Spoilt for Choice in Charlotte Street, London - A Magnet for Foodies

Make no mistake, London is a sprawling metropolis. For the first time visitor, it can be a daunting prospect, not knowing where to start. So many areas and, invariably, a limited time budget to see them in.

I've visited London a number of times and stayed in a variety of different locations, some good, others not quite as rewarding! However, it was during a business trip a few years ago that I stumbled across a little gem called Charlotte Street, bang in the heart of the central London district, Fitzrovia.

Fitzrovia is close to the West End and is nestled between Marylebone and Bloomsbury, just north of Soho. Charlotte Street has a real central appeal to it and the stretch between Goodge Street and Percy Street is a haven for foodies and craft beer aficionados. 

My search for accommodation in the area tends to lead me to the Rathbone Hotel which is situated on Rathbone Street, just off Charlotte Street at the Goodge Street end. This 4-star establishment really offers excellent value for money given the central location and the often inflated London prices. Staff are extremely personable and efficient and there is a wide choice of room layouts and sizes. The Rathbone is part of a very small chain, comprising of Collingham Serviced Apartments in Kensington and a sister hotel and spa in Winchester which goes a long way to explain the quality of customer service you experience.

The Rathbone Hotel, Rathbone Street, London

There are other accommodation options and located directly on Charlotte Street itself you will find the aptly named Charlotte Street Hotel. This stunning boutique hotel is styled in large parts on a "Bloomsbury Set" theme and even features a 75 seat cinema. If the high end room prices are outwith your budget, then don't worry - you can still soak up the atmosphere in the popular Oscar bar and restaurant.

There's nothing better on a Sunday afternoon than sitting sipping on a signature "The Oscar Goes To" cocktail, people watching in this laid back bar. In the summer, the French doors open up and clientele can sit on the street side terrace and watch the world go by.

Charlotte Street Hotel part of the Firmdale Hotel collection

As I mentioned earlier, there is no shortage of restaurant options and you really don't need to travel far to be satisfied, whatever your tastes. I have tried to pick out a few that are personal favourites but a quick scan of the area will reveal a whole host of options.

There is a big Asian influence on the street and it would be a mistake to leave without visiting the excellent Dim t which offers a selection of popular dishes including Japanese, Chinese, Thai and Malaysian. This low lit, contemporary restaurant is excellent value for money with faultless service, not to mention exceptionally fresh and well prepared meals - their dim sum comes particularly recommended!

Dim t, a choice of Asian cuisine styles

Continuing the Asian theme, it is difficult to overlook Roka which is situated on the corner of Charlotte Street and Rathbone Street. This stylish restaurant specialises in Japanese robatayaki cuisine and does so to an exceptionally high standard. 

The floor to ceiling windows give a lovely bright, relaxed feel and the open plan kitchen, visible to diners, helps create a bubbly and engaging atmosphere. Diners have the option to sit privately at more conventional table settings or communally, bar style around the kitchen area.

The quality of the food in Roka really can't be understated. If Roka is a restaurant and food style that you've never experienced before, the superb tasting menu, whilst expensive, is well worth considering. If you prefer to order off the main menu, the shrimp tempura is exquisite.

Roka - Japanese robatayaki cuisine

There are, quite literally, too many restaurants on Charlotte Street to review on this one blog post, however, there are many others that are well worth trying. Elena's L'Etoile is a superb French style bistro which has been serving since the late 1800's. The Ninth is an excellent Mediterranean restaurant and towards the Percy Street end of Charlotte Street you will find the cosy and compact Josephine's Filipino Restaurant. 

If it's something spicy that you are looking for, the Mexican market eating chain Wahaca offers a quick and easy option while it is definitely worth trying the lovingly prepared food at Charlotte Streets' Indian institution, Palms of Goa. Finally, a real personal favourite of mine is the tiny, independent, restaurant-cum-takeaway, Thai Metro. Expect a wait at core meal times, but make sure you do. The food on offer is exceptionally fresh and it is exceptionally well priced given it's location - I recommend the heavily garlic enfused Weeping Tiger from their extensive menu!

However, fear not - despite the wealth of restaurants, it's not all about the food! There a couple of excellent options for beer and wine lovers. Aside from the more regular style London bars such as the Marquis of Granby and the Fitzroy Tavern, Charlotte Street has two establishments that would be a sin to miss.

The Draft House Charlotte - heaven for craft beer lovers

The Draft House Charlotte is on the corner of Charlotte Street and Goodge Street and is part of a small group of pubs on the same theme dotted around London. Despite this, it certainly does not have a "chain" feel to it and this small, intimate drinking establishment is the perfect place to sup up, sample some of the best craft beers available and tuck into some hearty, homemade bar food.

The Draft House take their beer seriously and their Charlotte Street location has some excellent offerings from breweries like Beavertown, Cloudwater, Siren, Verdant and Wild Beer, to name a few, as well as occasional meet the brewer nights. It is very easy to get lost of an afternoon and evening in The Draft House Charlotte - trust me! How long you last may well depend on the strength of your beer choices....

If beer is not particularly your thing, don't panic! Wine lovers can take a trip further down Charlotte Street to Vagabond Wines - part off licence, part wine bar. The concept centres around buying a top up card with a £5.00 refundable deposit. You then load the card with credit and set about sampling the various wines on offer, by entering your card into the wine dispensing machines, choosing either a sample size or larger glass. At the end of your visit, you can either have any unused credit refunded or put towards any purchases you would like to buy and take away with you.

Vagabond Wines, Charlotte Street

Vagabond has five locations across London and their Charlotte Street edition is a lovely relaxed, friendly offering. As well as having over 100 wines to sample, they also offer a small food menu. Focusing mainly on cheeses and charcuterie meats, as well as some smaller sharing plates, the food perfectly compliments the wines available and the staff are friendly, informative and happy to point you in the right direction. Vagabond is another place that can be very difficult to tear yourself away from!

Interior of Vagabond Wines

London is a very big place with a lot to see, however, if your time is limited and food and drink is your thing then the Fitzrovia gastronomie paradise that is Charlotte Street is definitely the place to be.