, we took photos with the LOVE sign and giant paper windmills.

Conclusion

We spent less than one hour at The Bloom by TV Pool. It is a beautiful garden with plenty of photo opportunities, but there isn’t much to do here other than taking pictures. In addition, it was really hot because there are very few sheltered areas in the park.

We originally wanted to visit PB Valley Khao Yai Winery, which is just a few minutes’ drive away from The Bloom. The winery offers beautiful landscaped gardens and wine tasting tours.

Unfortunately, it was fully booked on the day we wanted to visit. Therefore, we decided to visit The Bloom instead. Personally I feel that The Bloom is only worth visiting if you are unable to book a tour for the winery.

According to some blogs I came across, The Bloom is supposed to have a small farm with sheep and deers. However, I did not see any animals when I was here.

The Bloom By TV Pool
Address: 357 หมู่ที่ 5 บ้านโนนกระโดน, Phaya Yen, Pak Chong District, Nakhon Ratchasima 30320, Thailand
GPS: 14.5762566,101.2368738 / Google Map Link
Phone: +66 92 279 1666
Opening Hours: Daily 8am to 8pm

During our holiday in Khao Yai, my family and I asked our Klook driver to bring us to the Thames Valley Khao Yai hotel. This was because we had seen many beautiful pictures of it online and wanted to check it out for ourselves. It was hard to believe that such a place actually existed in Khao Yai, Thailand!

Thames Valley Khao Yai

Thames Valley Khao Yai is a charming hotel designed like a traditional English manor. The hotel grounds are beautifully landscaped, complete with quaint English architecture, lush trees, a koi pond, and stone arch bridges.

Gorgeous Architecture and Scenery

My family and I entered Thames Valley through a small garden maze. The children had fun running around the maze and it is a good photo opportunity too.

Once inside the compound, I was amazed by the gorgeous English style architecture! It truly felt like I was in the English countryside, minus the hot Khao Yai weather of course.

we saw an apple tree!

I simply loved the lush greenery and manicured landscape. The hotel compound is home to tall pine trees, willow trees, and even an apple tree!

There is also a lovely stream with stone arch bridges running through the hotel. I took a closer look at the stream and was pleasantly surprised to see many koi swimming inside.

The Castle Restaurant & Tea Room

We decided to take a quick tea break at The Castle, which is the only restaurant in the hotel. The menu offers a variety of Western dishes, Afternoon Tea, alcohol, and sweet beverages.

Like the rest of the hotel, the restaurant is beautifully designed in quaint English style. I liked the pastel shades which gave the restaurant a soothing and relaxing vibe.

I was impressed to see that even the washroom is beautifully designed!

We ordered some cold drinks and smoothies to cool down. They were quite expensive but were perfect for drinking in Khao Yai’s hot weather.

The restaurant offers outdoor seating as well.

Service was decent. The restaurant staff were quite polite and our drinks came fast.

Conclusion

Out of all the themed attractions we visited in Khao Yai, Thames Valley Khao Yai has done the best job of recreating its desired theme. The hotel’s ultra-realistic English architecture and natural beauty made me feel like I was in Southern England instead of Khao Yai.

Unfortunately, because we were not staying at the hotel, we could only admire the beautiful premise from the restaurant. I would have loved to take a stroll around the tranquil compound!

Note that if you are not a hotel guest, you will need to spend a minimum amount in the restaurant to avoid paying the parking fee.

Thames Valley Khao Yai
Address: ถนน ธนะรัชต์ Mu Si, Pak Chong District, Nakhon Ratchasima 30130, Thailand
GPS: 14.5351231,101.3808169 / Google Map Link
Phone: +66 44 009 999
Hotel Reservations: Click here

Khao Yai is a popular rural getaway in Thailand home to plenty of tourist attractions. It is also known for having interesting themed restaurants serving a variety of cuisines. Below is a list of 5 great places to eat in Khao Yai.

1. Ban Mai Chay Nam

Ban Mai Chay Nam is a Thai restaurant, museum, and hotel rolled into one. It is located by the river, offering pleasant views for customers while they dine.

The menu offers traditional Thai food reasonably priced between THB150 and THB200. Some of the dishes my family and I ordered included the Fried Chicken Wings (THB180), Tom Yum Kung (THB200), Pork Satay With Bread (THB100), and Thai Style Egg Omelette  (THB180). All the food were quite delicious.

The highlight of Ban Mai Chay Nam is its whimsical museum, which boasts an incredible variety of childhood toys, antiques and pop culture artifacts. We had plenty of fun walking around the premise to enjoy the kaleidoscope of colours that fill the entire place.

Ban Mai Chay Nam
Address: 21 Mittaphap Road, Tambon Pak Chong, Amphoe Pak Chong, Nakhon Ratchasima, 30130, Thailand
GPS: 14.6972883,101.408026 / Google Map
Phone: +66 4431 4236
Opening Hours: Daily 9am to 9pm

2. Midwinter Green

Midwinter Green is a beautiful restaurant in Khao Yai designed like a medieval European castle. It serves a wide variety of Thai and Western Food, including pizzas, pastas, pork knuckles, fish & chips, etc.

The highlight of Midwinter Green is its wonderful ambience. We visited at night and dined outdoors in the cool weather, surrounded by stone castle walls and majestic towers.

The Spaghetti Aglio with Garlic, Chili and Bacon (THB295) was a simple but delicious dish. The noodles were nicely al dente, and you can’t really go wrong with savoury bacon bits!

The Ham & Mushroom Pizza (THB490) was very satisfying too. The thin crust was crispy, the cheese had good stretch, and the ham and mushroom chunks were really tasty.

I highly recommend visiting at night so that you can dine outdoors and enjoy the great vibe. If you visit in the afternoon it will definitely be too hot.

Midwinter Green
Address: 88 88 หมู่ 10 ถนน ธนะรัชต์ Nong Nam Daeng, Pak Chong District, Nakhon Ratchasima 30130, Thailand
GPS: 14.6168518,101.407006 / Google Map Link
Phone: +668 2452 8888
Opening Hours: | Sun to Thurs: 10am – 10pm | Fri & Sat: 10am – 11pm |

3. Chocolate Factory

The Chocolate Factory is a complex made up of two buildings. One building houses a restaurant serving Thai-Western fusion food, while the other is home to a fun chocolate shop. There is also a small playground on the premise.

The restaurant menu offers a wide variety of Western and Thai dishes, including pizza, pasta, BBQ pork ribs, steaks, Tom Yum Soup, Fried Shrimp Cake, Green Curry, etc.

My favourite dish was the Spaghetti Kee Mao Seafood (THB320), a Thai-Western fusion dish that comprises tomato spaghetti served with squids, prawns, mussels, mushrooms, vegetables, red chilli, and other Thai herbs.

The noodles were cooked nicely al dente, and were infused with the rich flavours of tomatoes and Thai herbs. The seafood were very fresh, and I especially enjoyed eating the succulent prawns.

The Chocolate Factory is definitely worth a visit. The food is delicious and you can shop for chocolates after your meal. There are also many good photo ops within the complex.

The Chocolate Factory, Khao Yai
Address: 2 Mu Si, Pak Chong District, Nakhon Ratchasima 30130, Thailand
GPS: 14.5622038,101.4036166 / Google Map
Phone: +669 2443 8881
Opening Hours: | Mon: 9.30am – 9pm | Tue to Sun: 9.30am – 10pm |

4. The Castle Restaurant & Tea Room (Thames Valley Khao Yai)

The Castle Restaurant & Tea Room is the only restaurant in the Thames Valley Khao Yai hotel. It serves a variety of Western dishes, Afternoon Tea, alcohol, and sweet beverages.

Like the rest of the hotel, the restaurant is beautifully designed in quaint English style. I liked the pastel shades which gave the restaurant a soothing and relaxing vibe.

The restaurant offers outdoor seating as well.

Thames Valley Khao Yai
Address: ถนน ธนะรัชต์ Mu Si, Pak Chong District, Nakhon Ratchasima 30130, Thailand
GPS: 14.5351231,101.3808169 / Google Map Link
Phone: +66 44 009 999

5. Pak Chong Night Market

Pak Chong Night Market is a small night market in Khao Yai that sells street food, local produce, cheap clothes, and other fashion accessories. The stalls are lined along both sides of a short street that is around 600 metres long.

Like all night markets in Thailand, I saw plenty of vendors selling sumptuous street food. These included barbecued seafood, waffles, skewered meats, mango sticky rice, pork trotter rice, and more. I was especially impressed by the huge prawns!

There were also several stalls selling local produce like vegetables, eggs, fresh fruits, and more.

Pak Chong Night Market
Address: 2422 Tambon Pak Chong, Pak Chong District, Nakhon Ratchasima 30130, Thailand
GPS: 14.7045011,101.4116617 / Google Map Link
Opening Hours: Daily 5pm to 10pm

Khao Yai is a rural getaway in Thailand home to many popular tourist attractions like animal farms, themed attractions, vineyards, sunflower fields, and more. In recent years, it has become a favoured destination for tourists looking for a tranquil getaway within easy reach of Bangkok; Khao Yai is just a 2 to 3 hours’ ride away depending on traffic. With the help of our Klook driver, my family and I had an awesome holiday here, and I have created a list of 10 family-friendly things to do in Khao Yai.

1. Primo Piazza

Primo Piazza is a recreation of a rural Italian town – complete with cobblestone streets, sprawling green fields, farm animals, and all the other trappings of a quaint Tuscan village.

For me, the highlight was definitely the beautiful scenery. I simply loved the lush meadows, colourful flowers beds and vivid foliage, all set amidst a tranquil mountainous backdrop.

I also had fun feeding the alpacas and sheep. The adorable animals rushed to the fence immediately whenever they saw visitors with food.

Primo Piazza, Khao Yai
Address: 200/2 หมู่ที่ 10 Mu Si, Pak Chong District, Nakhon Ratchasima 30130, Thailand
GPS: 14.5430415,101.3346868 / Google Map Link
Phone: +664 400 9900
Opening Hours: Daily 9am to 6pm (last entry 5.30pm)
Entrance Fees: THB100 (Adults), THB50 (Child)

2. Ban Mai Chay Nam

Ban Mai Chay Nam is a Thai restaurant, museum, and hotel rolled into one. It is located by the river, offering pleasant views for customers while they dine.

