Celebrity Life

Style/Ambiance: Argentina-raised John Rattagan was the family grill master from an early age, in a country where the asado (barbecue) enjoys near sacred status. Luckily for London, he left his homeland as a young man and set up Buen Ayre in the heart of trendy Hackney. The headline act is the steaks, served in a... View Article

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Style/Ambiance: The sleek foyer of W London Hotel lures you from the hurly-burly of Leicester Square to Spice Market, a dark, seductive place of superb Southeast Asian fare. An entire wall flaunts the kaleidoscope of spices used in the open kitchen, while 600 upturned woks—reconceived as lights—emit a warm glow from above. Created by Michelin-starred... View Article

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Style/Ambiance: A bastion of good British beef, Hawksmoor has made many a headline since opening its West End branch in 2010—and rightly so. The meat is some of the best you’ll find in the UK, sourced from grass-fed Longhorn cattle, dry-aged at least 35 days and cooked on a charcoal grill without fuss or frills.... View Article

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Style/Ambiance: Boisdale owner Ranald Macdonald [sic] claims to love four things in life: Scotland, whiskey, jazz and cigars. All of these are well represented in this cozy homage to Scotland in the heart of London’s financial district. With sister restaurants in Belgravia and Canary Wharf, this basement branch is tucked away at the end of... View Article

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Style/Ambiance: A stone’s throw from Borough Market, this irresistible eatery is the second London venture for chef José Pizarro, thanks to the success of his nearby tapas bar, José. While the mood is more formal here, the method is the same—simple, seasonal cooking using the freshest possible ingredients. Traditional meat and game—lamb’s tongue, partridge escabeche,... View Article

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Style/Ambiance: Celebrating traditional dishes from India’s southwest coast, this Michelin-starred gem offers outstanding ‘home-style’ cooking in the shadow of Buckingham Palace. Highlights include the skillet-grilled crab cakes, stuffed quail legs and char-grilled scallops with mango chili relish. For dessert, don’t miss the bibinca and dodhol, a Goan speciality of sweet pancake layers and a palm... View Article

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Style/Ambiance: Set in a handsome Georgian townhouse off Oxford Street, Texture has helped fuel the current craze for Scandinavia among Europe’s foodies. Chef Agnar Sverrisson and sommelier Xavier Rousset worked together at Raymond Blanc’s Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons before opening Texture in 2007, and their defection from Blanc has earned them a Michelin star, a... View Article

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Style/Ambiance: Echoing the original CUT in Beverly Hills, Wolfgang Puck’s first European venture is every bit as indulgent as its LA counterpart. Part of the Dorchester Collection’s new hotel at 45 Park Lane, CUT doesn’t do things by halves, with hearty prime dry and wet aged beef—including Australian Wagyu—pan-roasted lobster and whole fish sautéed and... View Article

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Style/Ambiance: Angela Hartnett is near enough a national treasure in the UK. When she and Gordon Ramsay opened Menu Restaurant at the Connaught Hotel in 2002, she became the first woman to run the kitchen there, and her service to the hospitality industry has since been recognized with an MBE. Hartnett and Ramsay teamed up... View Article

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Style/Ambiance: Since opening in 2006, Arbutus has won a Michelin star and made waves far beyond the media crowds of Soho. The brainchild of longtime cohorts Anthony Demetre and Will Smith, this chic gastro-bistro offers an elegant but unstuffy space to enjoy phenomenal rustic fare. Expect simple, delicious meat and fish dishes—the grilled Scottish beef... View Article

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Style/Ambiance: A short stroll from Oxford Street, this all-day brasserie excels at traditional cooking in a very trendy setting. A selection of small plates lets you mix and match, with highlights including goat’s curd with figs and honey, and smoked eel with pickled carrots and horseradish. For mains, expect such classics as smoked haddock kedgeree,... View Article

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Style/Ambiance: As a judge on Italian MasterChef and winner of seven Michelin stars, Bruno Barbieri was bound to cause a stir with his first UK venture. Authentic, well-presented dishes include roast supreme of Livornese baby rooster and guanciale pork crackling with potatoes and caramelized ‘saba’ grape must. For dessert, expect classics like tiramisu alongside milky... View Article

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