UCityGuides.com Travel News Blog » London

5 NEW SPOTS TO DISCOVER IN LONDON

UCityGuides.com Editor — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 12:31:42 +0000

BAR BOULUD
You’ll notice the new restaurant in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel has a New York feel and that’s because it was first conceived for the Big Apple by French chef Daniel Boulud. But it ended up in London after Boulud’s almost three decades of living in the great American metropolis where he was awarded three Michelin stars. In the British capital he serves his signature French dishes accompanied by an excellent list of French wines.

THE MOUNT STREET DELI
A strong contender for the title of best Italian coffee in town, the Mount Street Deli is a new destination for any time of the day. It’s perfect for breakfast early in the morning, for people-watching in the afternoon, and to pick up something to eat later on (there are daily specials, salads and sandwiches). The coffee beans come from a family in the coffee business since the 1940s, and coffee lovers will tell you there is a unique taste to it.

SOLANGE AZAGURY-PARTRIDGE
It has shops in New York, Los Angeles, Singapore, and now it has a new address in London’s New Bond Street. The fine jewelry of Solange Azagury-Partridge is on display under a signature mirror ball and around other features designed by the jeweler.

SKITSCH
London’s first Skitsch showroom brings together original high-end design by over 30 world-renowned designers. The new space looks and feels like a gallery which together with its own collection also presents pieces from other contemporary design brands.

ACNE
The new London boutique of Swedish fashion brand Acne is much more than a shop, it’s also a true gallery filled with art. Next to the label’s denim collection are murals, drawings and sculpture by international artists which together create the retailer’s largest store in the world.

-See the complete London city guide.
________________________________________
Back to UCityGuides.com – The Ultimate City Guides
or check out UCityGuides.com Hotels – Design, Boutique, Luxury, Cheap Hotels

THE NEW HOTSPOT OF LONDON’S EAST END

UCityGuides.com Editor — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 10:21:42 +0000

The new hotspot of London’s East End is the new Town Hall Hotel and its restaurant and bar. It’s located in the former Bethnal Town Hall, an imposing building now offering 98 spacious and stylish rooms and apartments, with each apartment having been given its own Scandinavian-inspired look.
But more than its accommodation, it is its food and beverage services that have made this one of the most talked-about spots in the city. The restaurant, “Viajante,” serves creative cuisine in a space designed by an award-winning team, with tasting menus made up of flavors inspired from all corners of the globe.
Also attracting London’s young and smart crowds is the bar, with an extensive wine and beer list as well as a choice of ten excellent cocktails.

10 HOT NEW SPOTS IN LONDON

UCityGuides.com Editor — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 09:41:30 +0000

Circus Club, London

Circus
Designed by Tom Dixon, Circus is currently one of London’s hottest venues, mixing bar, restaurant, and cabaret entertainment. As expected, it’s a glamorous and sophisticated space, serving refined Pan-American cuisine and innovative cocktails.

Cocomaya
One of the city’s favorite chocolate shops recently opened at a new site in Marylebone. It’s also a bakery and tearoom, offering its own bread and signature chocolates in a welcoming and very British environment.

Goyard
London has just received a slice of Paris luxury with the opening of Goyard. The luxury goods store on Mount Street in Mayfair has a late 19th century interior inspired by the original Paris store.

HixSoho
Mark Hix has shown his signature British cuisine at London hotspots like The Ivy and Le Caprice and opened this restaurant last October. It has since received critical acclaim, offering a clubby atmosphere and displaying specially commissioned art by British artists. The basement bar serves small dishes and cocktails.

HomeHouse Club
The Home House private members club has a new wing next to the original 18th century townhouse with a lavish interior and bar created by Zaha Hadid. The “House Bar” features sweeping lines and metallic bronze finishes under what is described as “space age lights” where you’ll be served fine cocktails and champagne.

