Ten places to toast the Bard on Monday
GALVIN AT WINDOWS
Basking in the glory of its newly-awarded Michelin star, the Galvin brothers’ stunning restaurant at the top of the Park Lane Hilton is offering a special Burns’ Night cocktail, the Smoke on the Water made with Laphroaig 10 years, and served with smoked salmon, brown bread and lemon, at £15 a go. Galvin at Windows, 22 Park Lane, W1K 1BE. Tel: 020 7208 4021.
PAPILLON
In Chelsea, where the idea of eating offal is a little bit de trop, Papillon’s chef has created an alternative, comprising confit pork belly, foie gras, sweetbreads, morels and black truffles served with Limousin beef fillet. He’s calling this the Chelsea Haggis, and it’s available from Monday night to 31 January. £26.50 per person, Papillon, 96 Draycott Avenue SW3 3AD. Tel: 020 7225 2555.
ST PANCRAS GRAND
This spectacular, fine dining restaurant in St Pancras Station is well worth a visit whether you’re travelling or not. For Burns’ Night, guests will receive a welcome glass of whisky and a three course dinner, with a traditional highland bagpiper present to pipe in the haggis. If you wear a kilt (ladies or gents) you get a free glass of bubbly. St Pancras station, NW1 2DB. Tel: 0871 962 4968
TEN MANCHESTER ST
Whisky goes well with food – and cigars. At this smart new boutique hotel in Marlyebone, you can enjoy the Burns’ Night Cigar and Whisky Package in which, after your meal, you can have your choice of cigar perfectly matched with the right whisky. £30 per person. 10 Manchester Street, W1U 4DJ. Tel: 0870 111 1627.
LE CAFE ANGLAIS
At his Bayswater fine dining restaurant, chef Rowley Leigh is serving up a traditional, three-course Burns’ Night dinner, with a piper on hand to welcome guests, a wee dram of whisky and a ceilidh band providing entertainment later in the evening. £35 per person. Le Cafe Anglais, 8 Porchester Gardens, W2 4DB, tel: 020 7221 1415.
BOISDALE
Both branches of the London Scottish population’s home from home – in the City and in the West End – are celebrating Burns Night to the full, and not just on Monday. Burns season at Boisdale starts tonight and lasts until 30 January, with pipers seeing in the haggis, actors in 18th century costume reciting the Ode to the Haggis, and the finest expressions from the Talisker whisky distillery on Skye on hand to wash it all down. Boisdale of Belgravia, 15 Eccleston St, SW1W 0LX, tel: 020 7730 6922. Boisdale of Bishopsgate, Swedeland Court, 202 Bishopsgate, EC2M 4NR, tel: 020 7283 1763.
ALBANNACH
This slick bar and restaurant on Trafalgar Square mixes its Scottish theme with a firmly modern sensibility. At Monday night’s Burns’ supper there’ll be pipers to welcome the haggis, while guests will enjoy a sumptuous five course meal, with whiskies specially chosen by Albannach’s wine sommelier. £95 per person. Albannach, 66 Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DS. Tel: 020 7930 0066.
PARAMOUNT
Burns’ Night with a difference at the fashionable members club atop the Centre Point building, where whisky company Monkey Shoulder is hosting the party. Enjoy the view with Scottish canapes, specially-created Burns Night cocktails, and music from, um, the Red Hot Chilli Pipers – they mix rock music with bagpipes, of course. For tickets and info visit www.monkeyshoulder.com/burnsnight.
THE KENSINGTON HOTEL
The Aubrey restaurant at South Kensington’s smart boutique hotel is throwing an interactive Burns’ night do in its impressive private dining room. Guests will create their own whisky cocktail to toast the Bard, before eating supper – at the end of which they’ll create their own Cranachan pudding. £45 per person including drink. The Kensington Hotel, 109-113 Queen’s Gate, SW7 5LR. Tel: 020 7589 6300.
THE EBURY
Over in Pimlico, The Ebury is hosting a traditional Burns’ Night Supper. The restaurant has created a special cocktail for the evening, The Scotch Lyricist, to kick everything off. The three course Celtic banquet includes cock-a-leekie soup, arbroath smokies mousse, and grilled steak for those who don’t fancy haggis. £25 per person. The Ebury, 11 Pimlico Road, SW1W 9NA. Tel: 020 7730 6784.