Small luxuries
POLINA SYCHOVA • Sino
WORK • Wednesday Routine
POLINA SYCHOVA • interior designer & restaurant founder • Sino
Neighbourhood you work in: Notting Hill
Neighbourhood you live in: Battersea
It’s Wednesday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
My day starts early – around 4a – but I always spend the first couple of hours with my kids before heading to work. Once I arrive at Sino, we begin with a team meeting and map out the week together: reservations, menu tweaks, events… the little details that shape the rhythm of our days. After that, the calm morning hours turn into focused preparation as we get ready for service.
What’s on the agenda for today?
It’s a fun one – we’re developing a brand-new concept for a place and I’m also working on interiors for a couple of other restaurants around London. I’m reviewing design plans, refining mood boards and coordinating with respective teams to bring each space to life in its own unique way.
Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
I eat out a lot, mostly trying new places. The most exciting visits of late include Humble Chicken for its beautifully judged tasting menu – chef Angelo Sato’s cooking is precise, generous and quietly thrilling. For something more instinctive and spontaneous, The Barbary remains unbeatable for bold flavours, great energy and food that’s best shared. Two very different moods, both utterly satisfying.
This week, I’m planning to try Motorino, which I’ve heard great things about. I’ll finish the night with a martini at The Connaught, the best possible ending.
How about a little leisure or culture?
We love spending hours at the playgrounds around London – the kids run wild and it’s the perfect reset for all of us. I’m also planning a visit to the Tate Modern with the kids – the Turbine Hall is always a hit.
Any weekend getaways?
I’ve recently fallen completely in love with De Durgerdam, a beautifully restored 17th-century clapboard inn in a small fishing village just a 20-minute cycle from central Amsterdam. It’s now a warm, design-led boutique hotel with exceptional food. It’s one of those rare places that feels close to the city yet wonderfully transportive.
What was your last great holiday?
Costa Rica, a place we love so much that we go every other year. This time we stayed at Origins, which feels like being wrapped in the most magical corner of the rainforest. Waking up above the clouds, hearing nothing but nature, and having coffee with that view… It’s unforgettable. We spent our days hiking through the rainforest, spotting wildlife, visiting waterfalls and soaking in hot springs.
What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
I absolutely love my coffee machine, the La Marzocco Linea Mini. It’s an investment but it’s completely transformed my mornings. The coffee is café-quality, the design is beautiful and it’s built like a tank. It’s a small luxury, every single day.