There is an unending supply of taverns, pubs and coffee shops or tea houses for hanging-out and taking in London. My flat (apartment) is in Central London. So, it is the obvious place to begin my search for the one place to call my home away from home, just a couple of happy hurdles to jump though, there are 5 coffee shops and 6 bars on my city block alone AND there are 3 transport hubs within a 10 minute walk, giving me full access to the whole of London. My “know it all” buddy the internet is only making it worse. Now, coffee shops, little diners, “perfect” views, parks, cows, and ice-cream shops are buzzing around my head with just as many contradicting opinions about this, that and the other. Time to narrow down the search with some specific criteria:
My perfect place will not be too far, not to quiet, with a real taste of London, coffee and comfortable chairs are a must, close to artists or art venues and most importantly staff that doesn’t care about artistic vagrants.
Today, I will mention the first place I tried out that is on my narrowed down list from the narrowed down options I gathered from the all knowing internet.
1. Ciao- Italian Gelato Ice-cream - 6 ½ out of 7.
If you visit me in London I guaranty we will end up here. The ice-cream is so good that those mouth water advertisings (advertizings) that always look beyond delicious are measly shadows of the real thing. Ciao is only an 8 minute bus ride from my place, located perfectly just behind Trafalgar Square, next to several major galleries and theaters and open till 11:00, which is late for a place that has no bar. Comfy chairs in the back for eating the heavenly combo of fresh ice-cream and coffee. The only part of my criteria lost here is the Vagrant Threshold. Ciao is a popular spot, that is a plus for people watching, but it is so busy they like to keep patrons rotating in and out. If you come often enough or just have a bull for a head like me you are given the honor of passing the threshold of a patron, and are honored with all the rights and privileges of a regular. At that point they don’t care anymore and the servers come over occasionally just to chat and see what you are up to.
(My Criteria: I. Distance from me; II. Mid-volume Chatter; III. London Experience; IV. Caffeine; V. Comfort VI. Art Access; VII. Artist-Vagrant Threshold. BONUS. Wi-Fi)
Ciao sounds inviting, although it is hard to believe that the gelato could be anything like what I've had in Italy. And..you can forget about getting good gelato in the states as well. Nothing compares to the real "affectionato" that the Italians give the making of their gelato.
ReplyDeleteI love those quaint neighborhood hangouts all over Europe. You are never going to want to come back to Roanoke...also..congrats on the sale of your big landscape painting!