The highlight of this attraction is its whimsical museum, which looks like something right out of a fantastical world. Walking around, I saw an incredible variety of childhood toys, antiques and pop culture artifacts.

The restaurant offers delicious traditional Thai food, with the price of most dishes ranging between THB150 to THB200. We had a very satisfying meal here.

Ban Mai Chay Nam
Address: 21 Mittaphap Road, Tambon Pak Chong, Amphoe Pak Chong, Nakhon Ratchasima, 30130, Thailand
GPS: 14.6972883,101.408026 / Google Map
Phone: +66 4431 4236
Opening Hours: Daily 9am to 9pm

3. Manee Sorn Sunflower Field

Manee Sorn Sunflower Field is a large sunflower plantation in Khao Yai, Thailand. It is a popular tourist attraction and is also known as “Rai Manee Sorn”. There is an entrance fee of THB60 per visitor.

I enjoyed visiting this attraction very much! The sunflower fields were gorgeous and it was my first time seeing something like this.

The surrounding scenery was beautiful too. We were surrounded by sprawling green fields and lush palm trees against a backdrop of mountains in the distance.

Manee Sorn Sunflower Field
Address: Mu Si, Pak Chong District, Nakhon Ratchasima 30130, Thailand
GPS: 14.572517,101.4410162 / Google Map Link
Opening Hours: Daily 6am to 6pm

4. Palio Village

Palio Village is another Italian-themed tourist attraction. Similar to Primo Piazza, it is home to cobblestone streets, terracotta buildings, water fountains, creeping ivy plants, and all the other trappings of a quaint Italian town. However, unlike Primo Piazza, it does not have any farm animals.

Walking around the premise, it felt like I was inside a real Italian village. The designers have definitely done a good job of recreating the rural Italian vibe here.

For me, the highlight was the entertaining street performances. My favourite was the golden “living statue” – I didn’t even know “it” was a real person until he started moving!

I saw many souvenir shops, clothing stores, craft shops, and toy stores. Therefore, this is a good place to buy some last minute “Khao Yai souvenirs” such as key chains, fridge magnets, etc.

Palio Village
Address: 146/1 ม.4 Palio Khaoyai ถ.ธนะรัชต์, กม.17, Mu Si, Pak Chong District, Nakhon Ratchasima 30130, Thailand
GPS: 14.5379964,101.400176 / Google Map Link
Phone: +66 44 365 888
Opening Hours: | Sun to Thurs: 9am – 7pm | Fri: 9am – 8pm | Sat: 9am – 9pm |

5. Thames Valley Khao Yai

Thames Valley Khao Yai is a charming hotel designed like a traditional English manor. The hotel grounds are beautifully landscaped, complete with quaint English architecture, lush trees, a koi pond, and stone arch bridges.

Even though we were not staying at the hotel, we made a quick stop here to check out the beautiful architecture and scenery.

After that, we had tea break at “The Castle”, which is the only restaurant in the hotel. The menu offers a variety of Western dishes, Afternoon Tea Set, alcohol, and sweet beverages. We ordered some cold drinks and smoothies to cool down in Khao Yai’s hot weather.
Thames Valley Khao Yai
Address: ถนน ธนะรัชต์ Mu Si, Pak Chong District, Nakhon Ratchasima 30130, Thailand
GPS: 14.5351231,101.3808169 / Google Map Link
Phone: +66 44 009 999
Hotel Reservations: Click here

6. The Bloom by TV Pool

The Bloom by TV Pool is a large flower park where visitors can admire beautiful flowers against a backdrop of majestic mountains.

Other than the flowers, the park offers plenty of photo opportunities such as a floral archway, a large ferris wheel, a floral carriage, giant paper windmills, and more.

We spent less than one hour here, because there isn’t much to do other than taking pictures. In addition, it was really hot because there are very few sheltered areas in the park.

The Bloom By TV Pool
Address: 357 หมู่ที่ 5 บ้านโนนกระโดน, Phaya Yen, Pak Chong District, Nakhon Ratchasima 30320, Thailand
GPS: 14.5762566,101.2368738 / Google Map Link
Phone: +66 92 279 1666
Opening Hours: Daily 8am to 8pm

7. PB Valley Khaoyai Winery

PB Valley Khaoyai Winery is a beautiful winery that also offers professional wine tasting tours. During the tour, if the season is right, you might even get a chance to pick fruits around the vineyard.

After the tour, you can dine at the onsite restaurant, The Great Hornbill Grill, which offers delicious Western and Thai dishes. If you wish, you may also buy some wines and souvenirs at the PB Valley’s Wine & Souvenir Shop.

Make sure you book the winery tour in advance because it is quite popular. If not, you can actually just walk around the vineyard for free and take pictures.

PB Valley Khaoyai Winery
Address: 102/2 Moo5, Mitraparp Road Payayen Pakchong Nakhon Ratchasima 30320, Thailand
GPS: 14.5753407,101.2346589 / Google Map Link
Phone: +66 85 4811 741
Opening Hours: | Sun to Thurs: 8am – 8pm | Fri & Sat: 8am – 10pm |

8. Pak Chong Night Market

Pak Chong Night Market is a small night market in Khao Yai selling street food, local produce, cheap clothes, and other fashion accessories. The stalls are lined along both sides of a short street that is around 600 metres long.

Like all night markets in Thailand, I saw plenty of vendors selling sumptuous street food. These included barbecued seafood, waffles, skewered meats, mango sticky rice, pork trotter rice, and more. I was especially impressed by the huge prawns!

Around half of the night market is home to clothes stalls. The clothes were cheap, but they were not as trendy as the ones sold at Bangkok night markets.

Pak Chong Night Market
Address: 2422 Tambon Pak Chong, Pak Chong District, Nakhon Ratchasima 30130, Thailand
GPS: 14.7045011,101.4116617 / Google Map Link
Opening Hours: Daily 5pm to 10pm

9. Strawberry Picking In Khao Yai

Strawberry Picking in Khao Yai is a small beautiful farm that lets visitors pick strawberries for a fee.

Unfortunately, when we visited it wasn’t the strawberry season yet so there weren’t any strawberries to pick. Luckily, the scenery was beautiful, so the wife and I took plenty of pretty pictures here.

If you are interested, you can buy strawberries, strawberry jams, strawberry wines and other strawberry products at the shop on the farm.

Strawberry Picking in Khao Yai
Address: Mu Si, Pak Chong District, Nakhon Ratchasima 30130, Thailand
GPS: 14.5425006,101.3769041 / Google Map Link
Opening Hours: Daily 7.30am to 6pm

10. Farm Chokchai

Farm Chokchai is a large and beautiful farm home to animals like cows, goats, sheep, rabbits and even elephants. There is no entrance fee for the open farm area.

However, if you choose to join the paid farm tour, you will get to experience a wide variety of fun activities like horse riding, a tractor ride, an ATV ride, a dairy production session, ice cream tasting, a cowboy rodeo show, and more.

Make sure you book the farm tour in advance because it is really popular. Otherwise, you can simply explore the open farm area for free.

Farm Chokchai
Address: 169 หมู่ที่ 2 Mittraphap Rd, Nong Nam Daeng, Pak Chong District, Nakhon Ratchasima 30130, Thailand
GPS: 14.6547661,101.3463402 / Google Map Link
Phone: +66 2532 2846
Opening Hours: | Mon: CLOSED | Tue to Sun: 10am – 8.30pm |
Tour Times: | Mon: CLOSED | Weekdays: 10am & 2pm | Weekends & PH: 10am, 11am, 1pm, 2pm |

Map of Khao Yai Attractions

Khao Yai is a rural district in Thailand home to many tourist attractions like animal farms, themed attractions, vineyards, sunflower fields, etc. In recent years, it has become a popular destination for tourists looking for a tranquil getaway within easy reach of Bangkok.

My family and I spent two days in Khao Yai before heading to Bangkok. We booked a private customised tour with Klook, and arranged the itinerary with the driver over email before the trip. On the whole it was a convenient and fuss-free experience.

I do not recommend self-driving in Khao Yai because the rural roads are not very well developed. It is especially dangerous at night because many places do not have street lamps.

– Day 1 –

Arrive in Bangkok

Our flight arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport at around 12.30pm. First, I went to collect our Klook DTAC Happy Tourist SIM cards from the Klook counter in the airport. At THB131, this was the cheapest Thailand SIM card I could find online. It provided fast and reliable data throughout my holiday.

After that, we met up with our Klook driver outside the airport. It was easy to spot him with his orange Klook signboard. He loaded our luggage up the van and off we went!

Ban Mai Chay Nam

After a three-hour drive, we arrived at Ban Mai Chay Nam for lunch. This is a Thai restaurant, museum, and hotel rolled into one. It is located by the river, offering pleasant views for customers while they dine.

The highlight of Ban Mai Chay Nam is its whimsical museum. Walking around, I saw an incredible variety of childhood toys, antiques and pop culture artifacts.

My nieces and nephews had fun here too!

The restaurant offers delicious traditional Thai food, with the price of most dishes ranging between THB150 and THB200. We had a very satisfying and affordable meal here.

Address: 21 Mittaphap Road, Tambon Pak Chong, Amphoe Pak Chong, Nakhon Ratchasima, 30130, Thailand
GPS: 14.6972883,101.408026 / Google Map
Phone: +66 4431 4236
Opening Hours: Daily 9am to 9pm

Primo Piazza

Next, we headed to Primo Piazza. This popular attraction is a recreation of a rural Italian town – complete with cobblestone streets, sprawling green fields, farm animals, and all the other trappings of a quaint Tuscan village.

For me, the highlight was definitely the beautiful scenery. I simply loved the lush meadows, colourful flowers beds and vivid foliage, all set amidst a tranquil mountainous backdrop.

I also had fun feeding the alpacas and sheep. The adorable animals rushed to the fence immediately whenever they saw visitors with food.

Address: 200/2 หมู่ที่ 10 Mu Si, Pak Chong District, Nakhon Ratchasima 30130, Thailand
GPS: 14.5430415,101.3346868 / Google Map Link
Phone: +664 400 9900
Opening Hours: Daily 9am to 6pm (last entry 5.30pm)
Entrance Fees: THB100 (Adults), THB50 (Child)

Pak Chong Night Market

Before heading for dinner, we decided to kill some time at Pak Chong Night Market, a small night market selling street food, local produce, cheap clothes, and other fashion accessories.

