Cornus

Arguably the prize attraction of Belgravia’s new Ice Factory development, Cornus has rounded up a stellar team of industry all-stars to look after every aspect of the restaurant operation. Former Angler chef Gary Foulkes has been quietly cooking some of the best food in London for a decade. Pastry chef Kelly Cullen is one of the UK’s best and brightest pastry talents. David O’Connor and sommelier Melania Battiston have led the line at superb Medlar for many years. But despite having Real Madrid talent levels all over the pitch, the restaurant isn’t falling over itself to show off - there’s an air of serenity here, of calm and confidence, even just weeks after opening.

Cornus also has a bit of exclusivity to it, and not just because of the prices (more on that later). A lift whisks you away from the pleasant Eccleston Yards courtyard, far from the reaches of Victoria’s pavement pounders, into a lofty, air conditioned dining room of white tablecloths, diffused natural light and Matisse-style art prints. Behind beige net curtains is a beautiful terrace, still waiting to be unveiled to the public. Quiet luxury is the vibe.

A quick glance at the menu might set your eyes watering at the prices, but Cornus is a specific sort of restaurant - an old-school safe space where you know exactly what you’re getting for your money. The cooking is absolutely superb, in fact, almost perfect - though some will fairly say that a £50 plate of roast chicken, langoustines and truffle sweetcorn shouldn’t be any less than perfect. But this isn’t just chicken with langoustines - that chicken is from Landes, and the langoustines are fine, fat specimens from Scotland. If you want the best of the best in a nice, glossy, air-conditioned terrace restaurant in Belgravia, this is the price you pay.

Foulkes dips into an old bag of tricks for a few other dishes, showing off the delicate touch with fish and seafood that made Angler similarly superb. Who can say no to hand-rolled spaghetti topped with lobster and caviar, for example? Spare a moment (and space in your dessert belly) for a magnificent brown sugar custard tart, cut with such precision that the sides look like obsidian.

There are a growing number of restaurants in London where you can easily drop big money. At Cornus, at least, you’re guaranteed to leave satisfied.

Cornus, a new Modern European rooftop restaurant in Belgravia, boasts a fine pedigree - the team behind it includes David O’Connor and Joe Mercer Nairne of Chelsea mainstay Medlar, and Executive Chef Gary Foulkes, previously of the Michelin-starred Angler.

Foulkes’ menu aims to remain grounded in traditional French culinary techniques and the best of British and European produce, while also showcasing flavours Foulkes has encountered while travelling across the world. The resulting fusion menu includes starters such as sea bass tartare with oyster cream, green apple, and shiso, followed up by hearty Modern British dishes with a twist, such as Lake District lamb with Romero pepper piperade, lamb kofte, capers, and olives.

If you’re still hungry after this, check out the dessert menu, which has comfort and indulgence as its watchwords - creamed rice pudding with caramelised oat milk, cherries, and cherry ripple ice cream and Amalfi lemon tart with Greek yoghurt ice cream are just two highlights. Lukasz Gorski, the World Young Sommelier of the Year for 2024, presides over the wine list alongside former Medlar sommelier Melania Battiston; the list includes an extensive by-the-glass offering, so you can have the flexibility to pair individual glasses with your meal. Cocktails are unique and well-thought out, including a clarified coffee Negroni, and there are plans to introduce a dedicated sake menu in the future.

And that’s to say nothing of the view. Cornus is located on the rooftop of the Ice Factory, a converted factory (that produced, you guessed it, ice) at Eccleston Yards in Belgravia, which means floor-to-ceiling views of the London skyline behind sheer curtains. This panoramic view is balanced by soft green and pink interiors, by the interior designers behind Islington’s Italian favourite Trullo.