Leading Michelin-two-starred Nordic restaurant, Aquavit, based in New York, will open its first European offering in The Crown Estate and Oxford Properties’ £400m St James’s Market redevelopment later this year.
Aquavit’s new restaurant will be offering a more informal and contemporary Nordic cuisine for all-day dining. The menu will be overseen by Michelin two Starred Executive Chef, Emma Bengtsson, and it will offer distinctly Nordic flavours. The food will be light and modern with a focus on high quality presentation, matched with the very best in modern Scandinavian interior design.
In addition to being the first restaurant announced for St James’s Market, it will also be largest at 9,000 sq ft with double-height ceilings, creating a flagship destination restaurant for this landmark scheme.
Aquavit joins leading fashion and lifestyle retail brands confirmed earlier this year for St James’s Market, including premier Swedish cycling brand Assos and iconic design and lifestyle brand SMEG. Global private equity firm, the Carlyle Group, will also be occupying new offices at the scheme for their London HQ.
Anthea Harries, on behalf of the St James’s Market Partnership, said: “We are thrilled the internationally acclaimed Aquavit has chosen St James’s Market for its first European offering, which will deliver a beautifully designed flagship restaurant at the heart of our new premier business address for London.
Aquavit’s arrival builds upon the success of our wider vision to rejuvenate St James’s, not just as world-leading business and retail destination, but also offering the best in international cuisine - from Chutney Mary and Cicchetti, through to Café Murano, to re-establish this iconic part of London.”
Philip Hamilton, CEO, Aquavit London, said: “We are delighted to be opening Aquavit’s first restaurant outside of New York, offering the very best in Nordic cuisine and stand-out Scandinavian design, with a contemporary all-day dining menu. Located in a city already famous for its restaurants, St James’s Market captured our imagination with its blend of cutting edge architecture, revitalised public spaces and historic surroundings to create an exciting new address to match our restaurant.”
St James’s Market forms part of our investment in the St James’s portfolio, which incorporates around 50% of the real estate in the area.
Source: Crown Estate