From its laidback roof terrace to its lively basement club, this bar-restaurant-club hits all the right notes
Words Mary-Jane Wiltsher
On a blazing hot May bank holiday, several members of the PHOENIX entourage manage to walk past LAYLOW twice over before spotting the tiny gold-etched sign tucked away to its left hand side. With its simple façade of dark green paint and destination location on the grey curve of Golborne Road, west London’s need-to-know haunt is, from the outside at least, totally unassuming. That’s likely to be one of the reasons why Mick Jagger chose LAYLOW as the venue for The Rolling Stones’ after-party following their farewell tour gig at Twickenham Stadium – a star-studded knees up that was (unsurprisingly) still going strong at 6am.
Don’t miss the tender Onglet steak, or the roasted aubergine nestled on a bed of black quinoa and fennel – best washed down with an ice cold Elderflower Collins in the summer heat
The latest venture from hospitality guru Taz Fustock, designed by fashion designer Bella Freud, LAYLOW is a treasure trove of good taste, in all senses. Step inside the four storey detached building and you’ll find it encases a plush basement club and self-contained mid-century modern apartment with its own high spec kitchen and lounge, complete with a spiral staircase that leads to a roof terrace offering a panorama of west London. Down below on the ground and first floors, several lively and beautifully appointed bar and dining areas serve imaginative, modern European dishes accompanied by a thoughtfully curated wine and cocktail list. Don’t miss the tender Onglet steak, or the roasted aubergine nestled on a bed of black quinoa and fennel – best washed down with an ice cold Elderflower Collins in the summer heat. Alternatively, book out the apartment and feast on share-style dishes (sharp tuna ceviche with juicy chunks of watermelon, anyone?) around your own 20-person dining table before taking to the terrace for sundowners.
Top
The Restaurant
Centre
The Apartment
Bottom Left
Detail of The Apartment
Bottom Right
The Roof Terrace
The atmosphere at LAYLOW is relaxed and unstuffy to complement its “down low” nature, its clientele a colourful mish-mash of local creatives and groomed Notting Hillbillies with a healthy smattering of fashion and music industry key players. The service, too, is warm and personable. LAYLOW is the kind of place where the bar staff remember your name and the friendly bouncer offers you a spare brolly to weather the crackling thunderstorm outside. If that doesn’t indicate that this hotspot has heart and soul to back up its chic aesthetic and achingly cool guest list, I’m not sure what does.
LAYLOW, 10 Golborne Rd, London W10 5PE