Bistros, Clubs and Colonies – A week of New Openings in the Capital

There I was, all geared up for a big week of launches in London. I’d even purchased a new heart-patterned playsuit for the occasion and then I went and got the bug that’s going round. Rubbish!

So here’s a quick round-up of the openings I didn’t make it to this week.

Luxx
Tuesday saw the opening of new nightclub Luxx. Okay so I didn’t actually get invited to this opening. They're obviously trying to attract a more astute crowd than the likes of moi!

The boutique club in Mayfair has been designed by Italian architect Rossella Stina. It fits just 200 people and is decorated with LED neon strip-lights, mirrors and charcoal lather bench seating. Outside there’s a private, walled garden.

General Manager, Andreas Jansson, previously Bar Manager at Cuckoo Club, will oversee an Italian-influenced drinks list. The signature cocktail is Luxx Black Ice Tea served in a julep tin and the wine list is solely Italian.

Colony
Wednesday was the long awaited (by me at least) opening of Michelin-starred chef Atul Kochar’s new restaurant Colony.

Modelled on the days of the British Raj, the restaurant and bar will fuse Eastern and Western influences and serve up dishes inspired by Asian street vendor foods.

The bulk of dishes will be prepared using either a Tandoor – hot clay oven, Tawa – heavy, cast iron griddle plate, and Sigri – method of cooking on hot coals, all ancient Asian cooking techniques.

In the bar, headed up by mixologist Marco Perrotti (Sketch, London and Buddah Bar, Paris), you can dine on tapas-style plates of roasted quails rubbed with coriander and chilli served with tamarind chutney, foie gras seared in a crust of toasted fennel, cumin and star anise on toasted brioche, and lamb brochettes with garam masala, ginger and coriander, flavoured with rose petals and served with an olive raita.

Possibly the best of all, Colony will serve afternoon tea with an added twist of Masala tea and Asian-inspired pastries alongside traditional English tea and home-made scones with clotted cream.

Then, on Thursday I missed out on the launch of Bistrot Bruno. Acclaimed chef Bruno Loubet has returned to London after an eight-year stretch in Oz and has opened Bistrot Bruno Loubet at The Zetter. Offering French bistro dining, you’ll find onion and cider soup with upside-down Emmenthal soufflé, beef daube Provencal with mousseline potatoes, and apple and rosemary millefeuille with chilled orange blossom sabayon on zee menu. Ooh la la.

Look out for tales from the re-launch of the Brickhouse, E1 coming next week.