Dirty Martini is one of the most unique, enjoyable and fun cocktail bars around. The drinks were beautiful, the décor is beautiful and the people are also… well, beautiful. It is located in the heart of fashionable Mayfair, nestled between Oxford Street and Bond Street and surrounded by top end restaurants.
Open till late most evenings, Dirty Martini’s can be found in both Hanover Square and Covent Garden, although, the latter is currently under refurbishment.
The members of staff are really good value for money; their cocktail making and bar skills are mesmerising affairs and make for a nice touch. This made for quite a nice distraction from a queue at the bar.
Dirty Martini describe their décor as an “Aladdin’s cave”. I would have to agree. Small booths make pockets of comfort, where couples can cuddle up and feel alone. In other areas, the décor is dazzlingly bright and is a feast for the eyes, making for a fun and buzzing environment. In others, it is seductively dark and intriguing. There is a place for everyone, where they can feel comfortable and at ease, whatever the mood!
The drinks!
The cocktail menu is a relatively concise exploration of cocktails old and new. There offering is a satisfying blend of sweet cocktails, sharp cocktails and cocktails which have that extra punch. There is also a wide selection of wines, beers, champagnes and other delicious tipples.
I tried one of my favourites and an all-time classic - Long Island Iced Tea. You can often tell how good a cocktail bar is by who it does the classics, so I gave it a whirl. The cocktail was well balanced, kept it’s refreshing flavour and cleansed the palate after dinner. I would say that it needed a little extra oomph, but that is just me. On the whole, it was an almost perfect tonic to a hectic London day.
We also tried the New York Dandy which contained the following: elements 8 rum shaken with apricot brandy, fresh orange, lime juice and then topped with prosecco. The fresh fruit elements perfectly complemented the rum and made for a gorgeous drink. One criticism I would have is that there seemed to be a lack of prosecco, but that is probably down to me being greedy!
You may also be interested to hear that Dirty Martini hosts events and singles nights throughout the year, so there really is something for everyone. For more information click here: http://dirtymartini.uk.com/
Not sure where to get away this Summer? Kiwi Collection have selected the world’s top 20 luxury eco hotels, which may assist you in your search for the perfect luxury hotel.
Kiwi Collection is the world’s largest and most diverse curated collection of luxury hotels, with over 2300 hotels in 132 countries.
Enlisting the help of the one of the world’s foremost experts in eco-tourism, Hitesh Mehta, Kiwi’s list of the top 20 luxury eco hotels makes good reading.
“Most hotels today partake in some sort of environmentally friendly initiatives, said Jean Marie Healy, Chief Marketing Officer of Kiwi Collection, “but we want to applaud those who go above and beyond and this list is exactly that.”
The list of the world’s most eco-friendly luxury hotels and resorts highlights luxury properties from around the globe which demonstrate outstanding commitment to sustainable operations, conservation and preservation, both on-site and in their communities.
On top of that, they look superb!
The Kiwi Collection luxury eco hotels list is set to grow, with more locations added once they make the grade.
The full list is below. For more information, click here.
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Recently, we reported on the wonderful 4 star Runnymede on Thames hotel. The service, food, rooms and general feel of the hotel left us very impressed. But there was one thing we missed out, possibly the best luxury spa in Surrey.
The Runnymede is a hotel designed for leisure, with an emphasis on relaxing. This luxury hotel near Heathrow has an abundance of leisure activities – indoor and outdoor pools, tennis courts, whirlpool bath and eucalyptus steam room, to name a few.
The luxury spa itself is an oasis of calm and perfectly compliments the hotel and its ethos. Set on the left wing of the hotel, with the indoor pool and gym nearby, you could spend days in here.
The treatments offered include facials, manicures, pedicures and massages.
Heavenly massages.
My partner and I were lucky enough to have a neck back and shoulder massage side by side. My partner was full of clicks and the massage helped soothe a fairly painful back injury for me. I just stayed awake, any more and I would have been in the land of nod.
After the massage, we retreated to one of the private ‘recovery’ rooms, with comfortable furnishings, chilled music and low lights. To be honest, we needed this time to regroup – we were a little dazed.
The best luxury spa in Surrey? For me, it’s a cert.
In keeping with the family feel to the hotel, there are even teenage spa treatments available. I just love this hotel!
