Miss Mary ’ s suggestion for a special date ….
The Riding House Café
As an interior designer by day , and a dating guru by night , the Riding House Café ticks all sorts of boxes for me ! The design is clever enough to impress , but comfortable enough not to be intimidating on a date .
The Atmosphere …
Tucked away behind the chaos of Oxford Circus , the Riding House Café isn ’ t on the smartest street in town . But , once you step inside you ’ re transported to downtown New York via English eccentricity , with good-looking staff welcoming you with a smile and inviting you to take a seat inside the equally good-looking bar / restaurant .
The atmosphere is relaxed and young , with best friends catching up in the orange booths , or couples perched , halfway through a date , on the turquoise bar stools . It ’ s so laid back I would happily come here on my own and sit at the long bar . But clearly some cocktails with a glamorous date would be even better !
The Look …
Designed by Louise Davies , of Box 9 Architects , and Adam White ( co-owner of the restaurant and
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former product designer ) the Riding House Café has a bar and restaurant interior that blends wit and charm with comfort and informality . Salvage has become something of a theme over the last few years ; the Riding House Café is a brilliant example of how to get it right . Every item used in the eclectic interior , from the furniture to the fittings , has either been reclaimed or is bespoke creating an original space with a hint of English eccentricity .
The Layout ...
The venue is skilfully designed into specific areas , each different in use but united in a common aesthetic . This clever layout and simple colour palette of turquoise and orange helps to define what is essentially a featureless space . The informal dining area is made up of cosy booths with upholstered chairs and squidgy banquets - the perfect place for an intimate date ! Then , in the main part of the Café you ’ ve got the fabulous New York brasserie style bar lined with comfy blue leather stools , traditional tables for two or four , and a long communal table made from reclaimed timber and scaffolding . Surrounding the bar are old theatre seats which , as one journalist said , is perfect for “ those days when you simply have so many friends you don ’ t know what to do ”!