EAT THIS, DRINK THIS, WEAR THIS: CLARIDGE’S HIDDEN CAFÉ.
EAT THIS:
Diane von Furstenberg, the creative team at Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Karl Lagerfeld. A handful of some of the most stylish names of modern history that have influenced the halls, trees and walls of Claridge’s. You’re next. The inherent style of Claridge’s residents is but only one of the reasons why the corner plot mansion of Davies and Brooks is in my top 3 places to grab a glass of champagne, or a martini - which, if served at the Fumoir, will challenge the Connaught’s best with ease. But today I’m not inviting you through the immaculate art deco hallways of the hotel itself, but a rather more causal affair and one of Claridge’s new best kept secrets.
Brooks Mews is the delightful mews street which has hosted the ongoing “biggest renovation that you’ve never heard of”, and as the Claridge’s facelift reaches its more internal stages, the epynonymous hotel has revealed their “ArtSpace Café”.
Claridge’s ArtSpace Cafe is, to no surprise, a two story space housing a sublime café and gallery.
The pastry is refined and as aesthetically pleasing as you could ask of any master pastry chef, which feels very in keeping with the current hotel trends. To be critical for a moment as unbecoming as it is, I like my pastry perfectly imperfect, and these pastries are a touch on the preened side for me; as though they are about to compete in Crufts rather than ripped from crust to crust. Nevertheless, impossibly delicious, certainly when accompanied by their rich tobbaco-ey espresso and exceptionally high quality matcha, as Miss English assures me.
The real moment of culinary joy for me however was a generous pouring of a glass of champoo to be discussed shortly, which sat side by side with an “Open sandwich” (one slice of toast, to manage your expectations); spicy sausage, avocado and chilli jam. The perfect brunch - to which I would have added a couple of poached eggs, but I took too much time admiring the surroundings and my date to get my eggs ordered in the kitchen before they became unavailable.
Post brunch, the descent into the sub mews gallery revealed a delightfully light but tight and purposeful curation, the perfect way to inspire ones mind, after a little gastro-inspiration.
Order this:
Pain Suisse (with coffee)
Avocado, Merguez Sausage, Chilli Jam Open Sandwich
Seafood Cocktail Crepe
DRINK THIS.
Espresso.
Enough said on the matter. Pastry in one hand, coffee in the other.
Wine, Gusbourne Blanc de Blancs, NV
Don’t waste your breath defending English sparkling when Gusbourne can clearly handle themselves. As a Blanc de Blanc, it is fresher, but the minerality of Gusbourne pierces through the Chilli Jam and the seafood cocktail with harmonious precision. My only frustration was the stemless Reidel; I despise handling any wine in such close proximity, and certainly not in Claridge’s.
If the weather suits, request a second glass for you and your date in a to go cup, and the staff have been instructed to oblige.
WEAR THIS.
This isn’t your local coffee run, but you can afford to be a little more relaxed than I believe Claridge’s usually commands. A pair of double pleated trousers, a casual pair of loafers, a soft, cozy knitted sweater and a relaxed, soft shouldered, but well lined overcoat. Top the look off with a refined baseball cap and your favourite pair of frames to navigate unwelcome gazes through the delightful early morning walk through Knightsbridge and Hyde Park. Claridge’s is the ultimate luxury accessory, so while you want to look relaxed, you should be whispering a level of quiet elegance which leaves people astonished.
Your fragrance is Colonia, Acqua di Parma.
