Jurema at the Mandrake Hotel
Nestled at the heart of The Mandrake, you’ll find Jurema, the hotel terrace-based restaurant surrounded by a garden of hanging jasmine. On the menu are dishes like lamb shoulder adobo, yellow tail and ahi tiradito, and ethnobotanical cocktails. The property’s Artist in Residence programme makes The Mandrake an essential food destination for any art, culture, and lifestyle fan in London.
Open to residents and the public, the art initiative sees illustrious artists of all kinds – photographers, illustrators, sculptors, tattoo artists, and more – staying and working on the premises while welcoming guests to watch them live and even become involved in their art. This October, The Mandrake welcomes Jonas Burgert 12th to 16th October, whose artwork is featured in the hotel.
Where: 20-21 Newman Street, Fitzrovia, W1T 1PG
Bookings: themandrake.com/jurema
PocketSquare
PocketSquare is a skyline bar and terrace that champions local artists from east London. It’s an honest and authentic approach to art within the sphere of the hospitality industry, with businesses and individuals supporting each other in meaningful ways. A prime example of this is PocketSquare’s In2Art cocktail, a drink that is served with an art print on rice paper. Sales of the Campari, Mama Juana, Tepache and Bergamont cocktail support the IntoArt charity, a London based organisation supporting people with learning disabilities to become artists.
Where: 45 Whitechapel Road, Whitechapel, E1 1DU
Bookings: pocketsquare.london
Le Gavroche
Le Gavroche is the pinnacle of classic fine dining. Founded by the Roux brothers in 1967, it was the first restaurant in the UK to be awarded one, two, and three Michelin stars. Now its under the expert stewardship of Michel Roux Jr with a menu of soufflé, crab salad, salmon and roast veal. As for what makes it a great restaurant for art lovers, well that would be the Picassos, Giacomettis, Miros and Dalis hanging on the walls.
Where: 43 Upper Brook Street, Mayfair, W1K 7QR
Bookings: le-gavroche.co.uk
Amethyst
Sometimes you don’t need an abundance of art to make a fantastic dining environment. The Japanese-Nordic inspired restaurant Amethyst, by Carlo Scotto, proves that minimalism works fantastically as well. Their ground floor dining room contains just one table that seats up to 20 diners, but what a table it is. Carved from real amethyst and quartz it fills the space with its singular beauty. Additionally, the table allows customers to engage with the chef while he works as part of the Chef’s Table Experience featuring 12 courses with green curry, caviar tartelette, and more.
Where: 6 Sackville Road, Mayfair, W1S 3DD
Bookings: amethystdining.com
Annabel’s
As one of the foremost private members’ clubs in London, Annabel’s is known for hosting extraordinary events that, for the most part, are exclusive to members. However, they also create extravagant facades on the exterior of the building that can be enjoyed by all, the most recent of which was themed around ‘Annabel’s for the Amazon’ in order to raise awareness for rainforest conservation. If you find yourself invited inside as a member or guest, expect limited edition drinks available exclusively at Annabel’s, such as a special edition Lost Explorer Mezcal.
Where: 46 Berkeley Square, Mayfair, W1J 5AT
Bookings: annabels.co.uk
Scarfes Bar
Scarfes Bar is dedicated to the artist and caricaturist Gerald Scarfe, essentially serving as a permanent gallery of his work. Alongside Scarfes’ original illustrations, the bar space is also home to over 1,000 antique books hand picked by a Portobello antiques dealer, creating a welcoming and homely atmosphere that enhances the quirky nature of the artwork on display. The drinks menu is one of the best in London with whiskies from Macallan, Dalmore, Karuizawa, and many more seeing the establishment rank highly in Best Bar competitions year after year. Scarfes was ranked No. 37 in the Top 500 in 2021.
Where: 252 High Holborn, Holborn, WC1V 7EN
Bookings: scarfesbar.com
The Vault Bar at the Ned
Where best to keep an extensive art collection than a bar located in a disused bank vault? That’s exactly what The Ned has done with their Ned’s Club Downstairs, which includes The Vault Bar and Lounge, and plays host to 100 artworks curated by Kate Bryan of Soho House. The collection reflects the inequality of the financial sector by featuring artworks from 93 women and seven men – the inverse of the heads of the FTSE 100 companies.
Where: 27 Poultry, London, EC2R 8AJ
Bookings: thened.com
