One of the highlights of my working week is catching up with beauty PR's over brekkie or afternoon tea; we chat about the beauty brands they look after and discuss the latest launches that might be relevant to what I'm working on over some delicious food. Often, they'll bring along a goody bag of their latest products so I can get a feel for them and keep on top of what’s new... if you ever spot people going through a bag of beauty products while tucking into scrambled egg and smoked salmon, spritzing this and swatching that, the likelihood is it's a beauty journalist and a PR!

Over the years I've built up a little black book of my favourite places to go to meet with PRs. I consider myself very lucky that my job has such a lovely social aspect, as I'm not sure these wonderful places would feature very regularly in my calendar otherwise.

Below are my personal favourite venues for chic breakfast meetings in the capital...

 

The Fountain Restaurant at Fortnum & Mason
BEST FOR: Elegant dining

This sumptuous restaurant features an elegant duck egg and pastel interior with chic chandeliers and floral details. Tea is served in ornate silver teapots and there's a fantastic selection of hen's eggs available. It's the type of place that makes you want to embrace 'proper' tea drinking etiquette – all you'd expect from the Royal grocer.

 

Automat
BEST FOR: A cool New York vibe

If you're a sucker for American brekkies, you'll love Automat. The New York style brasserie oozes cool and has a relaxed, stylish atmosphere complete with booths and table lamps. It's the best choice if you're looking to indulge – the stacks of buttermilk pancakes with strawberries, blueberries and maple syrup are amazing, as are the waffles with cream and the bourbon vanilla French toast with streaky bacon.

 

The Riding House Cafe
BEST FOR: Central location

Located on Great Titchfield Street just off Oxford Street, this    new bustling, modern restaurant attracts a real mix of cool  media types and suits. It has a rustic feel with benches and  exposed brick and there's something to suit all taste buds  including a great selection of juices and smoothies, making it the perfect place to grab a quick bite in style. I can highly recommend the vanilla clotted cream!

 

The Northall at The Corinthia
BEST FOR: Attention to detail

If you like your dining experience to include exquisite attention to detail, The Northall restaurant won't disappoint. The inventive presentation of the food is a delight, as is the fantastic service and quality of the food. It's everything you'd want from a delicious breakfast with a sleek, intimate atmosphere. It also serves up the best scrambled eggs I’ve ever tried!

 

Dean Street Townhouse
BEST FOR: Networking

Whenever I go to Dean Street Townhouse, I seem to recognise most people in there; thanks to its cool, buzzy atmosphere it appears to be the media industry’s destination of choice. A great base for networking.

 

Roast
BEST FOR: Tasty British produce

Located in the heart of Borough Market, Roast uses nothing but the finest quality British produce. Foodies will love the varied ingredients available that offer something completely different from your typical breakfast menu.

 

The Soho Hotel
BEST FOR: Food intolerances

The Soho Hotel, often the venue of choice for industry events and press days, is a constant hub of activity, and brekkie is no exception. As well as offering delicious cooked breakfast options, the stylish Refuel restaurant features a wonderful breakfast bar that caters for all sorts of food allergies and intolerances, meaning that the bright, vibrant venue has something to suit everyone.

 

The Wolseley
BEST FOR: Stylish interior

The Wolsey is quite simply a great place to start your morning. The super stylish café, popular with celebrities, is decorated in Grand European style with ornate detailing such as arches, pillars and an impressive marble floor, making it a lavish choice for breakfast. The food is equally as delightful.