Buvette is coming back to London, this time opening in Covent Garden

7/5/26 - updated with more details and an opening date.

Chef Jody Williams is taking another crack at London with New York-originated restaurant Buvette (which also has opened in Paris, Tokyo and Seoul). 

The self-style "gastrotheque" will be opening an 80-seater site, taking over what was the old St John Bakery in Neal's Yard (that recently moved across the way). If you've ever visited that space and are wondering just how they're going to fit 80 seats in there, a recent trip to Neal's Yard showed us that they'll also be taking over the space next door (and knocking through, we presume).

It's not Buvette's first time at trying to break London, though. They opened in Notting Hill just after the first Covid lockdown in 2021, albeit with little fanfare or publicity, only to close at the beginning of 2024. Opening in this more central location, it does look like they're putting a little more effort into getting the word out this time. 

As far as the food is concerned, Buvette will be an all-day restaurant, starting with dishes like a waffle sandwich with cured bacon and eggs for breakfast. They'll also have a croque monsieur with ham and Gruyère that'll be served all day long. As for the rest of the menu, it sounds quite similar to what's currently available in New York, with dishes like coq au vin, cassoulet and escargots on the menu. 

On the drinks side, the wine list will be "unapologetically" French, while cocktails include their own take on a French 75 with cognac, lemon and champagne. In all, this cosy courtyard seems like a better space for Buvette, so we can see it becoming a bigger hit than before.