London Weekend: Day 3 - Clapham, Kebabs, Corinthia, and Hadestown
If Day 1 was about hitting the ground running and Day 2 was about taking it easy, Day 3 was the big one. Hadestown night!!
As far as work days are concerned, Day 3 of the weekend was the big one. Hadestown and Better than Broadway night! We had the entire day to kill though and since we’d spent all our time so far in Central London, we decided to venture below the Thames and explore Clapham. A friend who used to live here raved about its good vibes, and Clapham Common itself is a huge draw.
🌿 Morning: Clapham, Venn Street Market, and Trooping Surprises
We set out in the morning to catch the Saturday-only Venn Street Market in Clapham. It’s small but well curated, with local producers and makers. (Open Saturdays, 10am to 3pm)
Getting there: We took the Bakerloo Line from Charing Cross to Elephant & Castle and then switched to the Northern Line. A small but important note: the Northern Line splits into two branches, so check your train is heading to Clapham Common.
On the way out of the hotel, we saw the police horses out and getting ready for Trooping the Colour - a fun surprise. If you’re lucky, you might catch them during one of your trips too since they are stabled right next door.
Venn Street Market is right outside the tube station, and though compact, it’s packed with charm. Fresh produce, artisanal food, and a sprinkling of crafts.
What we picked:
Scotch egg from Finest Fayre - perfectly done.
Empanada from Chango - flaky and satisfying.
Doughnut from Flavors of Portugal - soft and not overly sweet.
But the real star? Chilli Brothers’ hot sauces. We brought back three bottles (mango habanero, Dutch curry, and thyme & lime). For the brave, their Red Hot and Naga bottles are delicious but fiery; the kind of spice that earns bragging rights but still tastes great.
🥙 Lunch: Bababoom Kebabs and a Walk Through Clapham Common
After the market, we wandered around Clapham Common. Plenty of greenery, lots of families, and even some charming mews apartments we paused to admire (window shopping, of course, since the prices are not much kinder than San Francisco).
For lunch, we headed to Bababoom, known for its kebabs. We were excited to try their house beer brewed with Persian limes, but sadly they were out that day.
What we ordered:
Chicken shish plate - flavorful and juicy.
Falafel plate - the sweet potato hummus (not a typo) was the real standout here.
Oh and, for those of you runners out there, Bababoom has a run club. 10 miles from one location to another for free kebabs. You truly run for your food.
Satisfied and slightly sun-kissed, we strolled over to Clapham Junction to catch the Overground back to Waterloo and then the Tube to the hotel.
🫖 Afternoon Tea at Corinthia: A Theatrical Prelude
Since our Hadestown show was at 7:30 and would run about three hours, we wanted to eat beforehand. Many restaurants near the theatres offer pre-theatre prix fixe menus, but we opted for something different: afternoon tea at the Corinthia, just next door to our hotel.
Why this is worth it: Afternoon tea is a great way to experience the décor, hospitality, and food of a luxury hotel without the commitment of staying there. And the Corinthia really delivered. It is the best afternoon tea we’ve ever had, hands down.
Pro tip: Pace yourself - one of us overindulged in the (excellent) savory sandwiches before realizing there were still scones and desserts to come.
What stood out:
Egg and turkey sandwiches - memorable.
Iron Buddha tea - our favorite of the four we tried. (Side note: there’s also a boba shop in LA that does a stellar Iron Buddha milk tea but more on that in another post.)
You can splurge even further with a caviar or champagne upgrade.
We skipped the extras but left happy, full, and in a good enough food coma to carry us through the evening.
🎭 Hadestown at the Lyric Theatre
We walked over to the Lyric Theatre and arrived around 7pm, playbills in hand (note: in the West End you usually have to buy these). A couple of overpriced bottles of water later, we settled in.
Our thoughts:
The Lyric is smaller and more intimate than many Broadway houses, which made the show feel even more immersive.
The staging was clever with concentric circles in the floor that worked beautifully.
The cast was superb, with Chris Jarmin as Hades stealing the show with his range and presence.
When booking, we recommend the dress circle for the best views. This section is better than stalls, grand circle, balcony, or even the box seats (though the box does offer privacy). We used SeatPlan to check sightlines before booking and ended up with some of the best seats in the house.
We left feeling that choosing the West End over Broadway for Hadestown was the right call - it was magical.
🍸 Nightcap: 40 Elephants and Sibin
Back at the hotel, we capped the night with drinks at 40 Elephants and then the hidden Sibin speakeasy.
At 40 Elephants - the bar that first drew us to this hotel on a previous trip - we enjoyed thoughtfully made cocktails in a period correct atmosphere with drinks that were an ode to the ladies of the 40 Elephants gang. Their menu has a help diamond of taste profiles to help you choose the drinks.
After a drink each there, we ducked into Sibin, which has a secret entrance and a clever little switch you flip to get in.
Highlights at Sibin:
Charcuterie plate - simple and good.
World-class whiskey selection with themed tastings (by geography, age, smokiness, etc.) if you’re inclined.
Creative cocktails - including one with an edible bubble, which the bartender even let us try to make ourselves since it was a quiet night.
Another reason we’re so fond of this hotel: the staff are exceptional and made the experience feel personal and fun.
We requested a later checkout for the next morning, happily tired after a day that balanced markets, meadows, theatre, and speakeasies.