ROKA Mayfair

Fantastic atmosphere, memorable times, and amazing food. That’s what we all want from our dining experiences. Some places can pull off one or two of the three, but a truly exceptional restaurant knows how to package all of it together. On that front, ROKA Mayfair comes through tenfold.

Opening in February of 2014, ROKA Mayfair takes dining seriously. Its name was crafted with dining in mind; “RO” is the common dwelling where food is shared with friends and “KA” is the warmth and energy surrounding them. ROKA Mayfair is conveniently located just steps from the shopping on Oxford Street, so when you are out picking up the essentials, step in with the family or friends to ROKA’s unique atmosphere. Rainer Becker and the chefs at ROKA take contemporary Japanese Robatayaki cuisine and turn each and every dish into a plated work of art. The thought that goes into each entrée coupled with the execution and presentation makes you almost not want to eat anything. Almost.

Prepared in the open kitchen on their robata grill, you can watch your meal being put together right in front of you, and that is only half of the fun! Once the food hits your lips, you’ll be looking for the maître d’ to make another immediate reservation. Some of their signature dishes include fresh yellowtail sashimi with their yummy yuzu-truffle dressing, or the king crab served with caviar. ROKA does more than just seafood; try their mouth watering seared beef striploin with black truffle dressing, or the smoked duck breast with barley miso and kumquats. And their expertise isn’t confined to just the main course, their desserts are complete works of art as well. Make sure to try the crunchy banana ice cream puffs with miso-lime toffee, or the remarkable winter citrus crème brulee with Japanese granola and whisky ice cream.  I’m telling you, go out of your way and make a reservation at ROKA today and make many fond food memories.

The Lampery, London

If your motto in life is “Work Hard, Play Hard” then you will feel right at home at The Lampery. Inspired by 17th Century MP Samuel Pepys’ permission to indulge in what you want, when you want it, this London enterprise has created a ‘Best of British’ menu using locally sourced seasonal ingredients to be enjoyed in a sophisticated area surrounded by vibrant greenery reminiscent of an indoor garden-space.

Unwind by sipping from their heavenly cocktail menu, featuring a roster of signature and classic concoctions, as well as seasonal choices. Kick off your weekend on Thursday with music and sliders starting at noon, or head down for “Cocktails O’Clock,” The Lampery’s twist on Happy Hour. From 5-10pm, Monday through Wednesday, you can enjoy two-for-one access to their entire drink menu. So, bring a friend and indulge your way through the week!

The Mandrake's Waeska Bar

Luxury has a new name. Luxury is a hotel, The Mandrake Hotel to be exact. Located in the heart of London’s West End in a converted RIBA award-winning building, this new hotel is unlike any other. It is a luxurious boutique establishment with more than a touch of the surreal to its design, stimulating soundscapes, and myriad of amenities offered. One of the (many) main attractions happens to be the Waeska Bar. The Bar, which features rare botanical-based cocktails, shares the hotel’s ambiance and is likewise decorated with magnificent objets d’art curated by the hotel’s owner, Rami Fustok.

From mostly small batch distillers across the globe, drinks are served from a talented, practiced team of mixologists, including Walter Pintus, the bar manager, who is both an undisputed master of mixology on the London bar scene and an award-winning bartender. Each cocktail delivers the Mandrake’s inimitable aesthetic—decadent, daring, and refined. Syrups, infusions, garnishes, and bitters are all crafted on site. Even the ice is specially sculpted. Even the cocktail names are matched to the hotel’s hedonistic theme. Every detail is accounted for. One of the drinks highlighted on the menu is the White Witch: a mix of truffle-washed vodka, white bitters, vermouth, and wattleseed tincture. Another such one is the Satyr, made with: Portobello gin, saffron syrup, citrus, dry sherry, and absinthe. Luxury is not only a hotel now, it is a bar: London’s new watering hole, the Waeska Bar.

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.