Stylish Seville

Once in a while, someone gives you a present so wonderful that you will never, ever forget it. Turning 30 means you get a few of these (one of the few major bonuses to getting older).

One of my favourite presents was from my boyfriend: a five-star trip to Seville. We stayed in the Gran Melia Colon, a stunningly stylish hotel with a jacuzzi and sun terrace on the roof with an amazing view of the city. Each floor of the hotel features a different Spanish artist. We were on the top floor, Goya, which had a description of the artist and the back of every hotel room featured a different painting by the featured artist, with a light at the top and a description at the side so the corridor looked like a gallery. I can’t recommend the hotel enough and I miss the incredible breakfasts every day I sadly microwave an egg in the morning at work.

My glam friend Emily loves Seville so much that she has been there five times – she put together a list of things to do, which, trusting her taste (impeccable), we followed quite carefully and had the most incredible time. I include her list, with some additions of my own, below.

Seville genuinely has it all: great weather, friendly people, cheap and amazing food (mmm tapas), massive gin and tonics and some of the most stunning architecture I’ve ever seen. Budget airlines fly there, meaning you can have an incredible weekend trip for very little, depending on your accommodation. My top tip would definitely be to hire bikes when you’re there, especially if it’s very hot, as it was when we visited. It’s such a great way to see the city and you get a bit of exercise too, making for guilt-free tapas munching in the evening. The riverboat tour is a must for romantics.

A Stylish Guide to Seville

Things to do

Alcazar – stunning interior and gardens – don’t miss the labyrinth.

Plaza de Espana (in María Luisa Park) – beautiful building and park. Hire a little paddleboat and go around the front.

Seville Cathedral Tower – walk up into the bell tower for amazing views of the city.

Riverboat tour – lasts around an hour, great way to see the other ends of the city that you wouldn't necessarily walk to – go to the one on the opposite side to the Torre Doro (tower) – cross the bridge and it’s next to a bar called Rio Grande. It’s the best one – electric boat with drinks that are super cheap on board.

Bullring – you don't need to pay for a tour, you can just walk around the outside.

Flamenco! We went to this one. It’s amazing, warning: you might cry.

Rent bikes - we just asked our hotel and it was so cheap. The only way to see the city when it’s hot.

Food

Taberna Coloniales – on Calle Fernandez Y Gonzalez 36 41001 – amazing local tapas for local people. Eat the whisky pork and patatas bravas. Super cheap. You might have to wait a bit – get your name on the list on the blackboard and drink some sangria until it’s time.

Vineria San Telmo – inventive, incredible tapas. Eat their goats cheese and aubergine ‘tower’ mmmm.

For casual lunch tapas there are quite a few along the Calle Mateos Gago street (2 mins from Eme Hotel), these are more local and less touristy:

Maccheroni

Eme Catedral Hotel

These are both Italian!!

Drinks and going out

Try the native orange wine which is super delish – vino naranja

Have a posh drink at The Hotel Alfonso XIII

Or clubby Cocktails at Eme cathedral hotel rooftop bar 

There are quite a few places around Plaza Nueva if you walk around the square - there's a good one directly opposite the O'Clock Bar. Also quite a few along the river – round the corner from O'Neills Irish pub on Paseo de Cristobal Colon street there's a parade of gin bars etc.

We also went to the ‘Rio Grande’ which is on the river – open super late (it was still open at 3am when we left) good, Brazilian vibes. Ask the supermodel barmaid for a gin and tonic with Rothmans which is like a fruity gin.

Clubs – FYI Spanish go out so late and party until 6am plus!!

Antique Theatro  – an indoor/outdoor place

P.S

You can get a bus from the airport – super cheap at 4 euros. You pay on board.

So pretty - see it by river

A traditional wedding for someone in the military

Chilling on the rooftop of the Gran Melia Colon

Our stunning Goya hotel door

The cathedral at night

Alcazar gardens

The cathedral bell towe

Pretty park near Plaza Espana

Look at the SIZE of their G&Ts!

A lovely little shop near the Alfonso Hotel

Silly Fun

I don’t know about you, but I find occasion dressing can get far too serious sometimes; should my lipstick match the dress? Can I get away with a wedge that size when I’m a) dancing a Ceilidh b) tramping through a field or c) walking on wonky tent terrain? Will I be cold?

Enough already. Sometimes you need a good old palette cleanser to take the edge off. In this case, a pair of fluffy marabou earrings. I fell in love with these as soon as I saw them on ASOS. What’s not to adore? They’re pale pink, silky and silly. When you put them on, your face looks softer, somehow.

They’re a bit sexy, too, like hanging Agent Provocateur slippers from your lobes, but much, much lighter. Admittedly, I was all geared up to wear them for my friend Ruth’s wedding last weekend, but I chickened out last minute. But with all the barbecues, birthdays, engagement parties and (more!) weddings on the horizon, it’s only a matter of time before I crack out what can only be described as the silliest accessory of the summer. You, reader, will be the first to see them in action.

These earrings are but £8 from River Island

The final outfit. My dress is by Emily & Fin

30th Birthday, 54 Style

I blame my namesake Bianca (Jagger) for my fascination with all things Studio 54. Along with Bianca, the club was awash with the most exciting, daring, glamorous celebrities of the time including Grace Jones and Jerry Hall.

When my original venue choice cancelled with only days to go, Max from Southern Joe’s in Kentish Town stepped up in the nick of time. I’d been to Southern Joes a couple of times before – the fried chicken and waffle is AMAZING, as is the entire dessert menu. I knew that they had a bar downstairs, Jailbird, but I hadn’t been before. Typically leaving everything to chance, I turned up on the evening of my birthday without knowing what to expect. Fortunately, the venue was great, the staff were friendly and helpful, they let me play my own seventies tracks and everyone ended up having an amazing time. Oh, and did I mention there's an amazing £5 cocktail menu? I’d recommend it as a venue for anyone. I think the proof is in the pictures!

Meat People for Brunch

I love a good weekend brunch and am always on the lookout for a new place to meet up with friends, gossip and gobble. I hadn’t been to Meat People before; it’s on Essex Road, a short walk down from Angel station in London. The venue has a really distinctive look; all dark wood and ochre seating. It still has its original 1930s fixtures which gives it a really cool retro feel. 

The food is really good and more than reasonable for London. It was really tough to decide what to have because everything on the menu looks absolutely amazing – I was torn between the rib eye and eggs and the smoked salmon, poached egg and potato rosti. I ended up going for the steak which was absolutely delicious, really tender and tasty. We had chips and a fresh side salad with slices of courgette and carrot. I couldn’t resist the carrot and ginger cake and the man loved his lemon drizzle, both came with a lovely scented cream on the side. Great food aside, service was flawless and friendly throughout so I’ll definitely be going back – it was lovely and peaceful for a Saturday but we did eat early and it’s possible that work hasn’t got out yet – oops.

Meat People, 4-6 Essex Road, London N1 8LN 

020 7359 5361