Attend : Armani / Deli

Armani/Deli @ Armani/Hotel, Burj Khalifa, Downtown Dubai, UAE

 I had a fantastic lunch at Armani/Deli when I was in Dubai recently. Ever since the world's first Armani/Hotel opened here in 2010, I've wanted to visit and see what all the hype was about.

Armani/Deli is situated in the lower floors of the hotel, at the base of the Burj Khalifa (The world's tallest building at 829.8m) The interior is as slick and stylish as you would expect from Armani, a black and cream minimal place.

The menu was traditionally Italian with a modern twist - we both had our 'go to' signature dishes - 'Spaghetti Lobster', and 'Black Truffle Pappardelle' - needless to say they were absolutely delicious.

Armani/Deli is, naturally, set out like a deli, with a large seating area. The seated section has beautiful calm views over the Dubai fountains along to The Address hotel. The deli section features freshly prepared dishes, cold cuts, deserts, and a bar / coffee counter.

 We had a great lunch here, it was a cool place to chill, away from the hustle and bustle of Downtown Dubai - The service was immaculate and the prices surprisingly reasonable.

 I'd now love to visit some of the other food and beverage outlets in the Armani/Hotel, maybe next time I'm in Dubai!

Armani/Deli - Website

Burj Khalifa - Website

Attend : Woburn Coffee House

Woburn Coffee House, 21 Market Place, Woburn.

 Bank holiday weekend calls for a day out in the countryside : we visited historic Woburn, a perfect Georgian village. We were visiting to take afternoon tea at Woburn Coffee House.

 Situated in a 400 year old house on Market Place, Karen and her team have created a beautifully fresh boutique coffee house: a modern traditional interior, combining mix match crockery, and a beautiful walled garden to sip Pimms in the summer months.

 We were presented with an amazing 5 tier platter of finger sandwiches, scones, slices of cake, brandy snaps, Mille-Feuille and beautifully crafted cream profiteroles in the shape of swans.
 Whatever you can't manage can be taken home in a goody box...

Woburn Coffee Shop features a tranquil walled garden, opened up in Summer months for afternoon tea and Pimms.

 Woburn itself is a quintessentially British village - dating back to Saxon times. It's even been listed in The Sunday Times as one of the 'best places to live in Britain'
 The village has lots of cool antique shops, restaurants, gift shops, a farmers market and great scenery - all this, and only an hour from central London...

Woburn Coffee House
21 Market Place,
Woburn,
Bedfordshire.

Reservations : 01525 290050
Web : Woburn Coffee House 
Web : Woburn Village 

Attend : 'Fish & Chips', Prague

Fish and Chips, 21 Dlouha Street, Prague

 After a long weekend break in Prague, I stumbled upon a restaurant that was a pure case of right time, right place - there was nothing I fancied more on that Sunday afternoon than a good old English Fish & Chips.

 Quintessentially British in design, a rarity in the gothic architecture of Prague, this simple, stylish and modern Fish & Chip shop was both a 'take away' and a sit down restaurant.
 The simple design was paired with a simple menu, made modern with the additional serving of mini bottles of Veuve Clicquot.  

 The cod was perfect in beer batter, the chips were just the right 'chippy' chips - Gourmet Fish & Chips! The interiors had quirky takes on all things traditionally fish and chips - newspaper wallpaper, red phone boxes, soho writing and quirky 'Save Water - Drink Champagne' slogans.

 The dining area was reminiscent of London tube tiles with 60's pop art and an opulent glass chandelier centre piece. The swinging glass doors opened directly onto the street, ready for some people watching...

 Fish and Chips,
 21 Dlouha Stret, Prague
 Facebook page : Fish and Chips

Stay : Buddha Bar Hotel, Prage, Czech Republic

Attention to detail in all aspects of this opulent design hotel

I recently stayed at the famous design concept hotel 'Buddha Bar Hotel' in Prague, Czech Reupublic.

 More photos and full review can be seen in the 'Stay : Hotel Reviews' section of this blog, or by clicking here

Attend : Corinthia Hotel

Champagne Afternoon Tea : The Corinthia Hotel, London

 It's been a while since I've been for afternoon tea, and tea at The Corinthia hotel has been top of the must visit list for some time. So on a bitterly cold March afternoon, it seemed the ideal time to indulge in some treat therapy.

 The Corinthia hotel opened to much fanfare in 2011. The building originally opened as The Metropole hotel in 1885, and the facade retains much of its original grand hotel charm.
 Afternoon tea is served in the opulent central lobby, a light and airy space with huge hanging glass chandelier.

