Posts Tagged “restaurant”

St Ermin’s has long been a favourite hotel and now I can boast that I have actually stayed there and also enjoyed breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner in their iconic Caxton Grill. There is a separate street entrance for the Caxton Grill but it’s a treat to arrive via St Ermin’s reception hall. One…

Stay in Dutch Castles and Eat like a Prince (or a Princess) It’s likely that my dear reader would not know that there are castles in The Netherlands; well, unless you had read my recent articles (and why wouldn’t you?). And it’s probable that few people know that it’s possible to stay in one of…

This was bound to be good. I knew the chef, Peter Joseph from a Michelin-star Indian restaurant, so I was expecting good things. The location held the promise of a smart venue. But I wasn’t prepared for the culinary joy and polished style of Kahani, near Sloane Square. This high-end Indian restaurant is in a…

It’s true! I am an unashamed fan of high-end resorts worldwide. I enjoy comfort, amenity and, of course, food. Outrigger Beach Resort and Spa has all of that, and Mercado Market Dining tempts three times each day. This is a casual buffet restaurant located in a replica of a Mauritian sugar factory. It boasts high…

What a wonderful island! Funchal in Madeira offers a great climate, history, creditable wines and superb food. There is a wealth of eating opportunities to cater for every taste, pocket and time of day. There are cosy bakeries, shelves groaning with both sweet and savoury treats for breakfast and late morning snacking. Bars and cafés…

Dear tourist, please take a step away from London on your next vacation. Eton awaits and it’s a gem of a destination. Don’t worry about where to stay. I have a suggestion which will delight with its charm and comfort. You will likely not want to leave, so do your sight-seeing first. Well, why would…

Holdsworth House Hotel is found along a rather anonymous road halfway between Leeds and Manchester, and not far from Halifax. It makes the ideal base for visiting Yorkshire’s Brontë Country and Calderdale’s beautiful and dramatic hills and moors. It’s a stone’s throw from the Lake District, one of Britain’s best-loved regions. This is one of…

Lancrigg is perhaps one of the most charming hotels in the Lake District …and even beyond. It has the exterior of a rather good country home. Its pale yellow walls blend perfectly with the surrounding countryside. The stone barn behind is so picturesque that it could almost have been put there just to thrill Instagram…

The Plough Inn is a little stunner. It offers beautiful rooms for the few who are lucky enough to stay, and a traditional bar and restaurant for resident guests and locals. The concept is smart casual and the food is polished. My perfect combination. One sits amid a riot of mismatched tables and chairs. The…

The Beech Hill Hotel is located on the eastern bank of Windermere. Its stunning views over the lake change with the seasons. Autumn is a quieter time and perfect for enjoying the rust and golden hues of the mellowing foliage and heather. This hotel can trace its history back to the 1900s. One can still…

Busaba presents modern Bangkok dining, with a dozen or so restaurants around Greater London. Having opened its first restaurant on London’s Wardour Street in 1999, the chain has gone from strength to strength – and now we can replicate a few of their dishes at home. Bangkok Thai: The Busaba Cookbook tempts with 100 recipes…

I have just returned from Thailand where the flavours and indeed textures of that country’s vibrant cuisine reminded me how much I enjoyed those dishes at home. Well, when I say at home I really mean in Thai restaurants in London, and that includes the famed chain of Rosa’s. Rosa doesn’t sound like a very…

At Outrigger’s Laguna Beach Phuket Resort, Thailand, there are both top-notch Thai and vibrant Asian foods aplenty (read my reviews here). And there is a stylish restaurant called Metzo’s. That might push the expectation envelope, as it has pan-Mediterranean dishes as its delicious focus. Metzo’s Bistro and Bar offers foods difficult to find anywhere else…

One of the joys of a vacation, for me at least, is food. Not necessarily huge quantities but it must be interesting, perhaps reflecting the ethnic makeup of the destination, and it should always be delicious. Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort ticks all those boxes. This rather smart and beautifully Thai hotel (read my article…

Timeless travel across 150 years of St Pancras: St Pancras Brasserie hosts the station’s Golden Age of Travel Anniversary Dinner Relive the very best of English railway and trading port history. In celebration of 150 years of St Pancras Station, one of London’s most iconic landmarks, St Pancras Brasserie by Searcys is hosting a…

Kenza is the Arabic word for treasure and this truly is a subterranean gem. It’s a cool and calm oasis on these sizzling summer days in the city. One can feel the weight of hot and oppressive air lift as one descends the spiral stairs to the exotic idyll below. This Lebanese restaurant is actually…

I was already an unashamed admirer of this classic steakhouse. Smith & Wollensky ticks all the gastronomic boxes for me, and with decor to bring joy to the very soul of this reviewer of ‘a certain age’. Yes, I appreciate quality, but it must be unintimidating. Yes, I want classic service, but it must be…

In the heart of Bloomsbury, not far from Russell Square Underground station, one finds a new area of restaurants, cafés and retail outlets. It’s popular every day but at weekends Brunswick Square comes to life! When the sun shines it becomes a magnet for those looking for a bite to eat and a convivial glass…

This is an exceptional summer in London. We are, at the moment, enjoying a heatwave and it’s the Royal Academy’s celebrated Summer Exhibition. It’s rather special this year as it’s the 250th year of this wonderful and sometimes controversial event. And one can make a day of it by having a delightful lunch at Le…

Ametsa with Arzak Instruction is a unique collaboration between Elena Arzak – voted Veuve Clicquot World’s Best Female Chef in 2012, her father Juan Mari Arzak, and Mikel Sorazu, Igor Zalakain and Xabier Gutierrez. This superb one-Michelin-star Basque restaurant is found at COMO The Halkin Hotel in London’s Belgravia, and it’s a convenient and worthy…