Classic cuts
Wildflowers, Richmond listings, best steaks, Gurmani, Isle of Sheppey, Clifton Nurseries, play-off final tix, MORE
RESTAURANTS • First Word
Full bouquet
The Skinny: Nestled inside a small boutique shopping arcade in smart Belgravia, Wildflowers serves the sort of flavourful, perfectly executed food one would expect in Borough Market or Soho, but in a part of London where such unpretentious spots are harder to find. Opened last fall, the debut restaurant from Aaron Potter — who previously worked at London favourites Trinity and Elystan Street — focuses on Mediterranean-inspired open-fire cooking.
The Vibe: The restaurant offers two distinct spaces over two floors inside the interior-design-focused Newson’s Yard. On the ground floor is the long, narrow restaurant where most tables have a view onto Carter’s open kitchen. Upstairs is a spacious balcony bar looking onto the smart main area of Newson’s Yard, giving an open, airy feel (without actually being outdoors). Interior stylist Laura Hart is behind the decor, which includes vintage furniture, exposed brick, and colourful art. With a mix of more secluded tables and those in full view of the pass, it’s great for everything from business lunches to romantic dates or group dinners.
The Food: It’s all about the grill, which touches everything from the signature sugar pit Iberico pork chop to the Italian bitter leaf salad. Consider going lighter on the mains in favour of snacks and starters, like moules farcies, a platter of 12 piping hot mussels in their shells, drenched in garlic and parsley butter. Dessert is excellent, with options like fior di latte gelato with olive oil, sea salt, and grape balsamic.
The Drink: A brown butter Old Fashioned makes for a great start to the meal, as would a pour of Wildflowers’ own wine from the tap. Staying longer? Retreat to the intimate upstairs wine bar for a postprandial drink.
The Verdict: A banging neighbourhood restaurant worth travelling across London for. –Laura Price
→ Wildflowers (Belgravia) • Newsons Yard, 57 Pimlico Rd • Tue-Sat 12-3p & 6-10p, Sun 12-4p • Book.
LONDON RESTAURANT LINKS: North London’s hit posh caff Norman’s to shutter 08/06 • Chef Rob Roy Cameron readying Northern Spanish Alta for August opening in Carnaby… as same restaurant group also plans Japanese-inspired Moi for Soho in July • A Monty Python plaque to commemorate the troupe’s first curry.
REAL ESTATE • First Mover
Three for-sale houses in Richmond that recently came to market:
→ Onslow Rd (Richmond) • 4BR/2BA/3R, 186 m2 terraced house • Guide price: £2.25mn • double doors in conservatory out onto patio garden • Ownership type: freehold • Agent: Edward Adler, Knight Frank.
→ Sheen Rd (Richmond, above) • 5BR/3BA/3R, 309 m2 terraced house • Guide price: £3.5mn • early 19th century Regency home with bow-fronted and rendered facade • Ownership type: freehold • Agent: Daniel Hutchins, Savills.
→ Dynevor Rd (Richmond) • 5BR/3BA/3R, 306 m2 detached house • Guide price: £5.25mn • Victorian over four floors and private rear garden • Ownership type: freehold • Agent: Edward Adler & Liam Doyle, Knight Frank.
WORK & PLAY LINKS: The rise of ‘try before you buy’ property listings • Apartments are renting at Renzo Piano’s Shard Place • Bitter court battle over £19M Regent’s Park mansion, former home of Charles Dickens • Kensington private club The Roof Garden seeks extension • UK’s first mind spa, Rituals, opening on Oxford St • Tate unveils designs for new Clore Garden • ‘Lawyers who use AI will replace lawyers who don’t.’
RESTAURANTS • The Nines
Steaks
The Nines are FOUND's distilled lists of London’s best. Additions or subtractions? Hit reply or found@foundldn.com.
KöD (Liverpool St, above), slick, stylish go-to for meat w/ expertly dry-aged cuts, N.B. Sunday roast deal
No5 Dining & Lounge (Hornsey), warm, intimate local spot serving top-grade beef in relaxed dining room
Buenos Aires Argentine Steakhouse (Chiswick), laid-back but serious about rich, grass-fed Argentine beef cooked to perfection
Chamuyo (Bayswater), no-frills classic parrilla grill where focus is on fire, flavour, perfectly cooked steaks
Knife Restaurant (Clapham), open-fire cooking at its finest, serving up hearty portions w/ chef-led approach
The Banc (Harringay), buzzing mix of steak and cocktails, blending cosy charm with lively atmosphere
Flat Iron (Shoreditch), no reservations, no fuss, just good, well priced steak in laid-back setting
Miller & Carter Steakhouse (Muswell Hill), neighbourhood staple for classic cuts and familiar, comforting flavours
Goodman (Canary Wharf), clubby, upscale setting w/ prime cuts
CULTURE & LEISURE • Play-Offs
Eric Clapton • Royal Albert Hall (South Kensington) • Sat @ 730 • section M, £271 per
Sheffield United v Sunderland AFC • Championship Play-Off Final • Wembley Stadium (Wembley) • Sat @ 3p • section 122, £336 per
The Lumineers • O2 Arena (Greenwich) • Sat @ 630p • section 111, £104 per
WORK • Wednesday Routine
Therapeutic lens
CLAUDIA BEHNKE • psychosynthesis psychotherapist • Claudia Behnke Psychotherapy
Neighbourhood you work & live in: Bounds Green
It’s Wednesday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
It’s 7:30a, and I’m out walking Luna — my fur-bundle of joy — down the road to our favourite local bakery, White Fig. I grab a flat white, and Luna gets a little treat because, well, how could (the owners of White Fig) Michail and Amanda resist those puppy-dog eyes? I’m back home by 8, settling into my therapy space for my first client of the day. We typically start with a short meditative check-in — just enough to gauge where my client’s head and heart are at. This calm, cosy corner doubles as my haven for work and reflection.
