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 →Sadie Whitelocks 9
If you go down to one pub in London today, you’ll be in for a big surprise. The charming Gunmakers in Clerkenwell, which is tucked down a cobbled road, has a hairdressers hidden in its attic so you can get a rum, coke and cut at the same time. I popped to the Gun Club salon on a rainy Wednesday afternoon, where I met the lovely Tim on the top floor. The attic salon has a nice chilled-out feel, and there is even a small bar with delicious banana-infused negroni mix waiting to be poured. I explained to Tim that I hadn’t had a haircut for more than three years, as self-beautification is botto...
Read more →I realised I was sitting there with a big grin on my face as I settled in to watch Cirque du Soleil's jaw-dropping production Ovo at London's Royal Albert Hall. Full of fun, humour and dazzling colour, this is a show that will brighten the rainiest of days. The nature-inspired spectacle, conceived by Brazilian writer Deborah Colker, delves into the world of insects, with performers transforming themselves into cartwheeling beetles, twirling butterflies and creeping spiders. It first premiered in Montreal in 2009 and it is currently showing in London before moving to Antwerp in March. From...
Read more →London’s Leicester Square is somewhere I generally avoid but on stepping into the W London hotel, the craziness of tourists-galore soon dissipated. I felt as though I was rocketing into space as I took the black leather-padded elevator and stepped into an equally as spangly reception. Check in was friendly and efficient and despite the overly hip interiors, I felt at ease. I was testing a new service at the hotel, courtesy of Girl Meets Dress, where you can hire an outfit of your choice and get it delivered to your room. After navigating a set of very dark corridors, with just a low glow t...
Read more →It was 2am and I was sat outside in a bath, with the cool London air wafting over the steamy waters. This recent bathing experience at the beautifully kooky Zetter Townhouse - just tucked away close to Marble Arch tube station - definitely made for one of my most surreal hotel stays yet. If you haven’t had chance to get to the 24-room Georgian mansion, then I highly recommend you check it out. The downstairs lounge area is a hidden gem in itself, with the interiors stuffed full of curiosities that will keep you entertained for hours. It was a very rainy Monday night and I checked into the ...
Read more →On walking into the Philippe Starck-designed Faena hotel in Buenos Aires you’re immediately transported into another world. Thick Alice and Wonderland meets a sexy dragon’s lair and you’ve got it in one. Triple-height ceilings give way to dramatic draped curtains and the place is dripping in blood-red swathes of fabric, from the carpet to the scatter cushions. Outdoors, the rouge theme continues and there is even an over-sized gold crown erected defiantly at one end of the swimming pool. I taxied over to the 105-room Faena hotel on a Friday night, to catch on of the best tango shows in the A...
Read more →San Diego often gets overlooked in favour of Los Angeles, but if you're looking for somewhere more relaxed and not requiring long drives to get around then this is the place to be. For those flying into LAX, San Diego is a just a two-hour Amtrak train ride away, or for those landing direct to the city's airport it's merely a 10-minutes in a taxi to the downtown area. So, if you're got 48 hours to spare on your next trip to California, here's a few tips for doing San Diego in style... DAY ONE Morning California boasts miles of sun-drenched coastline. In the morning, book a kayak tour with ...
Read more →A trip to Los Angeles was looming and with friends staying in a small nook of Santa Monica, I scoured Airbnb for something fairly nearby and within budget. The Artist Studio Loft immediately appealed with its quirky decor and it certainly didn't disappoint. Located around a 20-minute drive from LAX Airport, a short stroll to Venice Beach and on the doorstep of a pretty cool neighbourhood, the apartment proved to be perfectly located. After working our way through the outside door we found ourselves in an Alice and Wonderland-style garden, with pieces of art scattered around, peeping out fro...
Read more →'I struggled to find fine dining and good German food in Vancouver so I decided to open my own restaurant...' I'd only just met Dr Uwe Boll - a German filmmaker (once acclaimed the world's worst) who hopped to Canada more than a decade ago - but already I was liking his style. The food and film fanatic opened Bauhaus in Vancouver's Gastown district two-and-a-half years ago and it's already tipped as one of the hottest spots in town. The slickly-designed venue - a former bank - is impressive with double height ceilings, exposed brickwork and a stainless steel open plan kitchen. Each object h...
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