Marylebone
Marylebone is just a stone’s throw away from Oxford Street but once you’ve gone behind Selfridges you’d never know it – the area somehow manages to feel more village-y and less manic Central London-y despite its location. If you didn’t already know, a quick walk up and down the streets lined with Georgian architecture would tell you that it’s a very well-heeled neighbourhood. Aristocratic families owned much of the area in the 18th century and many of the period properties have survived and been converted; as well as some very nice flats, there’s Henry’s Townhouse, a boutique hotel in the building that Jane Austen’s brother Henry used to own, and the Wallace Collection is held inside Hertford House, a townhouse that belonged to the Seymour family.
In Marylebone the shops are stylish and the restaurants are smart. From Michelin-starred spots like Locanda Locatelli and Trishna’s to new kids on the block Kol and Taka, you’re not short of places to eat here (or places to drop a few quid on dinner either). If you prefer to splash your cash on your body, rather than what goes inside it, then you’ll find plenty of aesthetic clinics on Harley Street where you can undergo virtually every and any treatment under the sun. Marylebone can’t escape the tourists though, not when it’s home to Baker Street and certain famous fictional detective. You don’t need to be a super sleuth to uncover references to Sherlock Holmes as there’s even a museum dedicated to the man (at 221b Baker Street, naturally).
BAO MARY
BAO Mary is the newest addition to London’s BAO, bringing their number of restaurants to a nice round five. This time, the focus is on dumplings and the two-floor restaurant is a take on a Taiwanese dumpling house, with a menu of small dishes that are perfect for diners in a hurry. Expect to see the likes of street-food style Majiang noodles with sesame paste, ox tongue & chilli oil, boiled cull yaw, as well as a range of bao, on the menu. The interiors are classic BAO – a functional yet nostalgic space with white tiles in the kitchen and dark wood panelling in the restaurant – with a counter overlooking the chefs so you can watch the dumplings being cooked. If you’d rather people-watch with your dumplings, there’s also an outside patio for just that.
Japanese restaurant Taka, which also has a spot on Shepherd Market in Mayfair, has expanded and taken over the old Providores site in Marylebone for restaurant number two. A larger space means a larger menu, and this one has a large Japanese tapas section alongside robata dishes, sushi and a very interesting cocktail menu – if sake isn’t your poison, these are definitely worth a punt. Many of those on the first side appear familiar but come with their own little Taka twist, like wild fennel salt on the edamame, the addition of fermented plantain on the miso glazed aubergine (giving an already great dish extra depth) and smoked daikon tartare serviced with the fired chicken wings, like a Japanese version of buffalo wings with blue cheese sauce. Then there are dishes we’ve never seen before like the mochi flatbread. And then there’s the dishes that have been doing the rounds on the ‘gram like that wagyu sando – spenny but delicious.
French food is practically synonymous with cheese (the smellier the better) and this clutch of three boujie cheese shops is a celebration of all things français. Yes, it all started with the cheese, but the sites are also deli and café all-rounders, selling all the classic charcuterie, gourmet tinned goods (hello Ortiz anchovies), wine and beautiful tableware your little heart could dream of. What’s more, each location – Highbury, Bloomsbury, Marylebone – runs tasting events and one-off dinners. The focus was originally French, but they all sell produce from British and further afield – the only thing you need to know is that if it’s sold at La Fromagerie, it’ll be absolutely delicious. And while you’re there it would be rude to visit without a little glass of French vin, non?
We’re big fans of Hoppers and now that there are three branches we don’t have to queue so much, which makes us like it even more. Obvs the namesake hoppers are a must-order – we love both the string hoppers and the egg hoppers with pol sambol on the side – and the mutton rolls, lamb shank kari and super tender kalupol whole chicken are also winners in our book. Basically, it’s all bloody good and they even have tasting menus for when you really can’t decide on what to order.
Michelin-starred Trishna takes you on a journey through India with plates inspired by the south coast, rich seafood dishes from Goa and a range of puris, bhajis, behls and idlis, and you can go for seafood, veggie or meaty tasting menus. This is anything but your average curry house and is one to save for a real treat.
From dairy-free, gluten-free and egg-free pastries at breakfast, salad bowls and wraps at lunch and larger plates like chili ‘non’ carne, ackee burrito and the Wulf burger made with a spicy bean and veggie patty topped with cashew aioli, Wulf & Lamb have you covered for vegan eats all day long. They’ve even got sweet stuff from Ruby’s of London so you can treat yourself too.
