Duane Street Hotel

Families, professionals and lone travellers alike will be enticed by the sophistication and worldliness offered by the extraordinary eats and comforting beds at the Duane Street Hotel. This hotel is part of The Independent Collection; a cluster of boutique establishments in residential neighbourhoods that deliver guests an authentic experience in whichever city they are visiting.

With 43 rooms, a grab-and-go breakfast station and a delicious restaurant featuring Indian flavours, the Duane Street Hotel appeals to both international guests and locals looking for respite from their busy lives. Young lodgers will delight in the complimentary iPad service. With two delicious restaurants and an in-room mini-bar, guests will be grateful for the gym passes at Equinox, located right across the street. Bicycles are available for loan giving you easy access to Tribeca, which was a hot spot for artists in the 1960s and ‘70s and is now one of the most desired addresses in New York. With each suite equipped with eleven-foot ceilings, hardwood floors and oversized windows however, it may be hard to tear yourself away from your room.

Address: 130 Duane Street New York, New York 10013
Telephone: 212 964 4600 
Website

Sofitel London: A Ten Year Reunion

Colin Hampden-White revisits Sofitel for a rather special anniversary.

Ten years ago, I stayed in a fabulous hotel in central London, with my new wife Caroline. We had wed that day in the beautiful Westminster Abbey and partied until the early hours at the House of Lords, so to stay a stone’s throw away in St James’ in absolute comfort was perfect. We arrived very late and slept well. The stay was perfect for the occasion, but it didn’t give us time to enjoy what the hotel had to offer, so for our tenth anniversary we organised to go back and do exactly that.

We arrived early in the afternoon to check in. Like the day after our wedding, the weather was glorious, and we wanted to walk around St James’. The Sofitel is perfectly placed for everything the west end has to offer. Being a short walk to the theatres on Shaftsbury avenue, the bars and clubs of Soho, the bars and private clubs of Pall Mall, and of course, the shops. It would have been remiss of us if we hadn’t taken a browse around Fortnum and Mason and perused the shelves at Berry Bros and Rudd. With more time there are the numerous galleries to visit including the Royal academy on Piccadilly. 

Having built up a thirst, we came back to the hotel to relax in our room before experiencing the cocktails and the bar. The bar is sophisticated without being pretentious as so many London hotel cocktail bars have a tendency to be. The cocktails are easily explained and have a clear theme which is both entertaining and informative. This year’s theme is music, and the menu arrived like a CD case with the “playlist” inside.

We delved straight in with a Marley inspired “Catch the Fire”, and a Candle in the Wind inspired “Lady D”. The first being a rum based cocktail served up in a Caribbean style bottle which had elements of a sour cocktail balanced by some sweet fruity rum. Lady D being a long style drink including Rhubarb Vodka and liqueurs, Pothecary gin, homemade macaroon and cassis syrup, rose water and Angostura bitters. It was refreshing and floral with lots going on on the flavour front.

Space Cowboy

Having settled in, we had our second pair, a “Space Cowboy” with gin and absinthe in the mix and Jamiroquai shaped horns emblazoned on the froth, and a “Losing my Wings” after REM. Both well balanced with the REM cocktail being particularly decedent using Woodford Reserve, homemade dried fruit honey, cinnamon and citrus infused Madagascar vanilla liqueur, lime juice, Abbott’s bitters, rhubarb bitters and egg white.

Having thought we had found the best on the list, our bartender suggested we try “Drunk In Love”, which seems wholly appropriate, so we gleefully accepted the suggestion, and we were so glad we did. Inspired by Beyoncé, it was thick and creamy with Rémy Martin 1738, Coconut milk, salted caramel syrup, roasted pineapple syrup, lemon juice and a vanilla foam. It was hedonistic and warmingly alcoholic but never out of balance.

Drunk on Love

Feeling all warm a fuzzy we moved to the Balcon restaurant. With a good look at the menu and our courses decided upon we had another choice to make on the wine. The sommelier made it so hard to choose, so we decided to have a different glass of wine each to try one another’s. So with our first courses of Foie gras ballotine, sourdough, fig, pomegranate, Marcona almonds and Beef tartare, burnt onion egg yolk, balsamic potato crisps, we had a glasses of Gewurztraminer, Cave de Hunawihr, vin d’Alsace, and France Viognier, “Les vignes d’à côté”, Yves Cuilleron, Rhone Valley, France. Both went well with the dishes, and each respectively even better with their correct partners.

For the main course we had a bottle of Rauzan Segla 1998 breathing, and we matched it with Whole lemon sole meunière, pea purée, shallots and capers and one of the best shepherds pies I’ve had. 

