An Afternoon @ Celeste, The Lanesborough

It’s not everyday that something in my life warrants a ‘special’ date, particularly one that involves me trekking from the East End to the other side of London (we all know that TFL is erratic at the best of times!) Celeste is the relatively new but always resplendent flagship restaurant at the Lanesborough Hotel in Hyde Park Corner. It’s unclear how much was spent on the renovations but you’ll read the comment “No expense has been spared!” often – a telling sign in itself.

The décor alone had me floored. Powder blue walls that are gloriously illuminated by opulent crystal chandeliers hanging from a glass dome and enough bas-relief mouldings to take you back several hundred years, Celeste was a brief glimpse into the halcyon days of Regency period grandeur. I went on a Saturday afternoon and from the moment you step inside, it feels as if you’ve been transported ions away from the hustle and bustle from West End chaos!

The food is as excessive as the interior. No dish is complete without gold leaf, edible flowers or hand crafted shards of chocolate. I chose the set lunch menu (3 courses at £35) and was most impressed by my dessert: Carraibes chocolate- sponge, sorbet and thin shards of… well, chocolate.

It’s not somewhere I imagine will become an old haunt but if you’re looking to create unforgettable memories, Celeste is definitely one to keep in mind.