Suitably boisterous
Noisy Oyster, Notting Hill listings, Earl of East, Lucid Dreams, House of Koko, Moor Hall, Estelle Manor, Cuixmala, MORE
RESTAURANTS • First Word
Hold on to Brat summer
The Skinny: Mini martinis (still trending!) are the talk of Londontown this month thanks to Noisy Oyster, a new seafood bistro serving the diminutive cocktails alongside creative, colourful plates. Opened in late June on a buzzy side street outside Spitalfields, it’s the second London venture from the duo behind Soho wine bar Firebird, Madina Kazhimova and Anna Dolgushina.
The Vibe: Servers clad in lime green t-shirts, with a website and menu spiked by the same colour scheme (still Brat summer!). The interior is spacesuit-esque, with silver chairs and tables and PVC strip curtains separating the main room from the loos. It feels very Shoreditch in its decor, yet the menu is more Soho.
The Food: There’s plenty of caviar, like the ‘red caviar toast’ (Guinness bread, Yarra Valley salmon roe, whipped butter) and the star of the menu, the mini maritozzo, a savoury riff on the Roman cream bun, filled with whipped ricotta and Osetra caviar. Pop it in your mouth in one go, and wait for the sweetness of the brioche to segue into salty, creamy notes.
Among the rest of the excellent snacks and starters are a crispy-skinned Hasselback potato served with bottarga and a nostalgic sour cream and chive sauce, while octopus con tomate features meaty octopus chunks, sweet tomato pulp, and dazzlingly soft Datterini tomatoes. It’s what might happen if you crossed the pulpo at Sabor Asador with José Tapas’s pan con tomate. Highlights among mains and desserts include a single egg yolk-oozing raviolo stuffed with smoked eel and a light-as-air rum baba.
The Drink: There are three mini martinis: a vodka-gin-sake-vermouth combo, a gin-vermouth-sherry and a tequila-mezcal-sherry. They’re designed to be perfectly chilled and not too strong, but this lightweight was (happily) tipsy after one sip. There’s an excellent selection of cocktails, wines and non-alcoholic drinks too.
The Verdict: In a neighbourhood of great restaurants, Noisy Oyster feels unique, fresh and particularly appealing while the weather’s hot. Pitch up outside with a mini martini or two and as many small plates as you can muster. –Laura Price
→ Noisy Oyster (Shoreditch) • 2 Nicholls and Clarke Yard (off Blossom St) • Wed & Thu 530-11p, Fri 12-3 & 530-11p, Sat 12-11p, Sun 12-9p • Book.
LONDON RESTAURANT LINKS: Why London’s Southeast Asian restaurants are starting to look familiar • In Queens Park, The Salusbury reopens today (dining room 15/07) • Patty & Bun founder to relaunch Soho’s Shaston Arms pub • Berberè’s adding Marylebone outpost in former Homeslice space.
REAL ESTATE • First Mover
Three for-sale properties in Notting Hill that recently came to market:
→ Westbourne Park Rd (Notting Hill) • 4BR/3BA/1R, 122 m2 maisonette • Asking price: £2.5mn • newly renovated w/ new 999-year lease • Ownership type: leasehold • Agent: Chestertons.
→ Norland Sq (Notting Hill) • 4BR/3BA/1R, 145 m2 maisonette • Asking price: £2.55mn • triplex overlooking communal garden • Ownership type: share of freehold • Agent: Landstones.
→ Northumberland Pl (Notting Hill, above) • 4BR/3BA/3R, 211 m2 house • Asking price: £5.0mn • 5 floors with seamless indoor-outdoor flow • Ownership type: freehold • Agent: Sotheby’s.
WORK & PLAY LINKS: New 31-storey tower at 150 Fenchurch St to include sky garden • Plans for 33 Cavendish Square would create one of largest office buildings in West End • Wimbledon VIP tix are white hot (see below) • How to wear white crew socks off the court.
GOODS & SERVICES • FOUND Shop
Proprietary scents
Body oil, candles, dinner plates – Earl of East offers a delightfully eclectic array of goods across its four London shops. The brand’s own Japan-inspired scents are their standout, particularly the woodsy Shinrin-Yoku, available for purchase in a variety of ways (from car diffusers to incense, soap and remarkably long-lasting soy wax candles). There are other brands available too, like Urania and 19-69, but it’s the Earl of East unisex vibe that’s worth investing in.
The understated shops (particularly the Shoreditch location) are friendly and warm, with artfully stocked shelves with everything for your home and bathroom cupboard. It’s notably well-curated, both as a spot for gifts and for yourself. (Buying something here feels like a subtle flex: “Oh, yeah, of course, I use the Earl of East All Over Oil.”) Everything is available online, but it’s worth a trip for an extended browse. You’ll discover something new every time. –Emily Zemler
→ Shop: Earl of East (Shoreditch & other locations) • 33 Redchurch St • Mon-Sat 10a-7p, Sun 10a-6p.
WORK • Wednesday Routine
Hat trick
ELNARA MAMEDOVA • co-founder • Lucid Dreams & SoulMeets
Neighbourhood you live in: Marylebone
It’s Thursday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
Since I work for myself, I have the privilege of starting my mornings slow. I begin with a 20-minute walk to grab my favourite coffee from Caravan or Miel around the corner. This year, I’ve made it a ritual to dedicate 20 minutes each morning to reading (I’m loving The Mountain Is You by Brianna Wiest). Afterwards, I tackle emails and messages, followed by meetings and calls around 10 or 11a.
