Here are our restaurant team's favourite places to round off a shopping trip or grab some sustenance before getting back to the stores. Call us to make bookings at any of the below, or for more suggestions.
Cecconi's
5a Burlington Gardens, London W1S 3EP
The 1930s art-deco style of this buzzy Italian restaurant is a tailor-made counterpart to the nearby boutiques of Bond Street. Staff are attentive and happy to help with shopping bags, and there's lots of space between tables. ‘The restaurant is open all day but we went to Cecconi's for a late lunch after a visit to Tiffany,' says lifestyle manager Lucy Brennan. ‘It's a good place to relax with a Bellini after you've finished shopping, rather than as a quick pit stop between stores, as sometimes the lunch service can be rushed.' The all-day menu is varied, offering salads, pastas, steaks, fish and a selection of sharing platters. Lucy says: ‘I like to finish off with a classic tiramisu before making a trip to Fortnum & Mason for some champagne truffles.'
Guide price: three-course set menu £50
Zuma
5 Raphael Street, Knightsbridge, London SW7 1DL
Zuma may be atmospheric and trendy, but its relaxed approach to Japanese dining makes it a good venue for a break while shopping at Harrods, Harvey Nichols and the Sloane Street boutiques. ‘There's a large round table for a group lunch or dinner after the shops, but members can also stop off by themselves to refuel at the drop-in sushi counter,' says lifestyle manager Sophie Aspess. The menu is modelled on that of informal Japanese izakayas, and the food is of the highest quality – the black cod and soft-shell crab are particular favourites. Sophie says: ‘The stylish sake bar is ideal for an after-lunch cocktail – the Zumanuka mixes fresh basil and manuka honey vodka with pineapple and apple juice'. If you want a lively atmosphere we recommend the tables close to the bar.
Guide price: £70
The Botanist
7 Sloane Square, London SW1W 8EE
This busy bar and restaurant is open all day, and it's location on a corner of Sloane Square makes it perfect for Peter Jones and Heidi Klein on King's Road, as well as the boutique stores such as Tiffany, Hackett and Pringle on the south end of Sloane Street. It has a relaxed local feel, with comfy couches in the bar area for lounging with one of its signature champagne cocktails, though it can be a bit tricky to keep track of your bags during busy times. The Botanist is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and afternoon tea, so there's a good atmosphere and great food no matter what time of day you pop in. The modern British menu includes oysters, truffled macaroni and cheese, Aberdeen Angus rib-eye steak and decadent desserts such as British knickerbocker glory.
Guide price: £30
Amaya
Halkin Arcade, 19 Motcomb Street, Knightsbridge, London SW1X 8JT
Fashionable, light and airy, this Michelin-starred venue is close to Harrods, Harvey Nichols and Sloane Street's designer stores such as Versace, Dolce & Gabbana and Chanel. It serves tapas-sized plates of delicately prepared modern Indian food, and has a bustling bar that offers delicious cocktails. ‘The tables are set quite close together, which adds to the buzzy feel of the restaurant,' says Hernan Castro Vidal, our restaurant expert. ‘It's great to go as a group for a break before hitting the shops again, as the menu caters for meat eaters, vegetarians, lovers of spicy food and those who prefer milder flavours.' The open kitchen adds a touch of culinary theatrics to proceedings, and at £17 per person the light set lunch menu offer is a bargain to rival anything in the sales.
Guide price: £60
Texture
34 Portman Street, London W1H 7BY
‘With its widely-spaced tables and grown-up sophistication, Texture's a perfect place to catch up with some gossip after an indulgent shopping trip,' says Hernan. It's near Selfridges, John Lewis and House of Fraser on Oxford Street and within easy walking distance of the boutiques in Mayfair. Owner Xavier Rousset is a charming host who will happily guide you through the menu of Scandinavian food, which includes dishes such as Icelandic lamb with fegula and parsley root, and Icelandic cod with avocado purée and chorizo. Hernan says: 'This is the first restaurant where I've eaten flowers. The lavish bar, which is almost as big as the restaurant area, serves superb champagne cocktails and does a memorable mojito.'
Guide price:£50
