The Clove Club
GO HERE: because the designers of the 1865 Shoreditch Town Hall never could have imagined that this stately space would be home to one of London’s coolest, most forward-thinking restaurants. Chef Isaac McHale pulls out all the stops, and all the hallmarks of an international hot spot are there: beautiful room, proper but relaxed service, high-level pyrotechnics on the plate. Don’t want to tuck in for the full treatment? The front bar is also a scarily fun place for a strong, smart cocktail and a few small plates. Things get a little crazy here as the night wears on—just look at what happened when we shot this story!
ORDER THE: five-course menu at dinner (the wine pairing is worth it); roast cauliflower with bay leaf and bread sauce, and the apple tarte Tatin with sour cream from the à la carte menu at lunch; bread and butter and buttermilk fried chicken with pine salt at the bar.
THE VIBE IS: party in the front bar, sleek and celebratory in the back dining room.
PRACTICAL STUFF: Reserve online as soon as you book your plane ticket, or stop by the bar for a few bites. Open for lunch, 12:00 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. and dinner from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., Tuesday to Saturday; dinner only on Monday. Closed Sunday.
