Chi

Central London's Hidden Gem for Happy Hour

Hidden in the heart of central London, a stone’s throw from Blackfriars, lies Chi — an oasis for urban dwellers hunting both solace and sustenance. A fairy-lit beacon of happy hours and happy people, this Asian culinary delight is as efficient as the city surrounding it, offering dishes that dance on the palate without quite waltzing through your wallet. The attentive staff, swift yet personable, lured me with their indefatigable cheerfulness, and when our charming waitress offered to charge my phone behind the bar, I knew we were in good hands. It’s no wonder why city folk hover over Chi at the end of a bustling day like moths to a flickering candle.

The happy hour drinks menu prompts interaction of another kind, transforming strangers into philosophers half-pondering, half-guzzling £12 bottles of house red or £18 proseccos. The portions are generous, mirroring more the spirit of largess than just culinary commerce. Chi wraps you in culinary nostalgia: aromas reminiscent of distant adventures, flavors meant to betray every tool of miserly restraint you’ve practiced. So, here’s to keeping their lights on and spirits high; cherish Chi before catching a train, after the last sip drains, or for the sheer fact that places like these are worthy adversaries to the fast-paced likes of modern dining ambivalence. — Penelope Savory