Restaurant review: Cecconi's, Mayfair, London

What's the curbappeal?
- its old school, but glamourous : first established in 1978 by Enzo Cecconi, Manager of the Cipriani hotel in Venice, it's now part of the uber-hip Soho House Group. The interior harks back to a more decadent era: think 1920's style lamps and club chairs and elegantly distressed mirrors.
- permanently buzzy environment : a stalwart for the jet-set
- the food: Northern-Italian. And very good indeed.

Recommended.

With Love,
Ms. Curbappeal x

Ps. Here's some photos from my iPhone..

Hotel Review: Standard Downtown, Los Angeles, California

What's the curbappeal?

- The urban location: Perfect for hipster party people: Downtown is a gritty urban part of Los Angeles long favoured by artists. The area is now becoming hipster cool following the opening in 2007 of LA Live, a 27-acre entertainment “campus” providing the cultural impetus for some of the most talked about new restaurant and bar openings in town. Uber-hotelier Andre Balazs (owner of The Standard Hotels) was way ahead of the curve, spotting Downtown as a cool place long before the rest. Standard Downtown opened to much fan fare in 2002 and has been entertaining the cool kids ever since. 

- The uber-hip styling: Balazs spent 26 months renovating the building alongside interior designer, Shawn Hausman, previously a film set designer (responsible for “The People vs. Larry Flint”). Hausman’s brief was to “inject colour” - but that’s hard to imagine as you walk towards this drab grey 1950's office building. It's on the inside of this conservative structure where things get a bit more interesting, as Balazs pokes fun at the historic corporate heritage of the venue. As you enter through the lobby, the original formal load bearing columns have been clad in glass to enhance the views, angles and add a voyeuristic element to the design. Walk further in and you're greeted by a 150 foot long cubist vibrant purple sofa. Further in, some of the sofas have raised platforms so the more confident hipsters can lay back and survey the crowds coming and going. References to pop art are everywhere from a stainless steel semi-abstract map of the world to a 70’s style piano. It’s all effortlessly Kitschy-cool. If, in Balazs words, downstairs is “corporate-sexy” the bedrooms are very much Bachelor-chic which translates in to very minimalist decor and platform beds with the platform doubling up as an informal seating area. Long desks are placed along the picture windows so, if you have to work, at least there's a view. Playful elements include a window in the bathroom that opens onto the bedroom with a “modesty curtain” if you don’t want your partner (or workers in the building opposite) to see you!

- The one-of-a-kind restaurant: '24/7' is the hotels’ destination restaurant serving modern American cuisine around the clock in a cheery environment. The chairs and booths are egg-yolk yellow and the ceiling, egg-white white. Unique domed Jetson-esque light fixings and “egg box” style padded walls certainly add to the feeling that eggs were a significant inspiration during the design process. Egg dishes feature heavily on the menu...

- The rooftop, the rooftop, THE ROOFTOP: The star of the show is undoubtedly the rooftop lounge.  It offers an unmatched visual feast of the surrounding skyscrapers together with panoramic views of Downtown Los Angeles. The Rooftop features a heated swimming pool, funky Perspex sunloungers, red Astroturf deck, dance floor, bar, outdoor fireplace, vibrating waterbed pods and a grassy knoll with sculptured topiary.  Nightly special guest DJs and special events have established the Rooftop Bar as one of the most coveted nightlife destinations in Los Angeles.

I was here for a couple of days as part of a large wedding party. Whilst we didn't have exclusive use that didn't matter, as the friendly locals and fellow party-goers mixed in. 

Definitely the place to stay if you enjoy nightlife. 

With Love,

Ms Curbappeal x

P.S. here's some photos from my Canon SLR...

Polite notice : all photos copyright Curbappeal 2013

Restaurant Review: Nobu, Hard Rock Hotel, San Diego

What’s the curbappeal?

- I loved the gorgeous high-end contemporary interior by The Rockwell Group: think glossy leather couches paired with hardwood tables and amber lighting. The onyx sushi bar is simply stunning.

- I didn’t try the food as I just popped in to check out the interior but, it has a Michelin star so it’s likely to be very good. I perused the menu and some dishes that caught my eye include: Bluefin Toro Tartare with Caviar, Wagyu Beef Sashimi and Black Cod with Miso and Yellowtail Jalapeno.

With Love,

Ms. Curbappeal x

P.S. here’s some photos from my Canon SLR...

Polite notice: all photos copyright Curbappeal 2013

P.S. check out my review of the hotel and the bar 

Restaurant Review: GRANT GRILL, San Diego, California

What’s the curbappeal?

- ‘Contemporary Art Deco’ interior

- Sophisticated and glamorous vibe

- Formal dining experience: perfect for power-meetings over breakfast, lunch or dinner

I popped in for breakfast and tried the honey crumble cereal with assorted berries and yogurt. Crunchy, tasty and filing! I also had a cafetiere of good-quality rich coffee. I mulled over a couple of other breakfast options: ‘Banana Bread French Toast: candied pistachios, golden raisins and glazed bananas with cinnamon maple syrup’, the ‘Spa breakfast: egg whites, goats cheese, olives, grilled onions and peppers’ and, their ‘Breakfast Collection’ of mini-cocktails including the ‘Mini Maple Manhattan - sapling maple liqueur and Jim Beam rye whiskey with old fashioned bitters’. How decadent!

It’s just gorgeous…I’ll be back…

With Love,

Ms. Curbappeal x

P.S. some photos from my SLR…

polite notice: all photo's copyright Curbappeal 2013