This week takes us to London to Miami to New York, picking up only the best gifting along the way.
Could this be one of London’s best Italian dining scenes (and one you’ll want to frequent often?) A welcome respite amidst seasonal shopping at one of London’s finest spas, and let your pen glide across these featherweight blue pages as you (dare I say it) begin penning dates for 2025. This is what we’re loving in this week’s Citizen Femme hotlist.
DINE HERE 40 Dean Street
To have remained a mainstay restaurant in London’s ever-changing and exuberant Soho says a lot in itself, and this is just what 40 Dean Street has achieved over the past two decades. Italian fare at its core, this family-run spot is a rare find in London’s often too-overdone hospitality scene. Helmed by Nima Safaei, also behind 64 Old Compton Street – which opened due to the demand and acclaim that his inaugural restaurant, 40 Dean Street, has met – here you’ll find the confident ease of a spot that knows exactly what it is doing, and that continues to hit the mark every time you dine. The interiors play on a traditional Italian trattoria with marble tables, bistro seating, china lamps and gold mirror-adorned convivial blue walls to match the blue crockery. At the back of the restaurant, you’ll find an elegant gold painted bar where bottles of Italian red and white wine line oak-panelled shelving, available to order from the menu’s extensive wine list. Nima developed the traditional Italian menu – with clever Mediterranean infusions – with the help of his sister who grew up in Florence. From the starters to the sides, the flavours are rich and invigorating – often adding a captivating twist to traditional Italian simplicity. Start with the Tempura Courgette Flower stuffed with ricotta, truffle paste, and honey and the Beetroot and Goat’s Cheese Arancini for an indulgent way to whet your appetite, and as teasers for the generous serving of flavours yet to come. The main courses are divided between Pasta/ Risotto, Pizzas, and Oven/ Grill for a wide offering of dishes. For pasta, the Seafood Linguine with squid, clams, and tiger prawns is a popular (and rightly so) dish while the Slow-Roast Pork Belly with apple purée and Sea bass served with prawns, clams, and cavalo nero and doused in a lemon and butter sauce lead the way for grill. Our advice? Order a selection and share, each dish is too good to miss out on.
VISIT THIS Art Basel Miami Beach
Art Basel Miami Beach is bringing leading galleries from five continents from masters of Modern and Contemporary Art to the new generation of emerging stars to Miami Beach at the end of this week. Under new director Bridget Finn, there are 286 international exhibitors and a packed week of parties, pop-up, and special projects. Both The Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour, Miami and The Ritz-Carlton South Beach are putting the spotlight on female artists. In a partnership with “Shark Tank” contestant JIGGY Puzzles, the female-founded puzzle company, The Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour will have a Pop-Up Puzzle Art Gallery that brings puzzle art to life, featuring stunning works from nine incredible female artists from JIGGY’s carefully curated roster. The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach is putting up a stunning installation by award-winning artist Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya. Her site-specific sculpture, As Her Hands Move, Her Heart Beats in the Rhythm of Monsoons, celebrates matrilineal legacies and cultural wisdom. This powerful work, part of the hotel’s Women in the Spotlight series, underscores its commitment to elevating female voices in the arts.
TREAT YOURSELF HERE Claridge's Spa
London’s luxurious Claridge’s Spa has collaborated with MZ Skin for a new set of treatments, making for an ideal mid-shopping break. Head down three floors from the well recognised black and white lobby and you’ll find a warm and inviting Eastern-inspired space featuring a sauna, steam rooms, hair salon, fitness centre, changing rooms and swimming pool. The MZ Skin treatments have been specifically developed by the founder Dr Maryam Zamani, the new facials blending tried-and-tested high-tech techniques with the brand’s trusted formulas with her three-step philosophy of Reveal, Enhance & Protect. Choose from an Eye Rejuvenation facial, an Ultimate Lift Facial for firming and sculpting, a Renew & Revive treatment designed especially for sensitive skin, the intensive Signature Reveal & Glow for a brighter and more radiant complexion and an express version for those who want glow on the go. Let it all soak into your skin throughout the day for maximum effect and you’ll be left as if floating on a cloud for the duration of your day.
USE THIS Smythson's 2025 diary
From plots and plans to scribble dreams and quiet observations, capture the magic in your every day on pages of Smythson’s Featherweight blue. Opt for a personal favourite, the Soho Diary, small enough to slot into your tote or briefcase, while large enough for those longer to-do lists, ideal for everyday planning, fitted with an elegant slide closure. Or if its a more packed schedule you want to fit in, opt for the larger Portobello Diary, packed full of Smythson’s signature gilt-edged Featherweight paper, an ideal desk companion with Week-to-view layout notes pages and indexed monthly tabs. Or a perfectly portable Panama Diary, designed to slip inside your handbag, meticulously edited to keep you organised en route. It’s time to get organised for 2025.
GIFT THESE Olivia von Halle x The Carlyle New York
Iconic landmark The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel on New York City’s Upper East Side once again collaborates with a leading fashion brand. This year they collaborated with Jessica McCormack and de Gournay, and now Olivia von Halle, to create a limited edition lounging pyjama and eye mask that pays homage to the hotel and the city that never sleeps. The bespoke print, designed to resemble a sketchbook or artist’s map of classic New York moments, celebrates The Carlyle’s sophisticated whimsy, perfectly capturing the timeless elegance and style both brands are known for. Drawing inspiration from the vibrant array of sights and scenes that define the hotel and its surroundings. Central Park, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the legendary Café Carlyle, and the beloved Bemelmans Bar, the nightwear is hand-drawn at Olivia von Halle’s London studio, then screen-printed on the world’s finest 19-momme silk. Each set comes in a box sporting the same beautiful print, making it a coveted keepsake for those wishing to remember their stay at The Carlyle or capture a piece of its enigmatic allure. An ideal gift for the festive season (we say, for yourself).
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