Cabana founder and Editor-in-Chief, Martina Mondadori, lived in London for 10 years before returning to her native Milan in 2018. She shares her go-to shops, antique dealers, restaurants, and favorite ‘home from home’ hotel.
LessAt Sloane achieves the impossible—a seamless blend of London style with Parisian charm. No mean feat! François-Joseph Graf's interiors and decoration are second to none. The finishes and details are immaculate. It’s small enough to feel like home, and so luxurious. It is such a treat, I always look forward to my stays here.
Our London pop-up is open seven days a week through December 2025. Visit to buy magazines—including the NEW Issue 24—and a curated edit of homewares, accessories, home fragrances, and fashion from our favorite brands, including Stephan Janson, La Veste, Destree, and more. We look forward to welcoming you. Nearest tubes: Knightsbridge and Sloane Square.
I love antique textiles—they bring warmth and atmosphere to almost any room. Joss Graham is my go-to textile dealer in London. He has a fantastic range from all over the world. Even better, he has an exquisite selection of blinds. The bamboo Chik designs are particularly wonderful.
The Wallace Collection may not be on everybody’s radar, like some of London’s bigger museums, but I think it is all the better as a result. There are some stunning works here. It's worth a visit just for the Fragonard, but there is so much more to enjoy. Turner’s watercolors are peerless.
Who could not be entranced by the sheer joy of this building? The Palm House at Kew Gardens in Richmond is stunning on every level—the history, the architecture, the conservation work, the plants themselves. It’s just so amazing to stand there gazing up at the canopy, effectively transported to a tropical rainforest in the midst of London.
I’ve been a fan of Robin Birley’s aesthetic forever. His clubs are as legendary as his father’s, and rightly so. Nico’s, his new restaurant on Hertford Street, is relaxed but elegant. It’s the perfect place to meet friends for a light lunch, or visit for pizza with the kids.
I head to The Cloth Shop on Portobello Road in search of fabrics for any occasion or need, and Portobello Road in general for the same reason. It needs no introduction, having been world famous since the '60s. I particularly like the vintage finds and have picked up some wonderful fabrics here. I love this area of London so it’s a no-brainer for me when in town.
Every gallery at The British Museum is full of hidden treasures. It holds fond memories for me, visiting as a child and then later with my own children. Its collections are breathtaking, as is the building itself; the centuries of accumulated knowledge, the stories behind the artifacts. Who could not be captivated?
A little further afield, but more than worth the journey. You can't beat Sunbury Antiques Market at Kempton Racecourse for one-off antiques and vintage. It has an abundance of the quirky and hard-to-find. It's perfect for that little something that will give a neglected corner a lift. I could spend all day browsing, but one tip—get there very early!
Duro Olowu is one of my favorite fashion designers. Don't miss the chance to visit Duro's store in London. I relate so well to Duro's ethos; we both had very cosmopolitan upbringings, and the way he draws on so many cultures—with an inspiring mix of patterns and textiles—really speaks to me.