Frieze London 2024 is ready to take over the city again next week. With an array of exhibitions, installations and shows on offer, it is quite easy to work up an appetite while walking around its base in Regent’s Park or one of the satellite events around the city. With so much to see, finding time to pick a delicious restaurant en route can often make or break a day. To take away the stress of choosing, we have put together a guide of the best places to grab a bite after a day at the fair. Looking for art-filled restaurants? We have those too.
Where to eat during Frieze London
Pario
Newport Street Gallery 1, 9 Newport St, London SE11 6AJ
If you are unable to make it to Frieze, but still want to indulge in the cultural bustle of art observing around the city, then Pario may have you covered. The new pop-up dining experience is located at Damien Hirst’s Newport Street Gallery in Vauxhall, which brings a fresh approach to contemporary British cuisine. Focusing on sharing-style dishes and quality produce the menu includes barbecued Cornish lobster tail to ex-dairy Dry Aged Ribeye. The gallery welcomes a new era of culinary artistry that coincides with London Frieze Week.
George Club
Frieze London, London, NW1 4LL
Private members club, George has taken its signature charm to Frieze, with a new pop-up at the art fair. Inspired by its classic Main Bar area, the space is an amalgamation of blue hues and brass touches, finished with a completed four part series of paintings by David Hockney. Offering a moment to unwind from the bustling art fair atmosphere, George presents an array of dishes from spicy tuna tacos to lobster and shrimp cocktail. Desserts include choosing soft scoop ice cream from a fun ice cream cart to accompany a decadent chocolate brownie. The Frieze cocktails menu is inspired by the fusion of fashion, music, and art.
Mount St. Restaurant
The Audley Public House First Floor, 41-43 Mount St, London W1K 2RX
Mount St. Restaurant unveils its new 'Palette to Plate' menu, a playful creation where food imitates art. Drawing inspiration from the artwork displayed around the restaurant, the dishes are colourful, fun and creative. To begin with tuck into roast pumpkin soup with burrata and brioche which nods to Hans Emmenegger “Turbankurbis”. Andy Warhol’s “Lobster” inspires the restaurant's lobster pie, while a sorbet dessert reflects Frank Bowling’s “Shallowtrench”, and homemade chocolates nod to Dame Phyllida Barlow’s iconic “Audley ceiling” .
Toklas
1 Surrey St, Temple, London WC2R 2ND
For Frieze fans out there you may have guessed that Toklas would be on the list. Created by the founders of Frieze, Matthew Slotover & Amanda Sharp, the restaurant and bakery is deeply rooted within the art world. From its sumptuous Mediterranean-infused cuisine such as shaved courgettes sprinkled with mint, to its bakery’s buttery pastries with rich chocolate to sumptuous blackberries folded within each layer. The process from preparation to plating-up is an art form in itself. Whether it be a quick pick-me-up from the bakery or a longer sit down dining experience after a long day, Toklas is the ideal spot to reflect on the busy day of art and observe even more in the restaurant interior which boasts an impressive collection of its own.
Fonda
12 Heddon St, London W1B 4BZ
Fonda has just opened in time for Frieze and is included in our monthly restaurants to try in London round-up. The new Mexican restaurant, founded by Santiago Lastra, is located just behind the Royal Academy of Arts, and alongside a delicious menu it also constantly changes collections of artwork from up-and-coming Mexican artists. Lastra encourages gallerists, designers, tastemakers and food-lovers alike to enjoy his interpretation of a fonda- family-owned fresh-food counters found in markets around Mexico City-and dishes up food inspired by home cooking which has been passed down through generations.
abc kitchens
Old Barrack Yard, London SW1X 7NP
Located inside the The Emory, overlooking Hyde Park, abc kitchens offers a dining area which feels fresh and familiar. The interiors were designed by Rémi Tessier and were inspired by the architecture of the building, while artworks by Damien Hirst also decorate the space. Whether it be a quick breakfast before the art fair begins, or a light lunch refresh, the menu varies from succulent shellfish to pork confit tacos and tuna tartare.
Maison François
34 Duke Street St James's, London SW1Y 6DF
In the heart of St James’s, Maison François is the perfect spot to enjoy a different form of art- the art of cooking. Guests can watch the chefs work around the floating pass in the open kitchen, where they recreate classic French cuisine. The brasserie and wine bar is open from morning through to midnight, offering a range of fresh breads and patisseries from its in-house bakery, and a menu focused on seasonality and simplicity.
Nobu London Portman Square
22 Portman Square, London W1H 7BG
Art meets dining with Nobu Catering, bringing its renowned dining experience to the art fair. Nobu Catering by Nobu London Portman Square will be at Frieze Masters at The Regent’s Park offering a tailored menu to enjoy after exploring the variety of galleries and vibrant art. Tuck into Nobu's iconic dishes such as black cod miso to yellowtail sashimi jalapeño, and tempura eel- a culinary experience merges art and gastronomy in perfect harmony.