 The Corinthia hotel afternoon tea offers a great selection of teas, many from Tea Palace - I had 'Afternoon at The Palace' - a tea with a refreshing, light aromatic taste and the perfect accompaniment to sweet afternoon treats.

 
 The selection of cakes are served on a tall 3 tier freestanding platter. My particular favorite was the chocolate sponge roll filled with dark chocolate ganache topped with a sugar rose petal. The oversized salted caramel macaron was amazing, dipped in chocolate and finished with flaked almonds.

 Afternoon tea was delicious, it's in a very grand and smart setting, yet with an overall feel of relaxation within a very calming environment. I'd love to go back in the summer and take afternoon tea in the outdoor central atrium court.

 The Corinthia Hotel
 10 Whitehall Place,
 London
 SW1A 2BD

Instagram : The last month

Photo update

I realize it's been a month since I've posted - it's been busy. This is what I've been up to:

 L-R: Damien Hirst at The Belvedere, Holland Park; Sunday outfit - A new Tom Ford pocket square and Louis Vuitton Electric boots; Patum Peperium 'The Gentleman's Relish' Ltd Ed porcelain cases at Partridges; Food Heaven at The Belvedere, Holland Park

 L-R: Snowy Days on my Vespa; Snowy Rooftops - A view from my apartment; Goyard on Mount Street - My new shopping destination street; Cable Knit - A new deep green cable knit with toggles from Joules

 L-R: Boulevard - in Paris for trade fairs, watching the sunset from the hotel; Folies Bergere - Stumbling across Art Deco Icons whilst shopping in Paris; Desert Retreat - Some relaxing time at Qasr Al Sarab, Liwa Desert, UAE; Dune Bashing - some adrenaline driving in the desert

 Follow me on Instagram : @opulentscrawls

 http://instagram.com/opulentscrawls

Attend : Milestone Hotel

Champagne Afternoon Tea : The Milestone Hotel, Kensington

 I can't think of a better way to spend a post Christmas afternoon than taking a relaxing festive afternoon tea.
 Whilst everyone else was out battling to the sales to do yet more shopping, I took in the quintessentially English interiors of 'The Park Lounge' at The Milestone Hotel on Kensington Court.

 The Grade II listed building dates back to circa 1880, and the hotel today is named after the original cast iron milestone that still stands in it's original position beside the establishment.

 
The festive champagne afternoon tea menu kept all the important tradition of finger sandwiches but served with a festive twist;

 Mini squares of Christmas cake, and miniature mince pies were served alongside freshly baked scones, only bought to your table at request to ensure they were freshly baked, served with clotted cream and homemade jam.
   Finger sandwiches included a new take on a classic; round cut chicken sandwich rolled in chopped almonds.

 I loved the wooden paneled interiors of this hotel, the beautiful vintage caricatures adorning the walls. The restaurant, Chenestons, looked amazing and I'd love to go back and dine in the adjoining oratory area.

 The Milestone is like finding a hidden gem of tradition amongst all the ultra slick modern hotels in London. Located opposite Kensington Palace it feels stepped in history and definitely opulently English.

 The Milestone Hotel : Website
 1 Kensington Court
 London
 W8 5DL

Attend : Hotel Chocolat Rabot Estate

The Hotel Chocolat Rabot Estate : Soufière, St Lucia

 Hotel Chocolat are the only UK company to own a cocoa estate. The 140 acre Rabot Estate is located near Soufière in St Lucia. The location is in the unique 'Cocoa belt' that spans the earth between 20 degrees north and 20 degrees south of the equator.

 The estate is home to a boutique hotel, and a restaurant 'Boucan', set amongst the rainforest and sun-dappled cocoa groves. Both have awe-inspiring views across to the world famous Pitons.

 The Boucan restaurant and bar feature a menu inspired by the cocoa growing around. They call it 'Cacao Cuisine'. Toasted bread comes with chocolate dipping sauce & cacao tip butter.
 Main courses include 'The Boucaneer Fish & Chips'; local fish in Piton beer and cacao tempura with potato fries. The 'Tomato, Chilli & Cacao Ravioli' is homemade pasta pockets spiced with local chilli and Rabot Estate cacao nibs.

 The estate also put on a 'From Tree to Bar' tour - here an agricultural worker walks you round the working estate, explaining their work with Reading university to genetically profile the trees at Rabot estate. There's a chance to graft your own Cacao tree which is then planted in your name, 18 months later this very tree will be used in the production of Hotel Chocolat's chocolate.