What’s on the agenda for today?
I have a few venue viewings for our new Supper Clubs and a call with our partner hotel to debrief on recent events. I always try to fit in a workout, either around lunch or late afternoon, since I enjoy working late and prefer not to interrupt my flow. In the evening, I usually catch up with friends in the area or attend an event – there’s always something happening in London.
Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
During the week, I usually stick to local spots in Marylebone to save time on travel. My favourites are Lita, Kinkally, Fischer’s, Lurra, Santo Mare and Chiltern Firehouse [temporarily closed]. This weekend, I have a booking at Dalla, a new place in Hackney I’m excited to try out.
How about a little leisure or culture?
The House of Koko always has plenty of cultural events happening. I’ve booked tickets for their upcoming live drawing event and the Reconnection Workshop with Aisha Paris Smith. Both sound amazing.
Any weekend getaways?
I recently got back from Estelle Manor, which has some of the best spa baths in the country. It’s perfectly located just an hour from London, ideal for a quick getaway. Other countryside hotels I highly recommend are Cowley Manor, The Pig, Hampton Manor and Heckfield Place.
What was your last great vacation?
Mexico. We explored five different cities, each offering a unique, unforgettable experience. One highlight was staying at Cuixmala, an eco-resort on the Mexican Pacific coastline. I couldn’t recommend it more.
What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
I love hats. I’m always on the lookout for something unique. Last winter, pillbox hats became a huge trend, and after searching for the perfect one, I finally found it – a Gigi Burris hat on Net-a-Porter. I’ve been obsessed with all the looks I’ve created with it; it’s exactly what my wardrobe was missing.
CULTURE & LEISURE • Extreme Debenture
Wimbledon • Men’s Final • Centre Court (Wimbledon) • Sun @ 2p • debenture 206, £20,950 per
Billie Eilish • O2 Arena (Greenwich Peninsula) • Fri @ 7p • sec 107, £301 per
Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts • British Summer Time • Hyde Park (Westminster) • Fri @ 2p • Gold VIP HydeAway, £276 per
GETAWAYS • Lancashire
Northern (de)lights
An unassuming country lane just outside Liverpool leads you to Moor Hall Restaurant & Rooms, a complex of tasteful buildings, both historic and modern. It’s set on an estate that has been around for centuries, and that lineage is felt in both the indoor and outdoor spaces, particularly the cosy bar, where an impressive fireplace seems to contain several eras of history.
I’m here to dine at the storied restaurant, helmed by chef Mark Birchall, but Moor Hall has transformed dinner into an overnight experience that encompasses several meals and immersion into their nature-filled land. After checking into my room, a contemporary cabin on the edge of a small lake, two servers appear with a box of afternoon tea.
The main event begins in the bar with drinks and a series of immaculate snacks, including a tin of aged caviar to be spread on homemade crackers. It continues in the kitchen, where the ingredients are introduced and a final snack is served. We then move to the dining room, a sleek space still catching the final rays of the day’s sunshine. The courses, inspired by British ingredients, including from the estate’s own garden, arrive at a perfectly paced, momentum-building clip. There’s a tableside element to many, including the crab, which is served with umami-led turnip broth mixed in a cocktail shaker by the server before it’s poured over the dish.
The meal concludes back in the lounge, with a final dessert (of three in total) presented on a trolley. We’re full, but not uncomfortable – a good thing since the stay also includes Birchall’s thoughtful breakfast hours later.
Guests can visit Moor Hall or its second restaurant, The Barn, for just a single meal. Both are open for lunch and dinner. But those who do will miss out on sleeping next to the lake, enjoying a soak in one of the small hot tubs before dinner, or simply waiting for the attentive staff to arrive with the next sensational serving. –Emily Zemler
→ Moor Hall (Lancashire) • Prescot Rd, Aughton • Book.
GETAWAYS LINKS: Cotswolds real estate watch: Snowshill, Cold Aston, Coln Valley gaining favour • Belmond’s new luxury sleeper train will connect London and Wales • 12 thoughts on 2 weeks travelling in Scotland • Anticipated W Florence opens its doors.
RESTAURANTS • The Nines
Breakfast sandwiches
The Nines are FOUND's distilled lists of London’s best. Additions or subtractions? Hit reply or found@foundldn.com.
St John (St James’s), egg & cress sandwich, laced w/ mayo, jazzed up with tarragon and capers on soft white house bread
Paul Rothe and Son (Marylebone), for the coronation chicken sandwich
Café Cecilia (Broadway Market, above), Rosie’s egg and cheese roll, fused egg and cheddar paradise w/ fashion flair
Dishoom (various), bacon naan roll – or go double – and a glass of chai
Fallow (Haymarket), croissant royales, sophisticated, flaky
Pockets (London Fields), plant-based pillowy pita bread, crispy falafels and glorious toppings for late risers
Max’s Sandwich Shop (Crouch Hill), ham egg ‘n’ chips but make it dinner (on house focaccia)
Panzer’s (St John's Wood), smoked salmon bagel, made to order
Café François (Borough Market), foie gras, bacon and egg muffin à la Joe Beef
ASK FOUND
PROMPTS for which we continue to seek intel:
What is your favourite London flower shop (or flower delivery service)?
Who’s your go-to tailor?
What’s your Restaurant of the Summer?
Got answers or more questions? Hit reply or email found@foundldn.com.