There were plenty of vendors selling sumptuous street food. These included barbecued seafood, waffles, skewered meats, mango sticky rice, pork trotter rice, and more. I was especially impressed by the huge prawns!

Around half of the night market is home to clothes stalls. The clothes were cheap, but they were not as trendy as the ones sold at Bangkok night markets.

Address: 2422 Tambon Pak Chong, Pak Chong District, Nakhon Ratchasima 30130, Thailand
GPS: 14.7045011,101.4116617 / Google Map Link
Opening Hours: Daily 5pm to 10pm

Midwinter Green

After spending around 30 minutes at the night market, we headed to Midwinter Green for dinner. This beautiful restaurant is designed like a medieval European castle. It serves a wide variety of Thai and Western Food, including pizzas, pastas, pork knuckles, fish & chips, etc.

I was very much impressed by the wonderful ambience here. We dined outdoors in the cool night air, surrounded by charming stone castle walls and majestic towers.

The Spaghetti Aglio with Garlic, Chili and Bacon (THB295) was a simple but delicious dish. The noodles were nicely al dente, and you can’t really go wrong with savoury bacon bits!

The Ham & Mushroom Pizza (THB490) was very satisfying too. The thin crust was crispy, the cheese had good stretch, and the ham and mushroom chunks were really tasty.

dusitD2 Khao Yai

After a long tiring day, it was finally time to rest for the night! Our Khao Yai accommodation was the dusitD2 Khao Yai, a modern resort-style hotel. It offers spacious rooms with wonderful views, a beautiful swimming pool, a treetop private dining pod, fun outdoor activities, and even an alpaca farm.

After our driver dropped us off at the hotel, we proceeded to the stylish high-ceiling lobby for check-in. The receptionist greeted us warmly and completed our check-in quickly.

After that, the hotel buggy transported us directly to our rooms. This was a nice touch because our legs were really sore after a whole day of exploring Khao Yai.

– Day 2 –

dusitD2 Khao Yai

The next morning, I woke up to a beautiful view of Khao Yai National Park through my floor to ceiling windows.

The hotel surroundings were beautiful too. I was enamoured by the sprawling green fields, lush greenery, and vivid foliage. This was the perfect escape from hectic city life!

We had our international breakfast buffet at Musi Grill, a spacious restaurant in the hotel. The buffet spread was rather limited but the food was delicious.

Beside the restaurant is the hotel’s beautiful infinity pool.

After breakfast, we went to check out the small farm with adorable alpacas and rabbits. However, there were only two alpacas and two rabbits, and they looked rather lonely.

Strawberry Picking In Khao Yai

Our first destination of the day was Strawberry Picking in Khao Yai, a small beautiful farm that lets visitors pick strawberries for a fee.

Unfortunately, when we visited it wasn’t the strawberry season yet so there weren’t any strawberries to pick. Luckily, the scenery was beautiful, so we took plenty of pretty pictures here.

If you wish, you can buy strawberries, strawberry wines and other strawberry products at the shop on the farm.

Address: Mu Si, Pak Chong District, Nakhon Ratchasima 30130, Thailand
GPS: 14.5425006,101.3769041 / Google Map Link
Opening Hours: Daily 7.30am to 6pm

The Bloom by TV Pool

The Bloom by TV Pool is a large flower park where visitors can admire beautiful flowers against a backdrop of majestic mountains.

Other than the flowers, the park offers plenty of photo opportunities such as a floral archway, a large ferris wheel, a floral carriage, giant paper windmills, and more.

We spent less than one hour here, because there wasn’t much to do other than taking pictures. In addition, it was really hot because there are very few sheltered areas in the park.

Address: 357 หมู่ที่ 5 บ้านโนนกระโดน, Phaya Yen, Pak Chong District, Nakhon Ratchasima 30320, Thailand
GPS: 14.5762566,101.2368738 / Google Map Link
Phone: +66 92 279 1666
Opening Hours: Daily 8am to 8pm
Entrance Fees: THB100 (Adults), THB50 (Child)

Thames Valley Khao Yai

Thames Valley Khao Yai is a charming hotel designed like a traditional English manor. The hotel grounds are beautifully landscaped, complete with quaint English architecture, lush trees, a koi pond, and stone arch bridges.

Even though we were not staying at the hotel, we made a quick stop here to check out the beautiful architecture and scenery.

After that, we had tea break at “The Castle”, which is the only restaurant in the hotel. The menu offers a variety of Western dishes, Afternoon Tea Set, alcohol, and sweet beverages. We ordered some cold drinks and smoothies to cool down in Khao Yai’s hot weather.

Thames Valley Khao Yai
Address: ถนน ธนะรัชต์ Mu Si, Pak Chong District, Nakhon Ratchasima 30130, Thailand
GPS: 14.5351231,101.3808169 / Google Map Link
Phone: +66 44 009 999
Hotel Reservations: Click here

Palio Village

Palio Village is another Italian-themed tourist attraction. Similar to Primo Piazza, it is home to cobblestone streets, terracotta buildings, water fountains, creeping ivy plants, and all the other trappings of a quaint Italian town. However, unlike Primo Piazza, it does not have any farm animals.

Walking around the premise, it felt like I was inside a real Italian village. The designers have definitely done a good job of recreating the rural Italian vibe here.

For me, the highlight of Palio Village was the entertaining street performances. My favourite was the golden “living statue” – I didn’t even know “it” was a real person until he started moving!

I saw many souvenir shops, clothing stores, craft shops, and toy stores. Therefore, this is a good place to buy some last minute “Khao Yai souvenirs” such as key chains, fridge magnets, etc.

Address: 146/1 ม.4 Palio Khaoyai ถ.ธนะรัชต์, กม.17, Mu Si, Pak Chong District, Nakhon Ratchasima 30130, Thailand
GPS: 14.5379964,101.400176 / Google Map Link
Phone: +66 44 365 888
Opening Hours: | Sun to Thurs: 9am – 7pm | Fri: 9am – 8pm | Sat: 9am – 9pm |

The Chocolate Factory

For lunch, we headed to The Chocolate Factory, which is a complex made up of two buildings. One building houses a restaurant serving Thai-Western fusion food, while the other is home to a fun chocolate shop. There is also a small playground on the premise.

The restaurant menu offers a wide variety of Western and Thai dishes, including pizza, pasta, BBQ pork ribs, steaks, Tom Yum Soup, Fried Shrimp Cake, Green Curry, etc.

My favourite dish was the Spaghetti Kee Mao Seafood (THB320), a Thai-Western fusion dish that comprises tomato spaghetti served with seafood, vegetables, and Thai herbs.

The noodles were cooked nicely al dente, and were infused with the rich flavours of tomatoes and Thai herbs. The seafood were very fresh, and I especially enjoyed eating the succulent prawns.

Address: 2 Mu Si, Pak Chong District, Nakhon Ratchasima 30130, Thailand
GPS: 14.5622038,101.4036166 / Google Map
Phone: +669 2443 8881
Opening Hours: | Mon: 9.30am – 9pm | Tue to Sun: 9.30am – 10pm |

Manee Sorn Sunflower Field

Our final stop in Khao Yai was Manee Sorn Sunflower Field, which is a huge sunflower plantation. It is a popular tourist attraction and is also known as “Rai Manee Sorn”.

I enjoyed coming here very much! The sunflower fields were gorgeous and it was my first time seeing something like this.

The surrounding scenery was beautiful too. We were surrounded by sprawling green fields and lush palm trees against a backdrop of mountains in the distance. This was the perfect end to our Khao Yai adventure!

Address: Mu Si, Pak Chong District, Nakhon Ratchasima 30130, Thailand
GPS: 14.572517,101.4410162 / Google Map Link
Opening Hours: Daily 6am to 6pm
Entrance fee: THB60

Travel to Bangkok

From the sunflower farm, we began our three-hour ride to our next stop in Thailand: Bangkok!

Two Days In Khao Yai Summary

Conclusion

I hope you found our two-day Khao Yai itinerary useful! I’m glad we booked the Klook private tour because it was really convenient. Our driver was very friendly and drove safely too. We gave him a generous tip at the end of the trip.

However, he was unclear of the directions sometimes and I actually had to serve as his navigator a few times using Google Maps. This was a little unnerving especially when we were travelling along the rural roads at night.

Also, we had requested to visit Farm Chokchai and PB Valley Khaoyai Winery, but were informed by him that these attractions were “fully booked”. We later found out that while these places did offer tours, it was actually possible to explore the premises for free.

Instead, he brought us to other less popular attractions like The Bloom By TV Pool and Strawberry Picking.

Therefore, my advice is to be to be as clear as possible on the attractions you want to visit when planning your itinerary over email before the trip. If you wish to visit Farm Chokchai and PB Valley Khaoyai Winery, make sure you mention this in the email. Note that while it is possible to visit these two places for free, I’m not sure if the driver will prefer you to prebook the tours.

In recent years, Khao Yai has become a very popular destination for tourists looking for a getaway within easy reach of Bangkok. Depending on traffic, it takes just two to three hours to drive from Bangkok to Khao Yai, where you will encounter gorgeous natural landscapes and a tranquil vibe. For my trip, I booked a private customised tour with Klook, which made planning a lot easier. Based on my own experience, I have created this Khao Yai travel guide for first time tourists.

1. Logistics

• Klook DTAC Happy Tourist SIM – Cheapest Thailand SIM Card

2. Accommodation

• Where To Stay In Khao Yai (Thailand) For First Timers
• dusitD2 Khao Yai – Stylish Resort With Alpaca Farm & Infinity Pool
• Thames Valley Khao Yai – Gorgeous Countryside Style Resort

3. Itinerary

• The Ultimate 2 Days Khao Yai Itinerary

4. Best of Khao Yai

• 10 Fun Family-Friendly Things To Do In Khao Yai
• 5 Great Places To Eat In Khao Yai

5. What To Do In Khao Yai

• Primo Piazza, Khao Yai – Thailand’s Little Italy
• Palio Village, Khao Yai – Amazing Recreation Of An “Italian Village”
• Manee Sorn Sunflower Field – Gorgeous Sunflower Plantations
• Strawberry Picking in Khao Yai – Pretty Strawberry Farm
• Pak Chong Night Market, Khao Yai – Authentic Local Market
• The Bloom by TV Pool – Large Floral Garden With Pretty Flowers

6. What To Eat In Khao Yai

• Ban Mai Chay Nam – Famous Riverside Thai Restaurant
• Midwinter Green – Charming Restaurant Designed Like European Castle
• The Chocolate Factory – Great Place To Enjoy Thai-Western Cuisine

Patty & Bun serves one of the best burgers I’ve ever eaten! We visited this famous burger restaurant in London on a cold April night and queued outdoors for about 30 minutes, but I have to say it was definitely worth the wait.

