A Tale of Three NYC Breakfasts (or Three Little Piggies Went to Brunch...)

If there's one thing us Mice excel at, it's eating. And if there's one meal New York dining spots are particularly brilliant at, it's breakfast.

So on our recent trip to the Big Apple, we felt it was our duty to seek out and gobble up all of the very best coffee, eggs, waffles and pancakes that the city has to offer, wash them down with several rounds of Mimosas, and then bring you the skinny on all our favs. So, that's exactly what we did. The things we do in the name of the blog...

We researched for weeks in advance, came up with a shortlist and then painstakingly nibbled and munched our way from breakfast to brunch all around the City. The results? Well, in no particular order, here are our top three spots to kick off the day in NYC... 

Buvette

First up, a West Village neighbourhood eatery with more than a dash of ooh la la.

Williamsburg Wonderland...

When we last headed to New York, at the start of 2014, for a little NYC sister time, we stayed at design jewel, The Nomad. On previous trips we'd tried out the achingly cool Ace Hotel and the trad-luxe Soho Grand, but this time, we decided to be brave and branch out on our own... No hotels, no turn down service, no bell boys to lug our back-breakingly heavy suitcases to our rooms - we wanted to stay in a real NYC apartment and play at being local New Yorkers for the week. Step up Airbnb and our palace in the sky. 

Nestled in the heart of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, we handpicked an absolute beaut of an artist's loft space with breathtaking views across the Brooklyn and Manhattan skyline. The space boasted floor to ceiling windows which not only meant you ended your days swooning over the twinkling lights of the city but that you also were coaxed awake by the city sunrise streaming in as dawn broke each morning. As such the apartment has earned and very much owns a fitting nickname - 'eagles nest'. We knew we were going to be very happy here when we arrived and were greeted with open arms by the warm and wonderful owner, Bryn.  

This Week The Mice Have Mostly Been...

Guess what? It's...

Baltha-zar-zar-zoom...

A few weeks ago I was taken on an afternoon taste sensation courtesy of the legendary Balthazar in Covent Garden. With the long May bank holiday stretching ahead my good pal Chrissie and I toddled off to trial the restaurant's exclusive foodie partnership with fashion extraordinaire, Matthew Williamson. I'd been excited about this invitation for weeks and let me tell you, it didn't disappoint and here's why...

Firstly, the high tea has a lovely back story which instantly drew me in... The delectable menu has been crafted with Williamson's S/S 2015 collection front of mind and takes inspiration from the relaxed glamour of his muse, Marie Helvin in the David Bailey book, ‘Chasing Rainbows’. As such the all singing, all dancing tea is dubbed the Chasing Rainbows Afternoon Tea and comes complete with an accompanying cocktail created by Balthazar's Bar Manager which incorporates the floral accents and muted colours featured in the designer’s collection. Nice touch eh? 

Superguides Are Us...

Destination pin pointed, passport at the ready, flights booked...what next? I guess you could just rock up and see where the day takes you...however us Mice like to have a plan! There's nothing worse than aimless wandering, missing hidden gems for garish tourist traps and resorting to panic Googling for on-the-spot inspiration.

I agree a plan can overshadow adventure, exploring and spontaneous fun however the key is not to let it take over. We like to know what's hot, what's not, what's hiding, what's overrated...basically have a little insider knowledge beforehand to make every trip one to remember!

With an NYC escape imminently approaching, planning is in full swing to create our 2015 hit list...the best brunches, vintage markets, cocktail haunts, restaurants, speakeasies...you get the picture! 

This Week The Mice Have Mostly Been...

This is the feeling of today for two very valid reasons...

Not only is it the start of a four day bank holiday weekend for us lucky Londoners BUT we smugly only have two more days of work left next week before we jet off to NYC for a sister micey reunion! Hooray! Apart from frantically pre-planning our New York wardrobes and ticking off each day with a squeal, This Week The Mice Have Mostly Been...

Lima's Lazy Lunch...

It's no secret that brunch is the most important meal of the week for us Mice...there's nothing better than waking up fully rested, meeting your best friends and munching away whilst the gossip flows. If that wasn't perfect enough, throw in a hefty side of prosecco and cocktails and we're in total heaven! 

Last weekend we were lucky enough to be invited to try the new Lima Floral weekend brunch menu. If you're a fan of Peruvian cuisine you should already know all about the wonder that is Lima, however if not lets get you up to speed!

There are four main things you need to know about Lima London...they have two locations - Fitzrovia and Floral Street (Covent Garden), they were the first Peruvian restaurant to be awarded a Michelin star, the delicious duo are backed by renowned Peruvian chef Virgilio Martinez and the food is an absolute sensation!