I flew to London last week for Fashion Week, and made sure to keep some free time in my agenda for the evenings. By free time I mean: time for visiting the trendiest restaurants, coolest cocktail bars, hippest clubs, and maybe even an after-party. I decided to cut costs on the accommodation, so I’d have more to spend on dinners and wines (and a little top or skirt, of course). Right. Lesson number one: never try to cut costs by skimping on your hotel. Even if you think “we’re going to be out all day and will only sleep there.” Not true. Especially after eight hours straight on your feet, you want the luxury of a lovely, spacious hotel room with a huge comfy bed. Right. Lesson learned.

On my first night in London, Liesbeth and I had dinner at restaurant Pont St. at the Belgraves Hotel. Hearing that Pippa Middleton was a regular guest assured us, this was a pretty good start of LFW.

And it delivered: a wonderfully chic and delightful hotel with atmospheric spot lighting everywhere (I love spots), clean design, great art on the walls and a cocktail menu so extensive you that you couldn’t and wouldn’t dare order a regular mojito. I went for something with Elderflower, which never disappoints and neither did this time. I had my ‘Sex and the City’ moment, even though I was in London.

We were escorted to our table to the sound of jazzy background music and immediately spoiled with champagne and a choice of three kinds of bread. We chose all three. Of course. The menu was clear and coherent and had something to please everyone. For example, a hamburger (albeit a luxury one), fish from the grill or a healthy quinoa salad. We ordered delicious coconut ice cream for dessert. Now I don’t often smoke, but give me a glass of alcohol and I enjoy an accompanying cigarette. A very charming young man showed us to the smoking area on the roof terrace, buzzing with people. We stood out in the open air, but it was well heated and benches were dotted around to sit on, so we could happily sip on our glasses of wine and enjoy a leisurely cigarette. We returned to our table, keeping an eye open for Pippa tucked away in some romantic corner, and ordered some more wine. Our evening came to a close with a final cigarette in front of the door, waiting for a taxi. Tired from traveling but very excited from the amazing food and evening we went to bed feeling extremely satisfied and eager for the rest of our LFW. God London, you’re amazing.