A day spent in London’s Mayfair neighborhood.
Twenty four hours isn’t long to spend in London but it’s all I need when en route to see my nephew (and brother and sister in law) in Liverpool. Stopping over for one day’s worth of exploring a new neighborhood in London has become one of my favorite things to do (if twice counts ha). Both times have been solo and I was surprised on how much I enjoyed my alone time in the city.
Given that this trip was going to be just after Christmas, I wasn’t banking on warm weather. So this would be a bit different from my last solo stopover in Covent Garden last spring, when I walked over eleven miles. I was quite alright with leaving my walking shoes at home and packing my all weather boots for a soggy day in the city.
The focus of this trip became, no surprise, food! When I booked this trip a few months ago, my brother (our family travel agent), helped set me up at the London Hilton on Park Lane. Situated right next to Hyde Park (which is transformed into a Winter Wonderland for the holidays) I was thrilled. Not only was the location amazing (Mayfair is beautiful) but my quick google search for restaurants near the hotel proved that it was also a top notch destination for London foodies.
For the holiday, I decided I would splurge and treat myself to two Michelin star restaurants, both less than ten minutes from the hotel. I’ve become a big believer in the whole “treat yoself” way of life and I must say it’s even more enjoyable during the holidays and when the treat is incredibly delicious food.
Wheels Up:
I left on the United red eye from Boston which departed Logan at 10pm. My brother again helped set me up with a business class seat (treat yoself) which was extra special. This meant I could not only pop into the lounge pre departure for a glass of bubbly but that I could then sleep majority of the way there (something I’m never good at, unless apparently I’m laying on a flat seat). That allowed me to power through and not stop when I arrived in London.
The flight was smooth and the food was tasty (I had a pot roast dish with vegetables that all tasted fresh, somehow). I fully enjoyed the meal, the bevies, and a quick movie (The Beast) before dozing off. Before I knew it, the landing announcement came on and I awoke feeling refreshed and ready to hit the town. On my way off the plan I made sure to grab my Away amenities pack and Saks Fifth Avenue blanket that were given to me when boarding.
Arriving in London:
Once I arrived at Heathrow I was able to fly through and since I packed in my little Samsonite carryon, there was no need to wait at baggage claim. If you travel at least once a year and don’t already have it, I strongly suggest getting Global Entry. Not only does this allow you to fly through the airport at Logan (without having to take everything out of your bag, which is clutch) but you can use machines when entering/leaving the UK instead of waiting. I decided to take the Piccadily Line straight from the airport to Hyde Park Corner station. From there it was a quick (rainy) walk to the London Hilton on Park Lane.
When I got to the hotel I was welcomed with a glass of champagne, since the room was booked with Hilton Honors. They let me know that the room wasn’t ready (I landed at Heathrow just after 9:30 and it took about an hour to get to the hotel, so 10:30 was still well before the 3pm check in) and showed me where the sky lounge was. Before I headed up, I asked the concierge to move my lunch reservation at nearby Kai from 2pm to 1pm, figuring I might as well go while I wait for the room.
While I waited I killed some time up in the sky lounge, 28 floors up, called 10 degree Sky Bar. There were views all around with full glass allowing for views of just about every angle. The day was foggy and rainy (a very UK day) but I still enjoyed taking in Hyde Park on one side and London Eye on the other. It was easy to sit here and spend a bit of time unwinding given the views, the decor, and the friendly staff. Another perk of the honors club was that they give a free happy hour cocktail of your choice, which I later came back and used.
Lunch at Kai Mayfair:
A bit before my reservation, I headed out to stroll the area and take the long way to lunch. The homes, buildings, parks, and just about everything in Mayfair is beautiful. It’s worth a visit. I now understand why a quick google leads to the Wikipedia page which begins with:
Mayfair is an affluent area in the West End of London towards the eastern edge of Hyde Park, in the City of Westminster, between Oxford Street, Regent Street, Piccadilly and Park Lane. It is one of the most expensive districts in the world.
My destination was Kai Mayfair, for asian cuisine. This continuously appeared at the top of the list for just about any list on google for the query “best restaurants in London’s Mayfair” and it was evident why Michelin continues to award it a star. One of my favorite things to do is to browse a restaurants menu and social media before I select my choice.
