Bethnal Green, Fusion Restaurant Guide

“The new kitchen is a joy to watch in action” at Rafael Cagali’s genius venue in Bethnal Green’s “lovely old town hall”, which has lacked ambience in the past, but which emerged from a four-week closure and refurb in early 2025 on which early reports are very positive (the new layout includes a lounge for pre-dinner drinks and snacks). Rafael’s “brilliant” Brazilian- influenced tasting menu here is regularly one of the highest-rated in our annual diners’ poll and the “absolutely gorgeous and surprising dishes” offer “a fun experience whilst also wowing with flavours”. “Service is also a draw from the very knowledgeable staff” and there’s “an amazing wine list and such good advice to go with it”. Allow three hours for the tasting menu which is £245 per person. (“I always say that I cannot get this food anywhere else.....and I leave wanting to come back. That is very special, as is the team.”). Top Tips – there’s also a short tasting menu (Wed-Fri) for £185 per person and three-course set lunch for £110 per person.

“Hidden away in the Town Hall Hotel”, this “low-key” venue with its white-painted walls and bare tables “could be the termed the hotel’s ‘second’ restaurant or ‘poor relation’ to the two star Da Terra”, but is uniformly praised for its “consistently interesting, well executed dishes”: “highly inventive, tapas-style food that’s ideal for sharing and with super flavours”. One or two regulars note that “it rarely seems to be very busy” and “can lack atmosphere if you hit a service with a limited number of diners”.