L'Atelier Robuchon: Back With A Bang

L’Atelier closed its famous two Michelin-starred Covent Garden site back in 2018, just nine months after the founder and one of the most decorated chefs of all time, Joël Robuchon, sadly passed away. Well, now it’s back.

Now in Mayfair, Italian born Andrea Cofini takes charge as Head Chef having previously headed up Robuchon Shanghai and the sister L’Atelier in Paris since joining in 2014, both of which hold two stars. Accomplished in the Robuchon style, the new Clarges Street L’Atelier carries the same three principles as before – excellence, simplicity, and consistency, principles that apply to every stage of dining here.

First, the hospitality, where from the first step into the restaurant to the last step leaving, the hospitality and attention to detail of the staff brings a friendly and peaceful feel to the countertop open kitchen experience. The charming art deco dining room is beautifully designed, but it’s the cuisine that is front and centre, and the absolute star of the show.

Classic French gastronomy meets touches of Asian influence from Cofini’s Shanghai stint. Expect to see kambu, seaweed, special vinegars and alike, as well as world renowned Robuchon favourites like the purée de pomme de terre, AKA the best mashed potato in the world, sea bream carpaccio and roast quail with foie gras. Seasonality is highly valued too, so expect an array of different dishes.

Let’s not forget that Robuchon bucked the trend in French fine dining with this theatrical chef’s workshop, where à la carte ordering isn’t frowned upon, and guests aren’t limited to the tasting menu. It is still very much there, with the Discovery menu offering a mouthwatering journey from caviar to lobster, to sea bass, right through to lemon and cucumber jelly and roasted figs with mascarpone foam. However, you could also opt Les Langoustines with langoustine ravioli, black truffle, and foie gras sauce, followed by Dover Sole and the simply named, Le Chocolate for dessert – with crémeux Araguani and cookie crumb. It’s an expansive selection, with the quality of a tiny, set menu.

Other Robuchon trademarks are back too, like the champagne trolley offering Laurent Perrier delights and even premium English bubbles, and the extraordinary breadbasket with salted brioche, bacon and mustard twists, squid ink rolls and more. Finally of course, the sommelier option is there and well worth going for, with beautiful pairings to elevate each dish to that next level, if that is even possible.

L'Atelier Robuchon is a dazzling and theatrical ride. As comfortable and perfectionist in uncomplicated flavours as it is in open-minded invention, it celebrates its award winning past but as always, looks to the future.

6 Clarges St, London W1J 8AE
robuchonlondon.co.uk/latelier

To read more restaurant reviews, click here.

Galvin at Windows: The New Autumnal Barolo & Truffle Menu

After the sun-kissed panoramic views of summer, the 28th floor of the London Hilton on Park Lane ushers in autumn in style, with Head Chef Marc Hardiman and the team at Galvin at Windows putting on a spectacular five-course Barolo & Truffle tasting menu.

This autumnal dining escapade features a lineup of opulent dishes, each paired with thoughtfully selected Pio Cesare wines. The Italian Vineyard, celebrating 140 years master winemaking, offers wines that perfectly complement Chef Hardiman's innovative culinary creations. From the rich and deeply flavoured Barolo Ornato 2016 to the Barolo Mosconi 2018, each sip takes the dining experience to sky high heights… beyond even the 28th floor!

They’ll be poured out in accompaniment of dishes like slow-cooked beef cheek ravioli with 5-year-aged Parmesan cream and white Alba truffle, as well as the Pheasant Farci au Gratin, finished with celeriac, blackberry and, yes you guessed it, more truffle. And if that's not enough to tantalize your palate, there's the Scottish Highlands venison Wellington with glazed chestnut, red cabbage ketchup, and sauce Périgueux, a symphony of flavours that promises to transport you to culinary heaven.

The Barolo & Truffle menu at Galvin at Windows is available for £299 per person, and with limited availability, you'll want to secure your reservation early. To sweeten the deal, the first 70 bookings will receive a complimentary glass of Louis Roederer champagne, adding an extra touch of elegance to your evening.

