On the Streets of London with Ananya Malhotra
The Indian-origin jewellery designer lives between London and India, but she’s always found London to be home. The city with its perfect balance of slow and fast-paced living, quaint charm and busting streets have a magnetic pull for this creative. Malhotra, who can be found sipping cocktails at The Red Room at The Connaught, or perfecting her pilates at Heartcore, shows us the life she’s been building since her arrival in the city in 2009. In a candid conversation with Le Mill, the jewellery connoisseur breaks down every nook and corner that makes the city calm, exciting, and contagious.
Best time to visit
I love London in September. The city’s energy is vibrant, fueled by the buzz of fashion week and the anticipation of winter.
A typical day in Ananya’s London
My day begins at 6:30 a.m. with training at Equinox. After a quick shower and smoothie break, I reach the office at 10:30 a.m. It’s the place I feel most connected to—my atelier. Lunch is usually around my office in Mayfair. Sometimes, after work, I do pilates and yoga to refocus my energies. The evenings include relaxed dinners at home or with friends.
The weekends, however, are all about long walks around the city, museum or gallery visits, trying new restaurants and bars, or Sunday roasts at the pub with friends and family. On other weekends, my husband and I like to go away to the countryside and book a stay at the Estelle Manor.
What to watch
London’s if not anything but exciting for its art and culture. Starting with the famous West End. With more and more mainstream actors making their comeback to the famed theatres of London (we see you, Tom Holland as Romeo in Romeo & Juliet), Ananya shares her favourite shows to watch.
The Spirited Away Musical at the London Coliseum, I have always been a huge fan of Hayao Miyazaki’s films. This is a must watch.
Hamilton on the West End. I watched it once and would happily return. My favourite, however, still has to be Phantom of the Opera.
What to eat
It’s a famous saying: “If a man is bored of London, he is bored of Life.” Whoever said it, was certainly speaking to the city's myriad food offerings.
Beyond the usual
Bahrain food at Villa Mama’s, Elysian Street, Hjem Gloucester Road for the best coffee, and Salad Kitchen in Mayfair for a quick lunch.
The sustenance spots
Dining’s SW3 never fails, Harwood Arms for Sunday roast, Scotts Mayfair.
Restaurants with a soul
Maison Estelle, Brat Climpson’s Arch, Grasso Soho
Date-night destinations
Caravel, Islington, or Josephine Bouchon, Chelsea.
Family-Friendly Eats
Lemonia, Primrose Hill, or Le Colombier, South Kensington.
With friends
Zephyr Notting Hill, or Cipriani, London.
Cocktail Hour
Red Room at The Connaught
Favourite club
Ely House, London.
Between 1908 and 1939, it housed the Albemarle Club, a haven for aesthetes, artists, and intellectuals. Notably, the club became a hotbed of progressive thought in 1874, the first private members' club to accept women, and serving as an unofficial headquarters for the women's suffrage movement.
What to pack
With erratic weather taking a hold over several cities around the world, London is no stranger to several seasons in one day. Ananya shares her tips and tricks to counter the wind, water (rain) and sometimes stormy weather of London.
A chic relaxed blazer, a pair of chic walking shoes, a silk slip dress, travel hoops, vitamin D, sunscreen, mini umbrella and sunglasses.
Favourite seasons
Contrary to public opinion, I love London in December, I find it quite magical. The city, the lights, and the energy.
Shopping haunts
Department stores: I love having everything under one roof, from ready-to-wear to skincare and food. I also shop a lot with The A List; they offer a wardrobe service with a practical app, and I can count on them time and time again.
What to do
South Therapy, it's a Re:Mind Studio.
