Beautiful books, snaffable cocktails and fine fodder aren’t a common combination but if you head down to Maison Assouline you’ll find all three luring you into a dreamy haze. The unassuming bookstore is located on Piccadilly and if you haven’t been in, I highly encourage you to. The store-cum-bar is housed within an old bank - designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens in 1922 - and it boasts an array of period features, from dark wood panelled walls to sky-high ceilings and intricate cornicing work. The place is stacked with the dreamiest of books from Maison Assouline with subject categories to suite ...
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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 →Finding a rooftop in London where you can drink well-mixed cocktails and eat good food is a pretty hard combination. But the new roof at The Trafalgar St James hotel hits both spots. I try to avoid central London when I can, but sat on the top deck of this new spot I felt a world away from the hustle and bustle downstairs. We picked a couch table, with views of the city skyline peeping out before us and chefs busily whipping up dishes from the open kitchen. There was a good atmosphere, with upbeat music and chatter from other guests setting the tone. It was a really hot evening, so we put...
Read more →The great thing about London is after years of living in the city, there's always something new to explore. Last weekend I discovered a new hidden away hotel, which made for a pretty plush staycation. If you're looking for a slice of luxury, something discreet and refined, then the St James's Hotel and Club is the place to land. For my mum's birthday, I checked us into the 60-room former gentlemen's club after hearing about its new wellness package from Perfect 10, which complements stays with healthy breakfasts and in-room massages. Mum's not a fan of massages - I'm not sure why! - so we ...
Read more →Aindrea Emelife is a 23-year-old art critic, independent curator, and presenter from London. She has always been compelled by the art world and has established her own unique voice within it. Starting at The Courtauld Institute of Art, where she completed a BA in History of Art, she has quickly gone on to become a ground-breaking new voice in an art world otherwise steeped in tradition. Having already presented art films for such prestigious institutions as The Royal Academy of Arts, The Hepworth Wakefield Museum, The Dairy Art Centre, The Courtauld Gallery, Waldemar Januszczak and ZCZ Produc...
Read more →The wonderful 'sakura' cherry blossom garden returns to the Sake no Hana bar to celebrate Spring. The bar at at this Japanese restaurant by the Hakkasan Group, has been transformed with intertwining cherry blossom branches, falling petals, a grass floor, and blossom entrances. At night, lights twinkle within the blossom to create an intimate yozakura atmosphere, yozakura literally meaning ‘night sakura’.
Read more →Avenue restaurant and bar in St James brings a little bit of Manhattan glamour to London with striking contemporary interiors transformed by Russell Sage who gives it the feel of a glamorous Manhattan loft space with eclectic modern art and design features including a stunning drinks centrepiece. The bar which is pretty much adjacent to the said centrepiece we're told once boosted the longest bar counter in London (though we believe this is no longer the case) is stunning and is run by some very talented and innovative bartenders.
Read more →Avenue is a recent addition to St. James's Street, serving up new American cuisine for lunch and dinner, and perfectly suited to entertain well-heeled gents, socialites and post-work pleasure seekers.
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