This special menu is available for just five weeks, from Friday, October 13th, to Saturday, November 18th, so mark your calendars because it's a limited-time opportunity to experience the ultimate in autumnal decadence.

For more information or to book, click here.
22 Park Ln, London W1K 1BE

The Best Sober Bars in the UK

A bar without booze used to be a bit of an oxymoron, but with more and more drinkers taking time out from alcohol or ditching it all together, there are now a number of fantastic venues catering to it across the UK.

From extensive alcohol-free options to completely sober bars, these are the establishments offering somewhere to kick back with friends and family without the booze.

Nottingham

Café Sobar

As the name suggests, this is more of a daytime haunt than a fully fledged bar so don’t expect endless choice but there is a great value mocktail menu featuring Savyll’s range which we adore. There’s plenty of other food and drink to enjoy on the menu too and saving the best till last... all profits are poured into alcohol and drug recovery charity ‘Double Impact’. Great stuff.

Website

Hastings

The Nest

The Nest is a really cool events venue and cafe that’s part of Eggtooth, a community-based not-for-profit in Hastings. Gigs, comedy, poetry, therapy sessions, workshops... the variety of events, activities and services hosted here is remarkable but the reason they make the list is their bar, which is predominantly alcohol-free!

Website

Derby

YADA

A super popular collective, YADA is an entirely alcohol-free bar and venue offering an alternative night out in Derby. They recreate the authentic communion that makes traditional pubs so popular and have a wonderfully enticing, lengthy and rotating bar menu. Over 10 mocktails like the Tequila Sunrise with Mockingbird and the Classic Mojito with Lyre steal the show, but there’s also wine like Chardonnay and Rosé, as well as Beers and Ciders. Their website even serves as an online shop so if you try something you love, you know just where to go to buy it in.

Website

Cardiff + Bristol + Penarth

Bar 44

Bar 44 is a stylish Tapas bar showing off local produce as well as Spain’s finest. Situated in three different Southwest locations, the largest of which is Cardiff’s former canal warehouse spot, they’re all beautifully and sophisticatedly designed. There are plenty of non-alcoholic options with 0% Vilarnau Cava, Estrella Galicia Beer and 8 Mocktails including the Tanqueray 0% G&T, perfect for sipping alongside a flurry of delicious Tapas plates.

Website

London

Club Soda Tasting Room, Covent Garden

Inventive and delicious sodas are a great way to go to enjoy a night of drinking without the next day hangxiety, and no one does it better than Club Soda – The Drinks Business’ Independent Retailer of the Year 2023. As well as being a top notch online and street shop, you can swing by, relax and taste the latest and greatest in No-Lo invention. Beer, Premixed Cocktails, Wine, Spirits, Soda, Mood Enhancers... they’ve got it all, from big names like Everleaf to new and exciting releases, many of which we’ve featured on our site before. A must for curious No-Low drinkers.

Website

Lucky Saint, Marylebone

Lovers of alcohol-free beer, you may recognise this name because Lucky Saint began as a booze free beer, and many people’s favourite at that. Well, now they’ve refurbished an historic watering hole with a third of the menu being made up of non-alcoholic drinks, as well as outstanding food.

Website

Permit Room, King’s Cross

One of the best options in the capital, The Permit Room, referencing Mumbai’s Prohibition days, is the underground bar of Dishoom in King’s Cross St. Pancras. Moody lighting, impeccable design, and a delightful Teetotal Tipples menu with mocktails that feel just as special as the cocktails. Try the booze-free Espresso Martini!

Website

Mikkeller, Exmouth Market + Hackney Road

The first UK bar of Danish brewer Mikkeller, this is definitely the place to be for trying alcohol free beer, and not only because it’s part owned by the one and only Rick Astley. Deliciously Danish interiors welcome you in to a rotating selection of 18 or so beers on tap, with guaranteed 0% options.

