The allure of sky-high dining in London is omnipresent, but with gems like Bōkan in Canary Wharf serving up some stellar menus, perhaps it’s time to swerve the city and head to the Isle of Dogs next time you’re after dinner with a view.
Perhaps overlooked on occasion for the likes of Duck & Waffle and Sushisamba, this is one high rise restaurant that deserves a booking. On the 37th floor of the Novotel hotel building near to Heron Quays DLR, the award-winning restaurant serves up a menu inspired by rich European cultural cuisines using a mixture of local, ancient and adopted British ingredients. With a bar on the 38th and roof terrace on the 39th (albeit on the date of our visit it was a bit too nippy to head up there…) it’s a hot spot for a night out.
Seated at the best table in the house, right in the corner with stunning views of Canary Wharf below and stretching out to the City and West End, we settled down for a spectacular seven course winter tasting menu (£99 with an additional optional wine pairing). Dishes included sweetheart cabbage with sauerkraut and burnt mayo, a delicate tempura cod cheek with ras el hangout and kimchi powder, a rich foie gras escalope with flambé mandarin, and venison served with pear and ginger. It was a menu of fantastically diverse flavours, a journey around different cuisines and destinations without leaving Canary Wharf. A serious treat and by far one of our favourite menus of the festive season.
With places like this gracing Docklands, you’d do well to venture out of the city and book yourself a table.
