1 | A Romantic Dinner at Il Pampero
Knightsbridge is not short on swish hotels, but its newest, The Hari, feels far more boutique than you might expect. Designed by Tara Bernerd, its restaurant Il Pampero has just opened, giving you the perfect excuse to take a peek. Leave time for cocktails at the bar first – a beautiful open square in the middle of this charming dining room from which an assortment of Negroni variations are concocted.
Once ensconced at your table, Italian delights abound, like pesto-stuffed calamari, pumpkin gnocchi with truffle, and plenty of pasta – of course. Of the mains, the salt-baked cod is brought theatrically to your table to be shattered in front of you, and the calf's liver is the best you'll find around – browned on the outside and tender as you like within, a generous portion is served on a bed of soft onions with a white wine sauce. And if you have a sweet tooth, don't be put off by the vegan dessert: it's a neat, coconuty sort of Eton Mess that does the job nicely. You'll be well looked after here.
The Hari, 20 Chesham Place, London, SW1X 8HQ; ilpampero.com
2 | Weekend Brunching at Sager + Wilde
This rustic wine bar has had the hearts of Hackney for a few good years thanks to its fabulous selection of wines and cheese toasties on the side. Then it opened a second site with a focus on Californian wines and a full restaurant. And now that is adopting the American institution of which we are all so hopelessly enamoured: brunch. As of this Saturday, book in from 11am – 4pm to enjoy black treacle tart, or French toast with bacon and syrup, or a chunky fried hake sandwich, or blood cake with a fried egg and chilli jam, or some smoked brisket with gravy.
Arch 250, Paradise Row, London, E2 9LE: sagerandwilde.com
3 | Weekday Assignations at 3 and 6 Bar
Given that the men's floor of plush department store Fortnum & Mason feels akin to a members' club (complete with a barber's snuck away in the corner) it is only fitting that it should contain a bar for a quick snifter, too. With deep blue carpets, polished wooden furniture and big leather armchairs, the 3 and 6 is a bit like the snug of some country golfing estate. It serves a succinct menu of classic cocktails along with all the usual stuff, so it's a perfect place to drop in for a sneaky glass of wine or slug of whisky with some peace and quiet. And class. The reasonably priced food menu includes steak tartare, Welsh rarebit, smoked salmon with scrambled eggs, cheese, pâté and all good things, whose ingredients come mainly from the store's inimitable food hall. A brilliant hideout for the middle of the day.
3rd Floor, Fortnum & Mason, 181 Piccadilly, London, W1A 1ER; fortnumandmason.com
4 | Mother's Day at Sea Containers
What better way to celebrate Mother's Day than with a sophisticated yet informal meal set to river views? And as an added bonus, the Sea Containers restaurant at the Mondrian London hotel will wave the cost of mothers' meals for groups of four or more at brunch or dinner. Ideal if you're splitting the cost with siblings. They get great produce and the seafood, in particular, is excellent. Throughout the day, you can pick from Sunday roasts (all of them: chicken, beef, lamb, pork and even a fish option) or brunch favourites like salt beef sandwiches, fried chicken and waffles or avocado on toast. Later on, they go back to the normal menu. Pick your way through some Padrón peppers to start and don't skip the salt cod fritters before treating your mum to the cream sundae – a bonanza of Snickers, Oreo and chocolate ice creams to round things off.
20 Upper Ground, London, SE1 9PD; seacontainersrestaurant.com
5 | Grab & Go Mother's Day Treats at Dominique Ansel Bakery
And if you're heading homewards for Mother's Day, stop by Dominique Ansel's place, which is conveniently close to Victoria station. The man who found international stardom by inventing the Cronut has a delightful Belgravia bakery serving that famous hybrid plus much, much more. He's created a set of specials for this weekend, so that you can turn up with a decidedly surprising sort of confection; there's a mango and elderflower dahlia cake made for two to share, or a fresh English rhubarb and strawberry crumble served in a mini cheese box with instructions for baking at home. Or you could go all out and get the hamper – it contains white chocolate caramel popcorn, mini strawberry and lychee meringues, vanilla crème brûlée, almond brittle, and strawberries and clotted cream macarons. A totally over the top treat, but a magnificent one nonetheless.
17-21 Elizabeth Street, London, SW1W 9RP; dominiqueansellondon.com
