Comedian and actor Aziz Ansari has opened up about his favourite London haunts, revealing a taste for classic martinis at Dukes in Mayfair, a penchant for browsing DVDs at Close Up in Shoreditch, and a need for a nap after lunch at St John in Farringdon.
Ansari, 43, who recently experienced a flood in his north London apartment due to a burst pipe upstairs, is now planning to move. He had previously stayed in an east London Airbnb based on pictures that showed one taxidermy giraffe, but upon arrival discovered there were actually two, which he described as 'quite a lot of taxidermy giraffes for one apartment.'
Favourite Accommodations and Early London Days
When visiting for work, Ansari was often put up at the Soho Hotel or Chiltern Firehouse. He recalled Chiltern as 'a lot of fun' where he would run into friends, often leading to hangovers the next day. 'It was a good time until it burned down,' he said, adding, 'All my London places are either burning down or flooding.'
His first London flat was off Edgware Road during a year studying abroad from New York University. He lived with a roommate, Micah Lasher, who is now running for Congress in New York, and they didn't even have internet in their rooms.
Shops and Restaurants
Ansari relies on farmers' markets in Primrose Hill and Marylebone, along with specialist food shops like La Fromagerie and The Ginger Pig butcher. He cooks a lot of Indian food and gave a shout-out to Plentiful Foods in Euston.
His favourite restaurants include Kiln, Barrafina, Quo Vadis, and Govinda's in Soho, where he often edits films. 'If you're in Farringdon you can eat lunch at St John and then take a nap for the rest of the afternoon,' he said. For a special night, he recommends the River Café, though he noted it might be 'a little too much for a first date.'
First Date and Nightlife Recommendations
For a first date, Ansari suggested getting a coffee and browsing at Daunt Books or Primrose Hill Books. He has recently started visiting neighbourhood bookstores instead of ordering everything online.
To let his hair down, he loves a martini at Dukes in Mayfair. 'When you're 43, as I am, you do one martini there and you're kind of good for the night,' he joked. He also enjoys the Prince Charles Cinema, calling it 'such a great London institution' for its unique screenings.
London Secrets and Work
Ansari's London secret is Close Up in Shoreditch, where you can rent DVDs. He noted that a whole generation has missed the experience of browsing movies at a video store, and he values the intentionality and personal recommendations there.
Professionally, Ansari has been doing stand-up and is performing at the Royal Albert Hall this month. He is also working on screenplays and recently appeared on Romesh Ranganathan's podcast, remarking, 'We're both guys with a similar skin tone who do comedy. We got along super-well and had a lot of fun.'
If He Were Mayor
If he were Mayor for the day, Ansari would stop pedicab drivers in Soho from blasting the song 'Sandstorm' at maximum volume. 'I'm not trying to cut into their livelihood, I'm just saying cut the music,' he said.
Most Iconic Londoner and Future Move
He named Fergus and Margot Henderson, the couple behind St John and Rochelle Canteen, as the most iconic Londoners, citing their widespread influence and respect.
Looking ahead, Ansari is interested in moving to Stoke Newington, drawn by its restaurants and friends who live there. 'I feel like if I got dropped into any neighbourhood, it would take me a minute to get my bearings but then I'd be into it,' he concluded.
