Peyotito

Some restaurants have the benefit of acclaim before they ever open their doors. This is the case with Peyotito located in London’s Notting Hill. The young restaurant has Eduardo Garcia as the executive Chef. Garcia is well-known for the highly-regarded Maximo Bistrot in Mexico City which has nabbed a spot among the ranks of Latin America’s 50 best restaurants. Keeping tone in line with the trendy district where it is located, Peyotito focuses on creative, modern Mexican cuisine (as well as an engaging range of tequila and mescal drinks).

Lunch and Dinner menus are offered along with a “rapido lunch” option, dessert, and bar menu. On the weekends they serve brunch as well as a Sunday supper. Standouts in their fare include octopus ceviche, lamb tacos de barbacoa, and multiple mole variations. Some of the highest praise they have been offered is centered around their liquid expertise. Along with several margaritas, a list of well-curated cocktails can be found including the Payback which features Don Julio Blanco, kiwi, Cointreau, lemon juice, and chili. For the agave-averse there is also an extensive wine list. Bringing Mexican food into the fine-dining atmosphere of London is no easy task but through Peyotito, Garcia proves he is the man for the job.

Address: 31 Kensington Park Road, London, W11 2EU
Telephone: 020 7043 1400
Website

Le 110 de Taillevent

Elaborate French dining has arrived in Marylebone London. Les 110 de Taillevent is a descendent of the two-Michelin star restaurant, Le Taillevent. So you already know you are getting a bang for your buck.

High quality, seasonal and contemporary French dishes are paired with perfect wines to ensure the best tasting notes are brought out of each dish. Every course is matched with a wine out of their extensive wine list. Les 110 de Taillevent has accumulated a 1,100+ wine list that is one of the most to offer in London. The chicly designed restaurant has 110 wines to choose from by the glass and these glasses pair extraordinarily well with whatever you are having, whether it is the Wild Sea Bass main course or the Wild Pigeon main course.

Dine luxuriously like the French overlooking Cavendish Square in London.

Address: 16 Cavendish Square, London, W1G 9DD
Telephone: 020 3141 6016
Website
Map

ROKA Mayfair

Fantastic atmosphere, memorable times, and amazing food. That’s what we all want from our dining experiences. Some places can pull off one or two of the three, but a truly exceptional restaurant knows how to package all of it together. On that front, ROKA Mayfair comes through tenfold.

Opening in February of 2014, ROKA Mayfair takes dining seriously. Its name was crafted with dining in mind; “RO” is the common dwelling where food is shared with friends and “KA” is the warmth and energy surrounding them. ROKA Mayfair is conveniently located just steps from the shopping on Oxford Street, so when you are out picking up the essentials, step in with the family or friends to ROKA’s unique atmosphere. Rainer Becker and the chefs at ROKA take contemporary Japanese Robatayaki cuisine and turn each and every dish into a plated work of art. The thought that goes into each entrée coupled with the execution and presentation makes you almost not want to eat anything. Almost.

Prepared in the open kitchen on their robata grill, you can watch your meal being put together right in front of you, and that is only half of the fun! Once the food hits your lips, you’ll be looking for the maître d’ to make another immediate reservation. Some of their signature dishes include fresh yellowtail sashimi with their yummy yuzu-truffle dressing, or the king crab served with caviar. ROKA does more than just seafood; try their mouth watering seared beef striploin with black truffle dressing, or the smoked duck breast with barley miso and kumquats. And their expertise isn’t confined to just the main course, their desserts are complete works of art as well. Make sure to try the crunchy banana ice cream puffs with miso-lime toffee, or the remarkable winter citrus crème brulee with Japanese granola and whisky ice cream.  I’m telling you, go out of your way and make a reservation at ROKA today and make many fond food memories.

The Coral Room

The Doyle Collection is a group of luxury hotels around the world that focuses on bespoke and stylish design. The Coral Room exemplifies this concept. Find respite from busy city life in this country-home inspired lounge in the heart of Bloomsbury. You’ll know you’re in the right place when you see the namesake coral walls and enchanting Martin Brudnizki inspired interior design, complete with chandeliers and marble topped bar mirrors. The walls are lined with 36 original pieces by illustrator Luke Edward Hall.

The English sparkling wine list emphasis selections from local vineyards. If you want something a little sweeter, opt for a spritz-style cocktail with a name celebrating the country-city fusion that inspires the restaurant. If you’re craving something smokier, step outside to the cigar terrace, aptly named The Coral Garden, and enjoy a quite drink under the foliage. If you’re feeling peckish dine on the restaurant’s novel menu, featuring an acai bowl, spiced baked eggs, turmeric yogurt, and other innovative culinary fusions. Enjoy the fresh air, or soak up the rustic décor and picturesque atmosphere, and return to city-life rejuvenated.

The Lampery, London

If your motto in life is “Work Hard, Play Hard” then you will feel right at home at The Lampery. Inspired by 17th Century MP Samuel Pepys’ permission to indulge in what you want, when you want it, this London enterprise has created a ‘Best of British’ menu using locally sourced seasonal ingredients to be enjoyed in a sophisticated area surrounded by vibrant greenery reminiscent of an indoor garden-space.

