The Rise And Rise Of The Multi-Storey Restaurant
I like my restaurants like I like my carparks. No, not made of poured concrete and smelling like somebody died in the stairwell: but multi-storey. There seem to be a number opening right now that it has to be something of a trend, venues with several restaurants within themselves (normally a cheap and spenny version). Either way, I set out to record their rise for posterity in the only way I know how. In a listicle…
Smiths of Smithfield
One multi-storey that seems to have been round more times than the one-way-system at your local NCP is Smiths of Smithfield. Famously set across multiple levels, they’ve perfected the offering and after their latest re-boot I think Smiths of Smithfield really have smashed it. The ground floor plays host to a grungey cafe and bar, full of city workers knocking back pints in the evening and salads during the day. Head to the first floor for Death + Victory, fully of city workers sipping cocktails, on the second floor it’s city workers eating meat at The Grill. Or skip the rest and head up to the third floor for one of the city’s latest terraces and arguably one of the best restaurants. N0.3 Restaurant & Terrace doesn’t get the recognition it deserves, perhaps its stablemates confuse the offering, perhaps being part of Young’s Pubs puts people off (it shouldn’t at all), but the food is excellent. Try the beef Wellington, it’s brill.
Where: 67-77 Charterhouse Street, Clerkenwell, EC1M 6HJ
Website: www.smithsofsmithfield.co.uk
sketch
Writers seem to run out of superlatives to deploy when they’re describing Sketch. Which is fair enough, it’s bloody weird. Albeit in a good way. From the loos set in eggs (an Insta fave, of course) to the quirky art and installations throughout. But save your words ending in -est for the food. The Glade, a sort of mythical forest themed restaurant is great for a breakfast or lunch or evening cocktail, or maybe make it The Parlour for all the above. For real grub it’s the Lecture Room, a festival of pinks, or upstairs to the Gallery, a two-Michelin star restaurant that seriously punches. Yes, yes, the design is out of this world, but grab your knives and forks coz the food is too.
Where: 9 Conduit Street, Mayfair, W1S 2XG
Website: www.sketch.london
Jaks Mayfair
Jaks Mayfair is a self proclaimed ‘quirky venue’ that exists as a charming townhouse baring an eclectic style. Housed inside, you’ll find a lower ground cocktail bar, ground floor café & kitchen, first floor restaurant and bar, and second floor lounges, providing cosy and elegant spaces for all, and definitely making Jaks a worthy contender for our favourite multi-storey restos. Wander into one of the lounges and find tea and Champagne as your guide.
Or, if you’re more in the mood for finer dining then fresh home cooked food inspired by the Mediterranean, European, and British cuisines will tease the tastebuds. Before or after dinner, or possibly both, head to where the cocktails are shaken up and enjoy live music and a whole load of partying. Plus, the space is available for private hire events with a capacity up to 150 guests, so tail feather shaking is a must.
Where: Jaks Mayfair, South Molton Street, London, UK
Website: www.jakslondon.com
Aqua Nueva
Admittedly not on separate levels, thus making a mockery of the whole multi-storey premise for this article, but we’ll press on with these two restaurants that side side-by-side multiple storeys high above Regent Street. Like Novikov one’s European (Spanish) in the form of Aqua Nueva, and the other Asian, the Japanese Aqua Kyoto. Which is where the comparison fizzles out. Aqua succeeds in being both unerringly cool (a trick they’ve pulled off for nearly a decade) while cooking up consistently top rate food. Thumbs up, or in this horizontal context, sideways.
Where: 30 Argyll Street, London W1F 7EB, United Kingdom
Website: www.aquanueva.co.uk
