Bathed in the warm glow of retro 1980s neon style lighting, London’s latest ‘venue for the privileged’ – this is a 200 capacity, invite only affair – wouldn’t look far out of place as a set on a Scarface remake and could easily have inspired scenes from Grand Theft Auto. Whilst the reality my well be slightly more reserved, this is Mayfair after all, the sensationally chic minimalist interiors of Luxx – courtesy of Italian architect Rossella Stina – certainly offer the illusion of a desirably seedy 80s with it’s spectacular glass runway of light, black lacquer walls, frosted glass and those beautiful LED strips…..
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Luxx Club, Mayfair, London
London's latest über-exclusive venue is a homage to 80s neon....
March 4th, 2010
“Inviting, surprising, obscure, strange and beautiful”, that’s just how they describe the acts performing at London’s most exhilarating new venue… thanks to design-legend Tom Dixon however, they are words that could just as easily encapsulate the essence of his glamorous interior. From Shoreditch House to the Paramount Members Club, former Creative Director of Habitat, Tom Dixon is surely one of the capital’s key figures for flamboyant interior design, and his work at this new Seven Dials bar, restaurant and entertainment experience does not disappoint. High quality North American cuisine at surprisingly reasonable prices, innovative cocktails from the world famous Worldwide Cocktail Club and inventive, unique performances that encompass the venue ensure that Circus will be a hot ticket for years to come…..
Wonderfully challenging concepts of what defines ‘cool’, Freni e Frizioni is one of Rome’s many fabulous art/dive bars that gives the city it’s captivating and vibrant nightlife. Housed in a former car workshop, Freni e Frizioni (or Brakes and Clutches) is situated in the heart of Trastevere, Rome’s trendy, bohemian district on the banks of the Tiber, and is home to contemporary art, vintage furniture… and if locals are to be believed, the city’s finest mojito. Overlooking the beautiful Politeama square, during fine weather the bar heaves out onto the street, whilst inside a buffet of pizzas, salads, pastas and seasonal dishes is served each evening between 7pm and 10pm. Gritty, arty and we believe, decidedly cool, Freni e Frizioni is an ideal place to spend time in the eternal city.
Another day and another restaurant design that wouldn’t be out of place in one of the world’s leading art galleries… swiftly following yesterday’s feature on Las Vegas’ outlandish Beijing Noodle No. 9, we just had to show you the recently opened Brussels establishment, Kwint. Part of contemporary conference facility, Square, Kwint is a decidedly exclusive affair with more than a hint of a modern twist, thanks to it’s particularly unconventional approach to interior design. In what would otherwise be a typically classy French/Belgian bistro type setup, Arne Quinze’s raging, uncontrollable installation truly steals the show, leaving the restaurant/bar/delicatessen looking though it has been frozen in time…. just about when the aliens invaded. Caviar, truffles, wild salmon and king crab all feature on the somewhat lavish menu and accompanying his eccentric centrepiece sculpture, the space is splendidly kitted out with a selection of his own brand furniture…. if you’re in town and looking for something unquestionably out of (far beyond) the ordinary, then a visit to Kwint is essential.
Offering a selection of some 300 wines and sporting some of the most beautifully distressed decor we’ve seen in some time, the Pullman in downtown Montreal is impeccably designed by award winning local designer, Bruno Braën. A tapas menu that offers venison tartare, bison burgers and oysters is more than ample enough to spend some serious time sampling the well traveled wine selection that is served by the deeply knowledgeable staff…. each waiter is a trained sommelier! It’s the decor that really knocks us for six though with it’s warehouse chic, exposed concrete walls, retro woods and the perfectly apt wine glass chandelier that acts as the rather fitting centerpiece to this unique little bar.
The Blues Kitchen, London
Camden's newest hipster hangout is a Southern fried affair....
