Before we knew it, a party had started. The DJ (Ibiza veteran and Kate Moss' pal, Fat Tony) was spinning the decks with an ice cream cone to hand and a waiter was throwing some hip shakes at the till. Surprisingly my mum was loving the vibe at Sexy Fish's new Sunday brunch. The soft lighting, the buzzing atmosphere and tantalising smells quickly lulled us a world away from the sleepy Mayfair streets outside. Admittedly, we found it tricky to hear each other at times but that was half the fun. It had been a while since I'd felt so clubby on a Sunday. It reminded me of life in New York wher...
Read more →Sadie Whitelocks 9
A quick power nap and I was as right as rain. I'd decided to escape the hustle and bustle of Heathrow and check out one of the newest lounges to land at the airport. The Plaza Premium Lounge, at Terminal Two, boasts bedrooms and showers so you can refresh while on the go. I was taking an earlyish flight to Copenhagen before hopping on another flight to the Faroe Islands. I was exhausted and in need of a speedy sleep and the lounge was the perfect spot. Low lights, high ceilings and neutral interiors helped to further lull me into a zen-like state. Plug sockets are rife too, so I plugged ...
Read more →'I want something that will pick me up and f*ck me up,' Kate Moss asked famed cocktail maestro Dick Bradsell in the early eighties. And thus, the espresso martini was born, as the mixologist only had a coffee maker and some vodka to hand. We headed to the Bluebird in Chelsea to get a mixology masterclass from the restaurant's top bartending team. The espresso martini is one of the venue's most popular cocktails. The head bartender, Egzon Kastrati, revealed that the bar uses more coffee than the main restaurant for making the heady libations. In a month, they roughly rustle up 3,000 espres...
Read more →The Queen’s closest Thai restaurant, unlike Buckingham Palace, is simple and fuss-free. The Mango Tree boasts a prime spot in the city, just a hop, skip, and a jump from Victoria train station and Green Park. Despite its ritzy location, the place is laid-back with no formal attire required. It’s a Friday night and the place is buzzing, with a mixed bag of guests feasting away. An Indian family sits behind us while a group of students gaggle away on a table to our right. One thing that is reflective of the area, is the price. Most mains hover at more than £20, while the starters are around ...
Read more →Pizza slices, popcorn, Jammie Dodgers and hot chocolate were our go-to accoutrements for sleepover when we were 12. But more than a decade later, my childhood friend Stephanie and I had decided to do a PJ party all grown up. Now both based in London and no longer in the Nottinghamshire wilds where we attended ballet school, we decided to check out the newly-revamped Blakes hotel in the Kensington area of town. Tucked away on a quiet residential street where houses go for a handsome sum, this place is a treasure box to explore. Over the years this secluded spot has welcomed a host of A-liste...
Read more →'Not Times Square!' Was the first thing that all my friends said when I told them I'd checked into a hotel in the heart of Manhattan, where it never gets dark due to the neon glow and the streets are interspersed with men dressed in Muppets costumes - not to mention a Naked Cowboy strumming his guitar. However, The Time Hotel in New York isn't your average Times Square tourist / business haunt, with hard beds and greying carpet tiles. I was suprised to find this place is refreshingly hip, with a sense of character that's playfully slick. After battling my way past Muppets - unfortunately no...
Read more →If you go down to Shepherd's Bush today, turn right before the bridge and walk down Richmond Way road, you'll be in for a big surprise. Tucked away on this quiet residential street is K West, a former BBC recording studio, which is now a hotel, bar and spa. Although it's been open for more than ten years, I'd never been to the spot. But a friend informed me the understated haunt is a big hit with music industry crowd. 'Everyone used to record here from Bob Marley to Amy Winehouse,' I was told as I was shown around the building, which still carries a sort of office-like vibe. I'd de...
Read more →Going for dinner at a department store might not sounds enticing. But Harrods isn't any old department store. Nestled on the 5th floor of the maze-like Knightsbridge shopping spot is Chai Wu, a Chinese restaurant serving up a range of fusion-style treats to fuel a hard day of spending. It was 7pm on a Friday night and I'd set a date there with an old school friend who I hadn't seen for a number of years. We'd had a hard day at work, not spending unfortunately, but we were in need of pepping up nonetheless. Walking into Chai Wu you're instantly transported away from the madness o...
Read more →'It feels a bit like we're in a Woody Allen movie,' I mused as I sipped my martini and basked in the warm glamour of Il Pampero. Maybe it was the jolly jazz tootling away in the background that made me feel like I was on a movie set or the romantic mood the place put me in when I stepped through the chic glass doors and was greeted by a duo of smiling doormen. The hot new Belgravia spot, within the boutique Hari hotel, oozes sophisticated cool. Thanks to famed British interior designer Tara Bernerd, the furnishings are a feast for the eyes. Think advant-garde art meets Art Deco, wh...
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