Since restaurant group D&D turned into the Evolv Group, they've been making a lot of changes to some of their flagship places. We have the completely relocated Le Coq D'Argent to come next year, but before that, they're getting ready for big changes at what's arguably the group's most famous restaurant, Quaglino's.
Quaglino's was first opened back in 1929 (meaning its 100th anniversary is almost upon us) and has been attracting royals and celebrities throughout its life. Its modern era started in 1993, when Terence Conran relaunched it as a brasserie, and it quickly became the hottest restaurant in town. We still have one of Quaglino's Q-shaped ashtrays somewhere. We're not saying how we got it...
It's continued to be a successful restaurant in more recent years, if not quite the celebrity hotspot it once was. Although it did play a key role in an episode of Netflix Hit One Day. But it sounds like a lot of work is going into bringing the restaurant back to its heyday. It will be closing for a full restoration for two months and during that time, they'll be adding three new bars and moving the stage too.
On the bar front, firstly they'll be adding a champagne bar, with 24 Champagnes available by the glass. There's also a dessert bar, which will be inspired by a Cannes "Tabac" and will have "smoke-filled edible helium balloons" as well as cannoli cigars and chocolate ashtrays. We're going to assume the latter will be in the classic Q shape, and we now want one of those too.
Finally, they'll be adding a Fruits de Mer seafood counter. This is actually something that used to exist when Conran ran the show here, and it sounds like a good showcase of how they're trying to bring the restaurant back to its glory days. In addition to all the newbies, the Q Bar, its main bar, will be staying put.
As for the stage, that's being moved closer towards the centre of the room and there are also going to be raised booths around the whole of the dining room. That will immediately make them the best table to try and book.
It's not just the look though, as they're completely relaunching the menu too. They've brought in Miller Prada to manage that. He used to be Humo's head chef and is now Evolv's Group Culinary Consultant. Executive Chef Dan Scott (ex Michael Caines/Tom Kerridge) will also be working on the new menu, and dishes promised include vitello tonato skewers (an immediate must-have for us), pissaladiere, turbot Mountbatten and a lamb cutlet Milanese. And for lunchtime, they'll also be launching "Ten Pound Plates", so this could end up being a great place for a lunch deal.
About the launch, Evolv's CEO says, "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."
It really does sound like a very promising relaunch, and we'll definitely be in for a look closer to the time. We promise not to take any more ashtrays.
More about Quaglino's
Where is it? 16 Bury Street, London SW1Y 6AJ
When? The restaurant closes on 10 August and reopens 7 October 2026 (you can book now for the reopening).
Find out more: Visit their website or follow them on Instagram @quaglinos.
Subscribe to be the first to get the news from Hot Dinners
