Vesper is a restaurant on Exmouth Market from chef-patron Jackson Boxer, taking over a prominent double-fronted corner site at numbers 8–10. Named after the Roman word for Venus as it appears at dusk, the restaurant takes its cues from the relaxing, gentle glow of the evening star.
Vesper follows Dove in Notting Hill, which opened in early 2025 and quickly earned both public and critical acclaim for its balance of luxury and accessibility. The same creative, approachable sensibility underpins Vesper, though the restaurant has its own distinct identity, rooted in its Clerkenwell setting and the rhythm of Exmouth Market.
The interiors have been designed by Jermaine Gallacher, creating a 70-cover space with an easy elegance and a touch of edge. Floor-to-ceiling timber-framed windows flood the room with light by day, while evenings bring a more intimate feel, with a relaxed bar at the front, a candlelit dining room beyond and a terrace of bistro tables for people-watching over drinks and snacks.
The menu is broad, seasonal and designed for flexible dining, moving from small plates to more substantial dishes. Starters and snacks include malted bread with butter and oil, oysters with green apple and chartreuse, croquettes filled with smoked fish Arnold Bennett-style, and raw beef tostadas with smoked pepper. Seafood features prominently, from red mullet with smoked cream and golden tomato to Dorset clams with black beans and white pepper, alongside sole fritters and grilled prawns.
Mains range from vegetable-led plates such as smoked squash with pumpkin seeds and peanut cream, to roast chicken with bread sauce and salted lemon, glazed lamb shoulder with merguez and devilled kidney, and beef shoulder chop with shimeji mushrooms and saffron rice. Desserts keep things classic and restrained, including canelé with milk and rum and chocolate porter cake.
A concise cocktail list focuses on clean, precise serves, complemented by an approachable wine list with a few more ambitious bottles at the top end.