The other locus of my London experience was Soho, a trendy neighborhood with good nightlife and nightlife and an edgy vibe. It felt somewhat like a cleaned up London analogue to NYC’s Lower East Side. A few places I went.

1. Bar Italia

Kitschy and charming spot for aperitivos.

2. Blanchette

Delicious French-ish food and a nice bar vibe. We sat on bar stools in open air at the front of the restaurant, looking out onto the street.

3. Edition Hotel Bar

Multiple restaurants and bars in this swanky hotel. We sat at the expansive lobby bar and visited the cozy back room, sipping Old Fashioned’s.

4. Salt Yard

Delicious tapas, and we closed them out. (This is a separate story, but I went with a guy I matched with on an online dating app in NYC. I actually met him for the first time in San Francisco, where he lives. We realized we had some close friends in common. When he recently contacted me, as a joke, I told him to come to London. He said he was actually arriving in London the next day. I guess some people are meant to be in your life for some reason or other. We will see how that unfolds.)