Everyone has their addiction: cigarette, reality TV, expansive shoes, fast cars, alcohol, anything from Apple, etc. For a lot of people, it’s coffee. Not for me. I’ve personally never been a fan of the dark brew, mainly because of its effects on my body which I find rather unpleasant but also because I happen to be one of those annoying person who wakes up every morning feeling fresh and awake (most times anyway!). Hitting the gym early and sipping a lemon infusion is usually my idea of a ‘pick-me-up’.

That being said, my occasional dates with Mr. Coffee are usually limited to a nice catch up with a friend over brunch or an afternoon cure to my now too frequent jet lags. There are always exceptions though, and my recent living in London introduced me to a superior cup of Joe worth ditching my habits for: Monmouth Coffee. This legendary London institution has been roasting all of their own beans since ’78 and are now known for using fair trade beans and buying directly from farmers… on top of course of delivering what many consider the best coffee in the city.

Of the three locations, the Borough Market one is my favorite despite the always-present queue.

Don’t be scared, it’s not nearly as bad as it looks as the line moves quickly and the hustle of the Borough Market around you makes for an entertaining distraction. The barista from Monmouth comes out with paper cups and a marker pen, taking orders along the way and sure enough, your coffee is ready as you reach the cashier in a perfectly timed and orderly way…bliss! As you walk in, the air rich of roasted aroma greets you into the cozy cafe/shop where a seperate line forms for those who want to buy the fresh beans to take home.

Monmouth prefers slow-drip filter coffee over quicker machines to achieve a more nuanced, better rounded drink.

The result is a deliciously rich and strong taste, not bitter, with a leftover chocolatey sweetness that lingers in your mouth long after, just like a good vintage wine would – this is as close to perfection as coffee gets.

The olfactory and gustative feast doesn’t end at your cuppa – fresh cream chocolate truffles are waiting by the register for the ultimate treat if you dare, and I highly recommend you do!

They also serve fresh pastries and bread which you can savour at the communal table or take away as I do for a stroll in nearby Borough Market.

Theaterland just got a lot tastier…and it was about time! Russell Norman’s Soho food empire has migrated East, continuing the melodic proliferation of his successful Venetian-style tapas bars Polpo, Polpetto, and Spuntino with the opening this summer of  da Polpo in Covent Garden.

A stone throw from my office, the arrival of da Polpo is the best thing that could happen to this tourist-laden neighborhood. Behind the green facade lay a combination of the other sister restaurants in a bigger space, keeping the distinctly cool vibe with filament lamps, brown paper menus, maps of Venice, church-pew seats, zinc bar, and the delectable small plates that made their fame.

Everything we ordered rocked, starting with the rich Potato & Parmesan crocchetta.

The Pizzette Wild Mushrooms was loaded with tons of sauteed mushrooms, hints of white wine and garlic, atop a light as air thin and crispy crust.

There’s a whole section for meatballs which you can savour as a large dish with spaghettini or smashed inside a Piadina. The meatballs come in three flavours; classic beef and pork, lamb and mint or spicy pork and fennel. There’s a ‘vegball’ too, with chickpea, spinach and ricotta. We went for the Spaghettini with Classic Beef and Pork meatballs – perfectly pink in the centre and smothered in a deliciously tangy tomato sauce.

Roast pumpkin, speck & ricotta salata was a simple and elegant blend of flavors, salty and sweet like I love them!

Offering remarkably decent prices on top of the relaxed and comforting feel of the space, da Polpo is looking at a very bright future on Maiden Lane…

Terroirs is by far my favorite haunt in the West End and numerous visits at any time of day have proven that this is one of the best, genuine wine bar experiences you’ll find in London. The focus is on natural, organic and biodynamic wines and anyone who likes unusual French wines is spoilt for choice with the 25 pages list.

There’s plenty of scope for discovery here  and you are in good hands if you leave it up to the staff to recommend wines, particularly those by the glass. And on top of being an oenophile’s dream hideaway, the superior wine is offered alongside equally fantastic food from a short menu that treats customers to an excellent spread of fish, shellfish, duck, cheese and charcuterie.

We started with a Selection of Charcuterie that included Duck Rillettes, Saucisson “Noir de Bigorre” and Pork & Pistachio Terrine. Served with endless crusty sourdough baguette, this is rustic French cuisine at its best and the substantial portion makes it a great value.

The Gem Salad – an entire lettuce cut into quarters with a garlicky dressing drizzled on top.

A roasted Spatchcock’d Quail dish was served over polenta with wild mushrooms – the bird was juicy and tender though I particularly enjoyed the creamy white polenta underneath it.

From the outside, Terroirs is unremarkable, but inside awaits your quintessential French wine bar with its framed posters, casual bistro tables, and very French waitstaff…

If you’re looking for the best wine list in town look no further: lunch, apero, dinner, late night nibble…it’ll be a winner every time.

In the current wave of Hispanic places opening in London, José is by far the most authentic of all. Opened only since June, it has since won accolades from food critics and customers alike, winning a ‘Bib Gourmand’ from Michelin (for ‘good food at moderate prices‘) and packing in a crowd every night.

Chef José Pizarro‘s first solo venture since he left as executive chef from the Brindisa Tapas restaurants is a testimony to his passion for publicizing top quality Spanish food with a sense of authenticity and originality. The small venue with seating for no more than about 17 people let people stand and eat like in the tiny drinking dens that line the alleyways of Barcelona or Madrid – this is the Spanish vibe the London scene was lacking.

The menu is a mix of nibbles, regular tapas and daily specials displayed at the bar which will change daily with the head chef’s mood and market offerings.

I was pleasantly surprised to find out the small but sexy wine and sherry list that accompanies the tapas was compiled in partnership with my favorite wine teacher, Master of Wine Tim Atkin, who introduced me a while ago to some of his favorite picks. We opted for a nice and chilled bottle of cava that night, sitting by the window (yes, we were one of the lucky few!) with the pedestrian traffic on Bermondsey street as our backdrop.

We opted for the Smoked Beef instead of the usual jamón, a little fatty and so tasteful.

Fried Padrón Peppers were succulent, lightly sweet and oily.

The Squid from the blackboard was super tender.

Croquetas – they change daily, we had potato and blue cheese that night, first class!

I also took delight in the Pan con tomate, a must item for every tapas bar I visit as I’m utterly addicted. No surprise here, it didn’t disappoint – nice balance of tasty mushed tomatoes and crusty bread with exquisite olive oil…ingredients speak for themselves really in all of José’s dishes.

The casual vibe of the bar is the perfect place to pop into for a glass of sherry or wine and share a few plates of exquisite tapas in a buzzing ambiance. Nothing here really breaks the bank which is also nice, mostly all tapas fall between £3-£7. This is already and will stay a locals favorite and it’s well worth the commute in my opinion if you’re not in the area!

One thing’s for sure – I really cannot wait to see what Pizarro is planning for the launch of Pizzaro, his upcoming sit-down restaurant slated to open in a couple of weeks in the area… stay tuned!