Patty & Bun

Patty & Bun is a burger specialist in London known for its delicious gourmet burgers. It has many branches in London, with various outlets in convenient locations such as Soho (Kingly Street and Old Compton Street), Marylebone (James Street), Southwark (Borough High Street), and Notting Hill (Pembridge Road).

The wife and I visited the James Street branch in Marylebone, which is a cozy no-frills space with just two rows of tables lining the walls.

Menu (Click to enlarge)

Food menu

Drinks menu

The menu offers a variety of tantalising beef burgers. The most popular option is the ‘ARI GOLD’ Cheeseburger (£8.75), which consists of a beef patty, cheese, pickled onions, and smokey P&B Mayo.

The ‘Smokey Robinson’ Burger (£9.50), which comes with bacon and caramelised onions, is a very popular choice too.

Don’t worry if you do not eat beef because Patty & Bun also serves chicken, lamb and even vegetarian burgers.

For sides, choose from a variety of Chips, Fried Chicken, Cheese Balls, Salads, and more. The drinks menu consists of beers, spirits, soft drinks, and a small wine selection.

You may want to check out the Patty Pills (£4.75), which is Patty & Bun’s very own pilsner beer created in conjunction with FourPure Brewery.

‘Hot Chic’ Chicken Burger

After looking through the menu, I decided to order the ‘Hot Chic’ Chicken Burger (£9.25), which consists of marinated buttermilk fried chicken, coleslaw, pickled cucumbers, lettuce and smoked garlic aioli sandwiched between two brioche buns.

The burger tasted amazing!

There’s nothing quite like biting into juicy fried chicken sandwiched between fresh buns – bread buns, that is.

The smoked garlic aioli sauce was the highlight with its savoury-tangy taste. The pickled cucumbers added a burst of flavour too. Together with the other fresh vegetables, the rich combination of flavours was simply fantastic.

PFC

The PFC (£6) is boneless fried chicken thighs with chilli butter and pickled red chillies. I highly recommend this feisty and savoury side dish if you enjoy eating spicy food.

Chips with Rosemary Salt

The Chips with Rosemary Salt (£3) were crispy with just the right amount of bite, and went very well with the burger.

Conclusion

After checking out the delicious burger at Patty & Bun, I can fully understand why this restaurant is so popular in London. My chicken burger was absolutely delicious! Even though the burgers are quite expensive, I feel they are worth the premium. If possible, try to go during off peak hours to avoid the queue. We went at 8.30pm on a weekday and still had to wait outside in the cold London weather for around 30 minutes!

Patty & Bun
Address: 54 James St, Marylebone, London W1U 1HE, United Kingdom
Directions: Three-minute walk from Bond Street Station
Opening Hours: | Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 10.30pm | Sun: 11.30am – 10pm |
Phone: +44 20 7487 3188
Other branches: www.pattyandbun.co.uk/locations-and-menus

During our holiday in London, when the wife told me that she wanted to check out Kanada-Ya, I did a double take because we had recently eaten some world class ramens in Tokyo. I had no idea why she would want to check out a ramen shop in London. However, I chose to keep my mouth shut (happy wife, happy life) and followed her to the ramen joint. I’m glad to say I was not disappointed.

Kanada-Ya

Kanada-Ya is a famous ramen shop in London known for its delicious tonkotsu ramens. It is extremely popular with both locals and tourists.

The original branch was founded in Yukuhashi (Japan) in 2009 by Mr. Kazuhiro Kanada.

An ex-professional Keirin racer, he faced many difficulties during the early days of his ramen chef career.

For example, he couldn’t find any ramen masters willing to take him as an apprentice, and business was initially very poor at his shop.

Luckily, his perseverance paid off and he eventually managed to open a chain of successful ramen shops across the world.

Today, Kanada-Ya has 14 branches in total, with three in London (Angel, Piccadilly, Covent Garden), three in Japan, six in Hong Kong, one in Spain, and one in Singapore.

We visited the Piccadilly branch in London, which is a cozy no-frills space located along Panton Street.

Menu (click to enlarge)

Food menu

Drinks menu 1

Drinks menu 2

The menu offers a variety of tonkotsu ramen and chicken broth ramen. There is a vegetarian ramen too.

The signature ramen here is the London exclusive Tonkotsu X (£10.90), which is cooked with pork and corn-fed chicken bone broth.

Other interesting options include the Truffle Ramen (£14) and Spicy Yuzu Ramen (£12.90).

For the big eaters, Kanada-Ya offers top up of noodles for £2 to bulk out any remaining broth at the end of your meal.

Diners are given a choice of four types of noodle hardness: Extra Hard, Hard, Regular, and Soft. The recommended choice is Hard.

Sides include Gyoza (pan fried dumpling), Karaage (Japanese fried chicken), Aburi Chasu (seared pork belly) and Truffle Edamame.

Alcohol connaisseurs will be happy to know that Kanada-Ya offers a good selection of authentic Japanese whisky, beer, premium chilled sake, hot sake, and fruit-flavoured sake.

Tonkotsu X

I ordered the signature Tonkotsu X (£10.90), which consists of pork and chicken bone broth, chashu pork belly, seaweed, spring onion, wood ear fungus and yuzu-shoyu. For my noodle hardness I went with Hard.

The ramen arrived shortly after ordering, and I tucked in quickly.

The highlight for me was definitely the luscious ramen broth! It was creamy and fragrant with a rich savoury flavour. The spring onions and fungus provided a refreshing balance.

The noodles were smooth and eggy with just the right amount of bite. I also enjoyed the chashu slices which were tender and juicy.

On this whole, this was a very well-executed and satisfying bowl of ramen.

Tonkotsu

The wife ordered the Tonkotsu (£10.90), which consists of pork bone broth, chashu pork belly, seaweed, spring onion and wood ear fungus.

This ramen is similar to the Tonkotsu X, but it uses a different type of broth. Compared to the Tonkotsu X, I found that it was less flavourful and packed less punch.

I would definitely recommend the Tonkotsu X over this.

Karaage

The Karaage (£4) was decent but not fantastic. Order only if you are a fan of Japanese style fried chicken.

Conclusion

I’m happy to have checked out Kanada-Ya in London. While the ramens did not taste as fantastic as the ones we tried in Tokyo, I have to say they came pretty close. If you are in London and looking to satisfy your ramen craving, this is the place to go. The restaurant is very popular during peak hours, so be prepared to wait in line. We went at 8pm on a weekday and still had to queue for about 30 minutes.

Kanada-Ya (Piccadilly)
Address: 3 Panton St, London SW1Y 4DL, United Kingdom
Directions: two-minute walk from Piccadilly Circus Station
Opening Hours: | Mon to Sat: 12pm – 10.30pm | Sun: 12pm – 9.30pm |
Phone Number: +44 20 7930 3511

Kanada-Ya (Covent Garden)
Address: 64 St Giles High St, London WC2H 8LE, United Kingdom
Opening Hours: | Mon to Sat: 12pm – 10.30pm | Sun: 12pm – 9.30pm |

Kanada-Ya (Angel)
Address: 35 Upper St, The Angel, London N1 0PN, United Kingdom
Opening Hours: | Mon to Sat: 12pm – 3pm, 5pm – 10.30pm | Sun: 12pm – 9.30pm |

My very first meal in London was at Eggbreak, a popular cafe known for its delicious brunch items. As expected, I had to queue for quite a while to get in, but it was well worth the wait!

Eggbreak

Eggbreak is a cozy cafe in London that serves delicious all-day brunch, with a focus on egg dishes (as you can probably guess from the name).

It is located along the pretty, pastel-coloured Uxbridge Road, which sits in the quaint neighbourhood of Notting Hill.

This cafe is extremely popular with the locals, so be prepared to wait in line. The wife and I visited on a Sunday morning at 10.30am, and had to wait outdoors in the cold London air for around 30 minutes.

The no-frills cafe is quite small and consists of two floors. The ground floor is a bright and airy space lined with small wooden tables placed close to each other. The basement is more spacious and can accommodate bigger groups.

The staff were generally quite friendly, though they seemed to be slightly overwhelmed by all the customers.

What’s On The Menu

As the cafe name suggests, it’s all about the eggs.

The Egg, Bacon & Cheese Toasty (£14) consists of smoked bacon, sunny side egg, and sliced cheddar served with chipotle ketchup and brioche bread.

The Eggbreak Benedict (£12) comprises poached eggs, brown butter hollandaise with smoked salmon or smoked bacon, served with toasted mini bagel.

Other than eggs, Eggbreak also offers other tantalising brunch items like pastries, pancake and granola. Popular options include the Nutella French Toast (£14), Ari’s Pancakes (£11), and Housemade Quinoa Granola (£10).

The drinks menu offers a decent selection of teas, coffees, juices and smoothies.  Alcohol lovers will be happy to know that there are also wines, beers, and cocktails.

You can check out Eggbreak’s full menu on their website.

Crab Cake with Poached Eggs

After looking through the extensive menu, I decided to order the Crab Cake with Poached Eggs (£12), which comes with sriracha hollandaise and spinach.

Not only did the dish look good, it tasted delicious too!

The crab cake was crispy and savoury, and the poached eggs were perfectly done. The sriracha hollandaise provided a burst of flavour which was very welcome.

My only qualm was that the portion was a little small, but hey you can’t have everything in life.

Pancake Stack

The wife ordered the Pancake Stack (£9.50), which consists of three pancakes topped with bacon crumble, strawberries, blueberries and maple caramel sauce.

I was sold at “bacon”!

I loved how the sweet-savoury fragrance of the fluffy pancake, bacon and maple caramel sauce spread throughout my mouth the instant I took a bite. The berries added a refreshing note with that burst of sharp-fruitiness.

This was one satisfying dish.

Conclusion

On the whole, I had a pleasant meal at Eggbreak. The food was really delicious, and service was decent. Our orders came very quickly too, which was impressive given how busy the staff were.

However, the cafe does not really have the best ambience. It felt a little cramped and is not really the ideal place to chill out over a cup of coffee.

