The Florist, Bristol

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It seems that the restaurant scene in Bristol is evolving faster than anywhere else in Britain. This week, The Florist opened on Park Street and is a pretty place to enjoy expertly mixed floral cocktails and delicious, comforting food.

The Florist

I visited the Florist last weekend for the opening party events. The restaurant is modest from the street, aside from a stunning floral mural painted on the exterior brick wall. Inside an abundance of whimsical flowers decorate every corner and artwork by local Bristolians Gemma Compton and Jodie Thomas hang on the walls. On the first floor one area is completely taken over by climbing ivy… sure to be a hit with the instagramming community.

The FloristThe Florist

We were greeted by smiling staff, who seemed as excited as the guests to be involved in Bristol’s hottest new restaurant opening. Beautiful Bloody Mary’s were being made, adorned with Tabasco, celery sticks, sprigs of rosemary and wedges of lemon. Before long I had also tried other drinks from the floristry-inspired menu… the aromatic ‘Oak Moss Gin Old Fashioned’ and the ‘Violet Daisy’ (a subtle and fragrant concoction) – both drinks were as tasty as they looked.

The Florist

It took a while to explore all the different rooms at The Florist… I’m sure locals will delight in finding their own favourite space, whether it’s for a quiet business meeting, evening cocktails or a fun weekend brunch. I particularly loved the top floor dining room, with its glass roof and amazing views over the city.

The Florist

After a quick cinemagraph masterclass in the bar we headed up for lunch. The menu at The Florist features Deli boards and nibbles for sharing along with more substantial main courses and hot pots that showcase seasonal produce. On Sundays they offer a hearty roast… which I was lucky enough to sample when I visited. The irresistible scent from the kitchen made me even hungrier and I watched enviously as other diners received their plates of happiness. Soon it was our turn… generous dishes of roast beef and pork belly arrived steaming hot and glistening with gravy. The meats were delicious, organic, high quality and cooked to perfection. Accompanying the meat were fluffy light Yorkshire puddings, sweet glazed carrots, crispy roast potatoes and colourful broccoli and red cabbage. Along with the main courses we tried a few of the sides which included wonderfully garlicky spinach and indulgent cauliflower cheese. I’m usually not much of a fan of roasts outside my family home, but have to admit that The Florist ticked every box with their decadent Sunday offering.

The Florist

Before heading home to London there was just enough time to taste the desserts… vegan-suitable Elderflower meringue and caramelised peaches was a light and summery choice, while the Baked white chocolate cheesecake with ginger biscuit was a more greedy option.

The Florist

As Spring approaches and the daffodils arrive it seems fitting that Bristol welcomes The Florist to its restaurant scene. I was impressed with this creative space… with thoughtful details throughout. And after trying the food and drinks can assure you that this is one eatery that is definitely not style over substance.

More information and book a table here: theflorist.uk.com

Address: 69 Park St, Bristol BS1 5PB. Follow The Florist on Instagram here.

This is a sponsored post in collaboration with The Florist.

Lunch at Xu, Chinatown

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It may not be as instagram-friendly as it’s older sister, Bao, but Xu is a perfectly formed little restaurant in Chinatown, showcasing the finest Taiwanese cuisine in a nostalgic, cinematic 1930s dining room. The warm wood-panelled interior is beautifully crafted and cosy, with smartly dressed tea experts pouring out fragrant hot drinks and unique Mahjong playing rooms where guests can have a private feast and learn the rules of this Taiwanese game.

Xu

Last week I visited this speciality eatery to sample the new lunch menu. A delectable array of Taiwanese treats is available for mid-day meals priced at £18 per person for the standard lunch or £29 per person for the Dumpling Tasting Menu. The latter features a selection of unusual and immaculately made dumplings, our favourites were the aromatic and comforting Pork Xian Bing with Chilli Oil and the very pretty Sweet Potato Taro Dumpling in Kow Choi Oil.