The food at SUDA Thai is beautifully fresh, flavoursome and loveable. I would go back to SUDA again, and again, and again. Furthermore, the restaurant is located in the fantastic St. Martin’s courtyard, which is just a stone’s throw away from Covent Garden, all of the top London theatres and the buzzing Leicester Square. We visited on a busy(ish) lunch time and the external excitement transferred from the London streets, to SUDA’s serving floor. Honestly, it was a fabulous place to eat.
Drinks at SUDA are a real treat. The drinks menu consists of super fresh smoothies, for the healthier among us, and lavish alcoholic cocktails, for the slightly naughtier. We found the mix of beverages to be eclectic enough for all tastes and palates.
I tried the Signature SUDA passion -Rum with fresh passion fruit muddled with bitter lemon and sweet oranges topped with soda. This cocktail really packed a punch and was a great way to kick off the meal. And it was a bargain at £6.50! My partner tried one of the “Non Dairy” smoothies – a blend of apple juice, coconut milk, with banana and fresh Thai ginger, and it was gorgeous. Again a bargain at £3.50!
Starters are a modestly sized affair; we were served these smaller dishes that are perfect for sharing and perfect for everyone around the table to begin their journey into SUDA’s Thai cusine. I would recommend picking a few of these dishes and swapping them around, this will ensure you get a complete feel for the fantastic food on show.
We went for the Signature SUDA wrap, a fresh rice wrap with braised duck and Thai herbs. This was utterly delicious and stunningly fresh – a real delight. We also went for the more generic option of satay chicken skewers, an extremely tasty traditional dish. In short, the starters menu is extensive, exciting and packed full of flavour. Next time we may go for a few more than one each – they were simply that good!
For mains, we tried the infamous and delectable Massaman curry, a Thai favourite, which oozed warm, fulfilling spices. It is one of the tastiest curries in the world and SUDA does it beautifully. I could eat a bowl of it right now!
I would also recommend the fabulous coconut rice – unlike some types of cocunt rice, this is lovingly steamed in coconut milk for maximum depth of flavour. This side really added another dimension to the mains. Other tasty options are available, such as traditionally steamed jasmine rice and wok fried rice.
The location is fantastic, the food is scrumptious and the overall feel of SUDA is just perfect. I can’t wait to go back! If you are looking for a light lunch or an exotic meal, then this is the place for you.
To make your booking, click here: http://www.suda-thai.com/
Now, this is good!!! Calling all James Bond fans – Live the dream!
Diplomat Cruises offers exclusive River Thames charters on the Sunseeker Superhawk featured in ‘The World Is Not Enough’
The ultimate charter experience on the River Thames uses the boat ‘Shaken Not Stirred’, the actual Sunseeker Superhawk featured in the Bond film.
An iconic piece of film history and a suitably suave nod to the British boat manufacturing industry, this luxury Sunseeker is the ultimate charter on the River Thames and she comes complete with genuine story boards, never before seen stunt footage and a surround sound music and TV system.
‘Shaken Not Stirred’ was driven by ‘Cigar Girl’ in the famous opening sequence of the acclaimed Bond film ‘The World is not Enough’.
Accommodating up to eight passengers, Shaken Not Stirred is the perfect gift experience, or unique venue for sophisticated celebrations. Exuding both substance and style, the 37ft Sunseeker comes skippered with an experienced captain, plus a dedicated host(ess) who is on hand to ensure smooth sailing – and to top up the bubbly when necessary.
From sunset cruises to the iconic Thames Barrier, to idyllic voyages to Richmond and beyond – all River Thames routes are tailored to individual client’s requirements. What’s more, whether gigging at the O2, dining at Pont De La Tour, or watching Polo in the Park at Hurlingham, guests can arrive at their riverside venue in style with Diplomat Cruises VIP River to Venue service, complete with complimentary champagne and soft drinks.
Diplomat Cruises is committed to delivering exceptional guest experiences. From booking to boarding guests can feel confident their every need has been catered for leaving them to simply relax and enjoy one of the world’s most exciting and enchanting cities from a totally unique perspective.
Shaken Not Stirred is available for charter from £400 per hour inclusive of a captain and host. For more information, visit diplomatcruises.co.uk.
