With London Fashion Week almost upon us, and the crowds set to descend on The Strand, South Bank, Bankside, and the surrounding area, take a look at the plethora of fantastic dining options in and around central London.
Whilst tickets for quite a few of the main shows at the The Store Studios on The Strand are pretty much on an invitation-only basis, tickets are readily available for other events London Fashion Week which runs from Thursday 16th until Tuesday 21st and also includes venues on The South Bank, and Bankside, such as the Tate Modern.
Naturally with thousands upon thousands of people set to descend on the already busy central London, fine dining places will be at a premium, but if you can get in there early here is a guide some of the best restaurants in and around the area...
HIX
There is only one place we could start, and that is at the ‘Official Restaurant Partner’ of London Fashion Week, and that is at HIX.
Celebrated chef, restaurateur and food writer Mark Hix is known for his original take on British gastronomy. After 17 years as Chef Director at Caprice Holdings, he opened his first restaurant in 2008 - the distinguished HIX Oyster & Chop House in Smithfield, and has since opened a further seven, establishments including this one in Soho.
Mark is frequently lauded as one of London’s most eminent restaurateurs with an unrivaled knowledge of ingredients with provenance. Mark has a monthly column in Esquire, a weekly column in The Independent, and is the author of a number of cookbooks on British cuisine, including Mark Hix on Baking, Hix Oyster & Chop House, British Regional Food, which received a Guild of Food Writers’ Award and the Simon the André Simon Book Award – Special Commendation, British Seasonal Food, which was named The Guild of Food Writers’ Cookery Book of the Year in 2009, and his latest book Mark Hix The Collection.
The unequivocal jewel of Soho, HIX boasts a weekly-changing menu of seasonal British food and an eclectic collection of mobiles and neons from celebrated British artists in a light and modern dining room. Hidden downstairs is the original Mark’s Bar, where fascinating concoctions are infused along with classic libations.
For further information please see their website here.
Eight Over Eight
Eight Over Eight, situated on the ever fashionable Kings Road in Chelsea, lives up to its stylish location, offering a buzzing bar and fabulous pan-Asian menu to make this one of London's best dining experiences.
Translating from Chinese as ‘Lucky Forever’ Eight Over Eight has a light and airy dining room decked out with dark wood tables decorated with orchids and sunflower-patterned dividers it will almost certainly appeal to LFW goers. Selecting a small tasting platter piled with delicacies like steamed ginger scallops, chilli-salt squid and pork spare ribs with spiced crackling might well be the way to go, but with an extensive superb menu it could take a while to decide what to indulge in.
For further information please see their website here.
Medlar
With over 17,000 restaurants on Trip Advisor for London, if you’re coming in at number 33 you must be doing something pretty special. Owned by Joe Mercer Nairne and David O'Connor Medlar is their first restaurant venture, and the aim is to provide fantastic food and service in a relaxed environment. As for the menu, the style is French based but takes inspiration from all over. A love of food drives Joe to the kitchen, and he strives to cook food that is first and foremost satisfying to eat. They aim to cook using seasonal ingredients from the British Isles and Europe accurately and simply, and produce what can be classed as ‘Artisty on a plate’. They also a wine list to rival anywhere in London, that has been put together by Master Sommelier Clement Robert MS.
For further information please see their website here.
MASH
Next we have a restaurant that is right on the doorstep of the car park. Award-winning MASH is a trendy steakhouse with a Danish twist, sitting right on Brewer Street.
You can indulge with a dry-aged Danish beef, try a fantastic piece of Wagyu, sample tender corn-fed American beef or taste specially selected Uruguay Hereford beef. To the steaks they have also added an inimitable wine list, which includes one of the largest selections of American wine outside the US, five star service, mouth-watering side dishes, truly tempting desserts and incredible cocktails.
The breathtaking interior decor of the restaurant creates the perfect first impression. An elegant art deco space is complemented by MASH branding and decor, whilst dramatic design features make the MASH experience an unforgettable one.
And while models may not be renowned for their steak-eating habits, the slick, open-plan basement with booth seating is a place to be seen and a people-watching dream whilst trying their London Fashion Week Cocktail: The West End Royale.
For further information please see their website here.
No.20 Restaurant
Situated on Warwick Street, two beautiful Georgian townhouses have been converted into an opulent 30-bedroom boutique hotel, a modern British Restaurant No.20, with a secret Roof Top Terrace complete with cheeky hydro hot-tub, and a Cinema Screening Room. It has been named Hotel of the Year in the London Lifestyle Awards for three years in a row.
Mediterranean cuisine and tapas are the order of the day at the No.20 Restaurant which offers timeless vintage glamour, and is the kind of place where the fashionista’s will be phoning ahead to reserve a booth. A glossy lacquered bar swathed in bronze leather and glass-clad pillars is the kind of place to enjoy a micro-distilled gin or craft beer as you discuss the latest trends.
For further information please see their website here.
Veeraswamy
Veeraswamy Indian restaurant weaves an exotic spell of timeless glamour with a luxurious venue fit for the Maharaja.
Opened in 1926, it's the UK’s oldest surviving Indian restaurant, which is no mean feat in itself, and has served regional classic and contemporary Indian dishes to dignitaries and celebrities alike, so don't be surprised if you see one or two in there.
Overlooking Regent Street it is celebrated as the grand dame of Indian restaurants, known for it’s refined cuisine. Their food is inspired by both northern and southern regional Indian cuisine, reflecting classical and Contemporary influences, including recipes that are usually only served in gormet hideaways.
For further information please see their website here.
Heddon Street Kitchen
An edgy hideaway found just off Regent Street, Gordon Ramsay's Heddon Street Kitchen is a stylish space with a mix of vintage and modern set over two floors, open all day for brisk brunches and post-shopping pit stops through to lunch, dinners and after work cocktails. Enjoy al fresco dining on the heated terrace, tastings at the interactive wine counter, people-watching with a cocktail in the lounge bar, and the theatre of the open kitchen.
The venue has also put together a special limited additional Fashion and Design menu for London Fashion Week so it really is a must.
For further information please see their website here.
Mele e Pere
A trendy Soho trattoria, Mele e Pere offers authentic Italian gastronomy in a seriously on-trend setting.
Retro Anglepoise wall lamps and an apothecary-style bar lend an old-school vibe and it has a prime location next to the BFC (British Fashion Council), again on Brewer Street, so perfect for rubbing shoulders with the fashion crowds.
They cook a seasonal and daily changing menu with British produce and exceptional Italian ingredients with all breads, pastas, deserts, and ice-creams made fresh every day, and as you might imagine accompanied by a celebrated wine list.
For further information please see their website here.