I also had the feeling that the staff were constantly waiting for us to finish so that they could clear our tables and seat the next batch of customers.

Therefore, come here solely for the good food, without any high expectations for the ambience, and you will be fine.

Eggbreak
Address: 30 Uxbridge St, Kensington, London W8 7TA, United Kingdom
Directions: two-minute walk from Notting Hill Gate Station
Opening Hours: Daily 8am to 6pm
Phone Number: +44 20 3535 8300

There are plenty of fish and chips restaurants in London, but Poppies stands out with its delicious food and wonderful ambience. I was pretty excited to visit this restaurant and check out its version of London’s national dish.

Poppies

Poppies is an iconic fish and chips restaurant in London, with a history that can be traced back to almost 70 years ago.

The owner, Pat ‘Pop’ Newland, started his career in the fish and chip business in 1952 at the tender age of 11, when he got a job cutting up old newspapers to wrap fish and chips in.

Since then, he has come a long way to open three Poppies branches in London, located at Soho, Spitalfields, and Camden.

The restaurant uses locally-sourced fish that is delivered fresh every day. The fish are then prepared by their own in-house fishmonger.

I visited the Soho branch along Old Compton Street because it is the most central location.

Vintage Retro London Vibe

The restaurant is decorated with vintage light fittings and furnishings to take diners back to 1950s East End London.

It is a fun space lined with posters of classic movie stars and singers, including “The King” Mr. Elvis Presley.

I also saw plenty of interesting retro memorabilia scattered around the shop.

And it was pretty cool to see a vintage poster of the classic musical film, Grease!

Menu (click to enlarge)

The main item is of course the Fish and Chips, and you get to choose from a variety of fish like Cod, Haddock, Skate, Rock, Plaice, Lemon Sole, Mackerel and Halibut.

If it’s your first time visiting, just stick to Cod or Haddock.

Other than fish, the menu also offers other tasty dishes like the Seafood Platter, Calamari Rings, Prawn Cocktail, etc.

If you are unable to take seafood, there are other alternatives like Rotisserie Chicken and Steak Pie.

The extensive drinks menu offers a variety of soft drinks, beers, cocktails, spirits, wines, and champagne.

There are kids meals available too.

Fish and Chips (Cod)

Because we were not too hungry, the wife and I decided to just share one Regular Cod Fish and Chips (£13.95). I’m glad we did so because the portion was actually quite big for a “regular” size.

The cod fish was really delicious!

It was served hot, and I loved how tender and juicy it was. The deep fried batter was spot on, with a crispy and savoury taste.

And of course, I highly recommend eating the fish with the tartar sauce, which adds tang and an extra dimension to the dish.

As for the chips, I felt they could have been a little more crispy, but the delicious fish overshadowed this minor imperfection.

Take-Away Shop

Take-away menu (click to enlarge)

There is a take-away shop beside the restaurant, where you can order fish and chips wrapped in newspapers printed with edible ink by Poppies.

Conclusion

I had a very pleasant meal at Poppies in London. The fish and chips was delicious, the ambience was fun, and the staff was friendly and attentive. We visited the Soho branch on a weekday at 2.30pm and there was no queue at all. If you happen to be visiting on Friday or Saturday night, you will even get to enjoy free live music.

Poppies
What to Order: Regular Cod Fish and Chips (£13.95)
Address: 55-59 Old Compton St, Soho, London W1D 6HW, United Kingdom
Directions: Six-minute walk from Leicester Square Station
Opening Hours: | Mon to Thurs: 11am – 11pm | Fri & Sat: 11am – 11.30pm | Sun: 11am – 10.30pm |
Phone: +44 20 7734 4845

During my holiday in London, I got to check out the famous Biju Bubble Tea Room. There are several bubble tea shops in London, but Biju manages to stand out because of its emphasis on using premium ingredients and freshly brewed tea.

Biju Bubble Tea Room

Biju Bubble Tea Room is a popular bubble tea shop in London known for its high quality boba drinks.

The bubble teas are made with fresh organic milk instead of powdered creamer. And I was impressed to learn that the tea is brewed only after a customer orders, which helps to ensure freshness.

In addition, Biju uses less sugar for its drinks. No high fructose corn syrup, artificial colourings or flavourings are used too.

The owner, 31-year-old Nicholas Phan, is a former Ernst & Young employee who decided to start his own bubble tea shop after noticing the low quality artificial ingredients and inferior processes used by others in London.

Today, there are three Biju outlets in London, located at Soho, Westfield London Shopping Centre, and South Kensington.

Trendy And Colourful Interior Design

I visited the Soho branch, which is a cozy and colourful space with terraced cushioned seating lining one side of the shop.

This seating concept may not be the most comfortable, but at least I got to sit down to enjoy my bubble tea. Most other bubble tea shops don’t even offer seating at all.

This Soho outlet is just steps away from Poppies, a famous fish and chips restaurant. In fact, I came here to get my bubble tea fix straight after my meal at Poppies.

Biju Menu

click to enlarge

The menu offers a variety of Milk Teas and Iced Teas. There are also interesting options like Salted Cream Teas, Fruity Milk and Coconut Water.

Other than the standard Tapioca Pearls, there is an interesting selection of toppings like Caramel Pudding, Coconut Water Jellies, Popping Fruits, and Organic Chia Seeds.

If you are a vegan or lactose-intolerant, Biju offers non-dairy/vegan milks like Organic Soya, Organic Almond, and Oat Milk.

The drinks are priced at £3.95 for regular size and £4.45 for large. Toppings go for 50p each.

Popular flavours include the Matcha Milk Tea, Oolong Milk Tea, and Taro Milk.

Earl Grey Milk Tea

The wife ordered a regular Earl Grey Milk Tea (£3.95) and added tapioca pearls (50p). The milk tea had a delightfully smooth and creamy texture, along with a pleasant subtle sweetness.

The pearls were sweet and chewy, complementing the drink perfectly. I also liked how the fragrant Early Grey flavour stood up well to the sweet creamy milk.

Iced Honey Green Tea

I had the regular Iced Honey Green Tea (£3.95), and added tapioca pearls (50p) too. The drink had a very smooth texture and the honey was delightfully subtle. It was also a joy to chew on the pearls after they had absorbed the sweetness of the drink.

Conclusion

Biju definitely lives up to its hype. The bubble teas were refreshing and sweet without being overwhelming. Service was very fast too.

If you are used to cloyingly sweet drinks, you may find that the Biju bubble teas are not sweet enough. This is because as mentioned earlier, they use less sugar than other bubble tea shops, and do not use artificial flavourings.

The shop uses paper straws instead of plastic ones, a nod to the green movement.

Biju (Soho)
What To Order: Matcha Milk Tea, Earl Grey Milk Tea, Iced Honey Green Tea (all priced at £3.95)
Address: 45 Old Compton St, Soho, London W1D 6HQ, United Kingdom
Directions: Six-minute walk from Leicester Square Station
Opening Hours: | Sun to Thurs: 12pm – 11.30pm | Fri & Sat: 12pm – 12.30am |
Phone: +44 20 7287 4040

Biju (Westfield London Shopping Centre)
Address: Kiosk 2006A, Westfield London Shopping Centre, Ariel Way, London W12 7GF, United Kingdom
Opening Hours: | Mon to Sat: 10am – 10pm | Sun: 11am – 7pm |

Biju (South Kensington)
Address: 27 Bute St, South Kensington, London SW7 3EY, United Kingdom
Opening Hours: | Sun to Thurs: 11am – 11pm | Fri & Sat: 11am – 12am|

Walking around Chinatown in London, I found no lack of delicious food. However, it was definitely Bubblewrap that gave me the most Instagram-worthy pictures!

Bubblewrap

Bubblewrap is a popular dessert shop in London known for its pretty and delicious egg waffles.

Egg waffles first appeared on the streets of Hong Kong in the 1950s, when street vendors invented a way to save broken eggs that couldn’t be sold to customers.

The savvy vendors blended the eggs with milk and flour, and created innovative round iron machines to turn this batter into tasty waffles.

Bubblewrap’s egg waffles are topped with modern and fun ingredients, transforming this classic Hong Kong snack into the ultimate sweet treat dessert!

The owners, Tony and Sunny, have come a long way. They started their egg waffles business as a project back in Imperial College Business School, before selling the snacks at a pop-up stall on Berwick Street every Saturday.

After some years, they finally opened a permanent shop along Wardour Street, Soho to resounding success in March 2017.

I visited the shop at 4.30pm on a weekday and there was a short queue of about 8 people. However, I’ve read that it gets really busy during peak hours.

The small shop is rather narrow so it felt a little squeezy while I was queueing inside.

How To Order

Entering the shop, I was initially a little lost over how to order the waffles. Luckily, the staff were very friendly and patiently explained to me the process.

First, I had to choose the waffle base – original, raisin or vegan.

After that, I had to choose my gelato, which includes flavours like Vanilla, Strawberry Cheesecake, Nutella, Dark Chocolate, etc.

Finally, everything is covered with toppings and my choice of sauce – nutella, salted caramel, white chocolate, or cream.

If you are lazy to customise, there are also combos available. Popular options include the Deluxe Lover, Oreo Up and Banana Combo.

Each waffles costs around £7, depending on the ingredients you choose.

Deluxe Lover

As it was my first time here, I decided to just order one of the combos, the Deluxe Lover (£6.99). It consists of the original waffle base, vanilla gelato, strawberries, and nutella sauce.

After taking many photos for the ‘gram, I quickly indulged in this decadent snack. It tasted every bit as good as it looked!

The warm waffle was crisp to the bite but fluffy on the inside, combining perfectly with the ice cream and nutella to produce a harmonious blend of sweet flavours. Everything turned into a delightful pleasant mush in my mouth as I chewed.

I’m glad I chose this combo, because I really liked how the strawberries provided a refreshing balance with its tangy fruitiness.

My only qualm was that the toppings were only located at the upper part of the dessert – it would have been nice if they were spread more evenly into the wrap.

Conclusion

I’m happy to have checked out Bubblewrap in London. Not only was the decadent egg waffles super Instagram-worthy, it was really delicious too. If you have a sweet tooth you will love this snack. Incidentally, this was not the first time I had tried such a snack – Oddies Foodies in Hong Kong offers a similar version too.