Unwind by sipping from their heavenly cocktail menu, featuring a roster of signature and classic concoctions, as well as seasonal choices. Kick off your weekend on Thursday with music and sliders starting at noon, or head down for “Cocktails O’Clock,” The Lampery’s twist on Happy Hour. From 5-10pm, Monday through Wednesday, you can enjoy two-for-one access to their entire drink menu. So, bring a friend and indulge your way through the week!

The Mandrake's Waeska Bar

Luxury has a new name. Luxury is a hotel, The Mandrake Hotel to be exact. Located in the heart of London’s West End in a converted RIBA award-winning building, this new hotel is unlike any other. It is a luxurious boutique establishment with more than a touch of the surreal to its design, stimulating soundscapes, and myriad of amenities offered. One of the (many) main attractions happens to be the Waeska Bar. The Bar, which features rare botanical-based cocktails, shares the hotel’s ambiance and is likewise decorated with magnificent objets d’art curated by the hotel’s owner, Rami Fustok.

From mostly small batch distillers across the globe, drinks are served from a talented, practiced team of mixologists, including Walter Pintus, the bar manager, who is both an undisputed master of mixology on the London bar scene and an award-winning bartender. Each cocktail delivers the Mandrake’s inimitable aesthetic—decadent, daring, and refined. Syrups, infusions, garnishes, and bitters are all crafted on site. Even the ice is specially sculpted. Even the cocktail names are matched to the hotel’s hedonistic theme. Every detail is accounted for. One of the drinks highlighted on the menu is the White Witch: a mix of truffle-washed vodka, white bitters, vermouth, and wattleseed tincture. Another such one is the Satyr, made with: Portobello gin, saffron syrup, citrus, dry sherry, and absinthe. Luxury is not only a hotel now, it is a bar: London’s new watering hole, the Waeska Bar.

Brunello Bar at Baglioni

Chef Alberto Rossetti has a deep love and appreciation for pastas and risottos ingrained in him by his mother’s cooking back in Parma, Italy. Now he wants to share that love with the rest of the world at the reopened Brunello Bar & Restaurant at the Baglioni Hotel in London. With a gorgeous view of the Kensington Gardens chef Rossetti wants to bring simple and sophisticated dishes to the hotel.

The lunch menu is more informal fare featuring classic Italian dishes while the dinner menu is more sophisticated with more contemporary variations on the classics. Lobster risotto, tuna steak with sesame seeds and peppers, and pumpkin veloute are all among Rossetti’s signature dishes. 

Afternoon tea is available daily between 1:00 PM and 5:30 PM and features a fantastic selection of herbal and traditional teas, accompanied by delicious savoury dishes or a selection of cakes and pastries such as the famous “Sicilian cannoli with ricotta” and “Neapolitan sfogliatelle”.

The Bloomsbury Club

Hidden beneath the finesse of Doyle Collections’ Bloomsbury Hotel sits a quaint yet sophisticated bar, teeming with cocktail creativity. A speakeasy mixed with Mad Men vibe on the inside opens out to a rustic and cozy outdoor patio on the outside. The well placed heat lamps keep you warm, so you can spend the entire evening sitting beneath stone arches in all-embracing comfort and privacy.

I always take my hat off to a bar that invites Mixologists from around the globe to come in-house and help them perfect their craft -- and that’s exactly what Bloomsbury has done. Teaming up with a variety of World’s Best Bars, including The Clumsies and BlackTail they continue to push the boundaries of cocktail innovation.

There's a marvelous old school feel the this place which resonates throughout the entirety of the cocktail menu, new twists on old favourties accross a spectrum of gin, rum, whisky and tequila. There's even a couple of exciting surprises thrown into the mix, such as the Gin & Milk cocktail, which was not at all what you'd expect in a truly fantastical kind of way. The highlight of the experience is that not only can you bank on getting a delicious cocktail, it becomes without the typical London price-tag, costing you around £10 per serve. 

You can't help but notice subtle Italian themes peeking through every now and again, especially when it comes to a good old fashioned Negroni, which I have to say Bloomsbury kicks ass at. In an effort to drum up some more excitement and create a personal and tailored experience they will also soon be launching the ability to have your very own barrel filled with a Negroni style cocktail. The thinking behind this being; when you arrive at the venue, you have your own personal stash you can delve into. A solid idea with a wonderfully personally feel to it that compliments the look and feel to this venue so incredibly well.

Well all know that when great food and drink combine they create an other-worldly experience and Bloomsbury is no stranger to this way of thinking – with an incredible nibble menu at the heart of this bar. Whether it’s the quail scotch eggs, lobster taco’s or charcuterie boards that tickle your fancy, these gourmet treats hit the spot, rich in flavor and combine beautifully with the bespoke cocktail menu.

All in all this is a fabulous up-and-coming venue that could really do with some more love from cocktail enthusiasts. The space is incredibly inviting, warm and cosy and I can quite confidently say that I will be returning soon. With cocktails around the £10 mark, it’s an absolute steal considering the quality.

Where: The Bloomsbury Hotel
Address: 16-22 Great Russell St, Fitzrovia, London WC1B 3NN
Phone: 020 7347 1000