 Fascinatingly you also make your own bar of Hotel Chocolat chocolate. Starting out with just dried Cacao nibs and a Pestle & Mortar, this is turned into a chocolaty liquid just by continued grinding and grinding. Cacao butter and powdered sugar are then added and ground more, before pouring the mix into a mould.

 Boucan restaurant also has a gift shop; I purchased Cacao nibs and a nib grinder, for seasoning salads and other dishes, along with some pure cocoa sticks which will be used to make hot chocolate.
 You are also then presented with your freshly made Hotel Chocolat 65% dark chocolate bar. Believe me, it tastes amazing!

The Hotel Chocolat - Rabot estate website
Hotel Chocolat - Shop website

Jalousie Plantation : St Lucia

Jalousie Plantation, Sugar Beach, St Lucia - Viceroy Hotels

I'm enjoying staying at The Viceroy Sugar Beach hotel, formerly Jalousie Plantation, in St.Lucia.

The hotel is situated in stunning rainforest surroundings in a UNESCO world heritage site. The famous Pitons, two volcanic spires rising side by side from the sea, are either side of the resort.

The classic French colonial style individual villas are nestled into the lush rainforest, with large wrap around terrace and plunge pool with views towards the sparkling Caribbean sea of Piton Bay.

 
A full review and photos will follow, but here are some shots from around the villa.

Sugar Beach : A Viceroy Resort
UNESCO : World Heritage List

Attend : Maison Louis Vuitton Launch

Louis Vuitton : Men's made to order shoe service launch

On Thursday night, I attended the launch party of Louis Vuitton's made to order shoe service.

Exclusively available at the London flagship store, 'Maison Louis Vuitton' on New Bond Street, this bespoke shoe service offers up an incredible 3,000 variations of personalized shoes - ensuring every detail from shape, to leather, to finishing can be chosen by the customer.

 The newly unveiled bespoke shoe room also allowed customers to complete their look, with a belt made to order in the exact same finish as the chosen shoe.

 The Maison laid on an incredible night, with displays from Louis Vuitton's own artisans. A highlight was meeting one of only two craftsmen who individually hand stitch Louis Vuitton's soles using the traditional Goodyear, Norwegian and Blake methods.

 Another artisan showed how individual coats of colour are applied layer upon layer to the leather, creating that rich, deep colour and sheen.

 Of course, being Louis Vuitton, the Dom Perignon champagne was free flowing. The accessories area was turned into a fully stocked bar mixing classic cocktails.
 Martinis were served by a suave bartender from Baroque at The Playboy Club, perfectly shaken and finished with a twist of lemon.

 I also managed to get my hands on the new Electric Ankle boot in calf, a black shiny, buckle and lace up boot that I've been lusting after for a while now - I'm really looking forward to wearing these...

 Other highlights included shoe shiners from Burlington Arcade who were on hand to polish up guests shoes, expert packers were available to demonstrate how to pack the perfect trunk. A true night of pampering for all guests, including the dogs. (I didn't manage to get a photograph of the pearl necklace wearing Pug!)

Maison Louis Vuitton
17-20 New Bond Street
London
W1S 2RB

Town Hall Hotel : East End Deco Hotel

A refurbished Council Town Hall : Town Hall Hotel, London E2

 I recently stayed at 'Town Hall Hotel' in Patriot Square, London E2. This is a grand hotel, very modern but also very true to it's Edwardian and 30's Deco roots.

The building was originally opened in 1910 in the stylish Edwardian era, when Britain as a country was at the height of it's power. The council could afford to spend out on fine architects and craftsmanship. The hotel has successfully kept and showed off this unique style.
 Further building was added in the 1930's - another stylish era where Britain trail blazed a stunning design aesthetic.

The Rooms:

 The hotel has mixed modern with vintage in such a tasteful manner - the rooms are a unique blend of one off pieces of vintage furniture, sat back with glass, metal and high sheen white finishes.

 I stayed in a 'Signature Suite' - an enormous, high ceiling room with wooden fireplace, and antique furniture. Then, unusually - a built in, made to measure glass and white 'pod' containing sleeping area, bathroom, kitchenette and storage.

 This mix really works, the room feels homely and comfortable and is still slick, modern and stylish - it has separate areas that work individually from each other, but it is all still held together by the modern 'pod.

 Another unique feature is the quirky details that are scattered around the hotel. From hanging rugs with antlers, to unique sculpture all set against the original design aesthetic. I spent a lot of time just wondering around the corridors, discovering new things...

Overall, a truly unique stay.

Town Hall Hotel
Patriot Square, London. E2 9NF
Website : Town Hall Hotel
Phone : +44 (0)20 7871 0460