From the outside, the Westbury Mayfair is pretty unassuming. The only hint that there’s some magic lurking inside, is the smartly dressed doormen and luxury cars standing on call outside. With the doors swiftly opened to welcome me in, I soon forgot about the hustle and bustle of the London streets beyond. The Westbury has a way of transporting you to a world of old school sophistication, with dark lighting, art deco-styled furnishings, swathes of wood panelling and fresh flowers setting the tone. I’d stepped into the 225-room venue to check out one of its top pads, a superior corner suite...
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Tsukiji Sushi, tucked away in the heart of Mayfair, is now firmly on my list of top Japanese spots in town. The smartly-secluded restaurant is the perfect spot to graze peacefully on deliciously fresh fish and other treats. I popped into the small eatery on a Thursday evening and bagged a table for two by the window. Only a few of the other seats were occupied, with a couple of cosmopolitan women sitting opposite us and another couple seemingly on a date in the other corner. One of the chefs stood slicing and dicing in the open-air kitchen, with counter seats for those wanting a prime view...
Read more →What does a cut of tender grouse, a knickerbocker glory and a moreish martini all have in common? They’re all on the menu at 45 Jermyn St, a smart restaurant tucked away in Mayfair which is well worth checking out. The eatery, which is actually within fine food purveyor Fortnum & Mason, serves up an array of classic and seasonal dishes with grouse season now in full swing. I ventured to dinner on a Friday night and the place had a great buzz. Taking a corner table, I instantly felt at ease with low lighting and some soft jazz music setting the mood. The cosy interiors were designed by...
Read more →For a taste of old-school London, Le Caprice hits the spot. This classic restaurant, tucked away in the heart of Mayfair, oozes sophistication without being stuffy. Think Art Deco-style interiors, David Bailey photographs and smartly-dressed waiters brimming with charm. I hit the restaurant on a Monday night and the place was abuzz, with a bubbling of chatter and jazz piano lifting the mood. The outside terrace was full, but we were shown to a lovely little table towards the back of the restaurant, with light flooding in through the window. To set things off, we went for a couple of vodka...
Read more →I walked into The Westbury with a sudden swagger in my step. This five-star hotel in the heart of Mayfair off Old Bond Street garuntees to make you feel like a movie star with low lighting, swathes of marble jigsawed with walls of smooth wood panelling. I was getting a taster of a new Michelin-starred supper club launching for one night only in July, which is a collaboration between the Westbury's in-house chef Alyn Williams and British sparkling wind brand Nyetimber. Scrap the white, red and dessert wine combo. This tasting dinner is all about the bubbles. Shown swiftly to one of the venu...
Read more →I’m already plotting my return to Black Roe. I felt pretty deflated when I went, not because of the fodder, but because I didn’t leave room for dessert. It was only when I saw the enormous sundae glide by that I realised my dining error. Simply described as a ‘Shake and Bake’ on the menu the Black Roe pudding doesn’t give too much away. But from the 'oohs and ahhs' sounding from the diners over the way it is clearly pretty tasty. As are the savoury dishes at Black Roe - not to mention the interiors. The eatery, tucked away in a nook of Mayfair, oozes sexiness without parading it too much....
Read more →The Mayfair Flower Show, one of the key events in Mayfair’s cultural calendar, blooms at Sketch this May. Running for thirteen days from May 17 to 29, this year’s exhibition will celebrate the Royal couple and their nuptials in a spectacular show which will see the entirety of No.9 Conduit Street transformed for the occasion. Featuring a total of seven installations, highlights from 2018 show include a stunning floral and feather wedding dress, a wedding aisle, plus scenes from a fantasy honeymoon trip around the world. Now in its third year, the annual floricultural event celebrates some o...
Read more →One of the world's most exclusive members' clubs Annabel's - founded in 1963 by Mark Birley - is set to re-launch in London any time soon, with the venue not moving very far... Two doors down in fact, from 44 Berkley Square in the ritzy Mayfair neighbourhood to number 46. It's Rude To Stare got a sneak peek as to what regulars can expect and I can promise, they're in for a real hoot with four floors of fun awaiting, topped off with a mescal bar boasting one of the largest collection of tequilas at close to 600 bottles. Think opulence and old London glory with four restaurants, seven bars, tw...
Read more →Step out from the cold and take a trip down the rabbit hole to one of our favourite London hideaways, Sketch. The centrally-located wonderland, just off Regent's Street at 9 Conduit Street, promises to transport you away from the hubbub to an oasis of calm. This Christmas, the venue doesn't disappoint with another festive twist on its afternoon tea menu. On a rainy Wednesday in the Big Smoke, I stepped out of the wetness, through the front door curtains into a twinkling cavern of cool. After dropping our wet coats off at the front desk, we made our way through to the Gallery, where we were...
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