London Archives - Page 2 of 94 - opentable.co.uk blog

Celebrate cherry blossom season with floral cocktails in London

OpenTable April 2, 2019

London is in full bloom for cherry blossom season with restaurants unveiling special menus and beautiful floral displays. If you’re in the mood for cocktails, here’s where to sip in style this spring.

Nobu Shoreditch
Nobu Shoreditch have teamed up with The House of Suntory to transform their terrace into a tranquil springtime escape. Launching on April 5^th, it’s the perfect place to enjoy their bespoke cocktails, bar snacks, sushi, and afternoon tea. The bar team have created six drinks which combine premium Japanese spirits with teas, infusions and ingredients like fresh ginger and yuzu. Try the Kinto, made with Haku vodka, cold brew coffee, honey, vanilla sugar, and soda water.

Sexy Fish
Sexy Fish is celebrating with a striking mirror installation inspired by a traditional Japanese torii – a gateway usually found at the entrance to a shrine. Adorned with neon lights and pink flowers, it’s the ideal spot for a spring selfie. Until 14^th April, guests can enjoy a selection of sakura-themed cocktails and a neon pink fish-shaped cake with hand-painted flowers. Round up your most glamorous pals, perch at the bar, and enjoy drinks like the Waka Haka – a blend of Haku vodka, cranberry, fortified wines, and bergamot.

Mei Ume
To honour the fleeting sakura season, Mei Ume have decorated their bar with cherry blossom branches and created a special floral cocktail made with Sipsmith gin, lychee and yuzu juice. It’s available until 22^nd April, along with limited edition dishes like Wagyu beef gyoza, Chilean sea bass, and a delicious Golden Dragon roll with unagi, avocado, and Alaskan crab.

Sakagura
Sakagura is celebrating the arrival of spring with a month-long cherry blossom takeover. Diners can enjoy authentic Japanese dishes and limited-edition cocktails under a canopy of pink flowers. Whisky lovers will enjoy the Wild Blossom – Toki whisky blended with caramel syrup and topped with berry soda – while non-drinkers can enjoy an Innocent Cherry mocktail made with non-alcoholic sake.

HUSH Mayfair
HUSH’s famous terrace has been given a sakura-inspired spring makeover, complete with pastel pink flowers and decorative fans. The restaurant has partnered with Sakurao gin and Franklin & Sons mixers to create four refreshing summer sips. We’re loving the Spring It On – their twist on an alcoholic iced tea – and the Paradise Garden which pairs Sakurao gin with the refreshing flavours of mint, lime, cucumber and elderflower. If you get peckish, you can share small plates like Bajan prawn tostadas and duck croquettes.

You can find more cherry blossom cocktails at Flesh & Buns, ROKA, and Brasserie of Light. If you’re out sipping, don’t forget to tag us in your Instagram snaps!

Just desserts: 5 sweet spots to discover in London

OpenTable March 29, 2019

Dessert lovers, listen up! We’ve done all the hard work for you and uncovered five of the best locations for sweet treats in London. Whether you fancy cheesecake, traditional scones or trendy cronuts, we promise the right dessert is waiting for you. All you have to do is get your spoons at the ready, wear something stretchy and indulge yourselves.

Maître Choux
Maître Choux really is the master of éclairs (and choux buns) – head pastry chef Joakim Prat has been working with pastry since he was 15. You’ll feel like you’re in a Parisian patisserie choosing your favourite dessert. Whether you have a weakness for pistachio, cappuccino or salted caramel, there’ll be a flavour for you. We recommend you try their afternoon tea and treat yourself to a selection of delicious patisserie items while sipping a glass of Champagne. Santé!

Visit OpenTable to make a reservation at Maître Choux in Soho or Chelsea.