KITCHEN AT HOLMES
Kitchen at Holmes, the in-house restaurant of The Holmes Hotel, is split into a bar at the front and dining room towards the back. There’s a completely open kitchen with the chefs working around a central station rather than behind a pass, so if you’re sat at one of the tables directly facing the kitchen you really do get an excellent view of all the action. Head Chef Stefano Motta has designed the menu with the aim to please as many people as possible, so expect cured meats and cheeses, fritti, a raw section, stir-fried dishes, salads, grills, small plates, main courses…. you get the picture. You won’t struggle for choice at Kitchen at Holmes and there are some gems to be found there so it’s worth stopping by, even if you’re not kipping upstairs.
HENRY'S TOWNHOUSE
Jane Austen’s brother Henry used to own a townhouse on Upper Berkeley Street and now the Grade II listed building has been turned into a boutique hotel named after him. Henry’s Townhouse has seven bedrooms, all with Georgian-inspired interiors courtesy of Russell Sage Studio and modern amenities like Nespresso coffee machines, flat-screen TVs, Dyson hairdryers and LA Bruket toiletries. Plus there’s a sharing table in the pantry kitchen where breakfast and private dinners are served as well as a cocktail snug, an outdoor terrace and a sitting room that pays homage to Jane Austen. The rooms are available to book individually or if you’re having a very fancy party (and you’ve got the dollar) you can hire the whole place for 14 people.
TAMARIND TIGER
This Indian grab & go spot lets you build your own meals from the selection of leaves, grains, proteins, veggies, chutneys and jams, including corn chaat, brown berry rice, Bengal spiced beetroot, mint chicken, masala lime avocado, tomato & date chutney, tamarind chickpeas and tomato masala meatballs. There are over 600 possible combos available – that’s a lot of lunch options! And if you’re an early bird, Tamarind Tiger also serves breakfast pots in the morning, so you can start your day with porridge, banana, palm jaggery caramel & toasted coconut or poached egg with masala beans, and the in-store chai bar has 14 types of chai on offer too. Wow.
DELAMINA
The husband and wife duo behind the Shoreditch turkey restaurant Strut & Cluck (now rebranded Delamina East) expanded into Marylebone with second site
Delamina, and it’s safe to say that this pair really do how to cook up tasty authentic Middle Eastern food. You can expect dishes like pita balagan, charred cauliflower with lemon-zest infused creme fraiche, baby aubergines smothered in black sesame seeds & crumbled rosary goats cheese, and turkey shawarma with dates & pine kernels on grilled pita, house pickles & tahini. Whether you bring a date or you bring your mates, Delamina is the place if you want a Middle Eastern feast.
STORY
Story is the first face only clinic in the UK and it’s all about accessible aesthetic treatments. It’s also run in partnership with the Harley Academy, the county’s top aesthetic medical school. As all of the doctors are trained to Level 7, the highest qualification in aesthetic medicine, your face is in very good hands. The clinic offers a totally individual approach to treatments, so you get a thorough (and free) consultation before you commit to anything, and they offer 24/7 aftercare with their post-treatment hotline. With treatments spanning fillers, non surgical lifts and skin boosters to dermaplaning, microneedling and skin peels, Story is a one-stop shop for all your facial needs.
THE CAVENDISH
In 2020 The Cavendish had a bit of a refresh with a brand new team and a brand new menu. Alex Povall (ex-head chef at The Oystermen) now oversees the kitchen and in a nod to his old place he has oysters on the menu served with a range of dressings. He’s also got as dishes like beef tartare with horseradish & black sesame crackers; grilled Cornish mackerel with apple, elderflower & wood sorrel; braised rabbit & cep pie; Gloucester Old Spot pork cheeks with butter-roasted celeriac; wild seabass with braised fennel in spiced mussel & saffron broth; and glazed Tahitian vanilla custard tart with poached blackberries on there too.
Homeslice serve up some of the biggest pizzas in town, we’re talking 20-inch beasts, but it’s not all about the size here. The pizzas come with some interesting toppings and if you can’t decide you can always go 50/50. Our faves include that chorizo, corn & corriander and aubergine, cauliflower cheese, spinach & harissa.
