With his latest film, Asteroid City, set to hit cinemas next month, cult director Wes Anderson finds himself in the spotlight once again. Famed for his unique artistic vision, vivid colour palettes and flawless cinematic symmetry, Anderson’s quirky aesthetic has inspired the dreamy interiors in many London dining rooms. From the pastel hues of the new Prada Caffè in Harrods to the Art Deco glory of Brasserie Zédel, we reveal the most Wes Anderson-esque restaurants in London. Â
Wes Anderson-inspired restaurants in London
Prada Caffè in Harrods
For a truly authentic Wes Anderson restaurant experience, you need to head to Bar Luce in Milan, which was designed by the American director himself. But if you can’t make it to the Italian fashion capital, a visit to the Prada Caffè in Harrods is the next best thing. The famed fashion house has launched its own café in the world-famous department store, borrowing heavily from Anderson’s distinctive aesthetic – think a pastel palette, retro detailing and a touch of kitsch thrown in for good measure. Pop in for an expertly made cappuccino and a delicate pastry, which are almost too beautiful to eat.Â
87 – 135 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7XL
harrods.com
Sketch
The interiors at this famed Mayfair restaurant have made it one of the most Instagrammed dining rooms in London, and it’s not hard to see why. While its previous guise as an homage to all things candyfloss pink fitted in more with Anderson’s famed love of pastels, Sketch’s relatively recent decorative update by British-Nigerian artist Yinka Shonibare and architect India Mahdavi still exudes serious Wes Anderson vibes. With its golden-hued walls and perfectly symmetrical copper-toned banquettes, it’s the perfect place to stop off for afternoon tea.
9 Conduit Street, Mayfair, London W1S 2XG
sketch.london
The Blue Bar at The Berkeley
It’s all too easy to imagine one of Anderson’s characters sipping a potent cocktail in this atmospheric bar, which features the famed Lutyens Blue colour scheme originally created by the legendary interior designer David Collins. Alongside the symphony of blues, you’ll find listed architectural features that came from the original Berkeley on the corner of Piccadilly and Berkeley Street, as well as a white onyx bar and black crocodile-print leather floors. It’s the ultimate spot for a sophisticated nightcap with a touch of Wes Anderson charm.
Wilton Place, Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7RL
the-berkeley.co.uk
Brasserie Zédel
The Art Deco dining room at this bustling Parisian-style brasserie is a sight to behold on a Saturday night, when the red booths are packed with diners feasting on steak tartare, oysters and snails while being serenaded by the live house band. With its ornate gilded ceiling, grand marble columns and bubblegum pink tablecloths, it’s a dead ringer for the dining room in Wes Anderson’s 2014 film The Grand Budapest Hotel.
20 Sherwood Street, Piccadilly, London W1F 7ED
brasseriezedel.com
Bob Bob Ricard
This Soho institution is best known for its infamous ‘Press for Champagne’ buttons, which you’ll find on every table – unsurprisingly, they’ve poured more champagne than any other restaurant in Britain. But as well as its appreciation for fizz, the London restaurant is also known for its glamorous dining room, which features jewel-coloured booths inspired by the Orient Express and the Golden Age of Travel. With its look of an ultra-luxurious train carriage, settling in for a meal here will feel like you’ve been transported to the set of The Darjeeling Limited.
1 Upper James Street, Soho, London W1F 9DF
bobbobricard.com
The Grand Duchess
Book a meal aboard the Grand Duchess canal boat in Paddington and you’ll feel like you’ve stepped straight into a scene from The Life Aquatic. With its rich blue colour scheme and symmetrical rows of porthole windows, it feels like a direct homage to all things Wes Anderson. Operated by the London Shell Co, the restaurant specialises in fresh fish, with the catch of the day coming straight from a network of Cornish day boat fishermen. Start with hand dived scallops and Exmoor caviar before moving on to whole plaice, pollock and rainbow trout.
Paddington Canal, Paddington, London W2 6PY
londonshellco.com
Jacuzzi
The Big Mamma Group are known for their gloriously over-the-top interiors, whether it’s their Shoreditch original Gloria or the fairy light-strewn Circolo Popolare in Fitzrovia. If Wes Anderson were to recreate an opulent Italian trattoria, we imagine it would look a little like Jacuzzi, the group’s first west London locale. Spread across four floors, the palazzo-inspired interiors are crammed full of Italian treasures, from Roman statues to Murano glass. With its lime-green checkerboard tiled floors and pink chandeliers, it’s a dreamy spot to fill up on lobster risotto and home-made pasta.
94 Kensington High Street, Kensington, London W8 4SJ
bigmammagroup.com
MiMi Mei Fair
This jewel box-pretty restaurant in Mayfair is spread across three floors of a Georgian townhouse and features richly-detailed decor fashioned around 1920s Shanghai and the imaginary private residence of Empress MiMi. The interiors at MiMi Mei Fair are pulled off with cinematic panache, featuring a coral and Wedgwood-blue parlour filled with chandeliers and the shiny wooden booths in the ‘Hall’, which are remarkably reminiscent of the train carriage in The Darjeeling Limited. The food is just as decadent as the decor, with a menu that features hits such as roasted Peking duck, Singapore chilli prawns and rainbow-coloured xiao long bao.
55 Curzon Street, Mayfair, London W1J 8PG
mimimeifair.com
V&A Museum Café
While the V&A might be most famous for its excellent exhibitions, a visit to the storied museum is more than worth a trip for its café alone. Known for being the world’s oldest museum restaurant, it is surely also the most beautiful, filled with intricately carved columns, a painted ceiling and richly gilded cornicing. Designed by James Gamble, William Morris and Edward Poynter, the opulently decorated rooms were created to reflect the eclectic tastes of the Victorian era, and would certainly appeal to Anderson’s grandiose aesthetic.
Cromwell Road, South Kensington, London SW7 2RL
vam.ac.uk
The Red Room at the Connaught
When you think of bars at the Connaught, you immediately conjure up an image of the hotel’s sultry main bar, which has topped the world’s best bars list for several years in a row. But recently the most talked about spot for an evening tipple has actually been the Red Room, which opened to much fanfare in 2021. Designed by Maybourne Group favourite Bryan O’Sullivan, the room has the feel of a supremely chic collector’s living room, with a soft palette of creams, blush pinks and pearl blues. Settle in for a vintage glass of red – as a further nod to the bar’s name, wine is the main focus on the drinks’ menu – and admire the striking artworks that line the walls.
16 Carlos Place, Mayfair, London, W1K 2AL
the-connaught.co.uk
