Need last minute gifts, maybe just for yourself? We’ve got a couple ideas here. A little indulgent, perhaps, but have you been good this year? Then help yourself find it under the tree.
And to fill in Twixmas, book this spot in Theatreland for a friends catch up (if you’ve gotten over the Christmas family feuding), and a show to see one of London’s most vibrant pieces of theatre. This is what we’re loving in this week’s Citizen Femme hotlist.
EAT HERE Claude's Leicester Square
London has a relaxed buzz between Christmas and New Year. Frantic evenings of shopping are over as gifts have been opened, and tourists here to see the lights and ice skate at Somerset House have returned home. In between family gatherings and visits from friends, take the time to seep in this atmosphere with a light lunch or relaxed evening meal at Claude’s Kitchen in Leicester Square. Offering a paired back but crowd-pleasing menu of Mediterranean style plates with hints of British cooking, you’ll find all of the comforting classics to share. Start the evening off with spicy salmon tacos alongside a few servings of wagyu sliders and fried calamari. The mains serve everything from a plant-based burger to oven teriyaki salmon, each perfectly cooked, with a strong list of European wines and signature house cocktails (with a special mention to the incredible Banana Old Fashioned made with caramalised banana) to accompany. The elegant interiors and ambience merge the bustle of a French bistro with the laidback appeal of a New York diner for a space that is made to enjoy for a few hours. If you’re tired of hosting and are looking for a spot to suit the whole family – with an appetising menu that isn’t a Christmas roast – Claude’s Kitchen is the restaurant to book. Or, catching a show? Stop by for a pre-performance dinner, or perhaps a carafe of wine and selection of bar snacks to enjoy on Claude’s Kitchen’s heated terrace.
STAY CHIC Ferragamo's Hug Bag
The season’s It bag by Ferragamo, the iconic Hug bag has been reinvented for colder days and mountain vacations. The Hug bag, possibly named after the desire one might have to embrace the gorgeous accessory, actually refers to the bags two leather “arms” that wrap about the bag with an adjustable signature Gancini clasp closures that can provide an extra little squeeze—just like a hug. In the short while that she’s been around—it debuted in Autumn 2023—the Hug has already become a mainstay in the Ferragamo line up. The winter edition is available in luxurious suede, enhanced with soft, fluffy merino edges. The distinctive wrap-around style with golden Gancini buckles lends a sophisticated allure to this cosy, compact top handle lined with calfskin leather. This accessory channels everything that’s winter and chic.
BOOK THIS Palm House, Palm Beach
A pink paradise under the hues of a South Floridian pink sunset. Palm House opens up with 79 bedrooms in Palm Beach (adding to the portfolio of British country estate Cliveden House and London’s The Mayfair Townhouse). Located on the illustrious Royal Palm Way (which leads directly to the Atlantic Ocean), the property dates back to the 1960s, once nicknamed “the heart of Palm Beach,” although the hotel remained shuttered for many years. Following a lengthy 6 year refurbishment, this hotel is as Palm Beach as you’d want it to be. Art consultant Minda Dowling describes it as “Little Mermaid Meets Alice in Wonderland” and she is spot on, “it’s like something out of a Schiaparelli dream,” she says. From the guest rooms to expansive 2000 square feet suites, garden terrace to the sunset pool deck, this property is undoubtedly continuing the revival of the destination.
USE THIS LYMA Laser
Yes its a splurge, and something I questioned regularly, before indulging in a Christmas gift to myself (plus my questioning of the effectiveness of at-home beauty gadgets). The Lyma Laser made it past ‘basket’ stage in my online shop. Now a few weeks in, its ease and practicality is what has stood out most, outside of the results of course. I carry it with me in my handbag and when I travel, and already, I can visibly notice a difference in my skin. Rather than heat or damage the skin, a beam of medical-grade infrared travels deep into the skin from the handheld laster, where it communicates with the ‘battery’ in your cells to improve collagen and elastin production for plumper, tighter skin and less visible lines. It also claims to reduce the appearance of pigmentation and improve the look of acne scars. Used twice weekly for 10 minutes each session, I glide it across my face using my regular serum and cream (not wanting to change my usual skincare routine), and its now become a staple in my week, you could say its like a weekly £250 facial (and also safe during pregnancy).
WATCH THIS Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake, The Next Generation
Matthew Bourne’s legacy of Swan Lake, which debuted nearly 30 years ago, revolutionising the dance and theatre world with its bold, rule-breaking reimagining of Tchaikovsky’s iconic ballet, continues to be as breathtaking as it always was. For the season, the show returns revamped and with a new generation of performers. For those seeing it for the first time, this isn’t your traditional Swan Lake – Bourne’s version is a darker, twisted take on the Russian classic, veering away from the Tchaikovsky classic. Back at Sadler’s Wells in a remounted production named “the next generation”, Bourne’s choreography is as dizzyingly brilliant as ever, replacing the archetypal Princess for a tormented Prince. He eventually falls madly and obsessively in love with a male swan and the course of his life changes forever. This is not just a revival, its a vibrant piece of theatre that continues to provoke and mesmerise.
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