LDNGuide
13 London Restaurants Selling Excellent Tableware To Brighten Up Your Lockdown Meals
If you’re anything like us, then spending so much time at home has probably led to a real obsession with feng shui. A new plant to remind you of the outside world. A new bedspread because, wow, you really are sick of this room aren’t you? A new mirror for your lounge purchased purely as a conversation starter with the flatmate you no longer have anything to say to: It really does open up the room doesn’t it? We should get one for the hallway! But the most exciting homeware upgrade comes in the form of nice, sophisticated tableware that for a fleeting moment makes you feel like you’re in a restaurant whilst you tuck into your spag bol. Here are your homeware options from excellent London spots to brighten up your table. And the best part is you’ll be supporting London restaurants at the same time.
The Spots
Daylesord’s online shop is basically a mood board for the life we plan on living when we finally move to the countryside and live with approximately 12 corgis. You’ll find everything from beautiful serving bowls to linen tablecloths to our personal favourite, the rattan cheese cutlery set. Prices range from cheap and cheerful to expensive, so there’s something for everyone. They also have a great selection of arty tealight holders that are definitely worth checking out too.
We lowkey want every single thing that’s available on the homeware section of Ottolenghi’s website. The bright, modern linen napkins. The big colourful plates. The funky little green tumblers. Yup, we’ll take it all. If you want the food to match, you can get involved in their range of cookbooks, spices, and chef utensils too.
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Honey and Co. is a small Middle Eastern restaurant in Fitzrovia that’s big on flavours and feelgood factor. Their online shop is packed full of condiments, herbs, cookbooks, and homeware. As well as enamel Turkish coffee pots, we’re very into their glazed ceramic tiles that you can use as coasters or very pretty trivets. Plus, they’re only £7.50.
Okay, picture this. It is the future. You’re having some mates over for a spot of dinner. You’ve poured the wine, the cheese is out, and you’re all trading cruel-but-casual gossip about all the third-tier friends you have in common - can you believe that Stephen went to Florida twice during lockdown, always said there was something off about the way he never wore socks - then you exit your kitchen with ibérico balanced on a wooden Brindisa hamstand. What’s that? They all ask, a sparkle in their eyes, totally enamoured. Oh, this? It’s just a little something I bought during lockdown. You have earned eternal respect. Head to Brindisa’s website to get the ultimate dinner party centrepiece and a proper ham carving knife to match.
We just had to have a long hard look at the state of our overdraft to convince ourselves that we probably can’t spend £180 on colourful glass gelato spoons from River Café. If you can, go for it, we’re very jealous - throw in their signature spotty tablecloth for £355 too. That being said, although this London institution is notoriously expensive, there are some more affordable options on their online shop. Think colourful linen napkins for a tenner, cute little £6 salt and pepper bowls, neon dining candles, and the perfect addition to the table, branded River Café extra long matches so you can always keep those candles burning.
If you’ve ever been to Pophams, you’ll have probably commented on how tasty the bacon and maple swirl is and how nice their ceramic mugs are. Well, we have good news. Because during the pandemic, Pophams launched a huge range of homeware available to buy online. Expect rustic raw linens, stoneware jugs, bright Japanese glassware, and so much more.
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Having homeware from Bao is a huge flex. This London institution is known for their fluffy buns, excellent flavours, and near achingly-cool branding. Now, you can bring their uniquely cool feel to your own home with the ceramic pots, sake carafes, and tea pots available to buy on their website. The speckle bowls are a must for any miso soup lovers, but we’ve got our eye on their range of bao-shaped candles. Because tea lights are like, so 2007.
If you’re in the market for a £430 hand-painted tablecloth or a £250 swirl finish carafe that was handmade in Venice, then you’re in luck, because that’s exactly what you’ll find on Petersham Nurseries’ online shop. Don’t worry though, if you’re looking for something in the slightly less oligarch price range they’re also selling batches of their long candles for £25 and sets of engraved oval champagne glasses for around the £50 mark. Personally, we’ve got our eye on their tall brass candlesticks and their funky bottle openers.
If you didn’t think it was possible to have a crush on a peppermill, then think again. Granger and Co. is an all-day Australian spot that’s perfect for brunch, coffee catch ups, and obsessively eyeing up their cool, sophisticated tableware. So imagine how happy we were when we spotted their particularly lovely brass peppermill on their website. Yes, it’s £60 but look at that shine factor and imagine the satisfaction of turning the little handle whilst you make yet another plate of scrambled eggs at home. J’adore.
The Wolseley is one of London’s most recognised and sophisticated restaurants. So it should come as no surprise that a whole section of their online shop is purely dedicated to silverware. We’re talking silver-plated tea caddies, vintage coffee pots, and their huge afternoon tea stands. If that’s not your thing, they’ve also got crystal champagne flutes, tea strainers, and The Wolseley printed tea towels it would be oh-so-chic to just have lying around.
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If you’re really into wine, or just want to look like you’re really into wine, then a set of Quality Wine’s signature glasses are a great shout. For just a fiver each, these stemless branded glasses have a little nook for your thumb and are a great conversation starter if you’re planning on entertaining in the distant future. Seriously, we could talk about this little Clerkenwell spot’s excellent food and wine selection for hours. Our game plan would be to select a couple of great wines from their online shop when you place your glass order.
photo credit: Giulia Verdinelli
So, during the hot mess that was 2021, wine bar and cute little restaurant Top Cuvée turned into Shop Cuvée and fulfilled many of our lockdown dreams with their huge array of fun things to buy. As well as wine glasses, a branded wine sling, and reusable wine presentation bags - are you sensing a pattern? - they’ve also got you covered with a candle collaboration with Earl of East and magazines that make for the perfect lowkey look-at-me-the-sophisticate centrepiece.
We really miss going for a casual glass of wine and a not-so-casual plate of bone marrow at St John. Luckily for us - and you - this iconic nose-to-tail restaurant is selling their wine glasses online so you can still enjoy a bit of their signature, classy but chilled feel at home. It’s £25 for a set of 6 and you can pair it with one of their online wine offerings for a truly winning gift.
