Champagne Louis Roederer’s Collection 242 by the glass

Haruka Hisata, Wine Buyer: "242’s characteristically fresh notes chime with balanced acidity – all too easy to enjoy all night long! We’re proud to pour it as our house champagne and it’s fast become our customers’ aperitivo of choice with our antipasti, pairing perfectly with the 24-months aged organic Parmigiano Reggiano and 22-months aged Parma."

Classy enoteca in St Martin’s Courtyard that draws you in with its good looks and lip-smacking offer. ‘Cucina povera’ means the likes of carpaccio or a confit of slow-cooked pork.

Marco Iaccarino, Head of Wine: “This new cuvée is a huge step up from an already great NV, Brut Premier. The mousse is very consistent but not aggressive on the palate, the nose is opulent and shows a great complexity and depth, with a lively citrus notes complemented by spice and bakery notes alongside austere minerality. The palate follows the ripe citrusy notes and yellow fruit character, showing power and freshness which give the wine an outstanding energy and focused finish. I will pair with Asian inspired food such as Vietnamese-style caramel pork. Watch the great energetic finish wash out the hot and sticky notes. Otherwise pair it with some creamy cheese.”

At The Berkeley Beach Huts they are currently serving a lovely grilled sea trout, orange & fennel salad: great company for a glass of collection 242.

Imre Somogyi, Head Sommelier: “I love Collection 242. It’s very well-made, which is a great achievement because 2017 [one of the base wines] was a really difficult year in Champagne. It’s an ideal fit for Imperial Treasure's house champagne. And I love the fact it is a blend with more chardonnay, which brings great freshness to the bottle, alongside really nice ripe fruits, balanced with little silky, oaky notes on the back palate. The Champagne has a lovely fresh finish and is a perfect pairing with our steamed trio dim sum platter.”

One of London’s top Chinese restaurants in a prime St James’s location.

Alessandro Cassano, Head Sommelier: “Fine bubbles, complex and round, this 242 Collection is also smooth, structured and an elegant mature wine that is so typical of Louis Roederer Champagnes. The fresh fruits and hawthorn on the nose, together with the smooth palate of apple, pear and red fruits make it a perfect pairing with our golden crispy squid in an oatmeal and jasmine tea butter coating.”

One of the stand-out restaurants in Southampton, Blue Jasmine is a new metro-chic offering that appeals for its great food, swish setting and savvy staff. Already a welcome fixture.

The Dorchester’s gilded basement evokes louche 1930s Shanghai – all lacquered woodwork, carved screens and white uniformed waiters gliding effortlessly about. Superior dim sum takes centre stage alongside the likes of crispy roast duck and blackbean sauce. Wash it all down with fashion-forward cocktails or first-class fizz for a great criss-crossing of luxury, ceremony and decadence. Try Collection 242 by the glass.

It’s not just the dazzling cityscape views that capture the attention at the Shard’s, subtly decorated restaurant on Level 35, it will be the Euro-accented food, often peppered with bright Asian flavours is pretty arresting too. Teriyaki halibut is a meaty delight rivalled by delicate rib-eye steak with truffle jus, and puddings that are equally arresting. Off-the-wall wine pairings from the charismatic sommelier make a big impression, too. Try this new fizz by the glass.

The Game Bird may have the feel of a hotel lounge – admittedly a touchy-feely one with its turquoise velvet, floral fabrics and cherry-red leather – but the trad British food delivers by the spade load and turns the heads of not just the regular Mayfair crowd. Think oak-smoked salmon carved from a trolley, and chicken Kiev that’s a decadent and distant cry from the 70s version. Splendid wine list and a cracking Sunday roast are also worth noting.

A relative babe in Covent Garden, The Oystermen has been plying their seafood trade since 2017 but, despite growing since, it’s still the brick-walled bistro charm that seduces regulars. Bivalves au naturel or cooked in tempura batter is the order of the day – with or without a glass of Collection 242 – but there’s also gnocchi with crab meat ragu and smoked salmon draped with crème fraiche and caviar as well as first-rate cod’s roe and deliciously salty anchovies. Euro-leaning, white-leading wine list majors in fizz – a perfect foil for the food. Warm and welcoming staff are further pluses.

Champagne may not be the main offering at this louche, whimsical wine bar – though you will bump into Henri Giraud and Louis Roederer – but it will certainly get you thinking. The wine list is peppered with interest and points you in all directions within a sparkling framework. A short menu of cold but inviting dishes touts the likes of smoked salmon, cheese and vegetarian sharing boards. A fun place frequented by a confident, creative crowd.

The Baglioni hotel is nothing if not swish and beautiful and the same can be said for its equally well-appointed restaurant, Brunello, where both bar and dining room are deeply plush and luxurious. A la carte classics include a saffron-infused risotto alongside fresh tuna served with shredded carrot and ricotta. There are healthy options, too, and if you can resist the heavy-weight wine list, you’ll find plenty of proper Italian Spritzes. A glam and classy package for special occasions.

Boasting the self-confident swagger of an Ivy League country club, this red-brick Georgian mansion is a handsome mix of swanky contemporary design and carefully preserved period detail. No wonder it’s a well-loved weekend retreat for ritzy urbanites and stressed out families in need of TLC. The restaurant plays an important part with ambitious Euro-accented cooking along the lines of pan-seared foie gras with parsnip mousseline and wild brill with a marinière reduction. Sunday lunch is buffet-style and simpler food can be snaffled in the Bistro. Spoil yourself with a glass of Collection 242.

Louis Roederer Collection 242 served by the glass.  Sumptuous, opulent and achingly expensive conversion of a privately owned estate, this grand 17th-century pile offers everything you’d expect from an upscale country house hotel, and more. But it’s the partnership with top toque Shaun Rankin that demonstrates its seriousness as a gastro-destination. In a plush and warmly inviting room – think rich drapes, curvaceous scalloped chairs and an air of hushed serenity – a parade of exquisite dishes and expertly paired wines (including Collection 242) will make this a night to remember. Plaid-uniformed staff are faultlessly charming.

Quaint but classy neighbourhood gem in the heart of Westbury Park village, run by chef-patron Freddie Bird, that mixes trad French Bistro with contemporary bohemian Bristol. Think exposed brickwork, banquette seating and industrial lighting, together with hand-thrown crockery and ceramics. Gallic classics offer sophisticated comfort rather than cross-Channel cliché along the lines of fillet steak tartare, duck breast served rosemary potatoes and mousse au chocolat, as well as eggs benedict and beautifully baked sourdough with jams sourced from France for weekend brunch. Friendly service and wines at sensible prices are further reasons for its great popularity.