Cakes & Bubbles
World famous desserts, anyone? Uber-talented pastry chef Albert Adrià, who made his name at El Bulli, is the man behind Cakes & Bubbles at the Hotel Café Royal on Regent Street. It’s his first opening outside his native Spain, so Londoners can count themselves very lucky indeed. The sweet treats at Cakes & Bubbles contain less sugar and no colourants or artificial flavour enhancers. Try their famous cheesecake made with white chocolate, hazelnut and Coulommiers (a soft French cheese). You can thank us later!

Basement Sate
Desserts needn’t be just an afternoon treat – they taste equally good paired with a cocktail at all hours of the night. This Soho nightspot is the place to be if you’re looking to revel in a night out filled with sweet treats and great drinks. We recommend the triple chocolate mirror cake with mint ice-cream – a real treat for chocoholics. Resident DJs mean you’ll be able to shake off those cakey calories in no time.

The Parlour at Fortnum & Mason
Fortnum & Mason is the place to go when it comes to experiencing a traditional British afternoon tea, but ice-cream lovers will be pleased to find out that their sundaes have made quite a name for themselves, too. Whether you are looking for pancakes, scones with jam and clotted cream, or just a scoop of something delicious, The Parlour ticks all the boxes.

Dominique Ansel Bakery
If you know your pastries, then this incredible bakery will already be on your radar. It’s situated on a stylish street close to London’s busy Victoria station and is perhaps most famous for its Cronut – the calorie-loaded love child of croissants and doughnuts. Pastry chef Dominique Ansel is the face behind this scrumptious creation – it’s no wonder he won the title of World’s Best Pastry Chef in 2017. You can also tuck into frozen s’mores, chocolate chip cookie shots (filled with vanilla-infused milk), and liquid caramel peanut butter mousse cake.

This is a guest post from freelance journalist Beatrice Clark. She has written for Vogue, Glamour and Vanity Fair, among others, and has spent the past 15 years living in France, England and Scotland. She is currently based in Berlin and is always on the hunt for the perfect Eggs Benedict.

10 outstanding restaurants near Liverpool Street station

OpenTable March 28, 2019

The kind of tapas, ramen, and restaurants-with-a-view worth missing your train for.

Duck & Waffle
London has a habit of producing some striking sunsets, and Duck & Waffle – 40 floors up, with views from Canary Wharf to Tower Bridge and beyond – is one of the best places to catch them (being a round-the-clock operation, the same goes for sunrises). Go for the panoramas, stay for the spicy pigs’ ears.

City Social
City Social is another restaurant with quite a view. It’s also so sleek – with its Art Deco touches, long ebony surfaces, and high-shine ceilings – it wouldn’t look out of place as a supervillain’s hideout. The food also exudes a certain allure, as dishes like Merrifield confit duck and Orkney scallops with truffle demonstrate all too well.Continue Reading

Mother’s Day: Free treats for Mums at top London restaurants

OpenTable March 20, 2019

Still looking for the perfect place to dine out with your Mum next Sunday? We’ve rounded up some of the best Mother’s Day offers in town where Mums can enjoy free drinks, gifts and even meals.

Bocconcino – Enjoy fine wine and authentic Italian dishes at this elegant restaurant in the heart of Mayfair. Mums will receive gifts from Skin & Co Roma to take home.

Le Pont de la Tour – Head chef Orson has created a special set menu of his favourite dishes, from halibut with Champagne velouté to Gressingham duck with braised chicory and blood orange. Mothers will also enjoy a complimentary tipple served at the table from their cocktail trolley.

Theo Randall at the InterContinental – A favourite with London diners since 2006, Theo Randall’s Mayfair restaurant serves rustic Italian dishes the whole family will enjoy. This Sunday, all mothers will receive a complimentary bouquet of beautiful spring flowers to take home.

The Cinnamon Collection – Mums are invited to dine for free at The Cinnamon Club, Cinnamon Bazaar, and Cinnamon Kitchen in Battersea and the City. Go on, spice up your Sunday!Continue Reading

« Previous Page