If you're looking to add a real dash of flare and flavour to your night, then COYA Mayfair promises to satisfy your cravings. The Peruvian-inspired restaurant and pisco lounge is a sultry lair where your tastebuds are sent on a journey to the sunny wilds of South America. I checked into the place on a Friday night and the dining room steadily packed out to create a buzzing yet refined atmosphere. Taking a pew on a table next to a window, a friendly waitress came to run us through the menu and explained that dishes were best shared and that if we weren't drinking wine there were lots of cock...
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If you want a taste of classic, upper crust New York, head to the deliciously understated Mark Hotel. This historic spot, which boasts 150 Art Deco-influenced rooms and suites, recently swept to international fame after Meghan Markle picked as the place to host her baby shower party. She booked the hotel's lofty penthouse, which comes in at an eye-watering $75,000 a night. As soon as you pull up to The Mark, you're transported to a world of refined luxury, with suited doormen ready to greet you and well-groomed guests wafting in and out. The lobby features low ceilings, sparkling monochr...
Read more →The Rookery, nestled in the heart of Clerkenwell, remains my favourite place to staycate in London. It is discreet, beautifully-appointed and oozing with charm. On stepping into the 18th century property, you're transported to a world of silks, brocade and finely polished wood. To enter the building, you must press a doorbell to enter the homely reception area. I checked in on a sunny Sunday afternoon, and as ever, the staff were personable yet professional. I was shown to a room on the first floor. All of the chambers are named after historic figures in the area, and I was shown to on...
Read more →Sat in Le Pont de la Tour on a Friday night, I was suddenly drifting to a memory of dining at the River Cafe in New York. From the classic sophisticated decor, to the classic style of service and polished menu, this place reminds lots of the revered Manhattan spot. We’d settled into a window seat looking out on to the Thames, with the place embalmed in the warm glow of candle light. Topping off the convivial atmosphere was the gentle chatter of happy diners and jazz music tootling away. 'We could be a Woody Allen movie,' I thought. From start to finish, the service was on point, with th...
Read more →If you're looking for place to impress a date or mark a celebration, than Oblix at The Shard comes top of the list. The 32nd floor eatery boasts unparalleled views of London, a mouth-watering menu and there are two areas which offer a completely different vibe. In Oblix West the dining area is sophisticated with an open kitchen to entertain, while over in the East section, the style's slightly more informal with a long bar and live music to keep you merry into the night. I zoomed up to Oblix on a Wednesday night and the place had a great buzz with expectant diners streaming into...
Read more →I have a list of my favourite places to stay in London which I regularly share with friends coming to town. And now the Kimpton Fitzroy has edged its way towards the top. This 334-room hotel offers everything you could want; style, sophistication and great service. Its central location is another major plus and it's right by Russell Square tube station, with major attractions such as the British Museum and Covent Garden on the doorstep. Even from the outside, this place impresses with an elegant 19th century facade. The building was built in 1898 and designed by Charles Fitzroy Doll - w...
Read more →If you’ve got the travel bug, you might want to temporarily satisfy that itch with a trip to Mr Fogg’s Society of Exploration. The cosy and eccentric bar, located underground just off the Strand, is themed around Phileas Fogg and his journey in the 1873 Jules Verne novel Around The World In 80 Days. Mr Fogg’s Society of Exploration imagines what his secret liar would have looked like, complete with regal leather armchairs, a wood-panelled map room and main bar area stocked with knickknacks, from antique ornaments to travel books and encyclopaedias. Adding to the zaniness, is a replica Orien...
Read more →If you’re looking for a weekend getaway with a difference, you might want to roll on down to Rathfinny within the South Downs National Park in East Sussex. Easily accessible from London by train (arriving at Polegate and a taxi from there) this is one of the UK’s newest vineyards offering a superb sparkling wine (currently stocked in Harvey Nichols, Selfridges and Berry Bros), not to mention a very sippable dry vermouth and gin! The sweeping 600-acre estate is nestled in the heart of the country and on arriving you’re immediately transported to a world of country calm; think a roaring fire, ...
Read more →Venturing to Lidl for some swashbuckling fun might sound random but stay with me on this one.... Experimental maestros Bompas and Parr have come up with a new venture to keep you on your toes - or certainly within grasp of your poncho. The creative geniuses have teamed up with Captain Morgan rum to take Londoners on a nautical adventure to an underground paradise: the Lost Lagoon, which is now revealed to be deep in the earth in Shepherd’s Bush. Without revealing too much, we ventured down to their immersive experience on a Thursday evening and were left in a state of bewilderment. It was ...
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