Aesop is the "Far from the maddening crowd" of the Skin, Hair and Body products brands. Not only are the products created with passion, the shops, packaging and philosophy are all genuine and grounded in reality.
"Aesop values all human endeavours undertaken with intellectual rigour, vision, and a nod to the whimsical."
Each Aesop Shop location is meticulously chosen to be in an interesting area and strives to be part of the local community, showcasing local artists, stocking newspapers and supplying coffee where they are not found nearby. Interiors are created with local architects rigorously briefed on the Aesop Philosophy.
In short where-ever you find an Aesop Shop you will find a Locale worth exploring! Hence we have chosen to kick off our series on Fitzroy Melbourne with Aesop Gertrude Street.
Columbia Road has become the refuge for the quality shops forced out of brick lane by the influx of tourists and the rise of rents leading to souvenir and big brand shops taking over. Tucked around the market and back streets are some excellent shops cafes and restaurants. well worth exploring the best day being sunday when the flower market is open.
Perched at the beginning of Columbia Road if you are coming from old street or hoxton, two columbia road is a unique gallery that specialises in collectable furniture, design items including lighting and audio equipment, objects of art and photography. The gallery has sourced items for some of our east end favorites, Shoreditch House and the Boundary Hotel.
Just before the Flower Market proper is Brawn an unpretentiously casual caff style eatery with a decidedly eclectic menu of seasonal locally sourced food cooked in french, italian and modern british style. Very down to earth complimented by an excellent wine list featuring small growers with a back to basics philosophy. Stealth Posh!
The flower market is bustling with "characters" on sunday and all the local shops and cafes are open. Look for the cockney sausage in a bun shop-in-a-window half way up the market. Great on a chilly day!
Towards the end of the market on the right is a great little gallery specialising in illustration and typography called Nelly Duff, brilliant for limited edition momentos!
At the far end of the market Campania serves great coffee and food top up before you head back and check the side streets. There is a open air flea market one block to the north of the main market on Ezra street confusingly labeled "columbia road flower market" on google maps but that is actually on columbia road itself this market is more of a flea market.
Gallery
before you head down columbia road proper pop into the little shop on hackney road almost opposite "two columbia road" which specialises in early 20th century collectables. Well worth exploring.
down columbia road a classic council housing from the 60's just before you get to the flower market.
Shoreditch House is the sister club to Soho House home to media Darlings for decades! very protective of its members (we strangely weren't allowed to shoot in the Club itself) both clubs and their sister establishments in New York and Berlin are part of an expanding network that goes out of its way to treat its ever so important members very well indeed!
Now with the opening of the Shoreditch Rooms us mere mortals can now peek into this elite world for the surprisingly reasonable price of a overnight stay. As a Rooms Guest you have access to the Tom Dixon designed Club for yourself and a few friends. The Club stretches over several floors of the TEA building in Londons East End. Full of bars, restaurants, pool tables and with a roof top heated pool and garden the place is jumping most weekend evenings and a joy to explore. Inside the Reception hidden discretely on Ebor Street is the entrance to the somewhat tongue-in-cheekily named COWSHED Spa.
The Tea Building crouching like a big black tool box at the head of Redchurch Street is an ideally positioned base, like the Boundary Hotel we featured previously, from which to explore the new groovy east end gallery district.
Be warned thought that despite catering to the countries media elite there is a somewhat Fawlty Towers-esque bent to the Rooms themselves. The Online bookings links lead nowhere and dont expect anyone to actually read any emails sent to Bookings. Best to Ring to make a booking but do follow up with a fax if you still have such 20th century antiques to confirm the dates as they might mysteriously mutate.
The Rooms themselves are not maximalist modern like the Club interiors but rather a restful scandinavian rustic. They manage to avoid the clique of most hotel rooms in terms of the mini bar etc and have lovely wooden shutters that while aesthetically pleasing dont block out that much light so if you need a sleep-in after that arduous first class flight bring your eye mask from the plane!
Les Trois Garcons was the first Restaurant of note to open in Londons East End so it is fitting that it Premieres our "East End" special this summer.
Hidden unobtrusively behind the facade of an 19th century Pub this Maximalist Pean has been serving suitably Lavish French cuisine with Dashes of Contemporary British fare since 2000.
Imagine dining in an Olde English Gentlemans Club that has been infested by a Venetian Bordello and you get some thing close to the experience. The owners Hassan Stefan and Michel live above love the East End so much they have deliberately eschewed the money and glamour of Mayfair and Chelsea to bring a splash of opulent decadence to Shoreditch.
And not to be missed around the corner is their cocktail lounge suitably called "Lounge Lover" and on Redchurch street a Hassan can be found presiding over his daytime indulgance a Vintage Furniture shop stocking even more extravagance!
The Tsitouras Collection Hotel is Truly Special.
Nestled in Firostefani on the crater rim of the amazingly spectacular Santorini island. Family owned the Hotel is the Epitome of decadent luxury. Five Traditional Villas built into the cliff are crowned by an infinity pool on the Maria Callas terrace. Each Villa is individually Themed and decorated with Antiques and Art works. Our Suite featured Lord Byron having portraits momentos of the poet and his greek princess lover. Restored by the Historian and Art Collector Dimitris Tsitouras the main house and Villas brim with art works.
The clientele are suitably eclectic with Argentinean polo players and international celebrities enjoying the privacy of the intimate hotel.
Service is exceptional while retaining low key charm.
There is Butlered Service for each Villa and a family member is on hand with tips for local things to do and see.
Nearby is GINGER a japanese restaurant serving excellent food al fresco and Mama Thira further along the crater rim towards Fira has great views and seafood in a friendly homey atmosphere. A short walk along the cliff edge takes you to Fira the main town and port of Santorini which teems with markets, churches, monasteries, galleries and visiting cruise liners.
A Crater Rim Sunset Dinner, try Archipelagos, is a must with views down to the twinkling lights of cruise-liners and tall ships.
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