Archive For The “International” Category
“The hotel bar which some say concocts one of the world’s best Martinis” – New York Times talks about Dukes! There are many great hotels in London. There is a host of memorable boutique hotels in London. There are several with stylish bars in London. There is only one Dukes Bar in the whole world….
For years it was referred to as Mei Ren Wu (Mei Ren Wo) or “den of beauties” in Chinese, as many rich men housed their mistresses in this rather stylish 1930’s estate. This is one of the oldest housing estates in Singapore. It was the first project undertaken by the Singapore Improvement Trust and is…
Sonning! It sounds ancient and smart and indeed it is just that. It’s a chocolate-box pretty spot that is so quintessentially English and timeless. That same quality is found at The French Horn. St Andrew’s Church, in the centre of the village, was founded in Saxon times – probably by Birinus, first bishop of Dorchester-on-Thames….
The French Horn is iconic, quintessentially English and has a celebrated restaurant. The chef has an equally enviable reputation but she isn’t English. This is, after all the ‘French’ Horn. The owner is Michael Emmanuel and he knows what makes a good chef. “We’ve always been about good food cooked well and delivered properly. I’ve…
It was a hot evening, a rare one in England this summer, when we walked into The French Horn. This is perhaps one of the most beautiful of country inns on the banks of the Thames. There was blazing sunshine outside and a roaring log fire inside. In fact the hotel (it’s described as a…
Balans Soho is a chain of restaurants and has branches in both London and Miami. The menu in the UK is slightly different from that found in Florida but the style is the same, as are the majority of dishes. It’s situated on Old Compton Street, named after Henry Compton who raised funds for a…
Even the address of Flemings Hotel gives a clue to the style and quality of this boutique establishment: Half Moon Street, Mayfair. It’s one of the smartest areas in London, although the eponymous and long-gone pub had a considerable and iffy reputation. Mayfair takes its name from the popular annual gathering which, several hundred years…
The new and striking Terminal 5 at Heathrow has some of the best shops around as well some as some good restaurants. They range from the casual and humble sandwich bars to the refined dining venues such as Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant which offers a classic dining experience as well as take-away meals for in-flight enjoyment….
London is indeed one of the world’s great cities. It’s a magnet for tourists from every corner of the globe. They come to visit famed monuments, museums stuffed with priceless antiquities, galleries hung with portraits of the famed and fabled, and a nice bit of shopping. It’s a big town and London prides itself on…
One always expects something a bit special in Mayfair. Some of the best and most iconic of restaurants can be found in that neighbourhood. There are smart shops selling tailored apparel, and hand-made chocolates are showcased, well, in showcases in smart boutiques of a style previously reserved for jewellers. Yes, this area does have ‘swank’…
We all need to get away from time to time. The freezing and wind-swept streets of London encourage thoughts of distant lands, exotic fabrics, tooled metal lamps, Moorish tiles and the gentle splash of a fountain. Perhaps a quick trip to the Alhambra in Granada, Spain, or one might harbour romantic dreams of the tantalising…
[This restaurant is now closed] Tike Grill and Bar (pronounced ‘tikay’) is an authentic Turkish restaurant in the City of London. It’s part of a small but classy chain which began in 1998 in Istanbul. Since opening their first restaurant the four cousins from Adana who together make up Tasty Med have expanded their empire…
Indigo Restaurant at One Aldwych Hotel is the ideal spot for a spot of tea. Its unique location allows for the essential “people watching” without the disadvantages of traffic fumes and noise, and with the added benefit of those aforementioned people being kept at a healthy distance. You’ll have a good view of the moving…
No, I make no apology, dear reader, for introducing you to a burger restaurant, for that is exactly what Haché is. It’s a family business, established in 2004 but they have certainly not modelled themselves on the ubiquitous fast food chains. The food here is strikingly different and appeals to adults with educated palates who…
These Kid’s Cook classes at Cookbook Café allow mums and dads a casual dining occasion with their children at the Saturday Brunch. The raft of food on offer will tempt the pickiest of young eaters. A little taste of this, a thin non-threatening slice of that. The waffle station will be a draw – the…
London’s Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 opened on 27th March 2008 to a less-than-glorious start. I am sure most travellers have received their baggage by now but the memory of that ignominious first week will remain with those who were closely associated with it. But now it really is just a memory, and Terminal 5 is…
That title paints a pretty picture of a leather-clad rider basking in the last of the evening sun. Pink rays reflecting off the mirror-like surface of the Paraná. Yes, OK, so I looked it up but you get the idea. Well, that dream isn’t quite the story here. The Gaucho in question isn’t a who…
One Aldwych is one of the best addresses. It stands on a corner plot in the middle of London in Covent Garden. This is an area which once boasted London’s biggest vegetable market but which is now celebrated as an iconic space filled with restaurants, boutiques and a market which these days sells crafts and…
It might not be any longer the Biblical day of rest but it still tends to be the day we ear-mark for special events, loved ones and unwinding. We might treat ourselves to a bit of a lay-in, enjoy a delicious meal, have a read of the Sunday papers, catch up with family and friends,…
Let’s not be snobbish about this. If you travel in France you might need a quick meal that isn’t too pricey. It’s quite OK to use the supermarket cafeterias, you don’t have to tell your friends! Most big shopping centres in France will have a cafeteria of some sort but the one to seek out…