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Dear Reader,

Another month has passed by and warmer days and lighter evenings are finally in sight. So, what does March have in store for The Club? As many of you may have read in our last issue, to honour the 96th Oscars, The Club is hosting a competition where the member who predicts the most Oscar winners will win a prize so please be sure to enter here. There are also plenty of opportunities for us to fall out with our families (this is your reminder to conveniently book an impromptu holiday) across St Patrick’s Day, Mother’s Day, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Don’t worry though, we will be advising you on how best to thrive and survive during Easter in our future issues.

Early samples of our next two items of club merchandise have arrived and members are now able to register their interest so we can ensure that Iris (the club shop custodian) is prepared for the influx of orders. The Rhubarb Society Book Club is also officially starting with ‘A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder’– if you wish to join, you can find further details here. March also ushers in the end of Fashion Week, where many of our members have been spotted in various unflattering Getty images pretending to care about the acid-trip inspired looks coming down the runway. To honour the Fashion Week ‘Big Four’, (New York, Milan, London, and Paris), we will be sharing some of our favourite spots in each!

New York

STAY – THE BOWERY
For some old-world charm without any of the pomp and circumstance, The Bowery is a five-star hotel with an eclectic mix of people making for great people-watching alone. Guests receive a Bowery Teddy in their rooms and if you’re lucky enough to secure a corner suite, the floor-to-ceiling glass windows will give you a magical view over the city. Be sure to order the Bowery burger and keep your eyes peeled for the latest young actors and models du jour.

EAT – THURSDAY KITCHEN
You have to be prepared to wait for a table at this no-res spot, but please don’t let that put you off. Thursday Kitchen is a low-key spot for Korean cooking with French and Spanish influences at a reasonable price. Order the edamame truffle dumplings and the bite-sized steak, and wash them down with their cocktails, artfully presented in light-up pouches.

DRINK – BAR PISELLINO
In the heart of the West Village, Bar Pisellino is a great pre-dinner drink option for those who love to sit outside and soak up the atmosphere of the city. Pisellino serves espresso and aperitivi alongside bomboloni alla crema, panini farciti, and spuntini in celebration of the classic Italian bar.

London

STAY – BROWN’S HOTEL
Nothing is more quintessentially British than Brown’s (which also happens to be London’s oldest hotel). Plonked in the middle of Mayfair, Brown’s is also dog friendly, and with previous regular visitors including Oscar Wilde and Arthur Conan, you and your dog are in great company. Be sure to stay in the Sir Paul Smith or Kipling suite to add to your ultra-English experience.

EAT – MOUNT STREET RESTAURANT
Keeping you within the vicinity of Mayfair, Mount Street Restaurant can be found on the top floor of The Audley. Glorious food aside, the restaurant also serves as a quasi-art gallery with works by Warhol and Henry Matisse hanging on the walls (to name a few). Even the floor itself is a piece of art by artist Rashid Johnson. And no, your eyes are not deceiving you, your salt and pepper shakers really are what you think they are.

DRINK – DUKE’S BAR
Famously frequented by Sir Ian Fleming and supposedly the inspiration behind the Bond line ‘Shaken, not stirred’, Duke’s Bar is known for both their martinis and their two-drink rule. The martinis are made tableside on the iconic Duke’s trolley and also happen to be strong enough to blow up the sun. We once gleefully witnessed two very loud and obnoxious American men trying to argue with the staff over the inforced two-drink rule and they soon learned the hard way that threats and ignoring drinking civilities are two things that Brits do not respond well to.

Paris

STAY – LA FANTASIE
With interiors by Martin Brudnizki (king of camp maximalism who some of you might know from his famous interiors at the London members club, Annabel’s) La Fantasie reimagines the story of master gardeners Jean and Jacques Cadet, providing a lush enclave for weary travellers. It is one of the only spots in Paris that has a full garden and a full rooftop bar and it even boasts a spa stocked with Holidermie products (a Rhubarb Society favourite). The food is overseen by chef Dominique Crenn, best known for her three-Michelin-starred Atelier Crenn in San Francisco, so you can be sure that their culinary offering will thrill you as much as the interiors.

EAT – BUVETTE
A Rhubarb Society favourite from London to New York to Paris, Buvette is an unfussy wine bar and restaurant that serves one of the best selections of natural wine. The food is also nothing to be sniffed at and takes you from day to night with a delicious selection that includes everything from a croque madame to a coq au vin. Rhubarb has eaten here multiple times across multiple cities.

DRINK – HOTEL COSTES
Whilst this is also a favourite for The Rhubarb Society to stay, we think it is an even better place to drink. Whilst it may be a little shabby around the edges, there is something undeniably cool and sexy about everything this hotel has to offer. In dark velvet and tassel-covered corners, you will spot some of the most interesting and eclectic people Paris has to offer, smoking and drinking across candlelit tables. In the evening, you’ll find the covered courtyard packed with people from all walks of life and a money-can’t-buy atmosphere that is both electric and alluring.

Milan

STAY – HOTEL PRINCIPE DI SAVOIA
Splendour, opulence, and dog-friendly rooms? Sign us up. Part of The Dorchester group, Hotel PDS is utterly charming with its classic Italian style architecture and decor but with all of the service and attention to detail expected from a five-star hotel. Whilst its style and service might be old school, it is equipped with all of the mod-cons one would want, such as a spa, indoor swimming pool, sauna/steam rooms, and a Turkish bath.

EAT – OSTERIA ALLA CONCORRENZA
If you’re looking for something a little more casual than five-star hotels and Michelin star meals, OAC is a traditional wine bar and osteria serving delicious homemade dishes. Scribbled on a blackboard, you will find cold-cut platters and homemade Foccacia, all to be washed down with an expertly recommended wine pairing.

DRINK – N’OMBRA DE VIN
Under the San Marco Basilica, you will find an extraordinary wine cellar/wine bar that has been running for over 50 years. A place for wine connoisseurs and fashionable foodies alike to convene in an ultra-chic underground setting, people tend to go here to see and be seen. It’s not only a wine bar, however, but also a gourmet bistro that hosts wine tastings and late-night parties with DJs and live music.

Heard Around the Club

A member looking to share luxury pet accessory suggestions with fellow well-pawed-owning members. The chicest (and least touristy) French Riveria recommendations. All of the best things to do in 48 hours in Paris.

Members are also reminded that membership applications are currently open. If you are looking to apply for Social or Private membership, you are encouraged to do so to make full use of the club and its facilities. Please refrain from emailing the membership committee after 12pm as they are mostly out of office/in the middle of après.

Until Next Time…