YOPO at the Mandrake

The Mandrake is an all-day offering suited to the hotel's location and describes itself as ‘Amazonian-inspired’, although take that with a pinch of salt, as it loosely translates as some jungle theming to the decor and a mild South American accent to the broadly European cooking.

There’s coffee and grab-and-go dishes for breakfast, though the theming really works best at night, when YOPO is a far sexier proposition, with candlelight illuminating the hand-painted jungle mural on the ceiling while a poppy soundtrack blasts from the speakers.

Well-meaning staff will talk you through the menu of sharing plates; we recommend five dishes between two diners. We loved scallops – crisp on top, fleshy within – resting on a pool of puréed pumpkin and truffle shavings, while a meaty hunk of grilled aubergine drizzled with soy and paired with herb salad is a good shout for vegetarians.

Our best dish was potato churros, a savoury twist on the classic Spanish dessert involving sausages of doughy fried potato sprinkled with coffee grounds and served with a rich bottarga dip.

We finished with two joyfully rich, bitesize discs of almond and salted butter shortbread, sandwiched with dulce de leche and passionfruit jam – typical of a meal that was never less than enjoyable and showed occasional flashes of brilliance.

Drinks include fun cocktails, but if you’re looking to make a night of it, you can head to the hotel’s much buzzed-about Waeska bar. 

The Mandrake in the heart of Fitzrovia is a like-no-other luxury boutique hotel that’s been carefully designed to offers guests a unique, immersive and memorable experience. A perfect example of The Mandrake’s distinctive approach to hospitality is encapsulated in its main restaurant YOPO, a South American-inspired dining room where incredible design, food and drink come together in one space. Designed to transport guests from London to the Amazon rainforest, a meal at YOPO is one that's sure to leave a lasting impression. 

The interiors are just as important as the food here, and diners are invited to sit amongst elaborate foliage and greenery while they dine. The ceiling is decorated with a sprawling mural while every corner of the restaurant is inspired by, and evokes, nature. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the kitchen is led by Head Chef George Scott-Toft who has created menus inspired by his travels to Peru, Argentina and Chile. From indigenous Amazonian ingredients to low-intervention Argentinian wines, you’re bound to discover something new while dining at YOPO.  

With much of South American culture rooted in gathering together, the menu is intended to be shared with others. Choose from a variety of innovative plates including spinach, pine nut and ricotta empanada, octopus tacos with tomato, caper and avocado, and lamb with cocoa beans and black sesame mole. There's also a special sharing plate designed specifically for two people, which features beer braised pork belly, grilled spring onions, pickles and tacos. 

The restaurant also houses a more relaxed lounge area with its own separate entrance, which is open all day and offers a light snack menu. The wine list features plenty of international wines and champagne, but don’t neglect the cocktail menu which offers a host of new and exciting concoctions. There's one named Euphoria which blends St Germain elderflower, Muyu Chinotto, blood orange, champagne and fennel.