Five restaurants to visit during London’s Frieze Art Fair

The Frieze Art Fair is returning to the Regent’s Park tomorrow, meaning that once again art enthusiasts will flock to London to peruse thousands of years of art history. But the aesthetic exploration needn’t end when you leave the gallery space: the capital has far more to offer, even in the places you least expect. We’ve rounded up a few restaurants which play on the relationship between art and food, turning the dining room into a multi-sensory experience.

Sessions Arts Club

In August, a brand-new multimedia project opened in the heart of Clerkenwell within the beautifully restored 18^th-Century Grade-II-listed Old Sessions House. A collaboration between Cabin Studios, Sätila Studios and Florence Knight, Sessions Arts Club brings together the best of art, design and food. The creative studio houses a restaurant, wine bar and art gallery space, offering a refined, seasonally led menu inspired by British, French and Italian cooking. Book a table here 

Galvin at Windows

If you haven’t already visited Galvin at windows to try their menu by acclaimed chef Marc Hardiman, there’s yet another reason to go. One of the UK’s leading abstract resin artists, Nat Bowen, has just unveiled a special collaboration with the award-winning restaurant on the 28^th floor of London Hilton on Park Lane. Two of Bowen’s signature large-scale colourful artworks will be permanently on display at Galvin at Windows, elevating the space and complementing the restaurant’s world-class dining experience. Book a table here.

Sketch

When it comes to collaborations between art and food, you don’t get much better than Sketch. This three-Michelin-starred restaurant in Mayfair is renowned for offering an immersive, state-of-the-art experience as well as world-class dishes. The venue is split into five sections, including a gastro brasserie conceived by artist David Shrigley and “The Glade”, a room decorated with a magical woodland mural. Even the website has fun interactive features which allow visitors to compose their own virtual plates. Book a table here. 

Jikoni

Chef Ravinder Bhogal also works as a stylist – and it shows. Her popular Marylebone restaurant, Jikoni, also known as the “No Borders Kitchen”, is decked out in vibrant fabrics, from the cushions and tablecloths to the napkins, as well as beautiful floral displays, which make it an unexpected aesthetic delight. What’s more, the food itself, which crosses multiple cultures, is just as colourful. Every plate is a feast for the eyes as well as the palate, with influences ranging from India and Kenya to the Middle East. Book a table here.

Le Gavroche

You’ve probably heard of this restaurant for the chef at its helm, Michel Roux Junior, but what you might not know is that this esteemed London spot also houses an impressive fine art collection. With pieces by artists such as Picasso, Giacometti, Miro and Dali, it’s as much a gallery as it is a fine dining space. Roux Jr, who is known for his mastery of traditional French cooking, also wishes to share his appreciation of art for those who wish to feed their mind as well as their bodies. Book a table here.

The editorial unit