WANDERLUST

24 Hours in Marylebone-London

Both refined and understated, Marylebone is perfect for the discerning traveller

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At once hip and well-to-do, Marylebone could almost be a suburb despite being in the centre of London. With its beautifully restored terraced houses, its pockets of green space, and collections of narrow streets, at times it can feel almost village-like. Add to this, world-class restaurants, cultural venues and an exciting range of independent boutique stores, and it’s hard not to fall in love with this perennially fashionable enclave. Here’s the best way to spend a day (and night) there.

 

09:30: The Monocle Café

Pop into The Monocle Café for a bowl of bircher muesli, an Americano, and a newspaper to start your day. While you’re there, pick up the latest issue of Monocle and a handy tote bag. This small, beautifully restrained space is often brimming with media and artistic types, and can fill up quickly. On sunny days, sit at one of the outdoor tables and watch Marylebone’s great and good saunter past.

 

11:00: Trunk

Chiltern Street is home to several of Marylebone’s most noteworthy boutiques. There’s Cire Trudon (candles), Club Monaco (men’s and women’s fashion), Cox & Power (jewellery) and Prism (beachwear). But the most impressive is arguably Trunk Clothiers London. The original home of menswear brand Trunk, the store stocks a carefully curated selection of men’s clothing from Italy, Japan, the UK, Sweden, the US and elsewhere. Just up the road, Trunk Labs London specialises in accessories.

Model standing outside shops in marylebone

 

12:30: A&D Gallery

Opened in 2000 by Pop art enthusiast Daniel Brant and graphic artist Andie Airfix, A&D Gallery exhibits work by both up-and-coming and established artists. Pick up authenticated prints, posters and other items, priced to accommodate all budgets. Purchase an original, signed poster, sent as an invitation to American painter Jasper Johns’ 1968 exhibition at the Leo Castelli Gallery in New York for £1,200; or acquire a paper plate designed by Roy Lichtenstein for a mere £325.

 

13:30: Ivy Café

A more casual offshoot of celebrity hangout, The Ivy; The Ivy Café offers relaxed all-day dining without the pretence. Expect everything from chicken liver parfait or lobster risotto, to mini salted caramel bombs, served to your table or at a stylish, curved bar. While the original Ivy restaurant can sometimes feel more focused on its clientele, this laidback café places greater emphasis on the food, and is all the better for it. It does fill up, particularly in the evening, so make sure to book a table in advance.

Ivy Café in Marylebone

 

15:00: Daunt Books

James Daunt opened the original Daunt Books in Marylebone in 1990, and there are now six branches across London. Housed in a stunning Edwardian premises, purpose-built for antiquarian booksellers Francis Edwards in 1910, the original Daunt incarnation is the bookshop of every bibliophile’s dreams. We love the upstairs section, filled with everything from ancient maps to second-hand travel books. Cleverly organised by country, you can find novels, maps and Rough Guides all in the same section, which is great for those wanting a 360-degree view of their next destination. 

Marylebone Library layout

 

17:00: At the Movies

Model Tamara Ecclestone, and fashion designer Julien Macdonald were two of the celebrity guests at the opening of At The Movies. Such is its clientele. Liza Tesei and her team provide a bespoke service to satisfy the needs of even the biggest film buffs. But you don’t have to be a collector to enjoy browsing the gallery’s impressive collection of vintage film posters, stills and celebrity autographs. You’ll find it hard to walk away without spending a considerable sum – probably on a vintage James Bond poster – it’s just a matter of whether you spend £10,500 for Thunderball, or £225 for The Living Daylights.

 

19:00: Dinings SW3

After a stint at Nobu, Japanese chef Masaki Sugisaki decided to forge his own culinary path, opening Dinings in a small Marylebone townhouse. It’s now considered one of London's most inventive Japanese restaurants and has a branch across town in Chelsea, and another in Tel Aviv. Sugisaki has created an institution where tacos are filled with lobster doused in jalapeño mayonnaise, and the Wagyu steak comes with wasabi salsa. The focus here is on quality ingredients. The seafood, for example, is sourced from the seas around Cornwall before being shaped into beautiful sushi and sashimi at a ground-floor counter. We suggest you book well ahead as the limited seating space means this is not somewhere to drop in on the off-chance.

 

21:00: Clarette

There’s a lot to like about Clarette, from the Art Deco-inspired interior, to the extensive French wine list – not to mention the fact it’s perhaps the only place in London where you can pair a glass of Château Margaux with a burger. Set in a restored pub, Clarette has managed to combine French chic with the charm of the Great British watering hole. If you want to eat, head upstairs; or, if you want to drink and mingle with the after work crowd, stick to the ground floor. It gets pretty busy, particularly during the summer months, but that’s all part of the fun.