Website

The Connaught Bar, Mayfair

Super swanky barely covers it when it comes to The Connaught, a bar that has topped the global rankings more than once. Located within the Ritzy Connaught with Cubist-inspired wooden décor and giant mirrors, this is a bar famed for its cocktails. They’ve also committed the same expertise to mocktails however, such as the Essence of the Tropics and the British Cooler. If you want a special mocktail that is a guaranteed hit, then treat yourself at The Connaught.

Website

The Book Club, Shoreditch

This party bar in central Shoreditch is a little different, offering a great night without the hangover. The Lo and NO menu is seriously extensive options including tasty mocktails, Lucky Saints beer and alcohol-free cider like Kopparbergs. Dance the night away in this refurbished Victorian warehouse with weekend DJ sessions, or sip on the alcohol-free/CBD selection whilst watching live music, comedy, or poetry. So much happening here and a variety of sippers to keep you on your toes.

Website

Fancy a night in instead? We’re always trying No-Lo drinks here at The Three Drinkers, so check out our recommendations here!

Our Top 3 London Rooftop Bar Picks

We are in the peak of summer (and hopefully soon the weather will start to play along), so here are our top three rooftop bar picks for you and your friends to try! Whether it’s after work drinks or a date night, we’ve got you covered. While we’ve categorized each bar by it’s specialty, all these rooftop bars have a great selection of cocktails, beers and wines to choose from.

For the wine lover: Forza Wine

Situated in Peckham, opposite the Peckham Rye station, is one of our personal favourite wine bars, Forza Wine. The menu consists of over 30 different wines of different styles. The grape type, and the region that the wine was made is also listed, for all wine enthusiasts who want to know every detail about what they are drinking. The broad price range is great to accommodate every person's budget. The knowledgeable waiters will gladly bring you a few tasters if you are unsure which wine you would like to try! Forza is a north-facing bar, and has an unobstructed view of the city - the sunsets we have witnessed while drinking a glass of bubbles are simply breath-taking.

Address: The Rooftop, 133A Rye Ln, London SE15 4BQ
Website: https://forzawine.com/

For the beer lover: Kraft Dalston

Moving from South London to East London territory, you need to give Kraft Dalston a try. This impressive establishment has an on-site brewery ensuring your pint of choice is as fresh as can be. If freshly brewed beer isn’t already a good enough reason to visit KRAFT, because the beer doesn’t need to be packaged and transported, carbon emissions are reduced by 75%. They have recently opened up their rooftop bar as well just in time for summer with some amazing new cocktail choices using their own craft gin.

Address: Inside Kingsland Locke, 130a Kingsland High Street, Dalston, London E8 2LQ
Website: https://www.kraftdalston.com/

For the cocktail lover: Madison Rooftop Garden

This lively rooftop terrace is a must-see. The bar is at the top floor of the One New Change next to the iconic St Paul’s Cathedral. Sipping on your Aperol Spritz while the sun sets with St Paul in the background is quite a surreal experience. The NYC inspired bar and restaurant has all the classic cocktails, some frozen cocktails for when the weather heats up, and some glorious signature cocktails. There are regularly in-house DJs that just amplify the ambience and are guaranteed to get the party started. 

Address:  Rooftop Terrace One, New Change, London EC4M 9AF
Website: https://www.madisonlondon.net/

If you want some more London bar recommendations, read about Bandra Bhai here!

Gouqi: London's Most Exciting Chinese Restaurant

Chef Chee Hwee Tong, formerly of the seven-time Michelin-starred Hakkasan Group, unveiled his latest culinary venture Gouqi earlier this year, and it’s been making waves ever since. Positioned in the heart of St James's, Gouqi has been one of the most talked-about openings of the year, delivering a fine dining experience that combines innovation and tradition in mouthwatering Chinese cuisine.

With an impressive career spanning two continents, Chef Tong brings his wealth of expertise and mastery of contemporary Chinese flavours, setting you up for grand expectations that begin to be met the minute you set foot inside. Elegant and exquisite details are everywhere you look in the sleek and refined interior adorned with 6 artworks from 6 different acclaimed Chinese artists and Botanique flower arrangements. But let’s get to where the real magic happens - on the plate.

