Out & About in London: Around Town
Eat
Quietly classy and deliberately ‘un-fashion’ this seems more of an intimate local Italian than a glossy Mayfair joint, but that’s before you order.
19-20 Dover Street, W1 Tel: 020 7495 4768
Must Try: Pan-fried monkfish with chorizo and a rich saffron sauce
If Barrafina's packed, try the Arbutus next door. We love the set lunch menus and waiting room bar. For the smart Soho set.
63-64 Frith Street, W1 Tel: 020 7734 4545
The newest Japanese in town, doesn’t play on any conveyor gimmickry or fish flown in from the Far East for its credibility. Rather its affordable fresh sushi hints at great things; especially as the head chef has worked at top haunts such as Nobu, Ubon and Tsunami.
37 Monck Street, SW1P 2BL Tel: 020 7222 2218
Bacchus
Haute cuisine in a relaxed setting, Bacchus is proving that Shoreditch really is growing up. Try the tasting menu for a gastro experience, that's remarkably reasonable. Sous- Vide style cooking (low temperatures/airtight bags) will be your new best friend. 177 Hoxton Street, Shoreditch, N1 6PJ Tel: 020 7613 0477
The latest offering from Sam and Eddie Hart of Moro acclaim, this soho instant favourite, has taken inspiration from Cal Pep in Barcelona, and serves up delicious morsels. No reservations, and always busy. Get there early and have a sherry.
54 Frith Street, W1 Tel: 020 7813 8016
Bar Shu
Acclaimed Fiery Sichuan haunt in Soho. Try to get a ‘hot-pot’- they only do a handful per night and Kettners across the street is a good après dinner spot for champers to cool the palette.
28 Frith St, W1D 5LF Tel: 020 7287 6688
Must try: Fire-exploded kidney flowers, don’t ask, just an awesome eat.
This Notting Hill newbie may have been slated in the press, but it's still doing well, and proving to be exactly what the locals want. Comfort food in a cosy ranch style interior, with whiskey rooms, and an antique-filled annex of gaming and fun.
209 Westbourne Park Rd, Notting Hill, W11 Tel: 020 7243 9818
David Tang’s Dorchester based gourmet Chinese restaurant. Expect gold décor, a moneyed crowd, and an authentic menu. Highlights include dim sum and interesting combos (abalone and lobster anyone?).
The Dorchester, Park Lane, W1K 1QA 53 Tel: 020 7629 9988
Must try: try Peking duck as a three-course meal, and Mangosteen meringue for dessert.
This London outpost attracts a moneyed Euro crowd and Simon Cowell…Expect the trademark Bellini; attentive wait staff, and pricey, but divine Italian food. Not for the faint hearted. Book well in advance.
5 Davies Street, W1 Tel: 020 7399 0500
Must Try: Beef carpaccio and the overlooked £21 three-course lunch
Co-owned by Sir Michael Caine, the focus here is gourmet Indian food that is easy on the spice and heavy on the seafood. These are light modern dishes for elegant dining. Perfect then, for the Grade II listed dining room.
34 Portman Square, W1 Tel: 020 7224 0028
Must Try: pistachio, masala & rose water crème brûlé.
Being one of the city’s only fashionable tapas joints, the patrons here have always been as much about style as substance. The tapas themselves are sophisticated, the portions generous and the combinations interesting.
33 Charlotte Street (entrance on Rathbone Street), W1 Tel: 020 7813 8010
Must Try: Crisp pork belly and diver caught scallops
The Bistro deluxe is the original ‘Galvin’ a more relaxed affordable affair than its new sibling At Windows. Here you can relax into big leather banquettes and happily while away an afternoon eating simple bourgeois classics. Lets hope it starts the Baker Street regeneration.
66 Baker Street, W1U 7DH Tel: 020 7935 4007
Must try: Lasagne of Dorset crab
Hakkasan
This Michelin starred Chinese eatery is still one of the best restaurants in
London. The black marble décor and uber-designed interior may feel a bit dated, but no matter. The food is divine and cocktails sublime, worth making the effort to book in advance. Highlights include the lunchtime dim sum and fresh fruit cocktails; the bar is destination in its own right.
8 Hanaway Place W1 Tel: 020 7927 7000
Must Try: Roast Venison Puff or Char Sui Pau, like eating sweet beefy air
This may prove to be a lesson in French cuisine, with legendary chef Joël Robuchon, only voted chef of the century, at the helm of this gourmet tapas destination. If you’re hungry however, this may not be your best bet, as courses are largely of the no-chewing necessary sort.
