London Nightlife for the Ultra High Net Worth Individual

Entertainment

ROYAL ALBERT HALL

A formidable edifice positioned face-to-face with the sumptuous Albert Monument, the Royal Albert Hall is a magnificent place to get your fix of theater, classical music, circus, rock and pop concerts, and dance performances. Its unique circular auditorium hosts over 370 shows a year by the world’s greatest artists, such as Muse, Elton John, and Jay-Z.

Fine dining and elite hospitality packages are available for the majority of shows in the calendar, and a backstage visit is also an option, with forthcoming opportunities for a behind the scenes visit coming after performances of Cirque du Soleil and Madam Butterfly.

CLASSICAL MUSIC/DANCE

ROYAL OPERA & ROYAL BALLET

Right in the theatrical and musical heart of London, the Royal Opera House has played host to the crème de la crème of the classical music and dance world since its inception.

This phenomenal destination – with its grand classical portico, soaring glass ceiling and ornate golden auditorium – has seen the likes of Margot Fonteyn, Rudolf Nureyev, Luciano Pavarotti, and Maria Callas on its stage, and continues to put on lavish, world-renowned productions during four annual ‘seasons’. Hire out the Royal Box for a premium experience, or make up your own bespoke experience with the aid of Katherine Cox.

MUSIC

RONNIE SCOTT’S

Tucked away in a small street in buzzing Soho, this live jazz club is the stuff of London legend. Set up in the 1950s by jazz aficionado Ronnie Scott, its plush, intimate, low-lit interior has welcomed some true musical greats, with stars such as Ella Fitzgerald, Chet Baker, Bill Evans, Nina Simone, Sarah Vaughan and Stan Getz even recording albums there. Indeed it was the location for Jimi Hendrix’s last live performance. Visit this cozy musical cocoon when it’s cold outside, and sink down into the seats with cocktail in hand and ears at the ready.

GLYNDEBOURNE

Set in the beautiful, rolling Sussex Downs, Glyndebourne is a cultural destination offering the quality and glamour of classic internationally acclaimed opera in a wonderfully uncrowded location. The opera house, a modern, airy affair designed to enhance the audio of its performances to the max, seats 1,200 and mounts performances of operas from all over the world, from favorites such as Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro and Wagner’s Ring Cycle, to more modern offerings such as Britten’s Billy Budd and works by Stravinsky.

Bar

ARTESIAN, THE LANGHAM HOTEL

Designed by David Collins of Blue Bar fame, Artesian is a welcome recent addition to the Langham.

The décor, an unusual mix of Chinese-inspired sweeping lines, ornate geometrical chandeliers and modern scallop-edged purple leather sofas, gives the bar a misty, slightly fairytale quality, enhanced by the incredibly high ceilings and bowls of artistically-arranged flowers dotted about. The bar itself looks like an Emperor’s treasure chest; rows of gleaming bottles are topped by elegant pagoda ‘roofs’, giving guests plenty to gaze at as they order their beverages. Rum is the house specialty, the bar’s ‘Rum Ambassador’ having sourced over 50 varieties from far-flung destinations such as Guyana and Panama. Drink it neat or mixed in a delicious cocktail such as the Artesian Punch.

MILK & HONEY

The exclusive Milk & Honey opened in Soho in April 2002 and remains dedicated to bringing unrivalled drinks and service to a discerning crowd of grown-ups.

With bars on three floors offering a range of intimate booths, counter and lounge drinking and eating options, this atmospheric candle-lit location is the epitome of what a prohibition bar would have looked and felt like, with better cocktails. Choose from a range of inventively-named drinks such as Penicillin, a Scotch-based sour with lemon, honey and ginger, and Boston Cobbler, a potent concoction of port, calvados, and lemon, orange and pineapple juices. If cocktails aren’t your thing, go for the Salon Vintage 1997 champagne, one of the most delicious – and expensive – champagnes around.

LEFUMOIR, CLARIDGE’S HOTEL

Guests to this bar are guaranteed not only an excellent drink but also a time-warp experience upon entry.