PACHAMAMA
Pachamama has got Peruvian grub nailed. The restaurant serves typical dishes from Peru made with British ingredients and DO NOT MISS the parsnip, sweet plantain and chilli taco from the snacks menu. Other faves include the smoked Gloucester Old Spot ribs with English malt & peanut glaze, the purple potatoes, fresh peanuts, mint & crispy onions and the blackened herb-fed chicken, grilled corn, lime and wild oregano. There’s a crackin’ selection of ceviche too.
SANTO MARE
Santo Mare is one of London’s high end seafood spots and it comes courtesy of restaurateur Andrea Reitano, who also has Caffe Rei in Mayfair and Osteria Romana in Knightsbridge. Santo Mare is all about premium (aka pricey) seafood served with an Italian twist. As well as the day’s catch displayed on counters, there’s a range of raw and hot dishes to choose from, including langoustine carpaccio, squid and chicory, salt-crusted seabass, cuttlefish and artichoke risotto, and gnocchi with red prawns and pecorino.
THE HARCOURT
In a former life The Harcourt was a five-storey Georgian townhouse, and now the Grade-II listed building is a pub where you can drop in for a pint or two of Lucky Jack or Timothy Taylors ale, a weekday dinner perched at the lush oak panelled bar or a relaxing meal in the dining room. The food menu mixes British and French influences with dishes like game terrine with Cumberland sauce, whole plaice Grenobloise, grilled rabbit with Alsace bacon & green beans, and apple & blackberry crumble.
Starting from just one rock & roll ramen bar in Soho in 2012, Bone Daddies has grown into a mini-empire known for good broths, good noods and good sides. Slurp on ramen classics like the Tonkotsu, with a 20-hour pork bone broth base, and the nutty, spicy Tantanmen, with sesame, chilli, pork mince & chashu pork and get messy with sides like the insane pig bones and monster Korean fried wings.
KOL
Mexican chef Santiago Lastra, who worked at Rene Redzepi’s Noma Mexico pop-up in 2017 and has cooked at the Tate Modern finally opened his debut solo restaurant Kol in London in 2020, after a more than a year of looking for a location. Kol is broadly Mexican, drawing influence from across the country as well as making use of British produce too with dishes like langoustine tacos with sea buckthorn, kohlrabi ceviche, lamb leg totasta cured in gooseberries with walnut oil, and tamal with corn husk ice cream. You can see some of the work that goes into the food thanks to the open kitchen, complete with tortilla station, right in the middle of the first floor dining room. As well as a biodynamic wine list, Kol also serves up mezcals, tequilas and less well-known Mexican spirits like whisky from Oaxaca, gin from the Yucatan and rum from Puebla in the dedicated mezcaleria on the lower ground floor.
DAUNT BOOKS
Housed in an Edwardian bookshop with skylights and long oak galleries (believed to be the first custom-built bookshop in the world) the Marylebone branch of Daunt Books is both the original and best. Daunt traditionally specialised in travel books but the shop now stocks a wide range of fiction and non-fiction material. If you’re a real fan, don’t forget to represent with one of those Daunt branded tote bags
GUNMAKERS
Chef Mark Jarvis, who runs Anglo in Farringdon teamed up with sommelier Xavier Rousset (the pair worked together at Texture) to re-open the Gunmakers in Marylebone 2019. The pub, which had been closed for over a year, was a bit of a hidden gem and used to be frequented by Winston Churchill back in the day. Now it’s home to a bar stocked with classic beer, ale, wine and spirits; a dining room that serves a British-inspired menu (including one of the best Sunday roasts in London); and six-boutique bedrooms upstairs, perfect if you’ve overindulged in the pub and can’t face the journey home.
LOCANDA LOCATELLI
Opened by Giorgio Locatelli in 2002, Michelin-starred Locanda Locatelli is known for smart Italian food, and though it’s a high-end place, it’s got a great convivial atmosphere too. You can expect dishes like artichoke salad with Parmigiano Reggiano, roast rabbit leg with polenta & grilled radicchio, basil-crusted plaice with potato & black olives and the pasta is top-notch too. It is on the spenny side, so save this place for a special occasion – although there’s nothing stopping you from coming in for a plate of pasta and a glass of wine. Treat yo’self.
