MY PERFECT DAY
Bob van den Oord, managing director at The Langham London, describes his perfect Marylebone day
Breakfast
I like to go to PureGym on Hallam Street in the morning to work with my trainer. Before I go, I have some oatmeal from the Natural Kitchen on Baker Street, then once I’m home, I have cheese from La Fromagerie with bread from a new bakery at the end of Marylebone High Street, called Ole & Steen. Their rye bread is amazing. It’s quite Dutch, having bread and cheese for breakfast—and it sets me up very well for the day.
A spot of fresh air
We take Boris bikes and cycle around—it’s the best way to see the city, by bicycle. Alternatively, we might play tennis in Regent’s Park, or take a stroll through the park to Primrose Hill for a pub lunch. There are so many ways to be outside, living in Marylebone.
New outfit
One of the great things about Marylebone is its lovely little boutiques. It has stores full of stuff you probably can’t find anywhere else. For my casual clothes I shop at Slowear, or at Trunk Clothiers on Chiltern Street. After that, you can end up with a drink on the Chiltern Firehouse terrace, which is perfect.
Snack
For a weekend snack, a sausage roll at The Ginger Pig is a must. One sausage roll is enough to share between two, really, so my partner and I cut one up and walk along the high street, eating it warm out of the bag.
The cheese cabinet at Roux at the Landau
Culture
We have been quite a few times now to the Open Air Theatre in Regent’s Park. The weather has to be good, but we didn’t have to complain about that this summer. It was perfect. Of course, when it’s chillier, you can always spend an hour or two in Daunt Books.
Pre-dinner drink
You’ll have to allow me to mention the hotel, I’m afraid. You can’t get a better cocktail than at the Artesian. I have a negroni, usually, but all the drinks here are good. The staff are amazing, the menu is fantastic, and head bartender Remy Savage is something of a celebrity in the drinking world. If we want something more casual, though, we go next door to The Wigmore for a beer or a glass of wine.
Eating out
Again, it’s here, at Roux at the Landau. It is great and we love it. If I want to get away from the hotel, we go to Clipstone. It’s good food, at a reasonable price, and the service is lovely—one of those places where the owner recognises you when you come in.
Eating in
When we eat in, we eat fish—fish with a salad. We buy our fish from Fishworks on Marylebone High Street, and it’s fresh and delicious. That’s become our new routine.
Anything else?
A spa treatment at Chuan Body + Soul is an amazing experience. They have great therapists there. It is a great experience at the end of a hard week.