December 26th, 2009
The team behind Islington’s raucous live music venue/pub, The Old Queens Head, Camden’s newest skinny jeans magnet is also a rather more sincere attempt to bring a healthy dose of authentic blues to London’s largest music scene. Bustling and reassuringly loud, The Blues Kitchen is set in a grand old boozer on Camden’s high street a regular Sunday open-mic blues jam along with a whole host of other events and more ad-hoc appearances from the likes of the tragically unwashed Pete(r) Doherty. The food is genuinely authentic Cajun fare with the likes of seafood gumbo, blackened shrimp and po’ boy sandwiches, there is an extensive selection of Bourbons, Ryes and Tennessee whiskeys and the decor really works with it’s homely Southern touches and in particular the interesting ventilation pipe light fittings…
Set inside Cairo’s prestigious Nile City Towers development, overlooking the iconic Egyptian river, Tamarai Restaurant & Bar is the city’s newest must-be-seen-in destination thanks in no small part to it’s super-stylish interiors from the award winning Shahira H Fahmy. The menu is presented by French Michelin starred chef, Jimmy Hurtebise, a former trainee of legend Alain Ducasse, whilst extravagant cocktails, a sensational nile-side outdoor terrace and errrm Cairo’s ‘hottest’ DJs (no, we’re not sure either), ensure that after dinner is equally as impressive. If you’re heading to Cairo and looking for a modern warehouse style take on the classic Egyptian temple then this is certainly worth checking out….
There’s something strangely alluring about hotel minibars, maybe it makes us feel a little bit rock and roll pouring ourselves a Jack Daniels from a plastic miniature bottle, maybe we’d just love to have a fridge full of alcohol under the TV in our bedroom back home, but of course then there’s the price, oh, and the fact that drinking on your own is a little bit worrying. Thankfully then, Amsterdam’s MiNiBAR is a new concept in nightlife that takes the hotel minibar concept to a new level. A concierge will show you to your table and present you with a key with which to gain access to your own private bar, stocked with beers, wines and quality liquors, waiting at the bar is a thing of the past. Sushi and snacks are available for the peckish and the prices at this stylish new concept bar are reasonable considering it’s brilliantly central Prinsengracht location.
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A 20-strong female choir decked out in futuristic technicolour capes who sing and scream about drinking and smoking over a post-dubstep clatter... Gaggle are the London based rebel yell we've all been waiting for. Previously mentioned in our midweek newsletter, their debut, 'I Hear Flies', is released today and yes, it's rather brilliant....
We love this cute little illustration from Central Illustration Agency's Chris Brown for Carluccio's
'The Lambeth Palace' is London's "newest, darkest and dirtiest purpose built cinema".... the temporary space set up by street art legend Banksy is showing his new film until March 4th, there's only a very few tickets left, so if you're in town between now and then, we suggest booking them right now....
Independent Dublin based design studio, Superfolk, are launching a new range of products at this week's Stockholm Furniture Fair, that will pay tribute to Irish heritage... whilst remaining desirably modern.
Loving this high quality print from the ever-impressive Scott Hansen... highly limited to 200 pieces so move quick.
Previously only available in German, Berlin’s Innervisions have released a limited English run of Tobias Rapp’s book, ‘Lost and Sound: Berlin, Techno and the Easyjetset’. Investigating the city's love affair with electronic music and the world's descent upon the German capital in search of the ultimate party....
Ether, the Southbank Centre's annual culture-fest of music, art, technology and experimentation is back from 16th - 24th April with the likes of Lou Reed's Metal Machine Trio, Broadcast and Gil Scott-Heron... the highlight for us has to be the 23rd where mindfuck genius Chris Cunningham performs a live multimedia extravaganza... expect to be disturbed....
Running from 5th - 13th February at the rather brilliant Darkroom, 'An Exhibitional Orgy of Love Hearts' is a celebration of Saint Valentine's in which a host of creative types have been commissioned to create a piece of work based upon the heart.... All pieces will be for sale for £125, with a portion of the profits going to the Haiti Fund
The latest product from magic industry pioneers, theory11, is this rather tasty set of playing cards that commemorate 125 years of design and development by the US Playing Card Company....
Everyones favourite handmade accessory makers, Hard Graft, are already on the 'case' with an iPad prototype... nearly as fast as these domain name jerks...
Gaggle: ‘I Hear Flies’
Chris Brown for Carluccio’s
Banksy's Cinema
Superfolk
ISO50 'Adrift' Print
Lost and Sound
Ether 10
An Exhibitional Orgy of Love Hearts @ Darkroom
Bicycle 125 Playing Cards
Hard Graft iPad Case
