A Regency London First Table escapade 💌

Dearest gentle reader, 

Travel back to the Regency Era in London, known to be the most civilised place in the world. Where the city's elite were pulled through streets in elegant carriages hauled by thoroughbreds and guests were received in big drawing rooms with tea and cakes. 

In Regency London, dinner wasn't just dinner, dinner was a whole event. The social season is upon us, so travel back in time with your most valued friends that'll delight you hearts. First Table are compelled to share the most prestigious restaurants in London worth the evening soirée. 

Aubaine Selfridges

Aubaine is where modern French gastronomy meets the electricity and vivaciousness of the London fine dining scene. The Selfridges restaurant is a popular choice for its Instagrammable backdrop of vibrant purple wisteria. The restaurant has everything from light bites to fine dining to a children's menu and the ideal spot for a romantic dinner in the evening. 

Aubaine is a French Brasserie with five restaurants available on First Table, in Mayfair, Marylebone, Notting Hill, Brompton Road and Selfridges for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Indulge in brunch dishes from truffle scrambled eggs, French toast or eggs royale. Mouth-watering Wagyu with Japanese seasoned mayo and summer truffle is served in toasted brioche while the truffle pappardelle is paired with summer truffle, truffle butter and parmesan. 

Corretto by the Canal

Corretto by the Canal puts understated elegance in London's prettiest waterway. A modern Italian themed all day brunch spot in the heart of Camden Hawley Wharf, wiith views of the canal, beautiful interiors and a terrace to match. 

If you're on the lookout for an elegant breakfast, Corretto has gorgeous offerings that include all our favourite breakfast plates with an Italian twist. Enjoy eggs benedict atop pillowy focaccia, scrambled eggs and pancetta on a croissant. If you're up to sharing with friends, grab a cheese or meat board before add on some small plates like the cured smoked salmon, smoked aubergine and burrata or the octopus salad.

The Black Lamb

Showcasing experimental recipes that cast the spotlight on Britain's bountiful lands, effortlessly elegant, The Black Lamb is making a splash and breathing new life into Wimbledon. Effortlessly elegant, the eatery is making a splash in this dynamic and varied space, breathing new life with an uplifting turquoise, cream and brown colour scheme.

The menu showcases experimental recipes that cast the spotlight on Britain's bountiful lands. Indulge in the South Downs venison ragu with tagliatelle and Somerset percorino or the grilled cauliflower steak with cranberry jam, pickled walnut and nameko mushrooms. The Black Lamb is daring to do things differently in the dining scene, giving way to sumptuous eats that are delicious, and 100% British.

116 at the Athenaeum 

In the iconic Mayfair, and staying true to the British foundations, and international inspiration ethos is 116 at the Athenaeum. Towering ceilings, Scandi furnishings and gleaming light features make this a seductive and exclusive spot. And with the kitchen headed by the renowned Chef, Ian Howard, you can expect dazzling service, faultless presentation and nothing short of perfection. 

For the menu, expect delicious flavoursome combinations such as the watermelon tuna sashimi paired with a coconut emulsion, rhubarb ponzu and roasted miso peanut. 116 at the Athenaeum is a place fit for royalty, and isn't just a restaurant, it's a lifestyle. 

Hush

Hush, has relocated to a swanky new home in Holborn. The lush interiors should give the idea of a very polished, slick affair with hints of old-school glamour. Gleaming leather booths, beautifully dimmed lighting and a smart bar give a certain members' club feel. 

Expect nothing but the best from this brasserie, like melt-in-the-mouth tuna tartare with ponzu and avocado or the smoked salmon carpaccio with red onions, capers, lemon, black pepper and horseradish mayo. Alternatively, indulge in the chicken Milanese with shaved black truffle or the giant truffle and pecorino ravioli with wild mushrooms. 

Sussex

This classy restaurant in Soho known as Sussex, owes its incredible success to Chef Director Oliver Gladwin. A trailblazer in modern British cooking, and a tribute to Gladwin's roots in Southern England, the restaurant is the result of a decades-worth of farm-to-fork cooking. The elegant bistro offers it's diners an upmarket dining experience with plenty of rustic charm inspired by the Sussex countryside.

When it comes to the menu, expect unexpected yet genius flavour pairings, painstaking attention to detail and ingredients of exceptional quality. Ravioli reaches new dimensions with homemade Somerset's goat cheese, Sussex black truffle ravioli and a butter sage sauce. At Sussex, it surely wouldn't be wholly British without a playful wink here and there.

The Regency Era was a truly magical period in time, and London is home to dozens of eateries that invite you to relive the extravagance of an age-gone-by. The luxury and ultimate decadence lives on today, so explore these restaurants to get your own little slice of the past.