Isabel - Mayfair, London

Isabel has been around for a while and is the consummate charmer. Launched hot on the heels of the sleeper success of Casa Cruz by restaurant / fashion mogul Juan Santa Cruz, it's since cemented its it-status with the central London glitterati, as much for its food as its excellent design. We dropped in on a Thursday evening to clock the vibe, do some people watching, and report back on whether it lived up to the hype. Suffice to say…

… it does. The restaurant is as easy on the eyes as an established fashion house. Let's start with the waiting staff. Not only are they beautiful and ineffably charming, they're also bedecked in killer threads compliments of Colombian fashion designer Johanna Ortiz. The room is gilt to the brim, with polished brass in abundance, in the wall display, the drinks gantry and the rows of statement pendant lighting that rivet the eyes as much as the conversation. 

A bottle of Whispering Angel rosé was a pliant companion to all of the dishes, especially the entrada of seabass ceviche with courgette and basil. This was followed by an exceptional ricotta truffle ravioli laden with earthy wild mushrooms. For our mains we enjoyed a perfectly grilled fillet of cod with ají verde and courgette and an Argentine bavette steak served with corn salad and parrilla potato. The food was really some of the best we've had recently - that and an exceptional array of cocktails. 

Isabel hits all the right notes for the international scenester with phenomenal food, design and people.