1. NO 29 POWER STATION WEST (Battersea)
Newly opened bar, No 29 Power Station West – next to Battersea Power Station – promises to be a hit with locals south of the river. All day drinking and dining means there’s everything on offer, from morning coffee to coconut poached chicken salad and Sunday roasts. A stripped back aesthetic, with delicious velvet, leather and linen accents, means it will be a (probably cooler) home away from home; www.no29powerstationwest.co.uk
2. QUEEN OF HOXTON (Hoxton)
You may know it from long summer days, but don’t forget about the Queen of Hoxton’s rooftop this winter. From 26 October until March next year, it will be transformed into a vibrant North African hideaway, The Moroccan Medina. Expect a cool Instagrammable space where you can sip hot buttered rum, munch on halloumi fries and bask in the warmth of Chiminea fireplaces; queenofhoxton.com
3. HUNTER 486 (Covent Garden)
REVIEW BY / MARK EDWARDS
Named after the 1950s dialling code for Marylebone, Hunter 486 is a sleek brasserie based inside The Arch London, a luxury boutique hotel located in Great Cumberland Place, just a stone’s throw from Hyde Park and Oxford Street.
After a relaxing predinner drink in The Salon de Champagne, my guest and I are welcomed into the restaurant. It has been designed with an air of nostalgic London glamour, fused with contemporary touches: rich red, leather booths, glass chandeliers and statement artwork on the walls. A feature I always appreciate is an open-plan kitchen and here you can see the chefs in action, sometimes using the roaring fire oven. As for the food, head chef Gary Durrant has created a “Best of British” inspired selection. The single-sided menu is pleasantly simple, with just nine starters and 12 mains from which to choose.
© garry@modopublishing.com
For my starter, I ordered the dressed Dorset crab, avocado and pink grapefruit. It was fresh, light and brilliantly presented. My guest ordered the goat’s curd and honey stuffed courgette flower, peas and tomato, which was crunchy, with the goat curd smooth in the middle. Both were ideal starters especially as they were not too filling. Other options include Cornish mackerel with quail eggs, Norfolk black chicken terrine with truffle cream and smoked Barbary duck breast.
For my main I wanted to sample something from the stone oven, as it operates at a very high heat so meat and fish are cooked with astonishingly succulent results. I selected the rack of lamb, crushed potatoes, baby vegetables and herb broth. Very British, cooked perfectly (medium rare) and, as expected, the oven had done an excellent job in retaining the moisture. My guest ordered the fillet of stone bass, sesame green beans, carrots, lemongrass and ginger broth. The fish was perfect and buttery and the sauce and vegetables were light and delicate, adding the perfect crunch to the dish. Other highlights include the 28-day aged flat iron steak, asparagus, pea, broad bean and mint risotto and lemon sole fillets.
Both mains were generous portions, so we decided to share the chocolate fondant and salted caramel ice cream for dessert – delicious.
Wine can be ordered by the glass, which means you can ensure each course has a well-paired glass. If you are uncomfortable choosing wine yourself then the staff will be more than happy to offer you recommendations. If you’re looking for somewhere with good food as well as a relaxed atmosphere, then you should try Hunter486; thearchlondon.com
