The Instagram duo – AKA Sara Santini and Andrea Di Filippo – have made a living out of documenting their love of food and travel, and now they’ve been on a global culinary tour of Knightsbridge
Back in 2015, Italian-born couple Andrea Di Filippo and Sara Santini moved to London and set up a joint Instagram account: Pretty Little London. The premise was simple: to capture inspiring content that would give Londoners a slice of aspiration and inspiration every day. The pair’s colourful, vibrant photos and videos centre around food, lifestyle, travel and ‘everything pretty’. The formula proved successful, with the account currently clocking in at over 800,000 followers. Recently, The Knightsbridge Edit invited Pretty Little London to experience the diverse and exciting cuisine of Knightsbridge and how visitors can eat around the world under one postcode. Here, we asked Sara about the duo’s favourite finds, hidden gems – and where to enjoy the most authentic Italian cuisine.Meet… Pretty Little London
You’ve been eating “around the world” in Knightsbridge for a social partnership with us. What have been some of your highlights?
We have, and what a dream collaboration it has been. We absolutely loved dining at the Michelin-starred restaurant Marcus at The Berkeley Hotel. It has been on our bucket list since it opened and the food was quite incredible! Also we loved trying The Aubrey at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London for the first time. The food was fantastic and such an experience – the best sushi we have had in a while.
You both hail from Italy. Can you recommend any authentic Italian cuisine in Knightsbridge?
Our favourites in the area are Sale e Pepe on Pavilion Road, a traditional Italian restaurant with an old-school vibe that we love so much, and Osteria Romana in Park Close. You must try its truffle cacio e pepe. It’s as good as in Rome, if not better.
What do you like most about Knightsbridge?
We love the village vibe that this area has, while being upscale and having some of the best restaurants and shops in London. It always feels like a pleasure wandering around the shops and the little back streets of the neighbourhood lined with beautiful houses. Plus, it’s so great for people watching.
Has there been anything that has surprised you?
Definitely the diversity of restaurants in the area. We were surprised by how many great places there are in the neighbourhood, you can eat whatever cuisine you feel like and you know that it’s going to be great.
Considering your job is far from 9 to 5, how do you maintain a good work-life balance?
Doing what we do and not having a 9-to-5 job can be challenging in terms of having a clear work-life balance and the temptation to continue to work after hours is real. It is important to keep weekends free, not use my laptop after 7pm, and have time with my friends and Andrea to travel and enjoy life.
What are your top tips for taking great photos?
You need to really capture a moment rather than just a location. As they say, the devil is often in the details. If you are shooting in an elegant neighbourhood, for instance, try to capture a beautiful corner with someone matching the vibe passing by. Try not to leave empty spaces in your photo, such as an empty street or an empty spot or plate on the table if you are taking pictures of food. Always look at the small details, as when you do editing later you will regret not paying attention to that bin bag or that orange cone that is now ruining your photo. Don’t be afraid to crop your pictures while editing and posting, as it can really give an interesting spin to your photo.
Finally, can you recommend any hidden gems in Knightsbridge?
As mentioned, we do love a good wander around the pretty streets of Knightsbridge, daydreaming of those beautiful houses. Some of our favourite streets are Ennismore Garden Mews, Montpelier Place and Trevor Square, where you can find that Insta-famous pink house.
Follow Pretty Little London on @prettylittlelondon
Pretty Little London: Trips: Weekend Escapes From the City is available now from Amazon
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