Blakes Restaurant

NOTE: Blakes Restaurant is temporarily closed.

Blakes is old school.

And by that, we mean it’s the one teaching the lessons.

Because almost every high class hotel in London has learned a thing or two from the place over the 40 years of its existence. Up until the moment it was first built back in 1978, there wasn’t really any such thing as a boutique hotel. Now they’re everywhere, and they’re still looking to their role model for inspiration.

And underneath those rooms? There’s a restaurant befitting the five stars the hotel has earned. This is the part we’re interested in today. The space is dressed almost entirely in black, with splashes of light, polished wood across the floor and in the furnishings, giving it a moodily lustrous feel.

On the menu, there’s a globe-spanning list of goods with starters including everything from sushi platters & soft shell crab with nam jim dressing; to Jamon Ibérico with sourdough, or Burrata Pugliese with heritage tomatoes. The mains have a similarly large range, including the likes of coconut saffron curry with parsnip, and purple potato; and Suffolk lamb shoulder with kale & veal jus.

Washing all this down, there’s a cocktail bar too – Blakes Below – where the Chai Tea Martini comes infused with sake, and the Red Jaliscus has tequila, hibiscus, and a mezcal spray. And that’s obviously in addition to the pretty impressive wine list.

If you want to do it old school.

NOTE: The restaurant at Blakes is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. You can find out more, and make a booking, at their site right HERE.

Blakes Hotel | 33 Roland Gardens, SW7 3PF

Staying in the area? Make sure you squeeze in a drink at the Evans & Peel Detective Agency