London's streets and neighborhoods all have their own flair and history behind them, and Sloane Square and Sloane Street are having a moment!
Excerpt below from 11/16/2024 article produced by Virtuoso with Sloane Street can found here.
Of all the shopping districts in London, few combine designer boutiques, sophisticated hotel stays, Michelin-starred meals, and quintessential British charm quite like Sloane Street. The three-quarter-mile stretch from Knightsbridge to Sloane Square in Chelsea is a favorite of freshly blow-dried A-listers knocking back oysters at Azzurra before browsing the flagship Prada and Saint Laurent stores (the Princess of Wales can often be spotted popping into Emilia Wickstead, one of her favorite British designers).
After a recent two-year multi-million dollar transformation that widened pedestrian walkways, increased street furniture, added traffic-calming measures, and expanded greenery along the thoroughfare – with the help of garden designer and Cheslea Flower Show winner Andy Sturgeon – Sloane Street is more glamorous than ever. The pots and planters showcase a royal palette of colors, including rich maroons, greens, purples, and blues, “taking the luxury from the stores and bringing it out,” Sturgeon says. New streetlights, with wrought-iron details inspired by English textile designer William Morris and Sloane Square’s Holy Trinity Church, elevate the area’s appeal.
Although the street was created in 1777 when Charles Sloane Cadogan, the first Earl Cadogan, sold development rights to Henry Holland, it didn’t become fashionable until the nineteenth century, when well-known members of British society, such as Sense and Sensibility novelist Jane Austen and actress Lillie Langtry (the rumored lover of King Edward VII) lived there. Known for its distinct red-brick Georgian facades, the street housed mansions for the British elite and the city’s top drapers, tailors, hosiers, and milliners. The same refinement remains today: High-end designers and haute couture outposts such as Emilio Pucci, Dior, Fendi, and Chanel neighbor cafés and upscale restaurants. Italian luxury fashion label Valentino is the neighborhood’s newest addition.
As head concierge at The Cadogan, Toru Machida knows Sloane Street well. Here are his favorite spots.
Designer Boutiques, Local Gifts, and Indulgent Pampering
Dozens of specialty shops line Sloane Street, including jewelers, watchmakers, perfumers, florists, and those specializing in home goods. “British designer Anya Hindmarch is one of my favorites,” says Machida, who also sends hotel guests to the Anya Village on Pont Street, which houses six shops in one space, including a pop-up that changes every two months. During the summer, Hindmarch opens an ice-cream parlor in the pop-up, serving unexpected flavors such as Heinz tomato ketchup; visitors can even reserve a blind tasting to try all 15 flavors.
For sophisticated stationery, leather-bound notebooks, and bags, Machida recommends Smythson, founded in 1887, which offers personalization at its Sloane Street storefront. Find more beloved British design at Temperley London’s glossy new flagship, showcasing ready-to-wear, eveningwear, bohemian homeware, accessories, and bridal by appointment.
Reminiscent of a 1970s Florentine apartment, Fendi’s boutique invites customers to lounge with a cocktail on the rooftop terrace in summer. British jewelry brand Boodles hosts dinners and events in its Garden Room – inspired by Frances Hodgson Burnett’s book The Secret Garden – where guests can browse and try on pieces from the Secret Garden collection.
Gentlemen in need of grooming should stop by the vintage-style Pavilion Barbers for a traditional hot-towel shave, beard trim, or deep cleansing facial. To combat jet lag, head to the Talise Spa in the 186-room Jumeirah Carlton Tower for a full-body massage, blue diamond facial, and acupuncture treatment. The hotel also offers two hours of personal styling along Sloane Street and a private key to Cadogan Gardens, a lush retreat only available to the neighborhood’s residents.
Afternoon Tea, Cafés, and Michelin-Starred Meals
Start the day – or refuel after shopping – with a rich cup of Passalacqua coffee from Naples at Harry’s Dolce Vita on Basil Street, where people-watching is the number one pastime on the heated terrace.
For a quintessentially British experience, ask your Virtuoso travel advisor to book a table for afternoon tea at the 54-room Cadogan Hotel. “It offers an exceptional British experience with a French twist, and Michelin-starred chef Benoît Blin serves the tea in courses, so the experience is savored,” Machida says. The menu includes a selection of delicious offerings, both savory (lobster brioche buns, egg mayonnaise sandwiches with Parmesan and black summer truffle) and sweet (perfectly mirror-glazed framboise Sakura tea pebbles, classic British scones with lashings of homemade strawberry jam and clotted cream).
For dinner, one of Machida’s favorite restaurants is Colbert on Sloane Square, a brasserie that feels like a Parisian pavement café, serving French standards such as moules marinière and venison bourguignon. Machida also recommends Cantinetta Antinori, an elegant, family-owned Italian restaurant known for its Tuscan recipes, live jazz, and decadent torta caprese.
At the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, a 181-room contemporary hotel at Sloane Street’s northernmost point, chefs at the two-Michelin-starred Dinner by Heston Blumenthal transform traditional dishes into edible art. One of its signatures, the illusionary Meat Fruit – presented as a small mandarin orange – is actually a chicken liver and foie gras parfait.
Can’t-Miss Chelsea Landmarks, Museums, and Events
Several British institutions, including Royal Albert Hall, the Natural History Museum, and the iconic Victoria and Albert Museum, are within walking distance of Sloane Street. The V&A houses more than two million treasures from around the world across its 145 galleries. After your visit, stroll through Hyde Park, one of the city’s best-loved green spaces.
Among the Sloane Street area’s private galleries are Gladwell & Patterson, London’s oldest art gallery, and the Saatchi Gallery. “The Saatchi is mind-blowing,” says Machida. “The exhibitions are often unusual and spotlight new artists who are exhibiting for the first time in the UK, so it’s the chance to see something really unique.”
The Chelsea calendar’s three biggest annual events are the world-famous RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May, Chelsea in Bloom, and the festive program that runs from November to January, beginning the Chelsea Christmas Lights Switch-On. This year’s theme is inspired by William Morris and the natural world, in celebration of Sloane Street’s green regeneration.
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