Bubblewrap
What To Order: Deluxe Lover (£6.99)
Address: 24 Wardour St, London W1D 6QJ, United Kingdom
Directions: Four-minute walk from Leicester Square Station
Opening Hours: | Mon to Sat: 12pm – 10.30pm | Sun: 12pm – 10pm |

During our holiday in London, the wife was really excited to visit Saint Aymes, which is famous for being one of the prettiest cafes in the city. As we entered the cafe, it felt like we had been transported to a whimsical secret garden.

Saint Aymes

Saint Aymes is a beautiful flower-themed cafe in London that serves afternoon tea and other sweet treats. It is located along Connaught Street, a few minutes’ walk from Hyde Park.

Interestingly, the cafe’s history can be traced back to a Virgin start up competition that the owners, sisters Michela and Lois Wilson, won. The impressive siblings beat hundreds of other contestants to win the prize of a start up loan.

The sisters’ winning entry was their signature artisan chocolates hand painted with 23 carat gold, which are now stocked in upscale department stores like Selfridges, Fenwick and Harvey Nichols.

Riding on their success, the sisters went on to open Saint Aymes cafe in 2017. Other than serving as a physical shop to sell their chocolates, the cafe also offers afternoon tea and sweet treats. Some of the beautiful furniture pieces on display are for sale too.

There is another Saint Aymes branch at Oxford Street, where the menu includes savouries and brunch items, but we did not visit that outlet.

Gorgeous Interiors

Saint Aymes is an Instagrammer’s dream with its eclectic mix of Parisian-style furniture, heaps of flowers, pastel furnishings, and vintage art pictures lining the walls.

Large windows allow for plenty of natural daylight to flood the cafe, accentuating the pastel colour theme.

This flamboyant floral haven is very popular with Londoners, who flock here to enjoy the delicious food and take pretty pictures.

Seeing how excited the wife was, I had no choice but to go into Instagram-husband mode and take many pictures of her in this gorgeous cafe.

Menu (click to enlarge)

The menu offers a bunch of “24ct gold” treats, including lattes, cappucinos, milkshakes, and even sundae.

Their signature item is the Unicorn Latte (£8.45), an Instagrammable “baby blue flavoured” latte topped with cream and 24ct gold sprinkles.

There are also a few Afternoon Tea sets, with the most expensive being the Royal Afternoon Tea (£35). This exquisite set consists of ​3 tiers of patisserie desserts, assorted savoury sandwiches, macarons, and scones served with a Saint Aymes 24ct gold signature drink.

Food wise, the cafe serves a variety of tasty pancakes, granolas, pastries, cakes and macarons.

For the full menu, check out the official Saint Aymes website.

Our Orders

We are not fans of eating gold sprinkles, and we were quite full from our previous meal, so we decided to just order one cupcake and one pot of tea to share.

The cupcake was surprisingly fluffy and delicious. The fragrance of the luscious cream was punctuated by the crunch of the small chocolate chunks.

Conclusion

The wife and I enjoyed our experience at Saint Aymes. Other than being the most Instagrammable cafe in London, it also offers an idyllic ambience for chilling out. Service was decent, though I felt the staff could have been more friendly. The prices are rather expensive as well. That said, this cafe is definitely worth a visit to take some pretty pictures and enjoy sweet treats.

Saint Aymes (Connaught Street)
Address: 59 Connaught St, St George’s Fields, London W2 2BB, United Kingdom
Directions: Six-minute walk from Marble Arch Underground Station
Opening Hours: | Mon & Tues: CLOSED | Wed to Fri: 12pm – 5pm | Sat: 12pm – 6.30pm | Sun: 12pm – 5pm |

Ask any local in London what their favourite brunch spot is, and they will probably tell you it’s The Breakfast Club. After trying the food for myself, I can now understand the hype around this cafe.

The Breakfast Club

The Breakfast Club is a famous cafe in London known for its delicious and affordable brunch items. It is extremely popular and I had to queue for about 30 minutes when I reached at 8.30am on a Sunday morning.

The cafe opened its first branch on D’Arblay Street (Soho) way back in 2005. Originally, the cafe did not even serve breakfast (yes despite its name), until they realised that people love eating brunch.

Fast forward to today, and The Breakfast Club has expanded to a dozen outlets across London. Several branches are conveniently located in popular areas like Soho, Oxford and London Bridge.

Over the years, The Breakfast Club has won numerous business accolades such as “Growth Company of The Year”, “Casual Dining Community Award”, etc.

Despite their success, they have not forgotten to give back to society. The cafe regularly engages in charity and community work, and even founded a non-profit social action organization to help other businesses do good in their communities too.

Incidentally, other than cafes, The Breakfast Club also runs four cocktail bars, cheekily known as “Dirty Little Secret cocktail bars”.

Cozy and Casual Space

I visited the very original branch at D’Arblay Street in Soho, which stands out prominently with its “egg yolk yellow” facade.

The space is cozy and casual, with all the walls painted in bright yellow too. Customers dine at rustic wooden tables under hanging tungsten light bulbs.

One of the walls is completely covered with paper crafts, thank you notes, Polaroid photos, and other quirky 1980s pop culture memorabilia.

Some may prefer a fancier setting, but I actually liked the convivial and non-pretentious vibe here.

Service was good too. Even though the staff were very busy, they were still polite and patient. Our food arrived fast as well.

What’s On The Menu

The menu offers a tantalising variety of classic brunch items, including bacon, sausages, pancakes, eggs benedicts, sandwiches, etc.

The Full Monty (£11.50) is a recommended choice for first-timers. This sumptuous dish consists of bacon, sausage, black pudding, fried potatoes, creamy mushrooms, beans, tomato, eggs and toast.

Other popular items include The All American Pancake (£12.50), Fried Chicken & Waffles (£12), Eggs Benedict (£10), and Bacon, Egg, Cheese & Hash Brown Sandwich (£6.50).

Vegan options are available too.

The D’Arblay Street cafe only serves brunch dishes, but there are several other outlets that serve lunch and dinner items too. These include the London Bridge, Oxford, and Berwick Street (Soho) branches.

For more details, you can visit their website to see the respective menus for all the individual branches.

Cabbies Breakfast

After looking through the menu, I decided to order the Cabbies Breakfast (£7.50), a simple dish that consists of bacon, sausage, eggs, chips, beans, tomato & fried bread.

When the dish arrived, I was surprised by how big the portion was. This was definitely going to be a very hearty meal!

The smooth and creamy scrambled eggs was a delight to eat, and the savoury bacon slices were cooked to perfection.

Together with the fragrant baked beans, crispy fries, and succulent sausage, this was one super satisfying dish!

Pancakes & Bacon

The wife went with Pancakes & Bacon (£10), and added a sunny-side up egg for £1. This dish boasts four layers of pancakes drenched in maple syrup, and topped with crispy bacon slices and icing sugar.

The warm and fluffy pancakes tasted great with the luscious maple syrup, and somehow, tasted so good with the savoury bacon slices.

Other than adding colour, the fried egg was a pleasant complement to the bacon and pancakes.

It was a satisfying experience to enjoy the pancakes one mouthful at a time, though it got slightly overwhelming towards the end because the portion was a little too big for us.

Conclusion

The Breakfast Club is a wonderful place in London to enjoy a satisfying brunch meal. The food was delicious and affordable, and service was good too. However, note that the cafe is a small no-frills space, so if you are looking for a fancy spot to chill out this will not be the ideal place.

The Breakfast Club (Soho – On D’Arblay St)
Address: 33 D’Arblay St, Soho, London W1F 8EU, United Kingdom
Directions: Six-minute walk from Tottenham Court Road Station
Opening Hours: | Sun to Thurs: 7.30am – 5pm | Fri & Sat: 7.30am – 6pm |
Phone Number: +44 20 7434 2571
Other branches: https://thebreakfastclubcafes.com/locations

There are plenty of burger joints in London, but Honest Burgers is one of the most popular and successful. I visited the Covent Garden branch late one night after catching a Broadway musical nearby, and had a very satisfying supper here!

Honest Burgers

Honest Burgers is a famous burger restaurant chain in London. It is known for its delicious beef burgers and tasty rosemary chips.

The co-founders, Philip Eeles and Tom Barton, opened the first Honest Burgers outlet in Brixton in 2011. Since then, the restaurant has expanded rapidly across UK, and there are now outlets in cities like London, Cambridge, Liverpool, Reading, Manchester, and more.

The restaurant has stayed true to its British roots; every branch serves local beers from neighbouring breweries, and many of the restaurants have created unique burgers in collaboration with local food vendors.

In order to ensure the quality of its beef patties, the restaurant even operates its own butchery, Honest Butchers.

Covent Garden Branch

I visited the conveniently located Covent Garden branch late one night after catching the Lion King musical at the nearby Lyceum Theatre (just a few minutes’ walk away).

I was impressed to see that there was still a number of customers inside the small no-frills restaurant even though it was already after 10pm.

Based on online reviews I read, this outlet can get really busy during peak hours, but there are extra seats upstairs.

Menu (Click to enlarge)

The menu consists mostly of beef burgers, but there is also a chicken burger, vegetarian burger, and even a plant-based “meat” substitute burger. All burgers are served with homemade rosemary salted chips.

The signature item is the Honest burger (£12), a classic burger that consists of beef, red onion relish, smoked bacon, cheddar, lettuce and pickles.

Interestingly, every Honest Burgers branch has a special burger unique to that branch. For the Covent Garden branch, it is the Covent Garden burger (£13), a beef and bacon burger with Lincolnshire Poacher cheese, Waldorf slaw, lettuce and chutney. This burger was created in collaboration with Paxton and Whitfield, one of the oldest cheesemongers in London.

There are also tasty side orders like buffalo wings, onion rings, and salads. Drinks wise, there is a small selection of soft drinks, cocktails, local beers, and wines.

You can check out the Honest Burgers website for the most updated menu.

Chicken Burger

I decided to order the Chicken Burger (£11), a burger with free range chicken breast, lettuce, tomato and mustard mayonnaise. Like all the other burgers, it is served with homemade rosemary salted chips.

The chicken breast was cooked perfectly! It was rich in flavour, with a lovely moist and tender texture.  The big draw for me was the mustard mayonnaise sauce, which added a tang and an extra dimension to the burger.

The tasty chips were the highlight, not greasy and reasonably crisp, with the unmistakable herbal aroma of rosemary. And it was a really generous portion too!

It’s no wonder that Honest Burgers states on their website that the chips are “not an extra; they’re an essential”.

