With London Fashion Week fast approaching, and we are looking forward to being back in the city and see what iconic houses and brands such as BURBERRY, JW ANDERSON, Ahluwalia, Harris Reed, S.S. DALEY, KENT & CURWEN and more have in store for us.
We asked our team to put together their picks of the finest spots in London to visit during Fashion Week in this curated guide.
Stay at:
The Standard London, Kings Cross
The Standard’s first hotel outside America overlooks the dramatic St Pancras station, perfect for Eurostar arrivals, like myself, and architectural design enthusiasts. Housed in the former Camden Town Hall Annex in London’s vibrant King’s Cross neighborhood, the 1974 Brutalist edifice has been thoroughly restored and is more than just vibes, from snug Cosy Core rooms to terraced suites with outdoor bathtubs. With Fashion Week in September, the rooftop is the perfect outdoor spot with drinks, bites and beats following a day of shows.
Besides being the hippest place to sleep with Pod-like rooms come in an array of sizes, it’s in the newly cool part of town. On the ground floor, you’ll find Double Standard, a street-facing bar and restaurant known for its legendary burger, delectable slushie cocktails, and Bottomless Sunday brunch. Isla serves an approachable seasonal meal and has an excellent wine and drink list, while on the 10th-floor restaurant is Decimo, where Chef Peter Sanchez-Iglesias shows his live-fire cuisine surrounded by a 360-degree view of London, is only accessible by their unique outside red pill lift. You can expect to bump into all sorts of creatives during your visit.
Eat at:
The Tent, Fitzrovia
THE TENT (at the End of the Universe) is a well-kept secret among London’s chefs and creatives. Hidden behind an unmarked door on Little Portland Street is a seductive and inventive restaurant with galactic-inspired interior design. THE TENT, once recognized for its distinctive approach to Middle-Eastern cuisine, has lately revealed a new radical menu free of defined culinary bounds, with eye-catching delicacies such as Scallop Silks with Green Nahm Jim, Mushroom Shish with Marmite Glaze, and the ‘Cacio e Pepe’ Cheung Fun.
GAIA, Mayfair
GAIA, which opened just last year, has quickly become one of the town’s most popular venues. The restaurant’s furnishings combine stylish design with Greek culture, history, and imagination. GAIA creates a journey of discovery with each visit. Guests mount the mosaic stairs to the quiet Bar, which overlooks the bustling Piccadilly, for a quick drink between fashion presentations. Showcasing innovation and designed to bring those who seek style and sophistication, their intricate bar menu highlights are signature cocktails, Theo using Theo Olive Oil and Mastiha as the main ingredients, and Ataraxia, a Tanqueray 10, ‘garden cordial’, Fever-Tree Indian tonic water blend, accompanied by the Ouzo menu, revelers can expect indulgence. This venue is the place to see and be seen!
Rita’s, Soho
Rita’s, a popular Soho restaurant with Dalston roots, provides sophisticated American cuisine to London. Celebrated restaurateurs Gabriel Pryce and Missy Malik-Flynn serve customers a menu inspired by their extensive travels around the United States, solidifying Rita’s place among Soho’s independent landmarks. In addition to their popular fried chicken and frozen margaritas, recent menu additions such as grilled seabass enfrijolada with roast tomatoes and crema, Duroc pork Milanese with bomba Calabrese and parmesan, and the unique sunchoke and shiitake lasagne make for the ideal dinner in the heart of London.
The Dover, Mayfair
The most sought-after reservation in town may be found at The Dover restaurant and bar on Mayfair’s Dover Street, which opened in December 2023. Serving Italian cuisine with a New York flair and martinis till the early hours. The Dover, the first solo venture of Martin Kuczmarski, formerly group COO at Soho House, has become the hottest table. Hidden behind a deep burgundy, heavy velvet curtain and laced with a sumptuous Mysore sandalwood scent, the seductive, intimate dining room is dotted with florals in red and pink hues and features tables dressed with double tablecloths and traditional candlesticks, reminiscent of a bygone era of London.
Drink at:
42, Mayfair
42, the cocktail lounge above JKS’s two Michelin-starred Indian restaurant Gymkhana, is located at 42 Albemarle Street in the heart of Mayfair. The cocktails are a celebration of Indian ingredients and nostalgic Indian flavours, presented in the intimate setting of 42’s unique lounge.
SEVENTY ONE’s Golden Martini at London’s most stylish venues
The Golden Martini has become the drink of choice in the fashion world, appearing on the most attractive and discerning palms. Those seeking elegance may now sip and enjoy this magnificent dish at London’s most prestigious locations, including Chiltern Firehouse, Donovan Bar, The Savoy, Isabel, and Hakkasan.
Visit:
Yi Liu: Searching the Mountains, Cob Gallery
From September 12 to October 5, Cob Gallery will host Searching the Mountains, Chinese artist Yi Liu’s debut solo exhibition. Yi Liu’s show employs the multi-scene composition typical of Chinese paintings. This series makes clear homage to the 17th-century Chinese painting “Searching the Mountains for Demons,” which depicts holy troops scouring mountains for demons and monsters. However, Yi Liu turns this mythology on its head by showing conventionally human people as demons and monsters as heroes. This role reversal challenges spectators to consider the dichotomies of good and evil, fairness and justice, and power and oppression.
