Lupa is 100 feet from my front door. To call it “my local” feels generous, it’s practically an extension of my kitchen.

This 26-cover corner spot in Highbury (formerly everything from jazz club to Japanese café) might finally be the concept that sticks. Now in its first year, and yes, co-owned by actor (and can I say hunk without sounding like my 76 year old mother??) Theo James — it’s pulling serious crowds. (And he is a hunk, I’ve seen him through the window on occasion!).

The space is tiny, candlelit and unfussy. Distressed wood that isn’t trying to be distressed, it’s genuinely old. Bottles of wine lining the walls. A kitchen hatch where chefs work feverishly in the heat. It feels almost French in atmosphere, but the menu is unapologetically Italian.

And it’s designed properly: starter, pasta, main — all to share

I had long maintained that Borough Market was somewhere to skirt around rather than linger in. Too crowded. Too many tourists. Too many viral sandwiches, chocolate strawberries and clouds of frying onions.

But tucked within arm’s reach of the chaos are some of London’s most exciting kitchens — counter-dining heavyweights like Barrafina, Agora, and newly Michelin-starred OMA.

And then there’s Kolae.

Darby’s, run by Dublin-born Robin Gill and his wife Sarah, is their fifth restaurant and named after Robin’s jazz-musician father. There’s a trumpet emblazoned on the sign, a huge one hanging above the open kitchen, and a piano commanding the dining room. The website leans heavily into New York jazz nostalgia.

Our morning Women in AI event, a collaboration between the Women’s Irish Network UK and Dell Technologies, cut straight through the noise and brought us back to what is fundamentally at stake. It was honest, urgent, and — at times — uncomfortable in the best possible way.

I love restaurants. I follow the London food scene closely - obsessively, some might say. When I book a holiday, my first research isn’t flights or hotels, it’s where I’m eating. And these days, when dining out costs what it does, getting it wrong really hurts. Food, service, atmosphere, lighting, music, value - it all matters.

Molly Mac’s, Waterloo – Craic, Karaoke & Curry Sauce (Ask for Extra)

I love January. I know that puts me firmly in the minority, but perhaps it’s because it’s my birthday month, or because I genuinely enjoy the hibernation that follows December’s excesses. After weeks of heels, sequins, three-course dinners and rich food, January calls for something more low-key. And that’s exactly what makes choosing a birthday venue surprisingly tricky. When everyone suddenly wants the opposite of rich food and expense, the brief becomes: relaxed, fun, flavourful but not heavy.

Carmela’s, Upper Street – Pizza Worth Leaving the House For

On a rainy Friday in January, in fact the last Friday, when cabin fever is real and leaving the house feels like a minor act of heroism! I headed to Carmela’s on Upper Street, Islington. Perfectly positioned between Angel and Highbury & Islington stations, it’s an easy stroll along Upper Street with plenty of options to stop for a pre-dinner drink if the mood takes you (I recommend The Pocket if you can squeeze in!).

On a wintery evening in Chelsea, the Women’s Irish Network brought together 20 Irish women in London for something truly special: an intimate private dining experience at Myrtle with Irish chef, broadcaster and restaurateur Anna Haugh.

We’re delighted to welcome you to the new home and new identity of the Women’s Irish Network UK. Over the past few years, our community has grown in strength, confidence and connection. What began as a shared space for Irish women in London has evolved into a vibrant network built on support, wisdom, ambition and belonging. It felt like the right moment for our visual identity to grow with us.

At the Women’s Irish Network, we are passionate about empowering young women and supporting opportunities that foster confidence, teamwork, and resilience. That’s why we were honoured to sponsor the Britain U15 Camogie team at this year’s Féile na nGael tournament in Wexford — an unforgettable weekend that showcased incredible talent, dedication, and heart.

On the 25th of April, the Women’s Irish Network (WIN), in collaboration with the Irish Youth Foundation (IYF), visited the Brent Centre for Young People to learn firsthand about the vital mental health services being provided to adolescents in the London borough. This visit underscored the urgent need for dedicated support tailored to the unique challenges faced by Irish youth and other young people in Brent.