Hello April! Spring has sprung and loads of awesome new launches, events and offerings to get on your calendar. From Nobu’s new Bento Boxes to new brunches at The Standard and Isabel Mayfair, plus Sakura season and Easter, here’s The Luxe List April, enjoy!
The Ivy Soho Brasserie Launches New Set Menus and Dishes
‘Where Dreams Come True’ has launched at The Ivy Soho Brasserie with a new delightful spring offering! The All Day Dreamers luxurious lunchtime menu is new to The Ivy and diners can now choose two courses for £17.95 or three course for £22.95, plus there’s a Champagne Dream cocktail on offer (£9.95) with Scapegrace Black gin poured over cotton candy. Creamed cauliflower soup and pan fried Scottish haddock are among the starters, while for mains, guests can choose from spicy jackfruit and toasted peanut bang bang salad or grass-fed rump steak. The new Dream Dessert meanwhile, is a crispy vanilla cloud with warm chocolate brownie which definitely does sound dreamy!
For younger diners, the Little Dreamers menu has mains all priced at £9.95 including linguine pasta with tomato sauce, hamburger and chips or grilled chicken escalope followed by the Dream Sundae priced at £6.95. And The Ivy Soho Brasserie has gone all out with its Friday night Dream Champagne Dinner which is available every Friday from 6.30pm. With two courses for £45.00 and three courses for £50.00, this dreamy deal includes a bottle of the finest French Champagne for the table! There’s mouthwatering Malaysian curried prawns, plus duck and asparagus vol-au-vent to start, chargrilled sirloin steak among the mains and the Dream Dessert or ice cream profiteroles to finish. Check out the full menu and book here.
Nobu Hotel London Shoreditch Mid-Week Bento Boxes
Here’s your chance to eat like a King at Nobu Hotel London Shoreditch Monday to Wednesday! Between 6pm – 9pm their new Bento Box menu means you can enjoy Nobu classics in a traditional Japanese box priced at £50pp and including a glass of wine. You’ll get to feast on iconic faves like Rock Shrimp Creamy Spicy, Black Cod, Spicy Vegetable Donburi, a light and zesty Sashimi Salad and a selection of Nobu’s famous Sushi – ideal for parties of up to six! Want to carry on the night in style? Head to Nobu’s NAMI lounge style bar and get the cocktails on the go!
Balans No. 34 Goes 24 Hours on the Weekends
Iconic eaterie Balans No. 34 in Soho (The Little One) will be open 24 hours a day at the weekends from March 31st. The former Old Compton Cafe will be open from 8am on Friday mornings until midnight on Sunday so you’ll be able to brunch, lunch, wine, dine and cocktail around the clock – perfect for those middle of the night snacks after some weekend dancing!
Sakura Season at Aqua Kyoto
London’s restaurants are at their prettiest during Japanese cherry blossom season with Aqua Kyoto bringing the beauty of sakura to the capital right up until April 30th. The Spring season sees new specials joining the menu, inspired by Japan’s most famous flower! Sakura rolls will feature a four piece maki or blue prawn, avocado, cucumber, yukari and morello cherry jelly, while mains include a divine pan-fried duck breast in a sour cherry teriyaki sauce served with truffle pak choi and sakura crisps. A bright floral cherry blossom vermouth cake will finish things off beautifully, with mint crémeux and a tangy yuzu sorbet. And let’s not forget the limited edition In Bloom cocktails made with Kokoro cherry blossom gin liqueur. Diners will also get to enjoy a lesson in creating pale pink origami hearts which can then be taken home as a memento! For Easter weekend, Aqua Kyoto has extended their free flowing brunch to include Good Friday and Easter Monday and you can book now on the website.
Franco’s Annual Rosé Event
Kicking off summer time as they do every year, Franco’s annual rosé event will take place on Tuesday 25th April from 6pm – 9pm. The yearly party which has been running since 2005, will this year see canapés prepared by Stefano Turconi – Franco’s head chef, while the impressive list of pink drinks will feature wines from around the world. This year’s event will be inspired by Picasso’s rose period which spanned the years 1902 – 1906, while guests will be able to purchase their favourite wines with 50% off the wine list price! (delivery charges do apply though). Tickets are priced at just £45pp, so get in there quick – one of our favourite events of the year!
Double Standard at The Standard’s New ‘Another Bloody Brunch’
We know what you’re thinking – another one?! Well this is a brunch you might just want to make an exception for! Double Standard at The Standard have just launched a new offering starting on Sunday 26th March. Every Sunday between 12pm – 4pm, diners will be treated to British breakfast and lunch faves with an ‘on brand’ New York twist. New dishes will include buttermilk chicken and waffles with crispy bacon, maple syrup & chicken fat butter; short rib mac and cheese and baby back pork ribs with barbeque sauce and jalapeno slaw. Old favourites will include eggs Benedict, royale or florentine served with a Sriracha hollandaise and aged sirloin steak with a fried duck egg, watercress and fries. Plus there’s just the thing to satisfy a sweet tooth with waffles topped with caramelised banana, and salted caramel ice cream. The DIY Bloody Mary station meanwhile will be offering up Classic Vodka, Red Snapper Gin, Bloody Maria Mezcal or a Virgin Maria and add a mix of five garnishes from £13.50. With DJ sets and the cocktails flowing, Double Standard is a great weekend hangout! Book here for brunch priced at £27.50.
