London’s latest foodie hub houses a plethora of new restaurants and bars, in the Thomas Heatherwick-designed Coal Drops Yard development...

Hicce

Pip Lacey, former head chef at Angela Hartnett’s Murano in Mayfair, has moved on to her first solo venture in King's Cross. Hicce (pronounced ‘ee-che’) is a fast-paced wood-fired dining experience - with an emphasis on home-style cooking with curing, smoking, and pickling all conducted in-house - in the British fashion retailer Wolf & Badger store at King's Cross Coal Drops Yard. The 80 cover restaurant with alfresco seating for approximately 35 offers all day dining from midday onwards. The healthy menu uses wood-fired cooking techniques (via the open kitchen) which combines British cuisine with Nordic and Japanese influences. This is Pip’s first stand alone restaurant, since leaving Michelin starred restaurant Murano and following her win on Great British Menu 2017. 

Le Chocolat Alain Ducasse

Ducasse Paris’ signature chocolate brand, Le Chocolat Alain Ducasse, created and manufactured in Paris, has opened a permanent store at Coal Drops Yard. Offering single-origin and flavoured ganaches, pralinés “à l’ancienne”, chocolate bars and more, the shop is Le Chocolat’s first opening in London. Its chocolates are made traditionally in Paris, in a workshop at the back of a small cobbled courtyard at 40 rue de la Roquette, with each step of the confection process mastered and controlled by Ducasse’s artisan chocolate maker Nicolas Berger.

Coal Office

Coal Office is the new restaurant at the Tom Dixon store in Coal Drops Yard. The restaurant is a collaboration between Dixon and acclaimed chef Assaf Granit of London’s Barbary & Palomar and Paris’s Balagan.  Expect a “new exciting culinary experience”, with seating for 160 guests over three floors, inclusive of a rooftop terrace and al fresco dining area with “360-degree views over Granary Square”. According to the website, we’re in for a treat… “A fascinating mixing bowl of influences, inspiration, design, flavour, spices, stories, and heritage tossed and mixed" by the renowned chef and iconic British designer Tom Dixon.

Vermuteria Cafe & Bar

Wild Honey's Anthony Demetre has opened Vermuteria Café & Bar. Prompted by his interest in vermouth and the classic bodegas and vermuterias in northern Spain and Italy, Anthony is offering an all-day menu, highlighting casual eating (salads, charcuterie, pastries), with a comprehensive drinks accompaniment, including numerous vermouth-based cocktails and at least 40 different vermouths. Vermuteria is a 45-seat informal café and bar, with additional seating outdoors for 40. The interior incorporates original brickwork within the arches and wooden beams, and Anthony has assembled a collection of drinks-related memorabilia, including posters, to adorn the walls.

Barrafina + Case Pastor

Harts Group, the restaurant group behind Barrafina, Quo Vadis and El Pastor, have opened two restaurants and a wine bar at the new Coal Drops Yard retail quarter. Led by Sam and James Hart and Crispin Somerville, the group has launched a Barrafina with a corresponding outdoor terrace offering; Casa Pastor, a new Mexican sister to Borough’s El Pastor, with its own outside space; and a new wine bar, The Drop - which has its own terrace and serves modern British plates. Also, check out Parrillan - the terrace bar and grill is part of the Barrafina site at Coal Drops Yard. The partially covered space seats around 100 guests, and takes reservations as well as walk-in diners. The kitchen serves up a menu of snacks, alongside main dishes of meats and seafood which are cooked by guests on their own table-top grills.

Ideal For

Being in the know