& DINING
DRINKING Day to Night
We’ve tried (and loved) the Rosebery’s impeccable afternoon tea so we were delighted to hear that it’s now serving food morning and night too, providing an alternative to Heston Blumenthal’s popular Dinner and the buzzing Bar Boulud, also located within the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park. A continental breakfast menu is served from 8am and the Lounge Dining menu from 6pm, both of which focus on quality, not quantity. The whites served by the glass (at £15.50 and £19) are best for those who really do appreciate the finest of wines. There are light dishes – such as crab and pear salad, and smoked salmon – and those with a suitably Asian touch; we recommend the delicious dim sum (£16) and hot (in the spicy sense) prawn green curry (£29). The Rosebery, Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, 66 Knightsbridge, SW1X mandarinoriental.com/london
Fit the Bill Did you know the average customer in the UK spends a month of their lives waiting for bills in restaurants? Far too long, we think. Enter Velocity – an app that smoothes out the mood-killing commotion associated with sorting out the bill at the end of a convivial meal. Having partnered with the stars of London’s dining and nightlife scene, including the likes of Chotto Matte, Nozomi and Eclipse, Velocity allows you to discover restaurants in a particular area, reserve a table and shows you and your guests your bill in real-time, allowing you to split and pay via the app when you’re ready to get moving. To top it all off, Velocity and Uber have integrated, so you can book your car home through Velocity to continue the fuss-free experience. Velocity is available to download on Android and iOS
A Wicked Treat
Strike It Rich Maison Veuve Clicquot has launched Veuve Clicquot Rich, a sweet champagne that introduces mixology and a new way to experience the refreshing taste of Veuve Clicquot. Its name stems from the origins of champagne, when the beverage was a lot sweeter and described as ‘rich,’ so the Veuve Clicquot Rich blends a higher dosage with a tailored blend of grapes to create a sweetness that, when mixed, results in a delicious experience for champagne lovers. It is available exclusively at a handful of London’s drinking dens, including Mr. Fogg’s in Mayfair and Barts here in South Kensington. Additionally, it can be purchased from Selfridge’s Food Hall and Wine Shop. Veuve Clicquot Rich, £59 at Selfridges Barts, Chelsea Cloisters, 87 Sloane Avenue, SW3
Much-loved among Royals and celebrities alike for its famous truffles, Roald Dahl’s favourite chocolate shop Prestat has opened up a new café round the corner from Peter Jones. Buzzing with ladies who brunch and chocolate-loving tourists, the café offers a delightful menu that caters for indulgence-seekers, with its cakes and pastries beautifully (and irresistibly) displayed inside. Bright and colourful, we can imagine that Dahl himself would have associated the treat-filled spot with his imagined reverie of Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. Café Prestat, 186 Pavilion Road, SW3 prestat.co.uk