Chef Tong's menu is a symphony of flavours, showcasing the best of Chinese cuisine. Using premium live produce sourced from around the globe, Gouqi offers an abundance of tantalizing dishes drawn from various regions of China. Prepare to be dazzled by the live seafood selection, featuring Norwegian King Crab, Canadian Crab, Gillardeau Oysters, Scottish Lobster, Diver Scallops, and Diver Razor Clams. Each dish is meticulously prepared and presented on custom-made chinaware, elevating the dining experience to unforgettable levels. Barbecued dishes like Legendary Peking Duck with Oscietra Caviar are carved table side, and the majestic dim sum menu including the standout Steamed Royal Dim Sum Platter makes ordering a challenge in the best kind of way.

Of course, we have a special interest in the drinks selection and Bar Manager Jamie Rowe certainly delivers here too, offering some selections you won’t find anywhere else. For example, rare teas, like the Emperor's Golden Eyebrow, which has just 2kg produced per year and is exclusively available at the restaurant. For cocktails lovers, the bar serves up innovative concoctions inspired by the four Chinese mythological creatures: the Azure Dragon of the East, the Vermilion Bird of the South, the White Tiger of the West, and the Black Tortoise of the North.

Inevitably, grand expectations come with high-end positioning like this, but at every stage, Gouqi proves to be a transportive dining experience that meets and exceeds them, inviting you to be captivated by the true artistry of modern Chinese gastronomy.

Find the website here.

25-34 Cockspur St, London, SW1Y 5BN

Bar Swift, Soho: Two-Storey Delight

Nestled on Old Compton Street, Swift Bar Soho stands as a testament to the creative collaboration between two renowned cocktail power couples: Nightjar founders Edmund Weil and Rosie Stimpson, and Milk & Honey's Mia Johansson and Bobby Hiddleston. Together, they have crafted a remarkable drinking den that captures the essence of the vibrant and utterly iconic Soho scene. With a focus on elegance, efficiency, and an impressive array of libations, Swift is no stranger to awards and when you leave, you totally get why.

The bar is thoughtfully designed, divided into two distinct areas depending on your mood. Upstairs, the ambience is lively and casual, offering a perfect swing by spot for those seeking a quick but refined drink experience. With leather booths and mirrored walls galore, the Art Déco-inspired decor sets the stage for enjoying classic cocktail favourites or indulging in Swift's expansive range of unique concoctions.

Their legendary sorbet Sgroppino and wintery Irish Coffee are to die for, and other eye catchers include the Freja featuring Grey Goose vodka, Dolin blanc vermouth, lychee, lemon, and soda. Deciding exactly what to order will probably take longer than the drink, because on top of that, the talented mixologists, including Bobby Hiddleston (known for his record-breaking cocktail-making skills) ensure that you won't be waiting long!

Heading downstairs, Swift unravels into something new; a relaxed and sensual lounge, enticing guests to settle in and savour the experience. This basement den operates daily, offering live music on weekends, boasting an extensive collection of over 300 globetrotting whiskies, and providing a more complex menu inspired by influential individuals past and present.

The latest legends themed menu pays homage to remarkable figures, from artists and performers to great thinkers. It strikes a balance between sophistication and fun, with cocktails like the deep and robust Stone St, a nod to Aisha Tyler, and the whimsical Only in L.A, an Ab-Fab inspired mix of Absolut Elyx and Martini Rubino.

Cementing its place as a prominent fixture in London's forever competitive cocktail scene, Swift continues to attract a vibrant and diverse crowd, just like their menu.  

Visit the website here.

12 Old Compton St, London, W1D 4TQ

The UK’s First Urban Winery Has Now Got Its Own Vineyard

London Cru, the UK's first urban winery, has taken a bold leap forward by acquiring Foxhole Vineyard in West Sussex, situated just a stone's throw away from the renowned Bolney Estate. If you’re not familiar with London Cru, then let us recap their story so far because they’re doing some very exciting things in the world of UK wine.

