Bagatelle is famed worldwide for its ‘joie de vivre’ and panache inspired by the South of France. Having closed for a few weeks over summer, Bagtelle’s exquisite interior revamp sets the stage for seasonally inspired dishes, new additions to the cocktail menu and a new direction for the brand.
Bagatelle London has had a significant redesign and the newly designed interior exudes elegance, offering the perfect setting for memorable dining experiences and celebrations. Sam Baron, Head Of Design and Creative Direction, is at the helm of the interior design team and has brought his experience as a consultant for leading brands including Pierre Frey, Dior Maison, Diptyque, Vista Alegre and the French liquor brand Hennessy to the Bagatelle venue.
Sam has designed several of the Bagatelles including Bagatelle St. Tropez, Bagatelle St. Barths, Bagatelle Bodrum, Bagatelle Doha and now Bagatelle London.
His design merges absolute sophistication with a warm, welcoming atmosphere – a modern ode to French brasseries. The space is conceived as a home away from home, where the city’s vibrancy meets intimate comfort, both chic and cosy with a stylish aesthetic and an inviting feel, creating the perfect urban destination where guests can sit back and relax.
The new bespoke wood panelling adds a touch of classic elegance, while beige hues create a serene, harmonious environment with a feel of luxury, enhancing the overall ambiance without overpowering it, in true French laid-back style. The restaurant is great for all occasions with family style larger oval tables set in alcoves, long banquette tables facing the bar to be more central in the restaurant and salon space mixing comfortable booths and round tables.
Aymeric Clemente, Founder & CEO, says, “We are excited to unveil this new project in London: a sophisticated and fashionable dining room that welcomes guests to indulge in our classic cocktails and food offerings alongside new creations. We look forward to bringing these new experiences to our loyal patrons and first-time guests alike, setting the tone for what’s coming next.”
The menu has been overseen and designed by Global Corporate Chef, Rocco Seminara and newly appointed London Executive Chef, Giuseppe Strippoli. He previously worked in Michelin star restaurant Aquavit as Sous Chef, followed by The Lanesborough and later on Clos Maggiore.
Both chefs wanted their menu to be a sumptuous love letter to the French Riviera and remind guests of being on holiday in the sun. The menu is designed for the epicurean bon vivant and world traveller who enjoys dipping their toes into the cuisine of the French Riviera from afar, in London’s Mayfair, with dishes taking inspiration from the Mediterranean, using locally sourced seasonal ingredients, created to be enjoyed and shared at the table with friends, in true Southern European family style.
Much of Bagatelle’s menu is featured at its other locations around the world with vibrant signature dishes including Eggplant Parmigiana, with mozzarella di Bufala Campana PDO, originally from Bagatelle Monaco and a luxurious nod to the chef’s mother’s comforting dish – it has been on the menu since the beginning and is finished at the table with a creamy parmesan sauce.
Another well-loved favourite and original on the menu is the Whole free-range chicken stuffed with tarragon butter and baked in a salt crust with aromatic garnishes and carved at the table and served with potatoes, shallots and mushrooms.
Some new highlights from the reimagined menu are; the Sea Bream ceviche marinated with mandarin and tagète limoni, Marinated Langoustines with cajun spices, pickled fennel and salmon roe, Grilled duck breast with stewed carrots and a rich Madeira sauce and Wild rice simmered in a shellfish broth with a lemon vierge sauce and cashews.
Seasonal ingredients are extremely important at Bagatelle with all the dishes enhanced with herbs and vegetables to keep them as light and fresh as possible. There are weekly specials at Bagatelle London: with dishes reflecting what is ideal at the moment and the truffle on offer reflecting the best around at the time of the year.
The Tablet d’orée is a perfect way to finish the meal with a crispy chocolate base, chocolate mousse, flavoured with rooibos tea and red fruits, finished with gold powder, vanilla gel, salted caramel butter and a chocolate glaze. A work of art created by Bagatelle Global Pastry Chef, Manon Santini who earned the prestigious title of World Champion of Pizza Dessert in 2019 with her sophisticated, Pizzetta au chocolat Jivara, a Jivara chocolate pizzetta, topped with caramelised Piedmont hazelnuts, which is a staple on the menu globally.
Global Corporate Chef Rocco Seminara says, “At our restaurant, we take immense pride in offering an exquisite dining experience that seamlessly blends tradition with innovation. Our signature dishes, loved by our guests, are a staple on our menu throughout the year. The menu creation process is collaborative. I work closely with my team, where we brainstorm, refine, and meticulously test each idea, striving to perfect both the taste and presentation.”
The cocktail menu is central to the experience and inspired by the South of France. Bespoke versions of classics feature – such as a French Mojito, combining mint leaves, Green Chartreuse, Amalfi Cordial and cold pressed pineapple juice. All of the liqueurs used are infused in house with natural flavours creating the ultimate cordials. The vibrancy of the cocktails matches the Bagatelle spirit with elements from the Mediterranean coast such as lemons from Amalfi, and the Azure cocktail echoing the Cote d’Azur.
New concoctions on the menu have been overseen by Master Mixologist Alex Baetu and include La Mediteranee with Grey Goose, house-made dragonfruit and lemon verbena cordial and Supasawa, a velvety fruity cocktail, mimicking a Cosmopolitan with a twist. The Fraise-Sur-Dordogne with Don Julio Reposado, Campari, Contrieu, lime juice and strawberry chilli syrup with a black salt rim is the Bagatelle version of a Margarita, a spicy and sweet drink.
Master Sommelier, Jonathan Spinat was previously at The Bleeding Heart and has a passion for small producers from France. His knowledge has produced an extensive French focused wine list with both new and old world wines and an interesting mixture of well known producers alongside smaller vineyards that he has met himself and personally hand selected.
As well as elevated dining and exceptional style, the Mayfair restaurant boasts lively and energetic sets from renowned DJs and artists, creating an exhilarating and captivating atmosphere from start to finish. Combining creative cuisine and mixology, exceptional service and an upbeat musical program, Bagatelle London offers the promise of unforgettable moments in a relaxed yet refined setting.
The re-opening of Bagatelle London is the beginning of a broader journey for the Bagatelle brand, with exciting new openings to come – watch this space.