What’s on the agenda for today?
Today is all about writing, learning, and prepping. I’ll be preparing a lecture for the coming week (I teach at a London university part-time), and later, carve out some time for CPD (Continuing Professional Development) to ensure I’m up to date with the latest therapy developments.
Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
If I fancy an intimate, cosy night out, I like to head to Gurmani in Turnpike Lane — it’s a family-run Georgian gem, full of warm vibes, flavours, and orange wine. For brunch, my weekend go-tos are Starfish in Palmers Green for their salmon and eggs, Korto for their excellent in-house roasted coffee, or Dusty Knuckle for some of the best sourdough in town — perfect after a leisurely stroll in Finsbury Park. If you spot a person devouring pastries with a happy puppy in tow, that’s probably me.
How about a little leisure or culture?
London’s theatre scene is basically one of my love languages. I went to see an incredible play called Second Best with Asa Butterfield at Riverside Studios — a treat for the theatrical soul. I also caught Sarah Snook in Dorian Gray (it blew my mind), and I experienced some jaw-dropping moments at Jon Ronson’s Psychopath Night.
Having been a stylist in my previous life, I’ll always have a soft spot for fashion. So you’ll often catch me wandering around the Victoria and Albert Museum or the Fashion and Textile Museum catching the latest fashion exhibition — Coco Chanel, Dior, Zandra Rhodes. On Sundays, Luna and I often trot over to the Farmers Market at Alexandra Palace. It’s dog-friendly bliss, with stalls of fresh produce, bread, and cheese (the cheese stall is legendary). After that, we usually hike around the park — good cheese plus scenic views over London equals a perfect Sunday in my book.
Any weekend getaways?
The seaside is my happy place, so I spent my last birthday at the Isle of Sheppey in an Airbnb right on the beach. It was me, my partner, and a handful of friends — we did long beach walks, explored the nature reserve, and discovered local farm stores. We also indulged in a delicious Sunday roast at The Ferry House, which by the way offers facials and massages. We finished the trip with a visit to Whitstable and a lunch at the Lobster Shack which had the most breathtaking views! Nature, sea, and relaxation — just what I needed.
What was your last great vacation?
A recent adventure to Edinburgh with my bestie was pretty epic. The city oozes culture, and while in Scotland, we had to take a hiking tour to the Isle of Skye (the rugged landscapes and medieval castles look like they were plucked straight from a fairy tale). On the way there, we even dipped our toes into Loch Ness. On Skye, we swam in the freezing but magical Fairy Pools and hiked the Quiraing — tough, but 100% worth it for the breathtaking views. The cherry on top? We caught the Northern Lights in Kyleakin, the little village we stayed in.
On the way back, we swung by Kilmahog to feed the hairy coos (Highland cows that are basically the cutest). Back in Edinburgh, we conquered Arthur’s Seat for some amazing panoramas, had lunch in a medieval setting at The Witchery (the décor alone is worth the visit), lost ourselves in the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, browsed antique shops, and ended our nights at Herringbone for dinner. For coffee and treats, I recommend the Hideout Cafe — it’s a cosy, family-run spot with a ’90s music vibe that instantly puts a smile on your face.
What store or service do you always recommend?
Counselling Directory. It’s a platform that helps you find qualified therapists and mental health professionals across the UK.
GETAWAYS LINKS: Following refurbishment, Ambassadors Bloomsbury hotel relaunches as Memoir Club • Chef Tommy Banks launching new pub group with North Yorkshire opening this summer • First Class is back, but sometimes in disguise.
GOODS & SERVICES • FOUND Shop
Seed season
Behind an unassuming entrance in Maida Vale since 1851, Clifton Nurseries is filled with vibrant, eclectic flowers and plants, which bloom inside its greenhouses and around its vast courtyard. Avid gardeners can find all sorts of outdoor plants as well as an abundance of indoor options, including an impressive selection of colourful orchids. There are also pots, gardening tools, and decorative items, as well as seasonally specific choices (I once bought a small potted fir as my Christmas tree).
It’s a place of discovery, with aisles and aisles of flora. Walk down one, and you’ll find a table of carnivorous plants; stroll down another, potted herbs; towards the register, shelves of cacti. The staff are helpful, and knowledgeable, armed with advice on whether something will grow in a particular place or how to resurrect a dying purchase. In one of the greenhouses, friends and families gather in the jungle-like cafe for coffee, brunch, or lunch. The food is solid, but the pastries and sweet treats are the way to go — there’s nothing quite like a sunny afternoon with cake and coffee, surrounded by plants. –Emily Zemler
→ Shop: Clifton Nurseries (Maida Vale) • 5A Clifton Villas • Mon-Sat 9a-6p, Sun 11a-5p.
ASK FOUND
A timely request from a FOUND London subscriber:
I need suggestions on where to stay, plus what to eat and do in the Richmond area (willing to do Teddington) for 48 hrs.
Plus, three FOUND subscriber PROMPTS for which we are seeking intel:
If you haven’t already, tell us your favourite London restaurant.
What London hotel do you always recommend for out-of-town visitors?
Tell us about your favourite driving-distance getaway?
Got answers or more questions? Hit reply or email found@foundldn.com.