Xu

Each dumpling was vibrant in look and taste, and though I found some a little too peculiar for my tastebuds, I cannot deny that they were all presented beautifully. To cleanse the palate in between plates we had a pot of subtle tea, though there are a couple of cocktails on offer on the lunch menu, Xu’s Numbing Mary (a recipe of Sichuan infused vodka, fermented chilli bean, pink peppercorn, tomato & pickled celery) and the non-alcoholic Homemade Soy Milk (made with chinese pearl barley & macadamia nuts, and served hot).

Xu

My favourite part of the meal was the main course… Shou Pa Chicken & Kale Salad. The Shou Pa chicken is a Xu classic which never leaves the menu. Wonderfully moist chicken breast is served swimming in a dripping & aged white soy sauce and topped with crispy skin. The chicken meat was infused with a range of lovely flavours, ginger, garlic and soy perhaps the most obvious ingredients to identify but the sauce had a depth of flavour and complexity that suggested a lot more secret ingredients. We barely spoke as we enthusiastically gorged on the chicken and delicate crispy kale accompaniment.

The Xu lunch menu is a reasonably-priced way to sample tasty Taiwanese food in one of London’s most stylish restaurants. And if you work in the area a definite way to impress clients or friends who meet you for lunch.

More information and book a table at Xu here.

The Pulitzer Amsterdam

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There has been a flurry of hotel openings in Amsterdam in the last couple of years. The accommodation on offer now competes with the best of London, Paris and New York, and it has made the destination more popular than ever.

Pulitzer AmsterdamPulitzer Amsterdam

One hotel particularly caught my eye thanks to its bold colour schemes and stylish themed suites… Pulitzer Amsterdam opened its doors in the summer of 2016, after an extensive renovation of the 25 connecting Golden Age canal houses which make up the property.

Pulitzer AmsterdamPulitzer Amsterdam

The hotel is located on the Prinsengracht canal street, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The historic 17th and 18th century houses now hold a total of 225 guestrooms and suites, each decorated in a quirky contemporary style with splashes of colour and pattern.

Pulitzer

We were staying in a lovely ‘Generous Room’ with canal views and plenty of natural light. It was a beautiful room with accents of bright lemon yellow and deep purple, and a stand-out turquoise vintage phone by the bedside. There was a writing desk and old fashioned cocktail cabinet, topped with Dutch sweet treats.

The bathrooms at Pulitzer Amsterdam are small but cleverly designed to make the most of the space. Our tiny white marble bathroom had a powerful shower, sink and toilet and a range of Le Labo toiletries.

For a special occasion I highly recommend booking one of the suites. There are a range available from classic and family suites to the top ‘extraordinary’ suites, which are each designed with a topic in mind. Dependant on your interests choose from the Art, Antique, Music or Book Suite, or my personal favourite the very grand Pulitzer Suite.

Pulitzer Amsterdam

Breakfast was a feast for all the senses. Delivered up to our room, we enjoyed indulgent French toast with red berries and the sweetest, freshly-squeezed orange juice while admiring the picturesque canal view from our window.

Guests can also enjoy breakfast in the hotel’s restaurant, Jansz. This elegant pale pink restaurant is open all day and the kitchen serve comforting classic dishes including steak, pasta and creative vegetarian options. At dinnertime the eatery quickly filled up with hungry locals and tourists alike, but despite the busy atmosphere the staff were helpful, calm and kind. From the dishes we tried, the meatballs were particularly memorable, juicy and well seasoned with a marinara sauce.

Pulitzer Amsterdam

The Pulitzer Amsterdam is wonderfully close-by to many of Amsterdam’s best tourist spots, including Anne Frank’s house. But there is also plenty to do within the hotel if you don’t feel like braving the busy canals. Facilities include a fully-kitted out gym, spacious and private meeting rooms, a romantic garden courtyard for afternoon tea and a spectacular 1920s salon boat for canal tours (sadly it was out of use when I visited).

Pulitzer Amsterdam

If I had to name my top five hotels in Europe, the Pulitzer Amsterdam would easily make the list… the historic buildings which house the hotel ooze old Amsterdam charm while the design and decor is sophisticated and modern. Best of all though are the thoughtful details that I noticed in every room, from the scent-inspired cocktails in the bar to the cosy library stocked with Pulitzer prize winning books.

More information and book a stay at The Pulitzer Amsterdam here.