The best foodie spots, brands and bars to add to your list

From some of the best food and drink spots in London to healthy eating products you can trust, these are the brands and experiences to watch out for this autumn

Tuesday 10 September 2024 11:38 EDT
(Getty)

Whether you’re looking for a cosy evening spot for an afterwork catch-up, a standout alcohol brand to serve up at your weekend dinner party or the perfect snack for your little one’s lunchbox, we’ve curated a list of the best brands, restaurants and emerging products for foodies and drink-lovers alike.

Transport yourself to Ibiza at an all-day and all-night hotspot

(The Skinny Kitchen)

Born on the infamous party island of Ibiza and now gracing the streets of Islington in London, The Skinny Kitchen offers a lively dining atmosphere with a touch of Mediterranean flair. From breakfast through to late-night cocktails, its all-day dining concept caters to every occasion.

On weekends, Friday Sessions feature DJ’s playing vocal house music and a relaxed vibe. Choose from a la carte or bottomless drink options for £55. Every Saturday, Fabulous Brunch delivers live entertainment, musicians, DJ’s and bottomless drinks for £65. Don’t miss the Sunday Roast & Toast — a delicious roast with bubbles, wine and DJ beats from 12-5pm for £55. And throughout the week, enjoy top-quality food and drinks, with brunch served until 5pm daily, and a fantastic midweek dinner menu from Tuesday to Thursday.

Enquire now to receive a 20% discount on your booking with code TSK20 at checkout or contact reservations@skinnykitchen.co. Offer ends 1 January 2025

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Try award-winning health-conscious frozen food products

(Strong-Roots)

Cooking for convenience shouldn’t mean you have to sacrifice nutritional value. Strong Roots is a plant-based frozen food company on a mission to fix the freezer aisle.

The brand was founded with the vision that frozen food can still be delicious. A certified B Corp, Strong Roots is a leader in providing a range of delicious plant-based options that are sustainably farmed, shipped and sold — better for people and the planet.

Try the brand’s award-winning range of tasty and healthy frozen food products — which are low in salt, saturated fat and sugar — such as Cauliflower hash Browns, Crispy Crinkle Fries, Crispy Skinny Fries, Pumpkin & Spinach Burgers and Oven-baked Sweet Potato Fries. Available from all major retailers and online.

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Enrich your next dinner party with an award-winning Australian wine

(Andrew Peace)

Originating in Australia, the family run and highly decorated wine brand Andrew Peace has finally made it to UK shelves.

With the coveted Good Housekeeping Institute stamp of approval, these wines are crafted to be bursting with Aussie attitude and flavour. Enjoy the Chardonnay, rich and refreshing with tropical fruit and citrus notes, or the smooth and full-bodied Shiraz, with black fruit flavours and a hint of cherry.

Whether you’re hoping to make the most of the end-of-summer sun with a barbecue or cooking up a storm in the kitchen for your friends, Andrew Peace’s Chardonnay or Shiraz are sure to provide the perfect accompaniment. At just £6.50 a bottle, find both wines in store or buy online at tesco now.

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Celebrate Kensington’s Asian culinary offerings

(Korean Grill Kensington)

From Korean barbecue to Southeast Asian cuisine, Kensington has it all.

For a top-tier Singaporean and Chinese experience, visit The Bugis Singapore Restaurant. At £58 per person, the Taste of Bugis menu offers an array of exquisite dishes that foodies will adore. For a more casual vibe, head to Bugis Kitchen on High Street Kensington. This spot serves delicious street food-inspired dishes like Hainanese Chicken with Bugis’ signature sauce and the popular Singapore Laksa, all made from locally sourced ingredients.

Korean Grill Kensington (KGK) offers an omakase-style immersive dining experience and premium halal meats grilled right before your eyes. At the chef’s recommendation, try the King Kalbi, a succulent marinated beef short rib.

Receive 10% off your final bill with code KGK10 at KGK or a 15% discount at Bugis Kitchen when booking online. Offer valid until 31 October 2024.

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Discover the perfect lunchbox snack for your child

(St Michel’s Choco Cakes)

One of France’s leading cake brands, St Michel’s delicious range of Choco Cakes is now making waves in the UK.

Made with French wheat and cage-free eggs, these delicious treats are free from palm oil and artificial preservatives. Each box contains six individually wrapped cakes coated or filled with smooth milk chocolate.

Perfect for kid’s lunchboxes, quick after-school snacks or a sweet on-the-go treat for the whole family. Enjoy a variety of fun-shaped, chocolate cakes including Choco Waffle, Choco Donut, Choco Muffin and even Choco Burger. Find them at Tesco and Waitrose or online at Ocado and Amazon for £2 (RRP) per box.

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Enjoy naturally sweet, single-ingredient cider

(SXOLLIE Cider)

When indulging in a well-earned alcoholic drink, it’s always reassuring to know that it’s not full of added sugar.