ORRERY
French cooking is the name of the game at Marylebone’s Orrery, and there’s a good selection of the fancy classics alongside some more modern dishes. Chef-patron Igor Tymchyshyn proves his pedigree with dishes like Dorset crab, wasabi, avocado & mango; butter soft tournedos rossini with celeriac; chicken parfait, apple, onion crumb, toasted sourdough; and a rhubarb dessert with fruit cooked three different ways. Of course, the twenty-four page wine list and the legendary cheese trolley are reasons enough to visit alone and even though the food is fine dining you don’t feel too fussed over.
EPILIUM & SKIN
Parisian clinic Epilium & Skin has brought French medical beauty to Marylebone with its cutting-edge surgical and non-surgical treatments, including everything from laser hair removal to coolscuplting to botox. The clinic also does medical grade facial treatments like Obagi Blue Peel, Hydrafacial and Dermapen. It’s not a place to come to feel all relaxed and zen but it is a place to come if you want real results.
Flat Iron, which has grown from a small pop-up in Shoreditch to a mini empire across London, is the restaurant that made steak affordable and accessible. The prices may have increased slightly from the original £10 steak, the ethos has remained the same – top quality meat (sourced from their own herd) at very reasonable prices, great sides like creamed spinach and bone marrow garlic mash, mini cleavers for knives, and a free ice cream cone on the way out.
THE WIGMORE
This drinking den calls itself a pub but there’s no sticky carpets or shady geezers found in here. Located inside The Langham and with a menu overseen by Michel Roux Jr, The Wigmore is definitely a re-imagining of the Great British boozer. The menu is pretty impressive and these guys have taken bar snacks to the next level with a masala-spiced scotch egg, XXL three cheese & mustard toastie, and fat chips with Bloody Mary salt. They’ve also got wine on tap, kegs of Lucky Saint lager and hoptails (basically a boujee shandy) behind the bar. It’s not the kind of place we’d go to for a cheeky pint on a Friday afternoon, oh no, it’s WAY more special than that.
THE WALLACE COLLECTION
The Wallace Collection, held inside Hertford House, was built up by the Marquesses of Hertford and Sir Richard Wallace over the 18th and 19th centuries, and is considered to be one of the finest collections in the world. It features a range of furniture, paintings, sculpture, arms & armour, and porcelain, with a particularly rich selection of French 18th century decorative arts, and it’s totally free for the public.
CHILTERN FIREHOUSE
Chiltern Firehouse, the hotel and restaurant owned by Andre Balazs (the man behind Chateau Marmont and New York’s Mercer), is a popular celeb haunt – remember when every man and his dog was papped falling out of the restaurant circa 2014? It does however live up to the hype. The 5-star hotel, housed in a Grade II-listed former fire station, features 26 luxury suites, a secret smoking lounge and a restaurant overseen by Portuguese chef Nuno Mendes. The food (dishes include crab doughnuts, fried chicken with ranch, and chargrilled Iberico pork with poblano chilli) is great, the cocktail menu is bang on trend and the place looks amazing too.
ZOILO
Run by chef-patron Diego Jacquet, Zoilo is an Argentine restaurant with a monthly changing menu that showcases the best seasonal British ingredients alongside that famous Argentine beef. As well as classics like empanadas, baked provolone cheese and rib-eye steak, the menu includes dishes like scallop tartare with avocado and wild seabass with artichokes & capers. Naturally the wine list is exclusively Argentine – you can’t beat a strong red with a good bit of beef can you?
SSONE
Focused on sustainability and working towards a zero-waste future, Ssōne in Marylebone is a multifaceted venue – a place where you can shop their range of clothing, homeware and accessories as well as an events and art installations space. Also keen on advocating community, they lead a series of craft events with their nonprofit organisation Ssōne circle.
PAUL ROTHE & SON
Paul Rothe & Son is a rare beast in that it’s a family-run business in central London and it’s been going since 1900. Classics are very much the name of the game here – you don’t last for over 120 years by being a hypebeast now do you? Sandwiches come on white, granary or wholemeal bread (you can upgrade to rye or ciabatta if you’re feeling fancy) and fillings range from smoked salmon to coronation chicken to mature cheddar. As the sarnies are made in front of you to order, you can also ask for whatever combo you fancy from the ingredients at the counter – if they’ve got it, they’ll put it between bread for you, no matter how weird or wonderful – and they get cut into quarters here so they’re easier to wrap and easier to eat. The deli also serves up homemade soups and salads, and has a very impressive range of preserves lining the windows and shelves.