Play: Core by Clare Smyth
At Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, where Clare Smyth became the U.K.’s only female chef to run a three-Michelin-starred restaurant, you’re not likely to see Ramsay on the pass. But at Smyth’s first solo venture—opened recently in Notting Hill—she’s not only visible, in the glass-walled kitchen, but also eager to chat. Depositing my dish, the server confirmed that Smyth has been in the trenches every day since the opening—proof that she put her heart and soul into this restaurant. Inspired by childhood memories of Northern Ireland, Smyth transforms the humblest of ingredients—a potato, say, or a scallop in its shell—into sublime Proustian revelations. The vibe is polished but unstuffy—no white tablecloths or pretentious attitudes here—and the mood becomes more jovial as the night wears on. Book early or pull strings—this is a restaurant worth planning a trip around.—Laura Itzkowitz
92 Kensington Park Road; from $86 for three courses
Stay: The Ned
The offspring of the union between two hospitality powerhouses—Sydell Group and Soho House—the Ned inherited the best of both: the former’s knack for turning neglected buildings into design showstoppers and the latter’s exclusive perks. The mammoth landmarked bank in the city afforded plenty of space for both, with nine restaurants and bars (including an outpost of Cecconi’s and a New York–style deli), 252 rooms and suites, a Cowshed Spa, barber shop, and nail salon. As at other locations of Soho House, hotel guests unlock access to members-only spaces—in this case, an airy rooftop bar, a 1930s ocean liner–inspired lounge in the old bank vault, an intimate steakhouse, and two pools. On any given night, it seems like half of London is here to see and be seen. This is the place to stay if you want to be in the thick of the city’s social scene. —L.I.
27 Poultry; rooms from $332 per night
Getaway: The Gainsborough Bath Spa
Fresh off its 2016 expansion, the Tate Modern feels luxuriously spacious, as it should—its footprint increased by 60 percent. Herzog & de Meuron returned to Southwark to construct the Switch House, a 10-story structure housing works created in the 1960s, with a focus on socially engaged art and women artists. As Tate’s Director Nicholas Serota put it, “The opening signals a new era for modern and contemporary art in the U.K.” —L.I.
Bankside, London SE1 9TG
Attraction: The Tate Modern
Fresh off its 2016 expansion, the Tate Modern feels luxuriously spacious, as it should—its footprint increased by 60 percent. Herzog & de Meuron returned to Southwark to construct the Switch House, a 10-story structure housing works created in the 1960s, with a focus on socially engaged art and women artists. As Tate’s Director Nicholas Serota put it, “The opening signals a new era for modern and contemporary art in the U.K.” —L.I.
Bankside, London SE1 9TG
