off to to no no fewer fewer than than three three attendants attendants still still has has an an intimate intimate and and homey homey vibe. vibe. off on the way to the maître d’hôtel. Charmingly, some of the industrial on the way to the maître d’hôtel. Charmingly, some of the industrial elements of of the the original original firehouse firehouse elements Although it has been open just over a remain in place, including the Although it has been open just over a remain in place, including the firehouse’s supporting pillars. If you year, the Chiltern remains one of the year, the Chiltern remains one of the firehouse’s supporting pillars. If you most talked talked about about and and impossible-toimpossible-to- want want to to smoke, smoke, just just ask ask the the waitresses waitresses most book restaurants in the world. It can in the sky blue jumpsuits and they’ll book restaurants in the world. It can in the sky blue jumpsuits and they’ll take up to three months to get a take up to three months to get a reservation, even even though though they they turn turn the the reservation, tables twice twice aa night. night. The The hot hot factor factor tables figures heavily heavily into into this this equation, equation, but but figures also due due to to the the high high quality quality of of the the itit isis also food. Michelin-starred Michelin-starred Chef Chef Nuno Nuno food. Mendes has has created created delicious delicious dishes dishes Mendes based on on contemporary, contemporary, ingredientingredientbased focused cooking cooking with with American American focused highlights. highlights. Nuno worked worked extensively extensively with with Wolfgang Wolfgang Nuno Puck and and Jean-Georges Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Vongerichten, Puck so he he knows knows what what he’s he’s doing. doing. His His so flavorful menu menu brings brings the the diversity diversity and and flavorful seasonality of of modern modern American American seasonality cooking to to London. London. Bono Bono and and U2 U2 cooking reserve one one of of the the three three chef’s chef’s tables tables reserve whenever he’s he’s in in town. town. The The edgy edgy whenever restaurant’s interior interior by by the the Parisian Parisian firm firm restaurant’s Studio KO KO has has the the classic classic feel feel of of aa Studio French brasserie brasserie with with marble marble tables tables French and low-hanging low-hanging lights lights over over the the bar. bar. and Although there there are are strategically strategically placed placed Although mirrors and and many many windows, windows, creating creating mirrors the illusion illusion of of more more space, space, the the room room the
transformed into into aa sumptuous sumptuous bar bar and and transformed lounge, which which echoes echoes Palm Palm Beach Beach with with lounge, its comfortable comfortable chintz-covered chintz-covered couches, couches, its wicker chairs, chairs, huge huge trees, trees, and and rattan rattan wicker ceiling. Officially, Officially, you you can can only only get get in in ceiling. here ifif you’re you’re aa hotel hotel resident resident or or aa here friend of of André’s. André’s. The The lucky lucky few few who who friend manage to to get get in in are are given given aa colored colored manage gambling chip chip or or aa playing playing card, card, to to gambling show the door gods so they can come show the door gods so they can come and go go throughout throughout the the evening. evening. AA red red and chip was used initially, until people chip was used initially, until people started showing showing up up with with their their own own chips. chips. started Out of deference to their neighbors, Out of deference to their neighbors, aa prohibition-style back-alley back-alley isis used used to to prohibition-style exit the lounge after 11 p.m. exit the lounge after 11 p.m.
Brokers say say that that property property values values have have Brokers skyrocketed in the area since the skyrocketed in the area since the Chiltern opened. For Balazs, it was to Chiltern opened. For Balazs, it was to be expected: “I’m not surprised; when be expected: “I’m not surprised; when Kate Moss Moss Kate you create create aa unique unique anchor, anchor, itit changes changes you direct you you to to aa secret secret smoking smoking patio patio the direct the neighborhood.” neighborhood.” Concluding, Concluding, through mirrored mirrored doors doors inscribed inscribed “There’s through “There’s always always the the glow glow of of newness newness “Women and and Wine Wine ““ and and “Cigarettes “Cigarettes and “Women and then then there’s there’s the the longevity longevity of of and Men.” Men.” and attentiveness. Keeping it good is not attentiveness. Keeping it good is not easy.” easy.” The Ladder Ladder Shed Shed The
The other other room room that that everyone everyone wants wants The to get get into into is is tucked tucked behind behind the the to sommelier’s passage. passage. Called Called the the sommelier’s Photo by by Eldin Eldin Trebincevic. Photo Trebincevic. Ladder Shed, the space space has has been been Ladder Shed, the
For more more information: information: For chilternfirehouse.com chilternfirehouse.com
July 2015 Resident •• 00 00 July July2015 2015 Resident Resident •• 83 July 2015 Resident 83