13-15 West Street, WC2H 9NQ Tel: 020 7010 8600
La Ramsay’s newest UK venture. Opened recently to rave reviews, Bjorn Vander Horst’s classic French fare, led by daily market produce, seems to consistently impress. 64 Sloane Street, London SW1, Tel: 020 7750 5000.
Must try: Share the English rib of beef for two
Giorgio Locatelli's eponymous restaurant serves delectable, innovative Italian
cuisine. With a sophisticated David Collins designed dining room, flawless
service and mouth-watering dishes, this is a foodie's fave. We love his new bible sized cookbook too!
8 Seymour Street, W1 Tel: 020 7935 9088
Must Try: Simplest spring salad of radish, baby carrot, fine beans, peas and endives may induce the first salad orgasm ever, literally the finest salad you could ever imagine.
The restaurant is fronted with the glossy designer touch courtesy of David Collins- all super soft leather sofas and glittering mosaics- and becomes more of a grown up affair as you get to the chic formal restaurant. The food focus is on fresh top quality ingredients without fuss, and with Marco Pierre at the helm, every visit is a treat.
72 St James's Street, SW1A 1PH Tel: 020 7408 1440
Always comforting, entering the lounge at the Mandarin is like saying hello to an old friend. Interesting cocktails, and mohair covered armchairs mean that you can truly lounge in style.
66 Knightsbridge, SW1X 7LA Tel: 020 7235 2000
This four- floor drinking/dining emporium offers private dining for intimate nights, a buzzy main restaurant, a main bar, and basement drinking den that makes the best martini in W1.
10-11 Lancashire Court, W1S 1EY Tel: 020 7518 9388
Divine drink: Strawberry and cucumber Martini
Recently opened in the Knightsbridge site that was Isola, Mocoto serves up brazilian dishes in a fun setting. Capirinhas, and reservations a must.
145 Knightsbridge, SW1 Tel: 0207 225 2300
The food is good, but it's the atmosphere here that really brings in the beautiful people. The French-Moroccan themed décor provides a festive backdrop and the low-lighting casts a flattering glow, which is always a good thing. The downstairs bar with nightly live music- is a definite highlight
27 Heddon Street W1 Tel: 020 7434 4040
Must Do: The tea garden is open till 1am for a hookah and cocktail late into the night
The original modern Moroccan, with fresh ingredients and great flavours. Ever evolving, always impressing, Moro continues to inspire the palette with new creations.
34-36 Exmouth Market, EC1R 4QE Tel: 020 7833 8336
Must Try: The menu is overhauled every week, but seek out tapas to start and anything charcoal grilled.
Nobu needs no introduction. If you get a table, the fresh sushi (we love the tuna tataki), excellent service, and buzzy crowd will not disappoint. The bar at Nobu Berkeley is a bonus, too.
Metropolitan HoTel:, 19 Old Park Lane, W1 Tel: 020 7447 4747
15 Berkeley Street, W1J 8DY Tel: 020 7290 7222
Must Try: Never tire of signature dishes, but try the tasting menu and you get black miso cod and wagyu steak amongst six other courses of bliss.
Odette's
A Primrose Hill fave, Odettes has recently been renovated- the interior may be OTT, but the fare is still classic French.
130 Regent's Park Road, NW1 Tel: 020 7586 8569
With dim sum served all day in sleek surroundings, Ping-Pong’s are popping up all over London for a reason. Their phrase, “little steamed parcels of deliciousness”, couldn’t put it better.
45 Great Marlborough Street, W1F 7JL Tel: 020 7851 6969
Must Try: The usual dim sum faves, but at a bargain price
A buzzy seafood restaurant that has people hanging out of the window tables in the summer, enticing you in with their delicious looking mussels and steaks. From inside Soho life looks perfect. Good spot to dine pre- Too2Much.
16 Brewer Street, W1 Tel: 020 7287 4447
Must try: Go classic with lobster and chips
Being the sibling of Zuma, Roka had some pretty big shoes to fill, but it seems
like the winning combo of a healthy robata grill, innovative menu (including
various 'comfort' Japanese dishes) and reasonable prices has created another successful venture. On a nice night, the patio seating hits the spot.
37 Charlotte Street, W1 Tel: 020 7580 6464
Must Try: Kimchi and bespoke Shochu.
