“I find comfort in walking around different cities and observing the people, their movements and taking in the myriad of colours in my surrounding that may inspire my next piece.”
Elsa Åkesson
Artist
Elsa’s Travel Itinerary
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London offers a wealth of artistic and cultural experiences, according to our latest urban explorer and artist Elsa Åkesson. To escape from her hectic work schedule, she often enjoys exploring some of the city’s trendiest neighbourhoods like Notting Hill and Hampstead, immersing herself in the local culture and art scene. You can read her full travel itinerary now.
Montparnasse Café
Known for its famous croissant and pain au chocolate, Elsa promises that you will find the best breakfast here at this adorable French coffee shop located in Kensington. She loves the cosy and intimate atmosphere, and coming from Madagascar where French is the country’s official second language, she feels deeply connected to it.
1-54 (During Art Week)
As an African artist herself, Elsa finds immense inspiration from her peers at 1-54, the first and only international art fair dedicated to contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora. Taking place in London during Art Week every October, you can find over 170 artists working across a kaleidoscope of mediums, from painting and sculpture to mixed media and installation.
Notting Hill
Surrounded by beautiful pastel-coloured buildings lined perfectly in a row, it is no surprise that Elsa has chosen this place. It mirrors her vibrant artwork, bubbly personality, and optimistic outlook on life. This vibrant, trendy area is famed for its busy market selling antiques and vintage fashion, as well as its coffee shops, high-end restaurants, and upscale boutiques.
The Rex Delicatessen
Located in Mayfair, The Rex Delicatessen is one of Elsa’s highly praised eateries in the city. From the moment you walk in, Elsa describes it as if you have entered into a cosy farm in the countryside. All the meats, fruits and vegetables come directly from a farm outside of London, so the produce is always fresh. If in season, Elsa recommends you try their Blood Orange juice – rare, delicious, and freshly squeezed.
Hampstead
If you are looking for a place to escape from all the city noise, Hampstead is the perfect place to do so. Surrounded by meadows, woodland, and swimming ponds, Elsa enjoys soaking up the greenery and crisp air. At the heart of this charming area is Hampstead High Street, in which you can find an array of shops, restaurants, cafes and boutiques to keep you busy for an entire afternoon.
The Cocochine
This four storey fine-dining restaurant that recently opened in Mayfair serves up a series of a la carte dishes inspired by Chef Larry Jayasekara’s travels with influences from his Sri Lankan upbringing, whilst showcasing produce from regenerative mixed farmland the Rowler Estate in Northamptonshire. Its welcoming atmosphere, innovatively crafted dishes, and generous use of fresh, quality ingredients are what intrigues Elsa. For her, this restaurant is one she will choose for special occasions, where she will request to be seated on the first floor by the counter so she can enjoy the sight of chefs cooking in the open kitchen.