Le Labo
Marylebone Village was the chosen site for the fourth boutique of the New York perfume house. Offering made-to-order fragrances in bottles inscribed with the buyer’s or recipient’s name, you can discover why the brand has become so popular among those with a good nose for quality perfumes.

Murdock
Sophisticated gentlemen have a new luxury grooming address in Mayfair. The new Murdock barbershop blends the classic and traditional with the demands of modern men, including the use of the finest products.

Pizza East
One of the most popular openings of the last few months was Pizza East in Shoreditch. It’s become a people-watching hotspot, although it’s laid-back and even offers take out and delivery service. The menu lists gourmet pizzas made with seasonal ingredients, while the dining area shows an industrial design with concrete walls and exposed pipes and pillars.

Proud Cabaret
London’s new nightlife seems to be a cabaret. Not only is there the new Circus mentioned above, but also the new Proud Cabaret. This restaurant serves classic British cuisine together with sultry entertainment in the form of burlesque dancing, singing, and jazz.

VA Museum
The Victoria & Albert Museum’s east wing has been redesigned and the Medieval and Renaissance Galleries have recently opened. That’s 10 new galleries displaying over 2000 treasures spanning 13 centuries, from paintings to tapestries and sculpture. Best of all is that admission is free.

HAVE A SWEET DAY EVERY DAY IN LONDON AT THE NEW WILLIAM CURLEY PATISSERIE

UCityGuides.com Editor — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 11:15:20 +0000

Valentine’s Day may be over but that doesn’t mean the gift of chocolate to someone you love or to yourself should have to wait another year. In London you can have a sweet day every day at the new William Curley patisserie in the Belgravia neighborhood. Curley is an award-winning chocolatier and this is his second shop offering his signature chocolates, cakes, and biscuits. There is also space for a “dessert bar” where you can watch the contemporary desserts be made in front of you.
But before you start thinking this is just a place for after a meal or an afternoon off your diet, note that it also serves mouth-watering breakfasts complete with pancakes and — what else?! — hot chocolate.
Where: 198 Ebury Street, London
Phone: (+44) 20 7730 5522

LET’S DO LUNCH AT THE GALLERY: LONDON’S SAATCHI GALLERY’S NEW CAFÉ

UCityGuides.com Editor — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:40:18 +0000

Usually museum or gallery cafés serve as places for refreshments or a light meal after a visit to the exhibitions. They are in most cases a complement to the art experience and not destinations in themselves.
However, Saatchi Gallery in London is an exception. Its annex, Gallery Mess, now offers a café, restaurant, and bar open throughout the day while also being an exhibition space itself. It’s used for the works of artists featured on the gallery’s website which can be admired as visitors savor equally artfully-presented food.
The menu is the responsability of one of the country’s best event caterers and there is something different for breakfast, a light lunch, and dinner. Only fresh seasonal ingredients are used in the daily specials, and you may have them inside or at the outdoor tables.

LONDON OPENS ITS FIRST GAY TOURIST OFFICE

UCityGuides.com Editor — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:09:39 +0000

London has just opened a gay tourism office. Actually, the big news should be that London “finally” has a gay tourism office. If Amsterdam has one, so should London, as one of the world’s gay capitals that it is. But better late than never, and now LGBT visitors can find complete city information (not just gay events and venues) in the SoHo district, or more specifically above the popular Ku Bar on Lisle Street (there is another Ku on Frith Street). In addition to finding out where everything is, you may also book tickets for London activities and events, and know how to get around the city.
Perhaps even native Londoners will find something new, so more than a tourist office, this is an LGBT information center. But before you even arrive in London, all the city’s gay information can be found in UCityGuides’ London Gay Guide.

