Quaglino's Reopens Following Glamorous Revamp
Nearly a century after Giovanni Quaglino first lit up St James's, the restaurant that taught London how to dine, dance and be seen begins its next chapter this autumn
Almost one hundred years after it first opened its doors in 1929, Quaglino's, the glittering St James's institution that has drawn royalty, writers, film stars and London's café society for generations, begins a spectacular new chapter under The Evolv Collection, following a significant restoration, a newly commissioned collection of art, and a menu that traces the remarkable journey of its founder.
Now, under The Evolv Collection, Quaglino's is being returned to its full glory, not as an exercise in nostalgia, but as a living institution restored for the present. The restoration honours the room's Art Deco bones and its famous staircase while introducing a newly commissioned collection of art and a reimagined day-to-night experience.
At its centre is a menu that follows Giovanni Quaglino's own journey, from Piedmont to Cannes, by way of The Savoy, bringing together Italian provenance, French classical technique and the best of British traditional dining.
In addition to the famous Q Bar, which also offers innovative cocktails including re-imagined Savoy classics, three new bars anchor the unique experience: The Champagne bar; offering 24 champagnes by the glass and bottle. A Fruits de Mar seafood counter which serves molluscs and crustaceans, reminiscent of the original Conran feature design and offering, along with modern ceviche and tiradito small plates. And a Dessert bar, which takes the form of a Cannes ‘Tabac’ offering smoke-filled edible helium balloons, cannoli cigars and chocolate ashtrays.
“Quaglino’s isn’t simply a restaurant; it’s a part of London’s story”
True to Quaglino's history, entertainment returns to the heart of the room, with a new stage bringing cabaret and live music closer to guests than ever before and theatrical raised booths around the perimeter of the dining room.
In the spirit of Conran's ‘democratisation of dining’, the restored Quaglino's pairs its celebrated evenings of glamour and spectacle with a generous, accessible daytime offering of ‘Ten Pound Plates’, proof that a great London institution can belong to everyone...
In the kitchen, Executive Chef Daniel Scott brings three decades of culinary refinement to the role, drawing on a philosophy centred on seasonality and ingredient-led cooking. His approach strips away unnecessary complexity, allowing the quality of produce - sourced directly from farmers, producers and fishermen - to define each dish. Recognised as Leading Chef of the Year at the 2024 This is Manchester Awards, Scott's meticulous approach to seasonal transitions and his proven ability to lead ambitious kitchen operations make him instrumental in bringing Quaglino's vision to life.
Martin Williams, Chief Executive at The Evolv Collection comments: "Quaglino's isn't simply a restaurant; it's a part of London's story. Our job was never to reinvent it, but to return it restored, alive, and every bit as glamorous as the room Giovanni Quaglino opened in 1929. When Sir Terence Conran brought Quaglino's back in 1993, he understood that real glamour should be open to everyone. 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."
For more information: www.quaglinos-restaurant.co.uk
