Some places indulge the eye and when it is in combination with fine food and wine or tea and coffee it is perfect. We looked at places in London (where else?) that offer more than just delicious drinks and food but makes your eye wonder and your mind dream. A perfect reason to visit soon.
The Rosa tea pink marble floors catch your eye the minute you enter The Connaught Patisserie, which is part of the Connaught Hotel on Mount Street. Enjoy your morning coffee, gateaux and a glass of Laurent-Perrier Champagne in the afternoon. Feel and taste la vie en rose in an interior of pink sandstone, crystal lights and rosé polished walls.
THE RED ROOM at The Connaught, LONDON
Another new addition to The Connaught hotel is, The Red Room , named for its stunning collection of red artworks, all created by four female visionaries. Pieces include works by Louise Bourgeois, Jenny Holzer, Ti-a Thuy Nguyen, and Trina McKillen, lovingly curated by Paddy McKillen, co-owner of Maybourne Hotel Group. The bar just opened end of September and has an extended wine list which will be the heart of The Red Room, overseen by Daniel Manetti, director of wine, „Showcased in the space, The Connaught’s legendary wine cellar will feature over 3,000 different labels and over 30,000 bottles of wine.” Salute.
These plates are like paintings, when making your order at Pali Hill, my favourite restaurant in London. Already by browsing through their website you feel INDIA and you taste it when you book your table at Pali Hill which offers the finest regional Indian small plates, derived from home recipes and traditional techniques, made to share in an informal setting. The restaurant celebrates an eclectic mix of flavours from every corner of the country.
THE PAINTER’S ROOM AT THE CLARIDGES
As the name suggests, THE PAINTER’S ROOM is about art which nods to artists’ haunts across France and Italy. London-based artist Annie Morris – whose bright Egg sculptures can be found in Louis Vuitton’s flagship Parisian store – has decorated the walls with stained glass murals, while the cocktails nod to the greatest artists of the 20th-century. There’s even a Van Gogh-inspired Saint Remy, flavoured with almond blossom. Enjoy the drink and look around.
A restored 18th-century courthouse is a peculiar location for restaurant.
The Sessions Art Club just opened in August on Clerkenwell Green. You will not find this special place easily as the door is unmarked at street level and divided by plush velvet curtains – creating a feeling of intimacy. Once you enter you feel privileged to walk through these historical rooms leading to an open lush, marbled terrace overlooking town. The Chef Florence Knight designs a menu that celebrates “simplicity, flavour and texture”.
Five o’clock tea is all about tableware and of course the cakes, scones, and sandwiches. We love the traditional side which triggers our sweet tooth.
The menu includes all the usual treats: Coronation chicken sandwiches, moreish raisin scones, and trays of luscious cakes. The real selling point here, though, is the beautiful selection of teas. Organic Bohea Lapsang, for example.