The Good Guide to Carnaby
With over 100 shops, 60 restaurants and bars, Carnaby Street is at the heart of London's West End.
Regarded as the birthplace of London's swinging sixties, Carnaby was a regular haunt of musical legends The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix and The Kinks.
Visitors still flock to this mecca just off Oxford St, thanks to big names such as M.A.C, Ray Ban and food haven Kingly Court, but it is the little gems that circumvent them, that maintain the true spirit of this very special street.
Here are a few of our favourite spots.
1. Rosa’s Thai
Stepping into Rosa's Thai is like taking a culinary tour of Thailand. Exotic flavours, spicy variety and fresh juices abound.
We were bowled over by the spicy beef salad, Thai calamari and crispy prawns; and consider the beef salad, in particular, to be the perfect midday pick-me-up.
The Nam Manao, a refreshing lemon juice topped with tangy syrup, is a must-try drink; a light, pungent and sweet juice that goes with any meal and counteracts the spicy kick of some of those fiery dishes!
Saiphin and Alex Moore, the humble husband and wife duo behind Rosa's, believe in making a difference in the lives of their team (in-house and further afield), and remain committed to sourcing key ingredients from small-scale farmers in Thailand.
Make the most of their extensive menu by ordering from their Express Lunch Set, which includes a starter and a stir-fry or curry for only £9.95.
2. Antidote
Antidote is a charming, natural wine bar and shop just off Carnaby St. The wine shop is conveniently located next door to the bar, ideal if you want to bring home a bottle of a new found favourite.
A Newburgh St staple since 2001, Antidote has been introducing the best wines to their customers by refreshing their menu weekly, allowing them to highlight the freshest seasonal ingredients.
Their wine tasting sessions are a must visit, and come in three packages: Taste The Classics (£35pp), Taste The Unconventionals (£50pp) and Taste The Stars (£65pp) - and are the perfect way to explore their handpicked collection of organic and biodynamic wines.
Thanks to the expertise of Antidote founders Guillaume Siard and Thierry Bouteloup, you can be assured of the lifecycle and quality of every wine, as Antidote only source from growers they have developed strong relationships with.
3. Annie’s Ibiza
It's the shop you've probably seen all over your social media and the only shop the Chelsea and country set go to when they're in Ibiza.
Introducing Annie’s Ibiza, founded by Kate Moss’ go-to and climate activist Annie Doble, who is changing the way we shop, freeing us from clinical e-commerce to in-person indulgence.
At their new Carnaby outpost, you can find their iconic Ibiza pieces, which feature their signature sequin mini dresses and ostrich feathered boleros.
This is true rock & roll dressing for the glamour puss; and it’s not all fun and frivolity, sustainability is at the heart of Annie’s Ibiza, with most pieces handmade in the UK to reduce their carbon footprint.
4. Nobody’s Child
Nobody's Child have opened their first pop-up shop on Carnaby Street, and they were the store we were most thrilled to stumble on in the Summer heatwave. The affordable answer to Rixo and Reformation, Nobody’s Child started life as an online-only brand with sustainable fabrics at its heart.
This is the place to go to for easy dresses for every body type, and is a truly inclusive, body positive space.
The store also sells footwear, candles and jewellery from small, eco-friendly independent brands like the wedge brand of the moment Castaner.
Every detail has been thoughtfully considered: from their meadow grass hangers, to their carrier bags made from recycled paper cups.
5. Mühle
Mühle is a luxury shaving shop with an exclusive men’s grooming space, specialising in haircuts, wet shaves and organic skincare treatments.
Premium razors, shaving sets and elegant shaving accessories, are all part of The Mühle Collection, which is beautifully displayed on the ground floor.
There is a shaving set for everyone, but we particularly loved their fully sustainable options, made from metal and wood.
And Elliot Forbes, one of London's most renowned barbers, runs their lower ground Mühle Treatment Space. You can book your appointment here.
6. END
END has established itself as one of the world's leading menswear destinations. They've built their reputation on a carefully curated collection of high-end fashion, emerging designers and limited-edition sports and streetwear.
The brand was created for a new generation of fashion-conscious shoppers, at ease with mixing Jil Sander with Off-White, whilst stocking up on their Byredo. High-heat collection drops, eco-friendly footwear brands like Veja and premium skincare lines from Malin & Goetz and Aesop, can all be found at the sleek Carnaby Street store.
7. FINLAY
FINLAY’s stunning collection of sunglasses and spectacles are designed in London and handmade in Italy.
Their new, sustainable collection was seamlessly designed in the foothills of the Italian alps, where FINLAY's expert frame makers use traditional techniques to create long lasting, luxury frames.
The sustainable frames are completely bio-degradable and marks the direction the brand will be heading in for all of their future frames.
Try on the entire collection at their Carnaby St store and get advice from their Frame Experts and Optometrists.