Chicken Wings and Onion Rings

For sides, I had Chicken Wings (£5) and Onion Rings (£4). Both were really savoury and delicious. The large onion rings were especially satisfying!

Conclusion

It is not hard to see why Honest Burgers has managed to gain a steady stream of loyal supporters in London over the years. My burger tasted amazing, and was complemented nicely by the delicious rosemary salted chips. The restaurant opens till late, so it’s a great place to visit if you’re feeling hungry at night. Note that it is really popular so try to go on weekdays or during off peak hours on weekends to avoid the queue. I went to the Covent Garden branch at 10.15pm on a Friday and there was still a number of customers in the restaurant.

Honest Burgers (Covent Garden)
Address: 33 Southampton St, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7HE, United Kingdom
Directions: Three-minute walk from Covent Garden station
Opening Hours: | Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 11pm | Sun: 11.30am – 10pm |
Phone Number: +44 20 3019 0959
Other branches: www.honestburgers.co.uk/locations

Burger & Lobster is a successful restaurant chain with branches all over the world, and chances are you’ve probably tried it already at an outlet in your city. I’ve tried it in Malaysia and New York before, and it recently launched in Singapore as well. However, I thought it would be cool to check out the very first Burger & Lobster branch during my holiday in London.

Burger & Lobster

Burger & Lobster (B&L) is a famous casual dining restaurant that serves three main items: Burgers, Lobsters, and Lobster Rolls.

The owners, four former schoolmates, had a simple idea: to open a restaurant in London that served delicious burgers and lobsters. And so they opened the first B&L branch on Clarges Street, Mayfair in 2011!

Since then, it has expanded to 9 branches across London. There are also overseas branches in countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Dubai, Thailand, Kuwait, and more.

The First B&L Branch (Mayfair, London)

As mentioned, I visited the original branch in Mayfair, which is designed like a stylish casual diner. I liked the vibe of this spacious restaurant. Its convivial atmosphere made it a nice place to hang out over a good meal with family and friends.

We visited at 7.15pm on a weekday and the restaurant was really busy. Therefore, it was quite hard to get the attention of the staff sometimes, and they were not really very friendly. Personally, I feel that the service at the New York branch was significantly better.

Menu (click to enlarge)

The three main items on the menu are Lobsters, Burgers, and the Lobster Roll.

The Lobsters are wild Canadian lobsters delivered fresh daily, and are served grilled or steamed with a choice of butter or B&L’s lemon and garlic butter. They come in three sizes: 1.25lb (£24), 1.75lb (£32), and 2lb (£37).

The Original Lobster Roll (£20) comes with chilled lobster meat sandwiched in toasted brioche, and is served with Japanese Mayo and lemon.

If you can’t make up your mind between getting a lobster or burger, go for the B&L Combo (£33), which consists of a 1.25lb lobster and 5oz burger.

Some of the tasty side dishes include Grilled King Prawns (10.50), Lobster Claw (8), Lobster & Oyster Platter (14.5), Truffle Chips (6), etc. The drinks menu offer a variety of beers, wines, cocktails, liquors, and soft drinks.

You can visit the Burger and Lobster website to see the most updated menu.

Original Lobster Roll

I ordered the Original Lobster Roll (£20) – an easy decision for me. This tantalising roll consisted of juicy lobster meat tossed in Japanese mayo with chives, wrapped in a toasted bun. It came with salad and chips too.

The sweet lobster meat and luscious mayo tasted amazing, going perfectly with the warm buttered brioche bun. Quite an amazing combination of flavours there, you can imagine.

The salad and chips were delicious too, complementing the roll nicely.

1.25lb Lobster

The wife indulged in the 1.25lb Lobster (£24), which came with salad and chips as well. This was another satisfying dish!

The white lobster meat was moist, sweet and tender, with a refreshing taste that felt so good in my mouth. And of course, it would be a sin not to eat it with B&L’s signature lemon and garlic butter sauce, which brought the lobster to another level with its irresistible tangy-savoury flavour.

Conclusion

I had a great meal at Burger & Lobster in Mayfair, London. Both the lobster and lobster roll were excellent. In addition, it was pretty cool to visit the very first B&L outlet; it felt a little like I was revisiting the history of this world famous restaurant chain. If you do not mind nonchalant service and just want to enjoy delicious food, this branch will not disappoint you. I recommend making reservations because the restaurant gets really busy during peak hours.

Burger & Lobster (Mayfair)
What to order: Original Lobster Roll (£20), 1.25lb Lobster (£24), B&L Combo (£33)
Address: 29 Clarges St, Mayfair, London W1J 7EF, United Kingdom
Directions: 3-minute walk from Green Park Station
Opening Hours: | Mon to Sat: 12pm – 10.30pm | Sun: 12pm – 10pm |
Phone Number: +44 20 3205 8960
Other branches: www.burgerandlobster.com/locations

Other than its many iconic attractions, London is also home to plenty of awesome eateries. During my holiday here, I had a wonderful time indulging in all the delicious food! To share the love, I have created a list of my 12 favourite places to eat in London, categorised according to their respective neighbourhoods: Covent Garden, Soho, Mayfair, Marylebone, Notting Hill, City of London, Southwark.

– Covent Garden –

1. Honest Burger

Honest Burgers is a famous burger restaurant chain in London. It is known for its delicious beef burgers and tasty rosemary chips. I visited the conveniently located Covent Garden branch one night after catching the Lion King musical.

I ordered the Chicken Burger (£11), a burger with free range chicken breast, lettuce, tomato and mustard mayonnaise. Like all the other burgers, it is served with homemade rosemary salted chips.

The chicken breast was cooked perfectly! It was rich in flavour, with a lovely moist and tender texture.  The big draw for me was the mustard mayonnaise sauce, which added a tang and an extra dimension to the burger.

The tasty rosemary chips were the highlight, not greasy and reasonably crisp, with the unmistakable herbal aroma of rosemary. And it was a really generous portion too!

Address: 33 Southampton St, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7HE, United Kingdom
Directions: Three-minute walk from Covent Garden station
Opening Hours: | Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 11pm | Sun: 11.30am – 10pm |
Phone Number: +44 20 3019 0959
Other branches: www.honestburgers.co.uk/locations

– Soho –

2. The Breakfast Club

The Breakfast Club is a famous cafe known for its delicious and affordable brunch items. It is extremely popular and I had to queue for about 30 minutes when I reached at 8.30am on a Sunday morning.

After looking through the menu, I decided to order the Cabbies Breakfast (£7.50), a simple dish that consists of bacon, sausage, eggs, chips, beans, tomato & fried bread. The smooth and creamy scrambled eggs was a delight to eat, and the savoury bacon slices were cooked to perfection. Together with the fragrant baked beans, crispy fries, and succulent sausage, this was one super satisfying dish!

Address: 33 D’Arblay St, Soho, London W1F 8EU, United Kingdom
Directions: Six-minute walk from Tottenham Court Road Station
Opening Hours: | Sun to Thurs: 7.30am – 5pm | Fri & Sat: 7.30am – 6pm |
Phone Number: +44 20 7434 2571
Other branches: https://thebreakfastclubcafes.com/locations

3. Poppies

Poppies is an iconic fish and chips restaurant with a history that can be traced back to almost 70 years ago.

The wife and I shared one Regular Cod Fish and Chips (£13.95). The cod fish was served hot, and I loved how tender and juicy it was. The deep fried batter was spot on, with a crispy and savoury taste. And of course, I highly recommend eating the fish with the tartar sauce, which adds tang and an extra dimension to the dish.

As for the chips, I felt they could have been a little more crispy, but the delicious fish overshadowed this minor imperfection.

Address: 55-59 Old Compton St, Soho, London W1D 6HW, United Kingdom
Directions: Six-minute walk from Leicester Square Station
Opening Hours: | Mon to Thurs: 11am – 11pm | Fri & Sat: 11am – 11.30pm | Sun: 11am – 10.30pm |
Phone Number: +44 20 7734 4845

4. Kanada-Ya

Kanada-Ya is a famous ramen shop known for its delicious tonkotsu ramens. It is extremely popular with both locals and tourists.

I had the signature Tonkotsu X (£10.90), which consists of pork and chicken bone broth, chashu pork belly, seaweed, spring onion, wood ear fungus and yuzu-shoyu. For my noodle hardness I went with Hard.

The highlight for me was definitely the luscious ramen broth! It was creamy and fragrant with a rich savoury flavour. The spring onions and fungus provided a refreshing balance. The noodles were smooth and eggy with just the right amount of bite. I also enjoyed the chashu slices which were tender and juicy.

Address: 3 Panton St, London SW1Y 4DL, United Kingdom
Directions: two-minute walk from Piccadilly Circus Station
Opening Hours: | Mon to Sat: 12pm – 10.30pm | Sun: 12pm – 9.30pm |
Phone Number: +44 20 7930 3511

5. Bubblewrap

Bubblewrap is a popular dessert shop known for its pretty and delicious egg waffles. I ordered the Deluxe Lover (£6.99), which consists of the original waffle base, vanilla gelato, strawberries, and nutella sauce.

The warm waffle was crisp to the bite but fluffy on the inside, combining perfectly with the ice cream and nutella to produce a harmonious blend of sweet flavours. Everything turned into a delightful sweet mush in my mouth as I chewed. I also really liked how the strawberries provided a refreshing balance with its tangy fruitiness.

My only qualm was that the toppings were only located at the upper part of the dessert – it would have been nice if they were spread more evenly into the wrap.

Address: 24 Wardour St, London W1D 6QJ, United Kingdom
Directions: Four-minute walk from Leicester Square Station
Opening Hours: | Mon to Sat: 12pm – 10.30pm | Sun: 12pm – 10pm |

6. Biju

Biju Bubble Tea Room is a popular bubble tea shop known for its high quality boba drinks. The bubble teas are made with fresh organic milk instead of powdered creamer, and the tea is brewed only after a customer orders, which helps to ensure freshness.

I ordered a regular Earl Grey Milk Tea (£3.95) and added tapioca pearls (50p). The milk tea had a delightfully smooth and creamy texture, along with a pleasant subtle sweetness. The pearls were sweet and chewy, complementing the drink perfectly. I also liked how the fragrant Early Grey flavour stood up well to the sweet creamy milk.

