SKETCH

I recently made my quarterly homage to London for a catch up with my fellow fashionista FashionLind and discovered another of London's hidden gems - Sketch restaurant.

"The triple dream of launching a centre, a “lieu” or destination place, for food, art and music has been realised by Mourad “Momo” Mazouz and his team of chefs and designers over two expansive floors of a converted 18th century building in Conduit Street, Mayfair, London. Sketch is a complex and unique site."  *Sketch website.

This hub of all things chic is located just off Regent Street and looks like a normal old London building until you spot the headless dog mounted on the wall outside! The stylish oddness continues once inside. Built around 3 main rooms with VIP areas upstairs Sketch is the place for afternoon tea, a full on dining experience or cocktails - something for all times of day.

In the parlour is served the most amazing afternoon tea, from your everyday tea and scones to elegant cocktails and gourmet sandwiches which look too good to eat. The whole room, in fact the whole building, is made up of vintage miss-matched pieces that give a real homey antique feel to the dining experience. Miss-matched furniture and a gold glitter stags head add to the quirky feel in the parlour and helped to set the scene for the whole experience, from the waitresses bubble skirt uniforms in brocade fabrics to the menus delivered to the table in antique volumes of the classics.

FashionLind had a latte with homemade scones and jam whilst i sampled the non alcoholic cocktail - Exotic dream, both very delicious and just the fuel needed for the next leg of our shopping trip.

We were able to explore a little and see the Glade, a second small tea/cocktail room that leads into the stunning Gallery with all of its quirky features. This more formal dining room is even more miss matched than the parlour room. With beautiful place settings of rainbow coloured glass and tableware this room would be the ultimate place for a dining experience. Other hidden rooms within sketch include the East Bar and the Lecture room - each with its own individual decor and character. Sketch offers a room for every occasion.

Although in a weird and fairly sad way - my favourite room in this exciting building was actually the toilets. Most restaurants these days have classy modern toilets - not sketch!!! Imagine my surprise when i entered a room that could only be described as a cross between something from Charlie and the chocolate factory and Dr Who. Walking from a bright coloured dining room into an all white sterile room with a stain glass window ceiling, up a sweeping staircase to what can only be described as toilet pods was an odd experience! The unisex toilet area has individual Pods that talk to you - mine told me about the different varieties of tree frogs in the world and the noises each specie makes! Not a normal toilet but very memorable experience- although could be a little interesting when drunk!

My partner in Fashion - The beautiful FashionLind

Overall Sketch has to be my new favourite spot in London. A little on the pricey side for some things however worth the money for the atmosphere and experience.

Thank to FashionLind for showing me this hidden treasure.

http://www.sketch.uk.com