Our Favorite London Bolthole: Como Metropolitan Hotel

Here’s what we like about the Como Metropolitan London in Mayfair: it’s not only luxurious but minimalist—the main feature in its large rooms are the huge windows with an astounding view of Hyde Park. It has all the elegance and touches the Como Hotel Group is known for, like its Shambhala cuisine—we love how you can order just about anything and it will star fruits and vegetables—as well as a stellar spa. Nobu is right downstairs, should you need a taste of LA, and they make bento picnic boxes if you’re drawn to the gorgeous green of the park.

The tony neighborhood around the Como Metropolitan London is full of embassies, Lamborghinis, and—a surprise guest—a full-grown fox nosing around some plants on a traffic island.

One night we ate at the hotel and, it turns out, Chef Reuben Briones, who runs the culinary program at the two London Como hotels, Como Metropolitan and Como The Halkin, might be the best kept secret in Mayfair. From Andalusia, close to Basque country, he’s creatively doing his own thing in a new pop up series. Working tightly with a team of two other sous chefs, Edible LA sat at the counter and watched as he spun a meal full of memory and emotion. This particular tasting menu was Taste of The Ocean, and included beautiful shellfish croquettes, crispy oyster with a “gazpachile” dressing and a chargrilled monkfish in lobster broth rice. Much of the food felt deeply Spanish, with its saffron and garlic and seafood, a diary of Chef Reuben’s own heritage. Next up is Taste of Le Bistro, till the end of the year. Go if you can.

Of course, don’t leave without exploring London as well. Don’t miss the Tate Modern and the Saatchi Gallery to get turbocharged with exquisitely-curated contemporary art.

The Victoria & Albert Museum of Decorative Arts and Design always has amazing shows, plus a wild Dale Chihuly chandelier. We saw the fantastic gender-bending exhibit, Fashioning Masculinities: The Art of Menswear, closed now, but just about anything there is stellar. And don’t forget the gift shop. The Winslow Homer and Lucien Freud shows are on at the National Gallery too till January.

Spring, Chef Skye Glyngell’s restaurant, is really good (you can read more about her here), and of course there’s the Ottolenghi restaurants cafes—our favorite is in Islington—the always inspiring Honey & Co, with its new place in Bloomsbury, and the spectacular Gymkhana—cheaper for lunch.

Edible LA also discovered Hampstead Heath—village-y and chic—Maida Vale and the canal district with its flower-festooned barges and swans. Notting Hill has some great organic brunch places—Daylesford Organic is very California-in-London (just ask our UK-based travel editor, Shauna Burke!). The splendid London theater scene is unmissable too. It doesn’t have to be a West End production; the city is chock full of fantastic actors “working out” in small plays; catch them if you can and then chill at the Como Metropolitan London as the sun sets over the park in a blaze of red and figure out how you’re going to come back.