Behind a door adorned with an antique Lalique panel lies a sumptuous, 1930s-style lounge, steeped in history. Furnished in deep, rich aubergine tones with leather seating and low crystal lighting, this small, exclusive bar is ideal for an intimate drink in the lap of luxury. It has a seating capacity of only 12 people, ensuring that each privileged visitor has the undivided attention of the bar’s staff, and also the opportunity to truly relax in the company of their stylish fellow-drinkers. Pull up a chair at the marble horseshoe bar and order from a carefully chosen menu of unique drinks inspired by the era and served in Lalique glasses.

BOUNDARY ROOFTOP

Located in Shoreditch, East London, Boundary Rooftop is the jewel in the crown of Boundary, a hotel / bar / restaurant destination built in 2009 that has since rocketed to dizzy heights as a place to see and be seen.

Featuring a large bar with seating arranged around an open fireplace, a 48-seat grill restaurant and a garden designed by Nicola Lesbirel, the rooftop is accessible by a direct lift and is served by its own kitchen. There are 360-degree views from Canary Wharf to the City’s Gherkin, and from Barbican to the rooftops and spires of East London. The space is replete with a large sail-like canopy, heating, festoon lighting and Welsh blankets to ward off that evening chill. Boundary Rooftop is also available for a limited number of private events.

LOUNGE LOVER

Owned by the proprietors of world-famous restaurant Les Trois Garçons, Loungelover has a reputation as one of the capital’s most intriguing and entertaining cocktail lounges.

Formerly a meat-packing factory, this exclusive address has been reincarnated as a kooky, glamorous, and très fabuleux watering hole, offering guests imaginatively-named drinks – ‘Love Letter’ and ‘Black Diamond sour’ – and delectable Japanese-style canapés. Sit back and relax in the flamboyant rococo lounge area, or book the private room, an elegant gated area furnished with Swedish and French furniture from the 18th and 19th centuries.

BLUE BAR, THE BERKELEY HOTEL

Famed for its stunning, vibrant interior, the Blue Bar at The Berkeley is a popular hangout for London’s glitterati. This modern and luxurious space combines the old-fashioned elegance of original wall and ceiling moldings with a striking ‘Lutyens Blue’ color scheme, named after the designer who first created this lavish lounge. Mosey over to the white onyx bar on a floor of outrageously sumptuous black croc-print leather, and expect cocktails made from the finest ingredients and a generous helping of passion and flair.

THE CONNAUGHT BAR, THE CONNAUGHT HOTEL

Inspired by English Cubist and Irish 1920s art, The Connaught Bar is, to put it quite simply, an incredibly classy affair.

Rich, creamy walls shimmering with silver leaf; comfortable leather sofas clustered around low tables; warm yet gently uplifting lighting; shining black marble floor….what else is there to say? Enjoy a drink from the bar’s innovative cocktail menu, which fuses traditional vintages with limited edition new spirits and liqueurs.

THE DONOVAN BAR, BROWN’S HOTEL

Created in homage to celebrated British photographer Terence Donovan, this bar’s stylish interior – embellished with his iconic black and white prints and presided over by the original St George’s Hotel stained glass window – is an ideal place for a civilized drink. Guests to this fashionable bar can enjoy live jazz Monday to Saturday from 9pm til midnight whilst enjoying drinks from a long list of cocktails, wines and champagnes, including the Donovan’s signature cocktail the ‘Box Brownie’.

Club

BUNGALOW 8

An elegant members-only nightclub in London’s ultra chic St Martin’s Lane Hotel, Bungalow 8 has been established as not only a luxurious lounge, but also as a creative concept for nightlife and entertainment.

With its luxe décor and stunning light and color displays, it offers warm sophistication in a cool environment, attracting celebrity guests such as Stella McCartney, Kevin Spacey and Emma Watson.

MAHIKI

Just moments away from The Ritz and London’s clubland, Mahiki is another firm favorite of London’s jet-set crowd. Set over two floors, this Polynesian paradise mixes kitsch-cool retro Hawaiian / pirate décor with thirst-quenching tropical cocktails such as the well-known ‘Mahiki Treasure Chest’. Ask for your own bar(rel) tender to keep your drinks topped up all night, or book out the bar for a special event.

BOUJIS

Regular stomping ground of the West London elite, this private member’s lounge has become the centerpoint of South Kensington’s night life. Boujis attracts a stylish crowd; royal princes William and Harry frequently haunt its dance floor, whilst the low-key yet glamorous leather interior furnishings are almost always adorned by socialites of all nationalities, plus celebrities. Book a private table for the ultimate Boujis experience.