A Night Out in London

And the best authentic Art Deco

If you are looking for a French cabaret in central London, Soho is the right place. Photo by the author

Where can you find the best examples of Art Deco, that eccentric and frivolous harbinger of totalitarianism in the East, the Great Depression and Prohibition in the West? In the heart of London, of course!

Two weeks ago, I met my best friend in one of the most famous historic places in London’s Soho, which embodies the unique spirit of British luxury and the vibrant atmosphere of the 1930s. It was an unforgettable “cultural” night out in London. We were both amazed at the way in which the history of design and architecture is a reflection of British cultural tradition and social life.

Brasserie Zédel in Soho was once part of The Regent Palace Hotel, which was designed by T. Lyons & Co. Ltd. in the luxurious Art Nuevo style. It opened on May 16, 1915 and was the largest hotel in Europe at the time with 1,028 rooms. The building also played host to an American Bar, a cabaret and a French café.

Brasserie Zédel, London. Photo by the author

The early 20th century was the architectural heyday of grand hotels, and the Regent Palace Hotel had the opulence and scale of a transatlantic liner, with a marble entrance vestibule, a winter garden decorated with palm…