Where's Fred's

Where’s Fred’s is London-based entrepreneur Chelsea Finch’s fourth opening. Her trio of District cafés has received high praise for their Aussie-style brunches and signature coffee blends. This day-to-night café-to-wine bar promises a similar coffee and brunch offering, but with the evening addition of cocktails, sustainable wines and ‘Mediterranean-inspired small plates’.

Tucked away on Frederick’s Place, a mere two-minute walk from Bank tube station, Finch has found a choice setting for her latest endeavour. Entering through the solid black door, you’re greeted by an airy space with exposed brick, white tables and a stylish bar. Trendy boxes have been carefully ticked here: recent neo-soul tracks on the speakers and water glasses wider than they are tall, you know the type.

Romain the bartender was a delight - friendly, attentive and laid-back. A classic Negroni and a spicy Tommy’s margarita started things off nicely, and the smooth agave nectar was pleasantly balanced by the chilli kick. Both drinks were eclipsed, however, by Romain’s recommendation to accompany the food. For those who think pink fizz is only for hen dos, La Jara Rose Frizzante is the bottle for you. Subtle, versatile and dangerously drinkable.

The phrasing of ‘Mediterranean-inspired small plates’ leaves a lot of wiggle room. Most of the dishes are bar classics: bread, cured meats from Cobble Lane Cured, burrata with fig and pan-fried chorizo with aioli. No complaints here, except perhaps the price (£11.50 for the burrata). The garlic and wine clams, however, felt a tad out of place and the sauce - while it did contain the promised garlic and wine - was a little bland. This definitely would have benefitted from some chilli or fresh parsley.

Overall, the evening menu is like that burrata: Instagrammable, slightly pricey and ultimately well-trodden ground. That being said, this is still a lovely spot for a cocktail and a catch-up.

Where's Fred's is a day-to-night café-to-wine bar in the City of London, two minutes walk from Bank tube station. It is the fourth opening from Australian entrepreneur Chelsea Finch. Finch's café chain District has three highly successful branches in Parson's Green, Nine Elms and Mayfair, and is well-loved for its excellent coffee and Aussie-style brunches. 

This is Finch's first evening endeavour, with the brunch and coffee of the day shifting into cocktails, low-intervention wine and Mediterranean-inspired small plates in the evening. Brunch dishes include Pan con tomate with fried eggs, truffle egg croissant and the mouthwatering Fred's Loaded Banana Bread topped with Greek yoghurt, roasted figs and pistachios. Every lunchtime there is a choice of sandwiches with a vegan option made with Snapery Bakery focaccia, and a hot dish like spaghetti vongole or a steak and cheddar pie, available to eat in or take away.

The signature evening dish is one that might be unfamiliar to most - oysters Kilpatrick - which involves grilling oysters with bacon, butter and Worcestershire sauce. This is a primarily Australian dish, and Finch says she has struggled to find it done right in the UK. Also available to accompany evening drinks is a charcuterie board from Cobble Lane Cured, cheeseboards, burrata with roasted squash and pesto and cannellini beans with cavolo nero and pesto.

The wine list has been crafted by Finch alongside her friend Emma Underwood (known for her roles at Where The Light Gets In and Stem). Most options are European, from chemical-free vineyards. Coffee comes from Origin Coffee Roasters and is also used in espresso martinis in the evening. 

Where's Fred's finds itself in a restored townhouse on a secluded side street, making this the perfect setting for a coffee, brunch, lunch, cocktail or wine in an airy yet cosy space in the heart of London.