Tucked away down a SW6 alleyway is an old Victorian warehouse. Once used for gin production, Cliff Roberson eyed it up for a new lease of life in 2013 and despite being in central London, it was to become the UK’s first urban winery. But that’s not the only thing making London Cru stand out…

With a focus on crafting top-quality still wines, London Cru sets itself apart from the rest of the UK's winemakers. While vineyards are sprouting up across the country and producing incredible fizz, few have this same unwavering dedication to still wines.

Whilst they have been using European grapes from the likes of Languedoc-Roussillon and Piedmont, this acquisition of Foxhole Vineyard lays down an ambitious marker as they aim to trail-blaze the quality and variety of still wines being produced in the UK – we love to see it!

Located less than 50 miles away from their urban winery, Foxhole Vineyard perfectly aligns with London Cru's innovative spirit. The vineyard boasts 20,000 vines, predominantly Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris, accompanied by a small pocket of Bacchus. This idyllic vineyard, with its south-facing hillside offering stunning views of the South Downs, is a testament to London Cru's commitment to the mission.

By controlling every stage of production from grape to glass, London Cru and Head Winemaker Alex Hurley aims to create a homegrown and unique British winemaking experience to replicate English Sparkling Wine’s newfound place on the international stage.  Very exciting times indeed!

Heliot Steak House: A Cut Above

The grand Hippodrome Casino on Leicester Square opened in 1900 as a circus theatre, playing host to legends like Judy Garland, Charlie Chapman and a certain Clara Heliot, a lion tamer whose namesake restaurant now occupies the first floor – The Heliot Steak House.

Carving out its own spot in London legend, this premium restaurant and late-night bar overlooks sweeping views of the buzzing casino floor. With chandeliers dazzling and roulette wheels spinning amongst the lavish décor, the luxury Vegas casino vibe is well and truly pulled off, with a sophisticated touch of 1930s elegance thrown in for good measure. It’s pretty unforgettable, and that’s before the culinary experience has even begun.

Let's talk about the star of the show—the steak. Heliot Steak House specializes in award-winning USDA prime grade steaks sourced globally, including cuts from Nebraska, Argentina, Great Britain, and Japan. These exceptional cuts of Fillet, Sirloin, Rib Eye and Rib on the Bone undergo a meticulous aging process of four to six weeks before bespoke seasoning and cooking, resulting in incredible tenderness and flavour for every diner. Amongst tough competition, The Heliot was voted the Best Steak House in London, as well as the Best Casino Restaurant and other top gongs.

But the culinary adventure doesn't stop there. Executive Chef and expert Meatologist Ioannis Grammenos infuses his Greek heritage into the menu, offering delectable starters like Grilled Octopus with Roast Baby Potatoes & Tarama and Meatballs with Mushroom Sauce & Parmesan. Don’t fancy steak for main course? How about New Zealand Lumina Lamb Rack with Pitta & Raita, or Roast Chicken & Grilled Sweet Potato with Yoghurt Sauce? Make sure to save room for a diverse dessert menu too, with the likes of the Bougasta Custard Cream Pie and the renowned Chocolate Tree to pick from. This is just a taste of an extensive menu that is refreshed every few months, not to mention the weekly specials that make the task of ordering an even tougher one, but that’s not a bad problem to have, right?

For the perfect pairings for all of this, enter Salvatore Russo, General Manager and Head of Wine. With over 60 globally sourced bottles of red wine, including an impressive selection available by the glass, you'll be sure to find the ideal complement to your steak. With White, Rosé, Champagne and Sparkling too… there really is a stunning bottle for everything.

And if wine isn't your preference, fear not because you can always consult the wide-ranging drinks menu featuring spirits, beers, ciders, soft drinks, as well as the most exciting choice for us… an array of tantalizing cocktails, such as the Helicolada and the Take Me Down.

Together, Ioannis, Salvatore and their attentive team have combined their passion and expertise, married it with the glamorous surroundings to solidify Heliot Steak House's status as a West-End icon. Let the show go on!

Find the Heliot Steak House’s website here.

The Hippodrome Casino,
Cranbourn Street, Leicester Square, WC2H 7JH London, United Kingdom