As the temperature falls and salad days seem like a faraway prospect, it's time to turn to cheese - melted cheese specifically. There's no time of the year quite like winter for firing up a fondue and attempting not to lose your bread in the mix. From old-school Swiss institutions to modern Alpine bier halls, here's where to get a great fondue in London.
The Winter Lodge
Bloomsbury- 15 Montague St, London WC1B 5BJ
The Winter Lodge is a seasonal pop-up experience running till the end of March at The Montague on the Gardens in Bloomsbury.
Book a two hour session in their ski lodge (£60 for two, £30 for each additional guest) and enjoy a cheese fondue made with melted Gruyère, Emmental and dry white wine. The fondue is served with crusty bread, new potatoes, gherkins, tomatoes and pickled onion, but there's also a range of sides you can add on, including Bratwurst and roast pumpkin. There are party packages available too, which get you exclusive use and include an arrival glass of mulled wine, spiced cider or punch.
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Albert's Schloss
Soho - 20-24 Shaftesbury Ave, London W1D 7EU
London’s Alpine pleasure place Albert’s Schloss is all about group dining and here there’s no better meal to share between friends than one of their fondues. The one here is made from melted Vacherin Fribourgeois and Gruyère and it’s served with haus pickles, sourdough and new potatoes. You can also opt for extra bratwurst if you’re after a more carnivorous feast.
St Moritz
Soho - 161 Wardour St, London W1F 8WJ
Billed as London’s oldest Swiss restaurant (and also one of London’s only Swiss restaurants) St Moritz has been a Soho stalwart since it opened back in 1974. It has one of the most extensive fondue menus in the city, with seven savoury options including the classic fondue Nauchateloise with Gruyere and Emmenthal and a fondue forestiere featuring wild mushrooms. There's even a dessert option made from melted Swiss chocolate that you can dip fruit into.
The Cheese Barge
Paddington
Fondue Thursdays are a big thing at The Cheese Barge which you'll find moored in Paddington. You can opt for one of two traditional fondues - pick from Cornish Keen and Lincolnshire poacher or Young Buck Blue cheese - or look out for a monthly changing special.
La Fromagerie
Bloomsbury and Marylebone
At both their Bloomsbury and Marylebone locations, guests can order La Fromagerie’s special Fondue Savoyarde. That’s made with Frontine d’Alpage, Comte d’Estive and Tomme Saint Antoine and is served with crusty bread and cornichons. There’s also the option to add charcuterie, potatoes or broccoli as extra dipping items.
Tiroler Hut
Notting Hill - 27 Westbourne Grove, London W2 4UA
The oldest restaurant on this list (it opened back in the Swinging Sixties), Tiroler Hut serves up fondue of course, but that’s entirely a sideshow to the main event. Owner Josef, now in his eighties, puts on a nightly show playing the accordion, the saxophone, the keyboard, the clarinet, and, we are not kidding you, the cowbells. Go expecting to have a great time.
Jumi Cheese
Stoke Newington - 56 Newington Grn, Newington Green, London N16 9PX
Every winter this Stoke Newington cheese shop turns its shop floor into an supper club devoted to either raclette or fondue. Founders Juerg and Mike learned the craft from their grandparents back in Switzerland so they know a thing or two about throwing a proper fondue party. Fondue parties happen every Friday evening in the winter months and are accompanied by in-house baked bread, locally sourced cured meats, and a variety of fruits and vegetables.
Boundary
Shoreditch - 2-4 Boundary St, London E2 7DJ
Every winter the rooftop bar and restaurant transforms itself into an Alpine hideaway. Fondue is on the menu, of course, and here it's a traditional Fondue Savoyard complete with croutons and cornichons. You can also add in charcuterie as an extra.
See also:
The Surprise in Chelsea is having a month-long fondue offering called Melt in Chelsea for January. The fondue is being served with crisp salad and chips.
Vagabond wine bars are putting on a classic Swiss fondue offering for January. You can upgrade it to a black truffle version as well, or go all out and pair it with a glass of Champagne.
The Turkish brunch feast at Megan's includes a Turkish cheese fondue as part of a shareable spread.
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