The taste of Bollywood
The glitter and glamour of Bollywood comes to the Peacock Theatre this month with the Merchants of Bollywood and runs 18 May-5 June. Choreographed by Vaibhavi Merchant, one of Bollywood’s brightest stars, it’s a riot. For details, visit sadlerswells.com. If the Bollywood bug bites, here’s our guide to London’s hottest Indian hangouts:
Eat at… Tayyabs (tayyabs.co.uk), a gem of a curry house and close to legendary outpost, Brick Lane. Try upmarket Indian cooking at the reopened Red Fort (redfort.co.uk) or make like Mumbaikars and dine at Trishna (trishnalondon.com), where seafood is the speciality. Vegetarians will love Sagar (gosagar.com) – its South Indian cuisine is light and aromatic. And for a truly mind-blowing experience, head to Michelin-starred Benares (benaresrestaurant.com) and feast on dishes by renowned chef Atul Kochhar.
Shop at… Green Street in Upton Park – fabric heaven. You’ll find every type of sari and at a reasonable price, too. Pick up bangles, spices and bindis at Southall market and experience London’s original Little India.
Snack at… North London’s Gayatri Sweet Mart (gayatri.co.uk). Sweets are a national obsession in India and Gayatri has been supplying Londoners for 22 years.
Drink at… The Cinnamon Club (cinnamonclub.com) and try a cocktail masterclass. Learn how to mix the perfectly spiced martini and then catch a Bollywood flick at their in-house cinema.
Prop up the spa-bar
Next month, there’s an opulent addition to the Shoreditch after-dark scene… with a twist. Head to Spa-Bar Avalon for an indulgent treatment, scrub up, then hit the outdoor terrace for cocktails.
You need never leave. avalon-london.com
Floral Tribute
Green fingers are out in force this month for the Chelsea Flower Show (25-29 May). Check out flora from all over the world – Jimmy Choo is set to open the Malaysian Garden, planted with all-tropical species, while L’Occitane presents a Provence-inspired design. Best of all, Laurent-Perrier has commissioned an elegant garden by designer Tom Stuart-Smith. Visit rhs.org.uk/chelseaflowersshow. WIN a pair of tickets to the Chelsea Flower Show plus a night’s stay at the Draycott Hotel. Visit bahighlife.com/Competitions-And-Offers/Win-a-night-at-the-London-Draycott-Hotel.html.
A fine art
The Italian artist Caravaggio always attracted controversy and, at the time of his death in 1610, he divided opinion – some hailed him as a genius while others regarded him as an abrasive upstart. Only around 60 Caravaggios exist in the world (with some at The Louvre, New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art and in churches in Rome), so to mark the 400th anniversary of his death, Mayfair gallery Whitfield Fine Art is staging Caravaggio’s Friends & Foes, a major exhibition of paintings (26 May-23 July). The show will have some rare loans, including Lo Spadarino’s Three Martyrs, and promises to provide a fresh insight on the artist. whitfieldfineart.com
