Rake’s is a café-bar housed inside the Andaz, a luxury Hyatt hotel on Liverpool Street. Describing itself as a ‘café by day and a bar by night’, this restaurant encourages informal dining and all-round good vibes. It’s comprised of three rooms: the Front Room is a garden-inspired space where you can vibe along to local DJs throughout the week, the Parlour is a sophisticated yet casual lounge area boasting high ceilings and red walls, and No.3 is its private dining room.
During the day, the Front Room boasts plenty of natural light, trailing foliage and an indoor gazebo-like structure designed to bring the feel of the outdoors inside. Here, guests can dine from the all-day menu which comprises a range of small and large sharing plates. Examples of smaller dishes include sesame cauliflower wings with cashew ranch, Spanish ham and potato croquettes with chipotle mayo and chilli jam, and a saffron chicken kebab skewer. Larger dishes include a global selection, from beef short ribs with BBQ glaze and truffle mash to tagliatelle oxtail ragu with Parmesan and basil.
On Saturdays, attention turns to brunch, with both regular and boozy options available. Look out for pecan waffles with lemon crème fraiche, berries and rose fennel syrup, for example, or go bottomless with Prosecco, Champagne or cocktails for an extra cost.
During the evening, head over to its cosy red-painted lounge area to sample one of its signature cocktails, under names like The Orgy, The Prison or The Mad House. A concise selection of wines, port, beer and cider and non-alcoholic options are available, too, and it also runs a rather appealing daily happy hour!