Eat and sleep in London

Visiting London in 2012? Take a look at this temporary postmodern sanctuary peeping out over the busy South Bank walkways.The project is part of Living Architecture founded by philosopher Alain de Botton, with the aim to bring together holiday rentals and idiosyncratic architecture, making the point that cutting edge design is for all. At £120 a night the hotel got booked super quickly, so apparently no chance to stay there during the June edition of Bubble London, but there are still availability for the end of the year. A real kid’s dream…and an adult’s one too!

Pirouette tips : where to sleep in London

• HARLINGTON HOTEL (Bloomsburry) variable, from £95 to £145 – great for a whole family
• MONTAGU PLACE (Marylebone Village) – From £120
• ST JOHN’S HOTEL (Leicester Square) – From £200
• THE GRAZING GOAT (Marble Arch) – From £175
• DEAN STREET TOWNHOUSE (Soho)
• 40 WINK (East London)
• THE BOUNDARY (Sir Terence Conran, East London)
• CHARLOTTE STREET HOTEL (North of Soho)
• THE SANDERSON (North of Soho)
• THE ZETTER (Clerckenwell)
• PORTOBELLO HOTEL (Notting Hill)
• Dorset Square Hotel (North of Marylebone)
• Number 16 (South Kensington) – From £120
• Hotel Avo (Dalston, near the Olympic site) – From £78
• Coming soon : Tune Hotel – Paddington – from £38!
• Hester Gray  (great rental apartments)

Pirouette tips : where to Eat in London

Dinings, Japanese fusion. You’ll need a reservation. 22 Harcourt Street. W1
Trishna, Indian 15-17 Blandford Street  London W1
The Providores, 109 Marylebone High Street  London W1
Pizza East.comt, 56 Shoreditch High Street  London E1
The Empress, 130 Lauriston Road, Victoria Park, London E9
Roti Chai, (India street food) 3 Portman Mews South W1
The Old White Bear, 1 Well Road, London NW3 (Hamptead)
Books for Cooks, 4 Blenheim Crescent, Notting Hill, London
The French House, 50 Lamb Conduit Street
Tombo,  Japanese 29 Thurloe Place London SW7 2HQ
The Balcon, (Former Ducasse chef) 8 Pall Mall
Nopi, 21-22 Warwick Street W1
Ali, 27 Clerckenwell Street
Brawn, 49 Columbia Rd
Hakkasan, Hanway Place
The Approach Tavern, 47 Approach Road
Roka, Charlotte Street
Rochelle Canteen, Arnold Circus
St John, 26 St John’s street
Bistrotheque, 23-27 Wadeson Street
Wapping Project, Wapping Mall
Moro,34-36 Exmouth Market  City of London, EC1
Zuma, Japanese contemporary cuisine - 5 Raphael Street, SW7 (Knightsbridge)