Made only from eating apples rather than traditional cider apples, SXOLLIE cider offers naturally delicious and crisp flavours without any added sugar, flavouring or concentrates. SXOLLIE is vegan and gluten-free, as well as proudly holding B Corp certification.

Enjoy three flavour varieties: the floral sweetness and light bubbles of Cripps Pink Apple Cider, the tropical notes of Golden Delicious Apple Cider and the crisp, refreshing kick of Granny Smith Apple Cider. Each cider has an ABV of 4.5% and is free from added water, ensuring a pure, refreshing apple experience.

Buy online to receive £10 off a 12-pack with code OFFER24 (over 18s only). Offer ends 1 January 2025.

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Get a taste of the Italian Alps in a refreshing beer

(Menabrea)

Located in the scenic foothills of the Italian Alps, the charming town of Biella is renowned for its stunning views, intriguing history and unparalleled access to high-quality ingredients.

It’s no wonder, then, that this town is home to one of Italy’s oldest and best-loved brewers, Menabrea. At 4.8% ABV, Menabrea Bionda’s pale lager perfectly balances citrus, bitter tones and floral, fruity undertones. The result is a consistently refined flavour profile, with a complex malty and hoppy taste that delights the palate.

The lager’s exceptional head retention, thanks to the high-quality ingredients and meticulous maturation process, makes it a standout choice for pairing with northern Italian cuisine. 

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Find your perfect flavour combination with alcohol-free spirits

(SENTIA Spirits)

For those looking to enjoy social outings while cutting back on alcohol — or avoiding it altogether  SENTIA Spirits produces functional alcohol alternatives for health-conscious adults.

SENTIA Spirits are crafted with the aim of enhancing our natural GABA (a neurotransmitter known to promote calm), by working with GABA-enhancing plants to foster moments of relaxation and improved sociability.

The botanical flavour of SENTIA is as challenging as any alcoholic spirit and the brand recommends playing with favourite mixers for the best experience. Try GABA Black with ginger beer for a twist on a Moscow mule or with Coca-Cola and lime for a Cuba libre-like drink.

GABA Red pairs well with lemon and simple syrup for a whiskey sour-style flavour, or tonic with a slice of lemon for a classic gin and tonic feel. Some SENTIA fans even enjoy sipping Red or Black neat over ice, or as a soothing hot toddy last thing at night.

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Experience the sophisticated charm of London after dark

(K Bar (Kensington))

If you’re after a night of cosmopolitan glitz and glamour, K Bar in Kensington sets the standard.

Led by mixology maestro, Adrian Gonzalez Parrondo, exceptional bartenders serve up a selection of drinks, from timeless classics to contemporary concoctions — and the list of whiskeys and artisan gins is seriously impressive.

Currently, the team are serving the speciality menu Reflections — a homage to the mirrored bar — with the cocktails taking you to times past, distant places or even an individual memory. Take Pluvio, a masterful drink capturing Adrian’s nostalgia for the unique aroma of the forests of his childhood in Portugal — a simple but effective marriage of Hendrick’s Flora Adora Gin and a home-brewed petrichor cordial.

With art-deco chandeliers, wood-panelled walls, a mini-library, sumptuous, buttoned leather, polished brass and deep velvet seating, this stylish gem is the place for elegant evenings with the feel of an exclusive club.

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Enjoy guilt-free, gut-friendly soft drinks

(Hip Pop Drinks)

Awarded Independent Drinks Producer of the Year in 2022 at the Manchester Food and Drink Festival, Hip Pop takes gut health seriously.

The brand is quickly becoming the go-to functional soft drink for those seeking gut-friendly beverages that don’t compromise flavour. Tasty and refreshing, these low-calorie drinks are packed with probiotics and come in a range of diverse flavours such as ginger, blueberry and yuzu.

The entire range of Living Sodas, Kombucha and CBD Kombucha is vegan-friendly, low in sugar and free from artificial sweeteners — a trifecta of tasty and health-focused products.

Now in receipt of 12 Great Taste Awards across the range, these drinks are crafted by professional brewers and tested by qualified tasters to create great-tasting soft drinks with real nutritional value. Now available across the UK.

Get a 15% discount on your first purchase when you sign up to the brand’s newsletter.

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Experience the essence of southern Italy in an expertly crafted spirit

(Altamura Distilleries)

Distilleries was founded to offer products that embody the unique essence of Altamura wheat.

The city of Altamura in Puglia, Italy, is home to pane di Altamura, the only bread in the world protected by a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) certification. Sourced from a single family that’s been farming this unique wheat for over a century, Altamura uses the same wheat used in its bread to distil its spirits.

The hard durum wheat of Altamura, which traces its history back over 2,000 years, imparts an umami taste and smooth mouthfeel, described as ‘morbida’ in Italian. Experts in the region, Altamura Distilleries has distilled the terroir of Altamura and the essence of its wheat into every sip of its unique vodka — resulting in an intense and smooth flavour that delights the senses.

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