London comes alive in the summer, with ample sun-bathed terraces to while the afternoon away. But if you’re looking for an offering quite unlike any other, you must check out YOPO’s free-flowing brunch with a spiritual twist.
You can find the recently refurbished YOPO at the five-star boutique hotel The Mandrake in Fitzrovia (just off Oxford Street). We sat at the outdoor Jurema Terrace which is surrounded by exotic hanging plants, perfect for alfresco dining and cocktails.
But the twist comes in the form of The Mandrake’s Head of Spiritual well-being, Maria Lodetoft and her team of gifted spiritual practitioners. Included in the Sunday brunch package, is a one-question reading or an open reading of three cards, to help guide and focus on the power of restoring body, mind, and soul.
The reading is on the second level of The Mandrake, overlooking the outdoor terrace in a little glass room that is also jungle-inspired. Only one person is allowed to be in the room at a time and the reading lasts for roughly 15 minutes.
The tarot cards I chose resonated with me and provided guidance for some pretty major life decisions I have looming. Although the reading was brief and more generalised than some I’ve had in the past, I did appreciate how it challenged my thinking and made me look at things from a different perspective.
Plus, it was an interesting addition to a typical brunch as my friend and I compared readings and it helped sparked deeper conversations which we may not have had otherwise.
In terms of the food, the South American-inspired dishes offer bold and flavoursome dishes, inspired by acclaimed Executive Chef George Scott-Toft’s time in Argentina, Chile and Peru.
From indigenous Amazonian ingredients to low-intervention Argentinian wines and traditional dishes perfected over generations, YOPO is a feast of food and culture.
Much of South American society is about gathering together and you’re encouraged to start the YOPO experience with a selection of sharing plates including guacamole, tomato chipotle and corn chips and crab and apple tostada.
For the main, you can choose between fried fish tacos with cumin yoghurt, chorizo and poached egg muffin or the brioche French toast. The vegan option comes in the form of spiced cauliflower served with ratte potato.
But make sure you leave room for dessert because the Islands Chocolate Mousse with cherries, buckwheat and coconut was one of my favourite dishes.
The cocktails on the menu are completely bespoke to The Mandrake, and our favourite by far was the Monkey Brush. It’s made with Elderflower liquor, Illacus Burma liquid, and red currant puree topped with champagne and soda water. It’s basically summer in a cocktail.
The flair of the food and the multi-sensory experience was matched by YOPO’s interiors which are inspired by the jungle and feature a number of striking artworks.
Design highlights include three large candelabras, known as ‘Vestali’ – like the priestesses of Vesta, goddess of the earth, keepers of the sacred fire in ancient Rome – which appear to be ‘bursting’ out of the walls and melting.
A second roof installation above diners’ heads is by artist Peter-John de Villiers and features mystical beings, therianthropes, repetitive patterns, and jungle fauna.
The brunch is available to book on Sundays between 12 pm to 4 pm and is priced at £65.00 per person for three courses. There’s also the option to upgrade to free-flowing cocktails (£100.00 per person), free-flowing rosé (£110.00 per person) or free-flowing Veuve Clicquot Champagne for parties for up to six people (£150.00 per person).