Sessions Arts Club
Frieze London at The Regent's Park London NW1 4NR
Or
4th Floor, Farringdon, 24 Clerkenwell Grn, London EC1R 0NA
Tucked away in Sessions House, a Grade II* listed building in Clerkenwell, Sessions Arts Club is located in the old judges’ dining room, while also making a pop-up appearance at Frieze. The room is surrounded by three terraces and a cosy fireplace to warm up next to on a drizzly day. What makes the restaurant distinct is its foundational principles, which are built on a studio ethos. Not only a bar and restaurant it also is an art and performance space hosting an array of curated programs.
Jikoni and Rita's
19-21 Blandford St, London W1U 3DH
Or
Frieze London, The Regent's Park (Park Square West Entrance)London NW1 4NR
Jikoni's British, African and Middle Eastern fusion cuisine has always taken an innovative approach to vegetables, with most ingredients sourced from their biodynamic farm partner, Waltham Place. Menu highlights to look out for include, Spiced Cauliflower Mac & Cheese, Hot & Sour Sweetcorn Risotto, Lime Leaf Butter and to for dessert it offers the infamous Banana Cake, with Miso Butterscotch, and Peanut Brittle. While Soho hotspot Rita’s will be presenting 'Rita's Cubano Bar'. Expect freshly made Cubano sandwiches, seasonal salads, fresh juices and vibrant cocktails.
jikonilondon.com; ritasdining.com
Fischer’s
50 Marylebone High St, London W1U 5HN
Is there any better way to finish off a day at Frieze (or any day for that matter) than with a glass of wine and the best schnitzel in London? The like-minded should book a table at Fischer's next week. The beloved Austrian restaurant from the Corbin & King group is an ideal setting for a relaxed and reliably delicious meal only a few minutes walk from the Frieze hub in Regent’s Park.
Writer Mary Cleary
Scott’s
20 Mount St, London W1K 2HE
Originally opened as an oyster warehouse in 1851, Scott’s has evolved into one of the most glamorous restaurants in London. Boasting an illustrious clientele (and as the rumoured origin of James Bond’s ’shaken not stirred’ martini) Scott’s is the place to go if your seeking an opulent finish to your day.
Enjoy oysters and champagne at the famous Champagne bar, or cap off your art-packed day in the most decadent way possible with a booking at The Platinum Arowana Room private dining room, where you can dine on golden pearl caviar and lobster soufflé, surrounded by Renoir, Miró and Chagall paintings.
Claridge's The Painter’s Room
Brook St, London W1K 4HR
Claridge’s The Painter’s Room is an Art Deco style bar serves cocktails inspired European art and culture, including the ‘Saint Remy’ – a variation on a martini inspired by Van Gogh’s Almond Blossom painting. Food comprises of small plates, among them bar classics such as crispy scampi and updated delicacies like beetroot tartar, all served by a bar team dressed in ‘bleu de travail’ blue worker jackets inspired by the signature outfit of American fashion photographer Bill Cunningham.
The calming pink interiors and art filled walls makes it an ideal place to unwind after a busy day at the fair.
Writer Mary Cleary
The Connaught's Red Room
The Connaught, Carlos Pl, London W1K 2AL
Wind down after a day of art-fair hustling with a glass of wine at The Connaught’s Red Room. The newly opened space is a showcase for the iconic hotel’s unparalleled wine collection, which features 30,000 bottles, many of which can be enjoyed by the glass thanks to the revolutionary Coravin system that makes it possible to pour wine without removing the cork.
Enjoy your glass of fine wine alongside the Red Room’s equally impressive art collection. The red-hued artworks that have given the space its name include original works by four female visionaries: Jenny Holzer, Louise Bourgeois, Trina McKillen, and the young Vietnamese artist, Tia-Thuy Nguyen.
The Wallace Collection
Hertford House, Manchester Square, London W1U 3BN
Take a break from the contemporary wonders of Frieze with a look back at the Old Masters at The Wallace Collection. Located near the Frieze hub in Regent’s Park, the former residence of the Marquesses of Hertford and Sir Richard Wallace is home to both an expansive collection of 18th- and 19th-century art and an excellent lunchtime cafe.
The bright glazed courtyard is a good pit stop for a healthy salad or afternoon tea. Or, better yet, start the day there with the new brunch menu inspired by the forgotten masters of the East India Company. Tempting offerings include paratha scrambled eggs with chilli, ginger and toasted sesame seeds; and white peach and jasmine gin and tonics.
Scarfes Bar
Rosewood London, 252 High Holborn, London WC1V 7EN
‘A place where paintings and potions meet’ is the tagline for Scarfes Bar at the Rosewood hotel, and its true that the glitzy Covent Garden lounge boasts some of the most creative cocktails and creative interiors in town.
The bar is named after British artist Gerald Scarfe, and playful caricatures of historical and fictional figures adorn the walls. The theme is carried into the cocktail menu, which features the Amy Winehouse-inspired ‘Rickstasy’ cocktail (a blend of Remy Martin 1738, Old Duff, sea buckthorn, and lavender) and the Princess Diana-themed ‘Spencer Bevvy’ (a sophisticated mix of Havana Club Seleccion de Maestros, fig, and chestnut mango).
