Martin Creed has transformed the Gallery restaurant at Sketch into a work of contemporary art.
The latest openings and events from around the world.
PLATING WORKS OF ART
London - Turner prize-winning artist Martin Creed has transformed the restaurant at Sketch into a quirky, yet functional work of art. Diners at the Michelin-starred Mayfair brasserie can walk across 96 types of marble arranged in a zigzag pattern on the floor (Creed labelled it Work No. 1347). Huge paintings adorn the walls (Work No. 1100) and mismatched tables, chairs, cutlery and glasses deliberately break the mould of perfectly uniform table settings (Work No. 1343). The menu features such new dishes as Dundee Pinky and Guinness-poached salmon with dill, which French master chef Pierre Gagnaire created specifically to complement the colourful space. The restaurant is open for dinner only Monday to Saturday. sketch.uk.com
LIVE THE GOOD LIFE
Cape Town - With impressive views over Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean, and a fashion-able Camps Bay address, Amara Villa is a modern-day beach house where guests can live the good life. The sleek four-bedroom, four-bathroom crash pad has a private garden, heated pool, jacuzzi, locally made furniture, and comes with such added perks as daily housekeeping and unlimited Wi-Fi. Even though the decor doesn't seem kid-friendly (pristine white kitchen counters and cream-coloured sofas), owners Gavin and Margot Weiner-Te Velde welcome families with a closet full of toys and DVDs. If you're planning for a large group, you can rent the villa together with the adjacent two-bedroom penthouse (from Dec. 16 to Jan. 6 only). Rates start at 4,750 rand ($621) a night. amara.co.za
CHARLIE PALMER'S MYSTIC MOMENT
San Francisco - Chef Charlie Palmer, best known for his Michelin-starred New York restaurant Aureole, is turning a historic hotel near Union Square into a chic 79-room boutique inn. Scheduled to open fully in late spring, the Mystic Hotel and Burritt Tavern (named after Burritt Alley in The Maltese Falcon) bring a contemporary twist to Victorian-era hospitality. The most luxurious rooms in the house feature exposed brick walls, bay windows and living areas with day beds. Foodies can tuck into hearty steaks and Dungeness crab at the tavern and sink into walled-in curtained booths for extra privacy. For pre-dinner cocktails, stop in at the Burritt Room, the hotel's film noir-inspired bar. www.mystichotel.com
DISHING RUSSIAN OPULENCE
New York - Get a taste of Moscow in Manhattan at Brasserie Pushkin. Founded by Andrey Dellos (owner of the famed Café Pushkin), the recently opened midtown restaurant turns traditional Russian fare into haute cuisine. Try chef Andrey Makhov's blini with sturgeon caviar, pastry-wrapped piroshki, and pelmeni dumplings stuffed with pork, beef and lamb. Rich desserts like hazelnut meringue and a layered dulce de leche ice cream cake are served with piping hot chocolate that is made at the table. For a stiff palate cleanser, sample some of the 22 varieties of vodka on offer between courses. The only thing more opulent than the menu is the decor. The multilevel dining room features lofty painted ceilings, gilded sconces and an impressive Murano chandelier. brasseriepushkin.com
Special to The Globe and Mail