Author Archives: Milly

The Hoxton Paris

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It doesn’t take much persuading to get me on the Eurostar to Paris… so when one of my favourite hotel brands, The Hoxton, asked me along for the Paris launch I was more than happy to oblige!

Hoxton Paris

The shiny new Hoxton Paris is found on Rue du Sentier in the 2nd arrondisement, perfectly placed for an action-packed weekend in Paris. This clever company have transformed a beautiful historic building with modern touches and stylish design features everywhere you look. It is their most ambitious project yet, with 172 guestrooms, a trendy all-day brasserie and a hidden-away cocktail bar upstairs for those in the know. The interiors in the public spaces have been taken care of by the Soho House team whilst the bedrooms have been beautifully designed by Humbert & Poyet.

Hoxton Paris

Much like the other Hoxton hotels, the new Paris branch has lots of lovely places to sit and relax or work. I fell in love with the leafy covered courtyard, which is kitted out in bright mustard velvet. There is also a grand and spacious outdoor courtyard, which I imagine will be a hit for events in the summer months.

Hoxton Paris

There are four categories of rooms to choose from: Shoebox, Cosy, Roomy and Biggy. The descriptions say it all, however thanks to the careful design, even the smallest rooms feel big enough for a luxurious citybreak. If you book in advance, on a weekday, you could get a shoebox room for as little at 99 euros! All the rooms have bespoke chevron timber floors, indulgent beds with striking checked sheets, glamorous thick curtains and very efficient bathrooms. For an extra special stay pick a room on the top floor, which comes with a roll-top bath and views of the Eiffel Tower.

Hoxton Paris

A petite breakfast is delivered to the room in the morning – freshly squeezed juice, a piece of fruit and a yoghurt and granola pot. Head to the Rivie restaurant downstairs for a more comprehensive hot breakfast. We enjoyed dinner here, a feast of French classics from Steak Frites to Chocolate Mousse. Don’t leave without enjoying a nightcap at the intimate Jacques’ Bar where local cocktail experts Quixotic whip up creative drinks.

I can’t wait to see what’s next for The Hoxton brand… the Williamsburg hotel opens later this year, and it sounds like there are lots more exciting projects on the horizon!

Book a room at the Hoxton Paris here.

Launceston Place, Kensington

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I visited Launceston Place a few years ago and loved it. Recently they’ve welcomed a new chef, Ben Murphy, who’s ambition and creativity I really admired when he headed up the kitchen at The Woodford. Needless to say, I was excited to experience the new pairing of this reputable restaurant and great chef.

Launceston Place

On first appearances nothing much had changed… the smart exterior still blended nicely into the Kensington townhouses of the area, and inside the tables are still immaculately dressed in white tablecloths.

Launceston PlaceLaunceston Place

Then the menus arrived… a list of ingredients matched with a suitable emoji for each course, a fun and unusual menu addition! Thanks to the help of the lovely general manager Sandro, we chose a few core flavours and the rest was looked after for us by Ben and his team in the kitchen.

Launceston PlaceLaunceston PlaceLaunceston Place

Each and every dish was exquisite, it is difficult to pick any favourites. After the tasty bread course, we were both treated to the special carrot dish. A bright cheerful plate of food showcasing this humble root vegetable. Different varieties of carrot were carefully cooked in a range of ways paired with flavours of lovage and caraway. It was a joyful array of colour, flavour and texture. The Spelt with Quail’s egg and herbs was one of my guest’s favourites, another beautiful vegetarian dish which was vibrant with an impressive depth of flavour. Although technically brilliant I found the Pigeon & Foie Gras encased in puff pastry much too rich for a starter.

Launceston PlaceLaunceston Place, Kensington

Our main courses were thankfully quite light… Chicken with peanut and sweetcorn was a pretty plate of sweet and savoury tastes. The chicken was perfectly cooked, with tender breast meat and topped with wonderfully crispy salty skin. My Presa Iberica with Aubergine and Ponzu was a little more exotic, but also delicious… High quality pork with smoky aubergine and a Japanese citrus from the ponzu.

Launceston PlaceLaunceston Place

The desserts were miniature works of art. Chocolate with apple and cucumber was an unusual but successful combination of rich and refreshing ingredients. The Strawberry with Piquillo Pepper and Meringue was a stunning pudding of many elements and processes. It had a lovely sweetness matched with a slight spiciness from the pepper and a satisfying crunch from the meringue and biscuit crumbs.

Ben Murphy’s food is truly as delicious as it looks, and I hope Launceston Place will be the restaurant in which he is awarded his deserved first star.

More information and book a table at Launceston Place here.

Dandelyan, Southbank

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Ryan Chetiyawardana, or Mr Lyan as he’s also known, is a cocktail connoisseur like no other… winning accolades with every bar he opens around the capital. Dandelyan is perhaps his more celebrated and accessible bar, found within the stylish riverside Mondrian hotel and serving up pretty, innovative drinks and intriguing reinventions of the classics.

Dandelyan

The sophisticated bar is located on the ground floor of the hotel, with tables overlooking the River Thames. It is a vision of moody hues, with a dark green marble bar and pale pink leather chairs. The staff are knowledgeable and well informed, and brought over the Botany inspired menu to us immediately, carefully explaining each concoction.

Dandelyan

The menu guide book, which is currently on its 4th edition, lists drinks in terms of light and rich, recommending the ideal time of day to drink them. We started with the ‘Rocks Off Manhattan’ and ‘Sweetheart Sazerac’ before moving on to the ‘Koji Hardshake’ and ‘Forty Coin Fizz’.

Our overall favourite was the ‘Rocks Off Manhattan’ a strong but smooth mix of Rusted Copper Dog Scotch, chokecherry grenadine and pine nut vermouth. The drink was rich but also had a fruity, nutty flavour… a delicious start (or end) to any evening. The ‘Koji Hardshake’ is one of the Dandelyan Classics, which has remained on the menu for a while. An unlifting short drink with Dewar’s 12yo Scotch, lemon, koji and cream sugar and liquorice bitters. For something a little lighter opt for the dry and fizzy ‘Forty Coin Fizz’, a gin based cocktail with ginko leaf, lemon and “silver apricot”.

Dandelyan

The bar food menu has a short but tempting offering of snacks. The Sea Containers Flatbread with Kale, Truffle and Chestnuts was an indulgent hit. I’d also recommend the salty bitter Padron Peppers and the moreish Mondrian chips with garlic and chilli aioli.

Dandelyan

Whether you are popping in for a quick afterwork tipple or date night drinks, Dandelyan has got a cocktail to suit every occasion and every palate.

More information and book a table at Dandelyan here.