The Wolseley

The sheer rapture that is the Wolseley is a must on the itinerary of any food or architecture fan in London. The former car salesroom is a black and white art deco delight just a street away from the Ritz hotel but a whole league away in terms of class (and I do mean upwards – unless baroque gold and red really is your favourite colour scheme?) Despite the rigorous booking system and the who’s who of It girls and stars who frequent the Wolseley the prices are quite reasonable by London standards. You can have a slap up breakfast for less than £15 per person. The tea is served in individual antique silver teapots and the strainers are a piece of design perfection in themselves, they sit above their own little tray on a swing so that there are no drips. Coffee has been known to arrive on a silver tray with a shot glass of water and a perfect dark chocolate circle on the side.

The breakfast menu is long and varied and deserves to be thoroughly explored, but in my years in London I had trouble going past the Eggs Benedict – always perfectly poached and with a truly unctuous Hollandaise (see Eggs Benedict for a review of their latest efforts in this area). I have also very much enjoyed some fine porridge, and love the fact that they have such nostalgic favorites as crumpets and boiled eggs with soldiers on the menu. Friends have commented on excellent muesli and I am well overdue to try their pancakes. I am also keen to try the bacon roll.

Should you wish to share the glory of the building with jealous friends there are postcards of the restaurant downstairs by the toilets. If you hand them in at the reception desk on the way out they will post them for you. This is also by way of attempting to enforce their no cameras policy. You will need to be quick if you fancy taking a few snaps. As so many celebrities dine at the Wolseley cameras are generally frowned upon. Still it’s a fun game to play pick the celebrity – or dress up in your best and pretend to be one yourself!