Fifteen years ago, Toru Machida was simply a young man with a high school degree and a heart full of London dreams. He had just moved to the British city from Tokyo after all. This young man landed a stint as a porter and worked his way up in the hospitality industry. Three years ago, Toru Machida became the Head Concierge of The Savoy. The discerning traveler would never turn down a chance to stay in elegant English Edwardian rooms, mere steps away from Covent Garden or dine at Gordon Ramsay’s famous grill, known to churn out great charcoal grilled Chateaubriand with pommes soufflés. The Savoy, London, lets you do both, from the northern bank of the River Thames. Head Concierge Toru Machida recently told Blouin Artinfo about his personal favorites in London and top recommendations for those seeking the best of the English capital city. Edited excerpts: What are your recommendations for must-visit places in London and why?  As a concierge, I am constantly exploring London and its surroundings, learning about what this amazing city has to offer. I have to be up-to-date and knowledgeable about new openings and theater productions, especially as The Savoy is in the heart of Theatreland. A personal favorite is Sir John Soane’s Museum. It is just up the road in Lincoln’s Inn Fields. It’s an historic house, museum and library of the eccentric 19th century architect and collector Sir John Soane, and is filled with extraordinary pieces of arts and antiques collected from all over the world. What restaurants, bars, and cafes would you recommend in London and why? I may sound biased but our luxury restaurant Kaspar’s Seafood Bar and Grill is perfect for couples, families and serves fresh, seasonal dishes that are guaranteed to entertain anyone’s appetite. In addition to Kaspar’s, I would recommend Umu, Ginza Onodera and ROKA; each of these restaurants reminds me of the true and authentic Japanese food served in my home country. Where would you go and what would you do if you had a free morning or afternoon in London?A guest once told me that there is no place in the world quite like London and he is absolutely right! I dedicate my free mornings or afternoons to exploring all the hidden gems that London has to offer. Some of my favorite spots to savor London include walking in and around Kensington Gardens or enjoying afternoon tea at The Orangery at Kensington Palace.  Where would you head to in London for the best shopping and what would you buy?The Savoy is ideally located for some of London’s finest shopping opportunities. Liberty, a very British store is located in a Tudor-style building constructed from the timbers of two ships — HMS Impregnable and HMS Hindustan. Just off Regent Street, this store is a wonderland filled with innovative, iconic fabric prints, exotic flowers and luxury brands. With four floors, there are countless treasures waiting to be discovered! Where would you recommend people stay (hotels, B&Bs) when they visit London? The Savoy of course! Located in the heart of the city, The Savoy is just a stone’s throw away from the hustle and bustle of Theatreland or the cosmopolitan Covent Garden. We are very excited to welcome our sister property, Raffles Hotels & Resorts, which will be opening a hotel in the Grade II listed Old War Office in Whitehall. We look forward to having two exciting and iconic landmark destination hotels in London! What are the best places to see and buy art in London?If you are looking for a unique and special gift for someone, I would suggest paying a visit to London Glassblowing, the UK’s foremost contemporary glass art studio. You can watch the expert makers at work and see your beautiful, bespoke creations come to life. What are some of London’s best secret places that everyone should discover?In a small alley called Carting Lane, which runs between The Savoy and the Shell Mex building, is London’s last sewer lamp. A Victorian invention, the flame in the lamp burns 24 hours a day, lit by vapors from the sewers below. What are the best places to see live bands or musicians in London and why? In London, we are exceedingly fortunate to have so many iconic and historic music venues at our doorstep. A particular favorite location of mine is The Royal Albert Hall, the home of BBC Proms since 1941. This treasured venue is guaranteed to provide an unrivalled and magical music performance for our guests to remember. What are the best spots for experiencing London’s nightlife after spending the day at an art fair? London comes alive at night. The Box in Soho is the perfect spot to dance the night away while enjoying some mysterious theatrical performances and imaginative cabaret acts — it really is a visual delight for the senses! What projects are you currently working on/involved in?At The Savoy, we always have exciting initiatives in the pipeline. One project which we are currently working on is developing the ‘perfect’ and seamless arrival experience for guests. We are in the planning stage of transforming our front hall to meet the expectations of a modern luxury traveler. Click on the slideshow to take a look at London  Read more