David Collins

by: BR, 02/07/2006

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Prolific restaurant designer David Collins is responsible for some of London's most beautiful venues. The Dublin-born architect formed his London practice David Collins Studio in 1985 and since then he's produced most of the capital's classiest places to wine and dine.

Whether you fancy vienoiserie for breakfast or afternoon tea in the Grand Café setting of The Wolseley on Piccadilly, cocktails in John Galliano's beloved haunt, the deliciously intimate Blue Bar at Knightsbridge's Berkeley Hotel or a hearty fish supper at the luvvies' favourite, the oak-panelled J. Sheekey's in the heart of theatreland. Thirsty for glamorous cocktail relief after a Bond Street retail blitz? Skip across to the refined calm of Claridge's Bar and sink into the green silk snuggerie of this art deco room.

Gourmands can spoil themselves at one of these Michelin-starred establishments; Francophiles will adore Marco Pierre White's Mirabelle, Italian food fans should follow their hearts to Giorgio Locatelli's Locanda Locatelli, or try your luck at the hottest ticket in town: Nobu Mayfair. The Japanese food at this no-bookings restaurant is exquisite and it has one of London's most ravishing bars, a circular room full of sensuous curves with sculptural tree-like lighting - it's Collins at his best.

Those oenologically obsessed might prefer Pétrus, Marcus Wareing's plush claret-coloured dining room at the Berkeley Hotel. If you're more of a disco kid, then go be dazzled by Kabaret's Prophecy. This boutique boîte in Soho is Collins' first nightclub. An electro-glitterbox, it features ever-mutating kaleidoscopic walls of LED pixel blocks that flash in time to the beat. Saturday Night Fever eat your heart out.