I am back! I needed some time to recover from the week-end adventures and all the emotions (& bubbles) we had.

Weather in London was pretty better than Luxembourg – sunnies on, what a change! – but quite windy.

We stayed at Queen’s Gate Hotel, 10 minutes walking from South Kensington tube and in front of bus number 70 – if you are the lazy one like we are. The hotel was lovely and our room, compared to London standards, was huge. I couldn’t say the same about the wardrobe and the bathroom, but at the end we were definitely happy about the choice and I would likely come back here for next trips. Breakfast was also relatively nice.

On Friday lunch time, we visited this fabulous cheese shop close to our hotel, La Cave a Fromage, where we could still feel a bit in Luxembourg – all waiters were French speakers. I took a salad with Pata Negra ham & manchego cheese, my sister one with Roquefort and apples and Anna a delicious platter of cheese and charcuterie. A glass of wine each and some yummy home-made bread. We spent 20 pounds each and we were definitely satisfied. In the shop you can have lunch, a glass of wine, a sandwich, or even just buy some cheese or charcuterie to take away. If you love cheese, you cannot miss it – just next South Kensington tube entrance.

During the day we had a stroll in Chelsea, visited Saatchi Gallery and some shops in Sloane Street area.

On Friday night we had a date with a friend living in London. We had a quick drink at Mandarin Oriental Hotel, that is my favorite pre-dinner spot, and then we headed to Kurobuta @ Marble Arch. The restaurant concept is about Japanese tapas: the food was amazing. I had some sashimi pizza with truffles oil, spicy tuna maki and salmon mayo rolls. Also other dishes at the table were looking great. We had some drinks to start – the spicy sake melon I had for sure one of the best I tried in my life – and a fairly reasonable Italian wine to dine. Unfortunately, if on one side the food experience was heavenly, the ambience was not in line: service was a bit messy – definitely not worth for a date, as you are receiving all food and beverage at different timings and spending the night served by six or seven different waiters – and above all the music – wow, the music was way too loud. I had to scream to speak with the person in front of me and I was not even able to listen to others. We cut the dinner at coffee time, instead of having some sake or after dinner drinks, because we were all about to get a headache.. So recommended if you are in your 20s and want to get drunk in a rock concert environment, not suggested if you want a dinner date with friends and you actually care about what the others are saying – a pity, anyway, as the food was some of the best Japanese food I have ever had.

Saturday was our busiest day – bridal fittings, Harrods and some afternoon Champagne. In the evening, we had our booking at Bob Bob Ricard as we definitely had to celebrate our Vera Wang gowns!

The restaurant is in the heart of Soho and it is extremely luxury, sophisticated, a bit posh. We were accompanied to the downstairs bar – as our table was not yet ready – and we started drinking some Champagne Rose. We were proposed then a table in the bar area – but after the previous day experience, this was the last thing we wanted to have, above all as I booked the table three months in advance specifying it was for a special occasion. So after a while (fighting – lol), we were offered a private room table and from there on everything was perfect. We had some oysters to share, single starters – I had a sea bass ceviche, perfect – and a huge main portion – Lobster burger for me with mashed truffle potatoes. We drank a perfect temperature Chablis and everything was really really amazing. I read a lot of online review before booking at Bob Bob Ricard, and in some of them emerged that the food was pretty “common”, portions not in line with the price, service rude. We did not experienced anything of that. For sure, next time I will specify I want to have a table at the restaurant – but except for that, the service was amazing, same than the food, we were all full when we left and I felt my money were definitely well spent. Strongly recommended if you are looking for a special place for a date or for a celebration – maybe next year for wedding anniversary, why not 🙂

We took our way home on Sunday pretty tired, after a bit of see-sighting. I definitely cannot wait to be in London again – and to wear my Vera Wang gown in two months 🙂