Made at the table the desserts were not just a spectacle, but a flavour filled moment of guilty pleasure. Sweet, hot caramelised fruit with crepe or sorbet, and a heady dash of spirit was a real treat. These desserts being classics concocted in a different age, are still wonderful today and thank god they have been brought back to fine dining.

An evening at the Sofitel is a complete experience, there is no need to go out to a cocktail bar, find a fine dining restaurant elsewhere, and al the end of the night one simply has to ascend to your room and slumber in a hugely comfortable bed, only to wake to fresh coffee, a homemade breakfast and approach the day feeling well looked after and revitalised.

By Colin Hampden-White

Devonshire Club

SUSD, a creative real estate consultancy, brought a new meaning to desk-to-drinks when they launched the Devonshire Club. The Club is designed as a two-floor space to be used for doing work or grabbing drinks. The area boasts three distinctly different bars, two lounge areas, and one eatery full of fresh, delicious foods.

After working hard and imbibing, guests can relax in rented bedrooms. Single and family accommodations are available, with over 68 amiable choices.  Complete with sprawling Apple TVs, high-speed WIFI, and Hypnos beds, these luxurious rooms can be utilized by members and non-members alike. The Devonshire Club is built in the heart of London, next to both the financial district and trendy nightlife neighborhoods, so there is plenty for club-goers to do if they can tear themselves away from the superb amenities.

Address: 5 Devonshire Square, London, EC2M 4YD
Telephone: 020 3750 4545
Website

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”.

New York EDITION

You wake up buried underneath signature imported linens and gingerly lift your head from the down pillow. Flip through the channels on the high-definition flat screen tv and enjoy full cable access, or choose a movie on-demand, while ordering breakfast from room service. After you’ve nourished yourself, flip open your laptop and begin work at the in-room ergonomically designed workspace. Forgot your laptop? Don’t worry, simply call the front desk for a complimentary iPad.

Get your blood pumping at the all-hours gym before refueling at the New York Edition’s luxurious restaurant; The Clocktower. Chef Jason Atherton serves contemporary British cuisine, using only the finest available ingredients. Foodies understand that the provisions are only a small piece of the culinary experience, and will appreciate the striking view of Madison Square Garden and vibrant Dutch-inspired décor. If a full meal isn’t what you are after, wet your palette at the intimate and elegant Lobby bar. Tourists will be enticed by the prime location minutes from Union Square, the Meatpacking District, Chelsea, Greenwich Village, Soho and Tribeca, but with amenities like these guests may choose to never leave.

The Cavendish

There’s not much better than a fantastic dining establishment. When such a place is committed to quality and a luxurious customer experience, magical things happen. The team at The Cavendish decided this was nice and all but that they wanted to push their own limits.  

The Cavendish is styled after a classic English pub but serves Italian cuisine in its most mouth-watering forms. The kitchen is led by executive chef Douglas Santi who personally oversaw the creation of the new menu. New items range from light and healthy bites such as a salad of quinoa, roasted sweet potato, feta, mint, and baby spinach to much more decadent fare such as rabbit ravioli with pickled beetroot and parmesan cream or the veal chop with Cavendish potato gratin. There is also a brand new Sunday Roast menu which features Cotswold chicken and 35 day aged rib of beef. 

No matter what you decide to eat, there is a new cocktail menu along with finely-curated wine and cigar lists to accompany your meal. The Cavendish has thought of it all and defied the odds by taking a wonderful place and somehow making it even better.

The Hilton Bankside

Representing the next generation of design-led Hilton Hotels, Hilton London Bankside sits proudly in the ever-convenient location in central Bankside. Tate Modern, Borough Market, and The Shard amongst other must visit landmarks are all within reasonable distance. Hilton London Bankside offers guests a range of rooming styles so suit all needs. From classic guest rooms to suites to executive rooms to accessible rooms, this hotel has it covered whether you’re here for a romantic getaway, family vacation, or business trip.

Keep yourself and everyone else healthy and fit in the well-maintained on-site fitness center and pool. Set the kiddos up for the night with a certified babysitter while you and your partner hit the town. Secure a meeting room to impress fellow business partners in your upcoming gathering.

If you’d rather stay in for the evening, the Hilton London Bankside has you covered. Enjoy a bite to eat at the Oxbo Bankside. This historic yet upscale restaurant serves delectable dishes featuring regionally sourced artisan meats, fish, herd, and vegetables. Open for business all day, the Oxbo Bankside will entice you to come again for your second choice on the menu. For a more going out whilst staying in vibe, saunter on over to The Distillery. True to its name, The Distillery whips up signature cocktails, sharing platters, and bar snacks. Be sure to try a cocktail with their homemade aromatics, infusions, and bitters.

With lots to offer within Hilton London Bankside and within its general location, this hotel is not one to pass up when visiting London.