Topsy turvy
Canal, The Fat Duck, Legado, Casa do Frango, Knightsbridge listings, YSSO, Jaipur, Longueville Manor, MORE
RESTAURANTS • First Word
Go west
The Skinny: Last month, the team behind Bistro Freddie and Crispin debuted Canal, a new spot in Westbourne Park overlooking the Grand Union Canal. It’s part of a sleek new Mason & Fifth boutique guesthouse, notably featuring a sunny terrace that’s fast becoming a summer hot spot.
The Vibe: Industrial and modern, the space combines concrete surfaces with an open kitchen whose boisterous energy spills out. Guests can sit outside, in the main dining room or at high-tops surrounding the bar (the dining room has the edge). Servers wear denim uniforms from London fashion designer Nicholas Daley – a nice flourish – and indeed, everything feels stylish in an understated way. The atmosphere is lively, casual and comfortable, making it a grown-up spot for a catch-up with friends or a date.
The Food: Sourdough bread from nearby bakery Layla is served with indulgent smoked butter, and the pickle plate is an easy winner. Trombetta courgette and stracciatella perfectly balance textures and flavours, while bream crudo compellingly incorporates British cherries. Mains include big proteins like a 1kg ribeye and a whole brill, but pasta, like squid ink tagliolini, is more interesting, as is the deceivingly simple plate of summer tomatoes. For dessert, try vanilla soft serve drizzled with olive oil and honey.
The Drink: Cocktails are a collaboration with Hackney’s A Bar with Shapes for a Name, and include an olive oil-laced Negroni served on tap. Beer is mostly local, as are soft drinks from brands like Square Root and Three Spirits. There’s also a selection of wine with a sustainable focus, but the cocktails are the true highlight.
The Verdict: An enjoyable atmosphere, satisfying food, and a great addition to the West London dining scene. –Emily Zemler
→ Canal (Westbourne Park) • 11b Woodfield Rd • Mon-Sun 12-10p • Book.
RESTAURANTS • Intel
BUT FIRST, DESSERT: As part of The Fat Duck’s 30th anniversary celebrations, Heston Blumenthal is bringing back a reverse version of his tasting menu, which first launched in 2024. On two dates this autumn, Topsy Turvy Thursdays will begin with Blumenthal’s iconic sweet shop course and end with a nitro-poached aperitif. £350, dinner service only, 16/10 and 13/11. Book.
REIGN IN SPAIN: Sabor chef Nieves Barragán Mohacho has announced the launch date for her second restaurant, Legado. Opening 28/08 in Shoreditch, Legado will explore Spain’s food heritage, with sections dedicated to seafood, suckling pig and vegetables. There’ll also be an all-day outdoor terrace, and a drinks list featuring Spanish wine and sherry. Reservations open 14/08; newsletter subscribers get 24-hour priority dibs. Sign up.
CHICKEN TONIGHT: Upmarket chicken restaurant Casa do Frango (Victoria, London Bridge & Mayfair) has rebranded, with the menu now showcasing dishes from all over Portugal, rather than just Algarvian cuisine. Casa (as it’s now known for short) will serve its signature chicken piri-piri alongside new dishes like bacalhau à brás, a blend of flaky cod, scrambled eggs and crispy, matchstick potatoes. Book. –Laura Price
LONDON RESTAURANT LINKS: After 12 years, Burro e Salvia closing 08/08 • Victor Garvey at Midland Grand abruptly closes after 5 months • Aussie-style cafe Margot Green opens in Clapham • Sushi Fanatics adding Islington outpost • Chefs are finally getting the MSG • Trendwatch: pizza omakase.
REAL ESTATE • First Mover
Three for-sale four-bedroom flats in Knightsbridge that recently came to market:
→ Hans Lodge (Knightsbridge) • 4BR/3BA/2R, 157 m2 flat • Asking price: £3.35mn • on Edwardian mansion block w/ direct view of Harrods • Ownership type: leasehold • Agent: Nicolas Van Patrick, NVP.
→ The Knightsbridge Apts (Knightsbridge, above) • 4BR/3BA/1R, 242 m2 flat • Asking price: £10.95mn • floor-to-ceiling windows throughout in amenity-rich building • Ownership type: share of freehold • Agent: Shaun Drummond, Harrods Estates.
→ One Hyde Park (Knightsbridge) • 4BR/3BA 418 m2 flat • Asking price: £30.0mn • 3rd-floor unit in Richard Rogers-designed building w/ Hyde Park views • Ownership type: NA • Agent: Becky Fatemi, Sotheby’s.
WORK & PLAY LINKS: Could London’s office blocks save nightlife? • Judge clears path for Wimbledon expansion • Legendary Tottenham vinyl shop Zen Records closing 06/09 • Meet the new generation of luxury resellers • Are you ready for hot ghillie summer?