Address: 45 Old Compton St, Soho, London W1D 6HQ, United Kingdom
Directions: Six-minute walk from Leicester Square Station
Opening Hours: | Sun to Thurs: 12pm – 11.30pm | Fri & Sat: 12pm – 12.30am |
Phone Number: +44 20 7287 4040

7. Cafe de Nata

Cafe de Nata is a small shop that sells delicious “Pastel de Nata”, or Portuguese Custard Tarts. The tarts come in a variety of flavours like Classic, Strawberry, Blueberry, Chocolate, Apple & Cinnamon, etc.

Each tart sells at a reasonable price of  £1.95, and is cheaper if you buy more. The wife and I shared a box of three for £5, going with the Raspberry, Chocolate, and Classic flavours.

The pastries were excellent! The flaky buttery crust had a pleasant savoury taste, and was complemented perfectly by the creamy egg custard. The wife and I both liked the Raspberry flavour most, but the two other flavours were delicious too. I am very happy to have chanced upon this shop!

Address: 25 Old Compton St, Soho, London W1D 5JN, United Kingdom
Directions: Five-minute walk from Leicester Square Station
Opening Hours: | Mon to Thurs: 8am – 11pm | Fri : 8am – 12am | Sat: 9am – 12am | Sun: 10am – 10pm |
Phone Number: +44 20 7734 1279

– Mayfair –

8. Burger & Lobster

Burger & Lobster is a famous casual dining restaurant that serves three main items: Burgers, Lobsters, and Lobster Rolls. I visited the original branch in Mayfair, which is designed like a stylish casual diner.

I ordered the Original Lobster Roll (£20), which consisted of juicy lobster meat tossed in Japanese mayo with chives, wrapped in a toasted bun. The sweet lobster meat and luscious mayo tasted amazing, going perfectly with the warm buttered brioche bun.

The wife indulged in the 1.25lb Lobster (£24), which was another satisfying dish! The white lobster meat was moist, sweet and tender, with a refreshing taste that felt so good in my mouth. And of course, it would be a sin not to eat it with B&L’s signature lemon and garlic butter sauce, which brought the lobster to another level with its irresistible tangy-savoury flavour.

Address: 29 Clarges St, Mayfair, London W1J 7EF, United Kingdom
Directions: 3-minute walk from Green Park Station
Opening Hours: | Mon to Sat: 12pm – 10.30pm | Sun: 12pm – 10pm |
Phone Number: +44 20 3205 8960
Other branches: www.burgerandlobster.com/locations

– Marylebone –

9. Patty & Bun

Patty & Bun is a burger restaurant chain known for its delicious gourmet burgers. I visited the James Street branch in Marylebone, which is a cozy no-frills space with just two rows of tables lining the walls.

I had the ‘Hot Chic’ Chicken Burger (£9.25), which consists of marinated buttermilk fried chicken, coleslaw, pickled cucumbers, lettuce and smoked garlic aioli sandwiched between two brioche buns.

There’s nothing quite like biting into juicy fried chicken sandwiched between fresh buns – bread buns, that is. The smoked garlic aioli sauce was the highlight with its savoury-tangy taste. The pickled cucumbers added a burst of flavour too. Together with the other fresh vegetables, the rich combination of flavours was simply fantastic.

Address: 54 James St, Marylebone, London W1U 1HE, United Kingdom
Directions: Three-minute walk from Bond Street Station
Opening Hours: | Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 10.30pm | Sun: 11.30am – 10pm |
Phone: +44 20 7487 3188
Other branches: www.pattyandbun.co.uk/locations-and-menus

– Notting Hill –

10. Eggbreak

Eggbreak is a cozy cafe that serves delicious all-day brunch, with a focus on egg dishes (as you can probably guess from the name). It is located along the pretty, pastel-coloured Uxbridge Road, which sits in the quaint neighbourhood of Notting Hill.

I had the Crab Cake with Poached Eggs (£12), which comes with sriracha hollandaise and spinach. The crab cake was crispy and savoury, and the poached eggs were perfectly done. The sriracha hollandaise provided a burst of flavour which was very welcome.

The wife ordered the Pancake Stack (£9.50), which consists of three pancakes topped with bacon crumble, strawberries, blueberries and maple caramel sauce. I loved how the sweet-savoury fragrance of the fluffy pancake, bacon and maple caramel sauce spread throughout my mouth the instant I took a bite. The berries added a refreshing note with their burst of sharp-fruitiness.

Address: 30 Uxbridge St, Kensington, London W8 7TA, United Kingdom
Directions: two-minute walk from Notting Hill Gate Station
Opening Hours: Daily 8am to 6pm
Phone Number: +44 20 3535 8300

– City of London –

11. Duck & Waffle

Duck & Waffle is the highest restaurant in London. Located on the 40th floor of 110 Bishopsgate (formerly Heron Tower), it is the place to go for 24/7 casual dining in the sky. The menu offers traditional British cuisine, with varied European influences.

I ordered the restaurant’s most famous dish: Duck & Waffle (£18). This signature dish consists of a fluffy waffle topped with a hunk of crispy duck leg confit and fried duck egg. It is served with a small pitcher of mustard maple syrup.

The duck skin was crisp and crunchy to the bite, giving way to the tender duck meat which was really smooth and juicy. The waffle, mustard maple syrup, and duck actually tasted really good together, with the combination turning into a pleasant mush in my mouth as I chewed.

Address: 110 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4AY, UK
Directions: Three-minute walk from Liverpool Street Tube Station
Opening Hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week
Phone Number: +44 203 640 7310

– Southwark –

12. Borough Market

Borough Market is a famous local market in Southwark home to a tantalising variety of delicious specialty foods. There are also many stalls selling local produce, poultry, meat, seafood, and cheese.

My favourite stall is Turnips, which sells freshly cooked risotto. I ordered the Wild Mushroom Spelt Risotto (£7). The pearled spelt had a firm and slightly crunchy texture. It was quite tasty with a light musky flavour. The parmesan cheese and savoury mushrooms served as nice complements.

Another popular stall is Le Marché du Quartier, known for its delicious duck confit sandwich. Based on reviews, the duck confit is really tender, savoury and juicy. It costs £5 each.

For excellent coffees, head over to the famous Monmouth Coffee Company. When I reached the cafe there was a long queue of over 20 people, so I decided to skip it. However, I later found out that there is a actually separate queue for takeaways, which usually moves faster. I wished I had known this earlier!

The Science Museum is a popular museum in London home to a vast collection of historical science artifacts. It is one of the city’s major tourist attractions, and admission is free. I went on a quick tour of this museum, though I would say it is more suited for children and young teenagers. There are many fun and interesting exhibits, accompanied by information boards that are easy to understand. The museum is not too big, therefore it is quite easy to navigate. Before going down, you might want to download the floor plan of the museum. Below are my eight favourite exhibits in the museum, which should be of interest for both adults and children.

1. Apollo 11 Lunar Module ‘Eagle’

The Apollo 11 Lunar Module ‘Eagle’ was the first crewed vehicle to land on the Moon in 1969. It carried two astronauts, Commander Neil A. Armstrong and pilot Edwin E. “Buzz” Aldrin, Jr.

The display in the Science Museum is actually a replica, but it still looked pretty cool. There is also a fake astronaut fully clad in spacesuit beside the Lunar Module.

Location: Exploring Space (Level 0)

2. Valve from Colossus Project (1940-1945)

Colossus was the world’s first programmable computer. It was designed by Tommy Flowers (1905-1998) based on the work of mathematician Alan Turing (1912-1954), and was instrumental in code breaking during World War II.

The computer was destroyed at the end of the war to protect government secrets. Fortunately, a few pieces of the machine survived and were passed to Professor Brian Randell at Newcastle University, who was a key figure in the campaign to get information about Colossus declassified early.

Location: Information Age (Level 2)

3. Alan Turing’s Pilot ACE Computer

The Pilot ACE (Automatic Computing Engine) is one of Britain’s earliest stored program computers and the oldest complete general purpose electronic computer in Britain. It was designed by Alan Turing (1912-1954) at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) between 1945 and 1947.

The computer was estimated to have cost £50,000 to design and build, but had earned over £240,000 by 1954 from advanced scientific and engineering work in various fields including crystallography, aeronautics and computing bomb trajectories.

Location: Information Age (Level 2)

4. One Million Volt Particle Accelerator

The One Million Volt Particle Accelerator, built in 1937, was a machine used to split the atom. It did so by accelerating protons using high voltages, and then smashing the protons into atomic nuclei.

This radical method was invented by John Cockcroft and Ernest Walton, at the Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge. Their brilliant work earned them a Nobel Prize and provided the first experimental proof of Einstein’s famous equation, E=mc2!

Location: Making the Modern World (Level 0)

5. Apple I Computer

The Apple Computer 1 was the first computer made by the Apple Computer Company (now Apple Inc.) in 1976. It was designed and hand-built by Steve Wozniak, while Steve Jobs came up with the idea of selling it. Being an Apple fan, it was a surreal experience to see this original Apple computer with my own eyes.

Location: Making the Modern World (Level 0)

6. Puffing Billy Locomotive

Puffing Billy is the oldest surviving steam locomotive in the world. It was built in 1814 by William Hedley, Jonathan Forster, and Timothy Hackworth, to haul coal trains (at little more than walking pace). It was meant to replace the horses used on the tramway, and remained in service until 1862.

Location: Making the Modern World (Level 0)

7. Analytical Engine

The Analytical Engine was the first fully-automatic calculating machine, conceptualised by British polymath Charles Babbage (1791-1871). It was designed to evaluate any mathematical formula, and remains one of the finest examples of precision engineering of the time.

The portion shown consists of about 2000 parts and represents one-seventh of the complete machine. Unfortunately, the engine was never fully completed, and only part of the machine as a trial piece was completed just before Babbage’s death in 1871.

Location: Mathematics The Winton Gallery (Level 2)

8. Lockheed 10A Electra

That’s the Model 10A hanging from the ceiling behind me

The Lockheed Model 10 Electra was an American twin-engined airliner developed by Lockheed in the 1930s to compete with the Boeing 247 and Douglas DC-2. The model on display in the Science Museum is the Lockheed 10A Electra.

The Electra gained considerable fame after Amelia Earhart flew the highly modified Model 10E on her ill-fated world flight in 1937.

Location: Making the Modern World (Level 0)

Science Museum
Directions: 5-minute walk from South Kensington Station
Address: Exhibition Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 2DD, United Kingdom
Opening Hours: Daily 10am to 6pm (last entry 5.15pm)