tea

My cousin and I have been known on occasion over the years to watch the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, as well as Vanderpump Rules. For several years we have talked about how we ought to go to Los Angeles and check out the scene first-hand and all of Lisa Vanderpump’s restaurants as featured on the shows. Well hello and thank you netlogx Bucket List Initiative* and bonjour California!

We managed to navigate our way through LAX, one of the worst airports on the planet (in my humble opinion) and started my bucket list adventure in earnest. Our first day was unseasonably rainy in L.A. but that did not deter two northern English lasses – we weren’t about to let that stop us! We quite by chance happened upon a charming little tea room, Salon de The, run by the loveliest French family – who not only provided an oasis from the rain but became our steadfast friends many, many pots of “the best tea ever tasted outside of England” later.

smonica ferris

Full of tea and a delicious brunch, we ventured out and braved the rain, well more like drizzle…(in fact that fine rain as Peter Kay, northern English comedian would say) and over the weekend ventured out to the Hollywood Museum, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Santa Monica Boulevard, Malibu and as proper “Brits on Tour” we did the TMZ Hollywood Celebrity Scandal Tour!

tom tom

What about Vanderpump’s restaurants I hear you ask? Rest assured we hit them all and they were fabulous! Gorgeous food, drinks and setting – each offering something unique. Pump was my favorite for the food – the most delicious battered sole I’ve ever had – and the muddled cucumber cocktail which is officially my new favorite drink! Villa Blanca was by far the prettiest restaurant ever and our waitress was lovely, giving us tips on where to go a little off the beaten track in Malibu for some authentic seafood.

 

Bustling, trendy Tom Toms found us sitting on a very low sofa at the bar which we rolled with like cool, young people would and finally Sur. My fears were not realized as thankfully my cousin did not have to pop out to the side alley for a “heated discussion” with the staff as they always seem to do in the show.

low sofa

My bucket list item was well and truly realized, thanks to netlogx for this brilliant opportunity which I will never forget, and I can now say I’ve paddled in the Pacific Ocean on Malibu Beach! The only thing missing was to be invited to one of Lisa’s house parties at Villa Rosa – bucket list part two perhaps..?

buckets on the beach

*The netlogx Bucket List Initiative was introduced in 2019 and our team members were given a special bonus to do something they have always wanted to off their bucket lists.