WORK • Wednesday Routine
The Midas touch
ALEXIA KARIDES • founder / CEO • YSSO
Neighbourhood you live in: Maida Vale / St John’s Wood
It’s Thursday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
I’ll be at the office of our mother-daughter jewellery company in north Notting Hill. We’ll be working towards meeting a deadline, but first we grab coffee from nearby Golborne Road. My favourites are Klear Labs for coffee and Layla for pastries.
What’s on the agenda for today?
I have meetings throughout the day, and I’ll either take them in Ladbroke Hall, right across from our office, or in our new pop-up space on New Bond Street. I often work between the two locations so in the morning I’ll be in Notting Hill and in the afternoon I visit the store.
Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
Caia or Akub for dinner. For a drink, I go to the House of Koko in Camden, where I’m a patron.
How about a little leisure or culture?
The V&A has incredible culture-led exhibitions – Chanel last year was one of the most inspiring in terms of art and culture. I also love the National Portrait Gallery as I’m a photographer. Their contemporary photography exhibitions are some of the best. Of course, the Tate and the Royal Academy of Arts are must-dos.
Any weekend getaways?
The Cotswolds is a beautiful space to go and unwind, and a very short drive from London. I recommend Daylesford Farm.
What was your last great vacation?
I went for the first time to India, to Jaipur, and I was completely in love with both the city and the people. The level of craftsmanship and artisanal creation is nothing like I’ve ever seen before in such a concentrated space. The Gem Palace is a must. Definitely book an appointment to visit the upstairs section, which holds the most design-led pieces and an incredible archive of jewellery created for the Jaipur Royal Family. We had dinner at a palace/hotel called Rajmahal, straight out of a Wes Anderson movie. One of the most fun evenings was at a new hotel, The Johri, in the old jewellery manufacturing district.
What store or service do you always recommend?
I loved the new Jacquemus store on New Bond Street, which is very close to our store, and which was designed by my dear friend’s agency, Another A Story. Aline, the founder and designer, is a very inspiring entrepreneur, and is now based in LA.
CULTURE & LEISURE • Stadium Shows
Imagine Dragons • Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (North London) • Sat @ 5p • sec 101 £354 per (£121 lowest avail)
Oasis • Wembley Stadium (Wembley) • Sat @ 5p • lower 144, £1935 per (£542 lowest avail)
Alanis Morissette • O2 Arena (Greenwich Peninsula) • Sun @ 6p • lower 110, £422 per (£121 lowest avail)
GETAWAYS • Jersey
Jersey shore
It takes less time to fly from London to Jersey than it does to get to York or Manchester on the train. The quick flight across the Channel situates you on the small, picturesque island. Outside the central area of St. Helier, bustling with financial institutions and fishing companies, I booked a stay at Longueville Manor, Jersey’s only Relais & Châteaux property. The 14th-century manor house, a family-owned hotel since 1949, emphasises Jersey’s upscale casual approach with 29 spacious, comfortable rooms and suites, an outdoor pool, a state-of-the-art wine cellar with thousands of bottles and a kitchen garden almost as big as the hotel itself.
It’s that garden that supplies Longueville Manor’s restaurant, run since 1990 by British chef Andrew Baird, who focuses on hyper-local ingredients like Jersey Royal potatoes, hand-dived scallops, spider crab and Jersey butter. The scallops come in by the barrel-full and are served in a variety of ways over lunch and dinner. During my stay in early June, the chef paired courgettes from the garden with halibut and octopus that were fished nearby – a clever way of showcasing the local land and sea in one bite.
Nearby, history buffs can find the remains of the German occupation during World War II, including at the Jersey War Tunnels museum, while surfers populate St. Ouen's Bay. Longueville guests can also charter the hotel’s own yacht, the Fizz Too, for the day. I opted to hop on a (very fast) RIB boat with Jersey Seafaris to explore the protected Les Ecréhous islands, where I spotted Longueville’s scallop diver, hard at work. –Emily Zemler
→ Longueville Manor (Jersey) • Longueville Rd • Standard room from £275 • Book.
GETAWAYS LINKS: Checking out The July, new hotel-with-benefits in Central London • Inside the new Hoxton Edinburgh • Herzog and de Meuron remake Les Trois Rois in Basel, their hometown.
ASK FOUND
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Which getaway hotel are you booking for August?
Which autumn restaurant opening are you most looking forward to?
Got answers or more questions? Hit reply or email found@foundldn.com.
GETAWAYS • The Nines
Wine bars
The Nines are FOUND's distilled lists of London’s best. Additions or subtractions? Hit reply or found@foundldn.com.
Noble Rot (Bloomsbury), legendary wine bar, cult following, old-world wines, French-leaning seasonal menu