LONDON – Life is moving forward in London, despite some persistent social distancing and mask-wearing measures. Hotels open – and reopen; cafes, restaurants and new concepts are popping up all over the city, as are bars. It seems like everyone is ready to give a toast to post-pandemic life. Here, an overview of places to sleep, eat and soak up in the British capital.

CALL FROM LONDON: Located in Leicester Square, The Londoner opened to guests in time for London Fashion Week. On the corner of Dover Street Market and a short walk from Covent Garden, Chinatown and Piccadilly Circus, the self-proclaimed “the world’s first super boutique hotel” has 350 rooms, six restaurants, a cinema and an entire wellness floor. Whitcomb’s serves French Mediterranean cuisine, including yellowtail flounder carpaccio, lobster rigatoni and sirloin steak with truffle and pepper sauce as a main course. The rooftop Izakaya Lounge offers panoramic city views and a good selection of Japanese sake, whiskey, and signature cocktails.

CRAZY FOR MYKONOS: Adrien Carré and Christina Mouratoglou, the husband and wife duo behind London’s best Greek restaurant Mazi, have brought a new concept to Notting Hill. Dubbed Suzi Tros, the new restaurant wants to bring a taste of Mykonos to London with a vibrant atmosphere and modern touches to classic Greek cuisine. Honey-smoked tahini and eggplant, orzo pasta, and lamb shoulder tacos are all must-haves.

YOUTH DEW: Dr Maryam Zamani, one of London’s leading facial aesthetics specialists and founder of famous skin care label MZ Skin, has opened her first independent clinic on King’s Road. The clinic has calming, all-white interiors – with a few playful (and highly photogenic) touches of millennial rose – and offers a range of services from injectables, lasers, threads, light treatments, and some of the best facials in the world. the city. Among the highlights is the signature MZ facial, which combines microneedling with hydra facial and LED light treatments.

HARRODS WHO ARRIVES: New Zealand label Harris Tapper, which has quickly gained ground for its chic fit and minimalist style, is coming to London for the first time with a pop-up space at Harrods running through the end of September. Designers Sarah Harris Gould and Lauren Tapper worked remotely with the retailer, designing the space from New Zealand. The pop-up is a big step for the label as it aims to bolster its international profile and emphasizes the UK, a market that designers say has their own aesthetic and attitude.

FRIENDS OF BURLINGTON: Burlington Arcade has become Mayfair’s new waterhole. Recent openings include the Blahnik Bar in Manolo Blahnik’s men’s boutique, where visitors can arrange a private shopping meeting, have an on-site drink or opt for a “take-out cocktail”. Unlike the arcade, Ladurée has joined forces with Milanese La DoubleJ to launch an ephemeral tea room. The brand’s founder, JJ Martin, decorated the space – and the macaroons – with her iconic bright colors. Not to be outdone, Globe-Trotter has launched a flagship store – with a premium bar on the site. The brand also created a special edition luggage model inspired by the uniform colors of the Beadles of Burlington Arcade, the oldest and smallest private police force in the country.