The recently opened Ronnie’s - the member’s bar portion of legendary Ronnie Scott’s - is soon to be our new ‘third space’. It’s small, sophisticated, and the cocktails are to die for. The décor is Parisian, and seems to be HoTel:Costes inspired, and the location really couldn’t get any better. Say goodbye to nights walking around Soho trying to wake Trish.
Open to the public until May, when membership kicks in
47 Frith Street, W1D Tel: 020 7439 0747
Normally associated with salt and oil overload, seasonal, light tapas are a rarity, but here charcuterie meats, breads and sides are great for sharing. Ring before and request the corner, sunken table. 54 Goodge Street, W1T 4NA Tel: 0207 637 0657
Must try: Fois gras and jam
Scott’s
The place to dine at these days, Scotts has recently been re-opened by caprice holdings (J Sheeky, the Ivy etc) and has been already hailed a success. Expect a glam nautical interior, sophisticated crowd, and crustecia galore.
20 Mount Street, W1 Tel: 020 7495 7309
Still going strong, Mourad’s multi-million pound venue, has this year added Glade, which has become a lunchtime media haunt (great skylights). Tea, and ’ice-cream’ nights (Tuesdays) are other highlights. If you still haven’t tried the Lecture Room, and don’t want to break the bank, book a set lunch. 9 Conduit Street, W1 Tel: 0870 777 4488
Must Try: The Parlour’s infinitely amazing cakes, and under the radar bargain three- course lunch (£20)
Settle into a comfy white sofa here and it's easy to pretend you're in Miami.
Water features, soft lighting, and beautiful people - who relentlessly pose-
make this a great way to pass a night. Choose from a menu that encourages you
to try your hand at a sophisticated form of pick and mix.
Sanderson HoTel:50 Berners Street W1 Tel: 020 7300 1400
Must Try: Eclectic flavours, prawn & salmon cerviche with sweet chilli popcorn
Delicious contemporary Japanese cuisine in a light, minimalist venue with slick
service, and a sleek basement bar. Crowd is quite corporate, but this is Mayfair, what do you expect? 26 Albemarle Street, W1 Tel: 020 7495 5999
Must Try: Incredible sushi rolls, the T&T, a stunning combination of tuna & truffle
Glossy new restaurant, backed by Claudio Pulze, the man who put Ramsey into Aubergine. Cipriani may well have met its match (plus it’s lighter on the wallet too).
23 Conduit Street, W1S Tel: 020 7439 7050
Must Try: Tagliolini made with a purée of borlotti beans, and tortellini filled with scamorza, goat cheese and sun-dried tomatoes
Oliver Peyton’s newest venture, is in one of the oldest art establishments in London. Diners are transported into an age of elegance - with silk parasols and placemats and a dramatic glass roof complimenting modern French fare
Wallace Collection, Manchester Sq, W1U 3BN Tel: 020 7563 9505.
Must try: The shared main courses. Either the Seabass baked in a salt crust or the Rib Pepper Beef
Getting a table at this esteemed European bistro continues to be difficult, but the regal ambience, all day service and simple, but well-prepared cuisine is well worth the wait.
160 Piccadilly, W1 Tel: 020 7499 6996
Must Try: The best in fine breakfasting Eggs Benedict and Bubble and Squeak
Perhaps not so easy to say, think of poor Mick Jagger with L’Wren Scott, but it does do Eurostyle in’ style’; expect beautiful wait staff and superb food from the stable of the Pourcel brothers (of the starry Le Jardin des Sens in Montpelier).
12 Waterloo Place, St James', SW1Y 4AU Tel: 020 7484 1355
Must Try: Three-way artichoke starter (slivered, puréed & roasted with balsamic)
Yau’s acclaimed dim sum restaurant. Blue fish tanks and fairy lights complement the perfectly formed morsels. Tea and cakes on the ground floor are delicious too. The restaurant is non-smoking, and surprisingly, the prices are almost reasonable.
15/17 Broadwick Street, W1 Tel: 020 7494 8888
Must Try: Scallop Siu Mai is brilliantly constructed (a halved scallop on a plump shrimp with a dollop of fish roe)
Zuma – it may be expensive, but if you’re after soft shell crab and Wagyu beef, heel- toe it to this Knightsbridge fave. The bar may be packed with suits, and without a reservation, you’re probably out of luck, but if you are seated, prepare to fine dine.
5 Raphael Street, SW7 1DL Tel: 020 7584 1010
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