For this, I went with the entree portion of the Nanyang Chicken Cashew Nuts. If it weren’t for my post flying smaller than usual appetite, I would have added an appetizer to the mix. Or better yet, a dessert, which is placed at the beginning of the menu to highlight it’s an importance, something I was a big fan of seeing.
It turned out to be without a doubt the tastiest asian dish I’ve ever enjoyed. The flavors (Corn-fed chicken, dried chillies, spring onions, cashew nuts, seaweed, dark soya sauce) were intense but perfectly balanced. Prior to the meal I had also consulted my oldest brother on what glass of wine he would pair with the dish. He recommended a glass of the 2019 Soave (La Rocca, Pieropan, Italy) which paired perfectly and was crisp and refreshing, further balancing the spice and flavors of the dish.
After lunch, my room was ready, so I headed back to the hotel to freshen up and get ready for the afternoon/evening. I took my shower got geared up for the night (which I planned to be an early one with jet lag) and headed back to the 10 degree sky bar. The reception had given me the free cocktail ticket so I ordered a gimlet and a shot of espresso. I’ve stopped drinking caffeine daily (99% of the time) but with the jet lag and overnight flight, this called for an espresso. Staff at the lounge were top notch and the crowd really picked up as the evening carried on. A bit different from the vibe when I checked in! Would definitely go back (especially on a clear night for the views alone) the next time I’m in the area.
Evening Adventures in Mayfair:
Before I left the hotel I made sure I knew where I was going and realized I had plenty of time to pop by another favorite watering hole, Mr. Fogg’s Residence. There are a few different Mr. Fogg’s locations throughout London but this one in particular, I had been to many moons ago with some of my siblings. It’s always packed and I love the atmosphere. Bonus was that it was still the holiday season so it was decorated beautifully. I ordered a vodka tonic and a tall bottle of still water (hydration is clutch post flying so I think I drank about 16 cups of water throughout the day) which were both welcomely refreshing. After a quick visit, I paid my tab and headed for dinner at Jamavar.
Dinner at Jamavar:
Jamavar also continuously popped up on every list for best food in the neighborhood. Back in Boston I don’t often have such high quality Indian food so this was meant to be another holiday treat to myself. Jamavar got its start in India and spread to five cities there. It then made its way to London in 2016 and finally to Doha in 2021. Bookings are highly recommended in advance for Jamavar and I was able to make one when I initially found the restaurant, about two months prior.
Like I mentioned, I always consult the menu and wine list before a meal, especially one that is a bit fancier than my typical Saturday night. For here, I decided to order a chicken dish and some rice (classic). I prefer red wine so my brother (thanks again, Jay!) recommended I go with the Malbec, which I really enjoyed. Luckily, the staff here are really well versed and the sommelier actually came over and recommended that I alter my food order. Little did I know that I had ordered chicken with no sauce and rice (which would in fact, be very dry, as he pointed out). It was an easy choice to switch over to the Old Delhi Butter Chicken and a side of Safed Chawal (steamed jasmine rice). The chicken (Suffolk corn-fed, char-grilled pulled chicken, fresh tomato & fenugreek) literally melted in my mouth and for someone that typically doesn’t love a lot of sauce, I found myself spooning extra from the dish onto my plate.
Nightcap:
After dinner I took the long way back to the hotel and it was still very lively in the neighborhood. Another place on my list was Hedonism wines. I wanted to get a bottle for my brother and sister in law as a thank you for having me. The shop did not disappoint and I could have spent a lot more time there browsing had I not been tired. I went back to the room briefly and then decided to get a few more steps in and head over to Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland. It was a bit too late to enter the gates given the closing time but I was still able to see from outside the lights, rides, and festivities. My boots were covered in mud from the stroll through the park but it was well worth it. A perfect way to close out the night!
Next stop Liverpool:
In the morning I got my stuff together and ordered my uber to Euston Station for my Avanti train to the main event, Liverpool! My brother, sister in law, and my nephew live here and I’ve so enjoyed getting to know Liverpool over the last seven or so years.
The train is just over two hours and folks bring foods and drinks, making the journey even more enjoyable. One of my favorite things have become the greetings from my nephew at Lime Street station upon arrival in Liverpool. Here’s to many more of those over the years! There will definitely be a blog on some of my favorite spots in the near future which I look forward to writing. Stay tuned!