Sapling Spirits and The Pelican’s Zero-Waste Supper Club
In honour of Earth Month, climate-positive spirits brand Sapling Spirits have teamed up with The Pelican in Notting Hill to host a zero-waste supper club on Tuesday 18th April. The four course feast priced at £90pp will pair delicious food with a selection of Sapling cocktails, while showcasing ingredients from local producers who use sustainable production methods. With Chef Own Kenworthy’s four course menu centred around beef with the meat sourced from Whittington Lodge Farm in The Cotswolds, the farm aims to leave the land in a better state, achieved through techniques such as ‘mob grazing’ where the herd is moved daily to new pastures. There’ll be beef shin and mustard terrine canapés along with cods head on rye bread, while starters will include wonky carrots, braised ox tongue and fermented cauliflower leaves. Fifth Quarter hot pot will b served as the main course followed by souses blackberry, rhubarb and almond cake to finish. Grab your tickets here.
Latin Infused Brunch at Isabel
Bringing Latin vibes to Mayfair, Isabel have launched a chic new Sunday brunch which will transport diners to sunnier climes! Between 12pm – 4.30pm, the three course £55pp menu will be in full swing with live music from band Casa. Brunch classics with a twist will include smoked salmon on brioche with passion fruit hollandaise and gherkins, the healthy açai bowl with granola, or go for something bigger like the mushroom quesadilla with romesco sauce and Bloody Mary baked beans along with spicy chorizo. Dessert include pineapple carpaccio with hibiscus and jalapeno and blood orange tart with Marshmallow. Check out the divine new menu here.
New Afternoon Tea at Middle Eight
The Covent Garden Crescendo has just launched at luxury London hotel Middle Eight. The musically inspired Afternoon Tea offering serves up an symphony of sweet treats and sandwiches in The Balcony room. Curated by Head Pastry Chef and former Bake Off: The Professionals semi-finalist, Clanny Rodrigues (formerly of The Ivy), you can expect delights like Blood Orange Opera – citrus Pannacotta with layers of blood orange jelly; Treble Clef Treat – silky smooth and delicate Pistachio macaron filled with buttercream and roasted praline; and crispy creamy Hazelnut Harmony’– Clanny’s twist on the classic Hazelnut éclair. Finger sandwiches include coronation chicken, smoked salmon and cream cheese and grilled vegetables with hummus served on a mixture of turmeric, charcoal and onion bread. Priced at £45pp or £55pp with a glass of Prosecco, book here for a sitting Wednesday to Sunday 1pm – 5pm.
Easter
Easter at Shangri-La The Shard
There’s an array of special events going on this Easter at Shangri-La The Shard! A delicately decorated tree with pastel-coloured eggs scattered across its branches will welcome guests on the ground level entrance and then on level 35, a grand display of ornate Easter eggs and pretty flowers crafted by head pastry chef, Piero Sottile will wow diners! The hotel’s Easter Egg hunt will take place on Easter Sunday at 10.30am, while a special Easter Afternoon Tea will be on offer from 7th – 10th April with a delicious menu of fragrant rosebud tea, sandwiches such as coronation chicken, smoked salmon and cucumber, classic Reuben and truffle egg and cress, and savouries like beetroot heart with hibiscus powder, and prawn cocktail with Marie Rose sauce. There will of course be sweet treats too – from scones to pistachio profiteroles. Starting from £71pp or £86pp, you can book here. If you’re planning on staying for the whole weekend at Shangri-La The Shard, the hotel is currently offering one night on them – stay for four nights and pay for three – check out the details here.
Kids Eat for Free this Easter at Marco Pierre White, Leicester Square
Fancy treating the family to a meal out but conscious of the expense? Marco Pierre White has got just the thing with this brilliant special offer running over Easter. Available during the holidays at Mr White’s Steak Pizza and Gin House, the offer applies to under 12s and includes either a starter and main or main and dessert with every paying adult main off the à la carte menu. Check out more details and book your Easter table for the whole family here.
Hilton London Bankside’s Pop-Up Bunny & Chick Petting Zoo with Living Things
This Easter at Hilton London Bankside, the kids will love the design hotel’s bunny and chick petting zoo in partnership with Living Things. Popping up in the lobby on Sunday 9th April, visitors can get up close and personal with the animals and will even have the opportunity to take pictures with the furry friends either in the den or on the haystack and even better, it’s free for hotel guests! Bottomless brunch will also be in full swing at OXBO Bankside priced at £38pp (no alcohol) or £55pp with two hours of bottomless bubbles, red or white wine. And at the Distillery Bankside, why not enjoy a special limited edition cocktail? The Easter Bunny will be available from 3rd – 10th April priced at £12.00 – a gorgeous Easter treat combining Bacardi white rum, Mozart White Chocolate Liqueur, Gingerbread syrup, Double Cream, Black Walnut essence, and Caramel Syrup.
Easter at Selfridges Trafford
From family fun to food feasting, Selfridges at Manchester’s Trafford Centre is bursting with activities! The Great Hunt is free for everyone this Easter break, taking place from 5th – 8th April. Then there’s a Spring Craft Workshop where the kids can let their creativity run free priced at £5pp and running 12th – 13th April. And learn how to become an expert sushi maker with Yo! Sushi’s Mini Ninja School priced at £15pp and running from 12th – 13th April (you’ll also get to take home a certificate!)
