Legendary West End restaurant Quaglino’s is closing next week for a major overhaul that will see the creation of three new bars and the introduction of a new menu as it approaches its centenary in 2029.
Relaunched in its modern form by the late Sir Terence Conran in 1993, the basement venue in Bury Street, St James’s was one of the capital’s most fashionable spots in the decade that followed, with live music adding to the Jazz Age atmosphere.
It is now part of the Evolv Collection, whose CEO Martin Williams says, “Few rooms in London carry the history that Quaglino’s does – the royalty, the music, the feeling that anything might happen after midnight. We haven’t changed what Quaglino’s is; we’ve simply reminded London why it fell for it in the first place.”
The planned improvements include the addition of a new seafood counter, a new Champagne bar with 24 bubbles available by the glass, and a dessert bar inspired by a Cannes ‘Tabac’, with smoke-filled edible helium balloons, cannoli cigars and chocolate ashtrays. The signature Q Bar will remain in place, but the stage will be moved closer to the centre and raised booths installed around the perimeter of the dining room.
Meanwhile, Evolv’s group culinary consultant Miller Prada, formerly head chef at Humo, is working with executive chef Dan Scott (ex-Michael Caines and Tom Kerridge) on the new menu. Dishes will include vitello tonato skewers, pissaladiere, turbot Mountbatten and a lamb cutlet Milanese. There will also be a new lunchtime deal called ‘Ten Pound Plates’.
Quaglino’s will be closed from next Monday 10 August and is scheduled to reopen on Wednesday 7 October.
