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This, unintentionally, has become a bit of a restaurant special. With so much going on in the capital, you can really go on mini dining adventures, just by changing neighbourhoods. We hope you have a chance to try somewhere new soon. Have great weeks all!
xx Taryn and Team UJ xx
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 | |  | | | Noisy Oyster | | NYC Hits Shoreditch | | | Breaking news it seems! And the pendulum swings back… Shoreditch feels, well, like somewhere you want to go again. We’ve been thinking this for awhile now, and LOTI’s recent feature perfectly captured it. But what we’re also seeing, on top of the rebirth of so many old faves (Lyle’s is next; it’s closing this Sunday, and TBC what will replace it), is a bit of a NYC >< Shoreditch vibe. One Club Row, with its martinis and fries, continues to lead the way, and soon there will be Noisy Oyster, a bistro with martinis, oysters and seafood platters (which feels a bit Balthazar, in theory) by Soho’s excellent Firebird restaurant. And then there’s the Italian-American Senza Fondo on Old Street that’s doing all-you-can-eat lasagna (oof); now, while that might not be our bag, they are nailing it with checked tablecloths, flickering candles (in these holders that are NYC-ITAL), brick walls, and a pianist playing Americana hits. Maybe one to bring the nephews/kids to. On the other side of town, Twenty8 has just opened at the NoMad in Covent Garden, which celebrates ‘moments of NY nostalgia inspired by the golden age of the brasserie’. Go there for dirty martinis, oysters, and caviar.
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|  | |  | | | Josephine Bistro | | Sundaes | | | Old fashioned banana splits are coming through! And we’re here for it. At Josephine, Marylebone (which might be the second hottest dining room in the capital right now), there’s a classic one; at Pastaio, via a collab with Soft & Swirly, there are a few on special for May, including combinations like lemon and olive ice cream with strawberries, whipped ricotta cream and toasted almonds, or a coffee and chocolate-based concoction; and at Dovetail, there’s a vintage-style Knickerbocker Glory trolley for a trip down memory lane.
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|  | |  | | | FUN | | | If there was a festive dress code for spring, this would be it for us. Ready. To. Disco.
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|  | | | Town | | Around Town | | To note | | | When you spend any time outside of London, you know what you miss the most? The restaurants… Ohhhhhh, the restaurants. And right now, there’s a lot going on. From just announced and recently opened to trends, siblings, pop ups, events, and things that are coming soon and more, click through to read our current round up.
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|  | |  | | | Need | | | With things the way they are these days, I think we could all use a little Elmo on our wall. Elmo and other characters by James Lee Duffy.
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|  | |  | | | Hotel News | | Rosewood Amsterdam
Opened 1 May and located in the former Palace of Justice, Rosewood Amsterdam has 134 rooms and, interestingly, five signature Houses.
Surrenne Riviera and La Môme Riviera
The Emory’s uber wellbeing and longevity club (for guests and members), Surrenne, is making its way to The Maybourne Riviera to launch Surrenne Riviera. The hotel re-opens for the 2025 season on 17 June. They’re also brining the Provence restaurant, La Môme (which is also at The Berkeley), to the Riviera in the form of a beach club that’s 10 minutes from the hotel.
The Mark Clam Bar
A collaboration between Jean-Georges and Caviar Kaspia at The Mark hotel, this new, fun, street-side ‘seafood shack’ has all the good stuff (lobster rolls, shrimp cocktails, clams) and aims to take you to the sea without leaving the Upper East Side.
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|  | |  | | | Palace x Cutler and Gross | | We love these shades! Two of our favourite brands – Palace and Cutler and Gross – have come together to create three frames: Mercury, Jupiter, and Victory. They’re fun, they’re bling (they have solid 18K gold accents), and they really do combine street and heritage – we’re in.
The collection will be available from Cutler and Gross stores and online at www.cutlerandgross.com this Friday, 16 May.
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|  | |  | | | Before the Lights | | Round Up | | | Before the Lights is a referral-only members’ gym in Fitzrovia that is becoming known for getting actors in shape, ‘before the lights’. They have (of course) ice baths, dry saunas, reformer pilates, and chill out spaces meant to feel like someone’s home. We like the idea of a place you can go for a training push. There’s a recording studio that’s open to non-members, as well. Also in Fitzrovia is a new run club every other Wednesday, from 5:30PM. And lastly, something outside of London: the Night Hike Under the Stars, a fundraiser for the Red Cross, where you hike 42K on 5-6 July, across the South Downs, from Brighton to Eastbourne.
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| | |  | | | Hermès Suitcase | | | If you’re rolling this bag, chances are, you’re not flying commercial.
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|  | |  | | | | So, Ikea has finally opened on Oxford Street, which is timely, as news of the return of the location’s former resident, Topshop, is around, but only via a website for now, which is a shame (BRING BACK TOPSHOP IN CENTRAL LDN). The holding page shows a teaser to a collab with Defected, which definitely seems more of a licensing deal than the rebirth of Topshop, but let’s see. There’s also talk of reviving Matches via the Frasers Group – the format is unknown, but there’s mention of a membership platform. Bamford has opened in Tokyo, with treatment rooms and products; Zara Home is now doing vintage-inspired workout equipment – why not? – and on Marshall Street in Carnaby, joining neighbouring Ibiza brand Annie’s, is the new De La Vali boutique, also from Ibiza. Bienvenidos!
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|  | | | Can Art Fair | | | Speaking of Ibiza, dates for this year’s CAN Art Fair are now out – 25-29 June. If you’re thinking about it, it’s a great show: always well curated – and possibly more fun than most art fairs – with other art-ivities on around the island over those days. It’s a good time to visit.
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|  | |  | | | Fashion News | | | It’s nothing new, fashion brands leaning into F&B, but a few on our radar include two recent ones that have just wrapped up: the It’s Bagels and Coach pop up at Selfridges, and the Jacquemus market around their LA store. We’ve also spotted an Acqua di Parma Yellow Café in Seoul, which leans into the brand’s colour, more than its tasting notes, thankfully. And what does feel new: Valentino’s new listening room, L’Atelier Sonore, in their Manhattan boutique, which is a collaboration with the Italian cultural collective, Terraforma. Opens 15 May and runs until August 2025.
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|  | |  | | | | Global Airlines, a new brand aiming to disrupt an industry that could use some disrupting, will fly this Friday for its first flight, from Glasgow to NYC. The planes are A 380s, the introductory fares (especially for business class) are low, and they say they will have benefits for AmEx cardholders. It’s a tough industry to crack though, and seems like they’ve already have quite a few hurdles, but let’s see! Watch this space.
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Reproductions of any portion of this website only with our express permission. Urban Junkies is a free weekly mailer. All listings and features are editorial: We do not receive any payment from venues, artists or promoters. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy of information listed but we cannot accept responsibility for errors or omissions.
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