Postcards From… London
For David Schulte, CEO of L.A.-based eyewear brand Oliver Peoples, London is a home away from home. He has long admired Mark Birley who founded the Berkeley Square private club Annabel’s, in 1962, and many of Schulte’s favorite haunts are in the Mayfair neighborhood that Birley frequented. When Schulte isn’t running through Hyde Park or taking in an art show at one of his favorite galleries, he stops in at Savile Row tailors Anderson & Sheppard and makes a point of visiting George Cleverley for made-to-measure shoes. Here is a list of those spots and the rest of his favorite London haunts.
By Elizabeth Varnell
STAY
CONNAUGHT HOTEL The Connaught Hotel is one of the best in the world and certainly my favorite in London. I love its size, service, and most of all its location in the heart of Mayfair. I always feel great when I step in there and have tons of great memories.
DINE
LOULOU, THE RIVER CAFÉ, SCOTT’S Loulou is now my favorite restaurant in London. It’s Robin Birley’s new private club and he has created something incredibly exclusive, elegant, and purely English, just as his father did with Annabel’s. I recently had a great night dining there and then headed down to the cool little dance room downstairs. I will always love The River Café and Scott’s as key additional stops when I am in town.
PLAY
SADIE COLES, TATE MODERN, HAYWARD GALLERY
Sadie Coles is my favorite gallery in London. She represents so many amazing artists I love–I wish I could afford to buy a Currin from her but they are always very gracious when I stop in. I always try to always visit the Tate Modern and Hayward Gallery too.
DOUGLAS HAYWARD Mayfair is my favorite neighborhood in London. I think it’s the epitome of finance, fashion, and art converging, and I’m always inspired there. I think of the great guys I admire like Mark Birley or James Goldsmith walking around Mount Street, doing deals, going to Annabel’s or shopping at Doug Hayward, and for that I love it.
GEORGE CLEVERLEY George Cleverley is my favorite shoemaker in the world and I always visit the shop.
ANDERSON & SHEPPARD I also love to stop in and say hi to Richard James and Anda and Audey at Anderson & Sheppard.
LN-CC, HOSTEM, DOVER STREET MARKET, SELFRIDGES & CO.
For fashion, I’ve been gravitating toward the East End and like LN-CC and Hostem for interesting items. Of course Dover Street Market is amazing and I still love a walk through Selfridges.
BEYOND RETRO I still think London is one of the best places to find vintage clothes and I love Beyond Retro.
HYDE PARK I try to never miss a great run in Hyde Park when I’m in London. It’s one of the best and most scenic places in the world and every morning you run into something different, whether it be someone passing you on a horse or some kids playing music who have been up all night.
Pictured: David Schulte
Photo by Andrew Stiles
