This winter, you can drink and dine La Dolce Vita at Brown’s Hotel with its incredible Italian takeover. Celebrate the season with mixologist, Salvatore Calabrese, who is taking up residence in the elegant Donovan Bar. His extraordinary Martini and Negroni menu includes some of his own greatest hits, as well as exclusive bespoke creations.
One of the world’s best-known bartenders, Salvatore’s lovingly crafted cocktails have endured as icons over the decades. You’ll have the opportunity to sip his renowned Martini (created for Dukes Hotel in the 1980s), and his signature Breakfast Martini, which is lent a citrusy kick with a soupcon of marmalade.
His Negronis are sophisticated and imaginative takes on the classic, like the Bello e Sbagliato (‘Beautiful Mistake’). “It’s a beautiful cocktail,” explains Salvatore. “Simple, and it gives you a hint of bitterness and punchiness, and a spark of Prosecco.”
How does he feel about the takeover? “I’m excited to come back to Mayfair, and what better place to start work than in an iconic hotel like Brown’s, which has truly seen everyone who’s anyone. For me, Brown’s has always been one of the most amazing places in London.”
Growing up on the Amalfi Coast, Salvatore poured his first drink – a Coca Cola – behind the bar at 12 years old. From there, his love of cocktails blossomed and his illustrious 40-year career saw him creating drinks for distinguished bars and hotels all over the world, not to mention A-list celebrities. “I’ve been fortunate enough to meet many famous and influential people: Fidel Castro, Nelson Mandela, Presidents of the United States left, right and centre. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, I could write a book about all people I’ve served.”
What better way to ring in 2018 than in the sublime environs of the Donovan Bar, toasting the New Year with a Salvatore Calabrese creation?
Also in residence is esteemed chef, Heinz Beck, of three Michelin star, La Pergola in Rome. He will be serving a special menu at Ora, an Italian-inspired pop-up restaurant at Brown’s Hotel.
Brown’s Hotel’s Italian takeover runs for six weeks, from 13th November 2017. Bar booking is available at thedonovanbar@roccofortehotels.com and restaurant booking at brownsrestaurant@roccofortehotels.com.
The festive season brings its own kind of sparkle - a flurry of celebrations, feasts, and time with those who matter most. To make gifting simple, we’ve curated a selection of bespoke experiences to delight everyone on your list. From candlelit dinners and Italian wine tastings to tranquil spa escapes and moments devoted to yourself, each experience thoughtfully crafted to offer moments of joy.
Preparations were in full swing at the North Pole - ribbons tied, sleigh bells polished, and lists checked twice - yet Father Christmas kindly agreed to pause his busy schedule for an interview. We met him at SCOTCH at The Balmoral, just as the famous clocktower struck 12:03 - it stands watch over Waverley Station, running three minutes fast, so no one ever misses a train. Settled into a deep armchair with a favourite dram in hand, he shared his most treasured places to pause, indulge and unwind across Europe every festive season.
As the world turns ever faster, the more we crave moments that feel timeless. In an age of novelty, amid the noise of constant ‘connection’ and the short-lived churn of the new, many are choosing something rare: nostalgia. Comfort is found in the familiar, meaning in memory, and beauty in places that feel lived-in. Nostalgia has emerged as the new expression of luxury, not as a retreat into the past, but rather a graceful refusal to let its traditions and heritage fade away.
