map no. 1: WEST OF BOND STREET

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(Photo: Omnivore)

Where’s Wobo?
West of Bond is London’s Nolita.

Bond Street is London’s Fifth Avenue—all familiar international brands. But just west of Bond is a newly popular neighborhood of adorable boutiques and splashy restaurants. Among them: a contemporary-look showroom from royal cabinetmaker Viscount Linley; a chic shop of trouvailles for interiors by Nicholas Chandor for Paul Smith; and Dover Street Market, the remarkably fashionable retail multiplex. Pop into Cecconi’s Italian restaurant, now run by Soho House’s Nick Jones. Or stop to nourish yourself at the all-day brasserie and European-style café that is the Wolseley.

1. Linley Mayfair
46 Albemarle St.
Royal cabinetmaker Viscount Linley shows that he can do urban sleek as well as country-house chic.

2. Paul Smith Furniture Shop
9 Albemarle St.
London institution Paul Smith opened a shop for antiques and art objects from around the world; a recent display of vintage ghetto blasters had passersby reaching for their cell-phone cameras.

3. Dover Street Market
17–18 Dover St.
Five floors of avant-fashion curated by Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garçons fame: Pick up Alber Elbaz dresses made exclusively for the store; cool, wacky graphic tees from Ronnie Loves; and, of course, Comme des Garçons.

4. Sac Frères
7 Grafton St.
James Mullen, one of the Irish brothers who gave us Thomas Pink shirts in the eighties, now sells sleek bags (£275 to £650) that could hang on Sienna Miller’s arm.

5. Wartski
14 Grafton St.
Kate Moss allegedly kept her drugs in a Fabergé egg. Buy your own mini-ovum at Wartski, the world’s most famous address for Fabergé treasures.

6. The Wolseley
160 Piccadilly
This splendid venue is a modern British take on a Paris bistro crossed with a Viennese café. Open from breakfast (quite a scene) to late supper.

7. Davidoff of London
35 St James’s St.
Cuban cigars are about the only things that are cheaper to buy in London than New York— and that’s only because they are illegal in the U.S.

8. Brown’s Hotel
Albemarle St.
The quintessential English hotel, Brown’s recently got a contemporary yet conservative makeover. Go for afternoon tea.

9. Le Caprice
Arlington House, Arlington St.
Still the hottest smart lunch spot in the West End.

10. Cecconi’s
5A Burlington Gardens
Once home to a rich-and-royal power scene, this Italian restaurant (really, east of Bond) was taken over by Soho House last year and promptly redesigned.

Next: An Insider's Guide to London 'Hoods and Hotspots