NICK KNIGHT’S SHOW STUDIO SHOP, LONDON

UCityGuides.com Editor — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:27:07 +0000

“Eyeballs” – SHONA HEATH, 2008
Created for December 2008 British Vogue editorial, photographed by Tim Walker.
Painted acrylic, painted wood. 6 Pieces. 82 x 52 x 30cm; available at SHOWstudio

Founded by photographer Nick Knight, SHOWstudio.com has been selling some fabulous exclusive creations for some time, but now there is also a retail space in London that’s sure to become a must-go for discerning shoppers and collectors. It’s an opportunity to acquire one-of-a-kind pieces by world-renowned artists and designers that could become part of fashion history. Everything is hand-picked from catwalk shows and fashion shoots, and sold together with images and selected prints featuring those items in the work of contemporary fashion photographers. Other exceptional pieces available are handcrafted originals from a purpose-designed space, and offered exclusively at this shop. Their entire creative process is captured on SHOWstudio’s webcams, a ground-breaking creative philosophy that ensures that the artist and potential buyer participates in the conception and completion of the work of art.
SHOWstudio SHOP is found on 1-9 Bruton Place in London, and is open from Tuesday to Saturday, from 11AM to 6PM. Telephone: +44 (0)20 7399 4299

THE NEW NAPKET CAFE IN LONDON

UCityGuides.com Editor — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:47:48 +0000

What to think of a cafe whose slogan is “snob food”? Whatever comes to mind, it certainly draws attention, and once you try it, you’ll never settle for less than its delicious selection of fresh pastries, breads, gourmet salads, and sandwiches. Found in a handful of locations in London, Napket‘s latest address is in Piccadilly, inside a landmark building with high ceilings and a sophisticated interior matching the elegance of all the other branches. There are modern and baroque features, from its grand chandeliers to exposed brick walls, iPod sockets on communal tables, and Philippe Starck seats.
Consider it a design cafe-deli for chic crowds to go for carefully-selected teas and coffees, or to grab a bite for breakfast or after work.

THE FUTURE OF RESTAURANTS? – THE HIGH-TECH INAMO RESTAURANT, LONDON

UCityGuides.com Editor — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 09:11:35 +0000

Why wait for your waiter when your table can place the order for you? At Inamo Restaurant which opened last September in London, tables are touch screens serving as virtual menus, so gone are also the days of slow service and mixed-up orders. And this virtual waiter may also suggest the right wine for your entrée in addition to showing you the ingredients used in your dish. Oh, and as you wait for your plate to arrive, you may play a game or even watch the chef prepare your food. If you’re wondering how you’ll get back home after a long meal, your table also allows you to search for the best public transport options. No waiter can beat that service, and the only time you’ll need one is to pay for your bill (which you request from the touch-screen).
What if there’s a bug in the system? Does the restaurant shut down? Bring out the live waiters? The answer is the good-old printed menus, which so far haven’t had to be used (by the way, the menu lists Asian cuisine, although people are having too much fun checking out the technology to really care about the food).

TINI BAR, LONDON

UCityGuides.com Editor — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:58:24 +0000

The creators of London’s Mahiki club have now also given that city a new, classic cocktail lounge in Knightsbridge — Tini Bar. It’s already a major destination for after-work, pre-dinner drinks and the buzz may be due to Guy Pelly, known as Prince Harry’s best friend, who’s one of the people behind the project. The sophisticated Chelsea set go through the unmarked door and find an interior that’s less clubby than similar bars in the neighborhood, and just perfect for chilling out. It’s essentially an aperitivo bar, and judging by the cocktail list, it is very much inspired by Italy.
And although that’s not the only apparent Italian inspiration, don’t think the “i” at the end of the name suggests anything from the boot-shaped country. The name is pronounced “teeny” athough the space isn’t exactly small. It is filled by low sensual lighting and dark tones, while the crowds sitting around are local, attractive, well-dressed professionals and not celebrities to see and be seen (in fact, the snootiest group is likely to be the staff!).
The cocktails are very good, and you may accompany them with Italian snacks (olives, bread…). Martinis are the clear favorites on the list, and there are plenty of concoctions for a taste of la dolce vita that make this a welcomed opening in the British capital.