You’ve seen the Instagram stories and you’ve seen the snaps – but now you’re dying to hear all about it! Right? Well, I’ve been dying to tell you all about this stunning venue for a while and it was great to come back after so many years and to see the food evolve. For those of you that don’t know, the executive chef here is André Garrett and I’ve always loved his cooking and the current menu exudes the essence of the Mediterranean. As does the decor and floral instalments that adorn the surroundings.
Although it may not seem like it, The Garden Terrace at The Corinthia Hotel is open all year round. It looks beautiful at the moment, but the warm Summer weather will make it even more inviting soon. During chilly days, there are heaters, protective awnings ready to open at the touch of a button and fireplaces at each end of the courtyard to keep guests warm in this walled, open-air terrace.
We started our meal with a glass of chilled Laurent-Perrier Brut and some homemade breadsticks, served with a tasty aubergine dip. It was a perfect start to our experience here on the garden terrace and no meal here should ever start without both in hand.
During our visit, we noticed that not just us, but every customer was being offered a small taster glass of their signature Spring Negroni (or a non-alcohol version). This drink is made with a blend of premium ingredients, including Ginepraio Dry, Mancino Sakura, Amaro Santoni, Campari, and Eve Liqueur. A combination of flavors, aromas (and a lot of alcohol) creates a heady mix of something you’ll want to order the full size of.
As usual, we ended up ordering more food than we needed, but we couldn’t resist starting off with one of our all-time favourite lunch dishes. A plate of succulent oven-roasted Pacific tiger prawns, perfectly seasoned with Aleppo chilli, lime and a drizzle of olive oil that added a delightful tangy flavour to the dish. The prawns were cooked to perfection, with a juicy and tender inner flesh that melted in the mouth, but was still meaty on the bite. It was an absolute treat, but one prawn less is probably enough to order as a starter – I’m just greedy.
Delight your palate with an exquisite Vitello Tonnato. Seared Devon veal fillet topped with creamy tuna mayonnaise. Topped with the subtle tang of capers and the rich nuttiness of Parmesan, each bite will transport you straight to the shores of the sun-drenched Mediterranean. I promise!
Seafood is the focus here and so if you loved those prawns, you’ll love this pan-seared Scottish halibut with white asparagus, samphire, grapefruit and olive oil. As you take your first bite, the subtle sweetness of the halibut once again transports you to the pristine waters of somewhere sunny and the slender spears of white asparagus are delicately charred to enhance their natural sweetness and tender texture.
One of the standout dishes on the menu is the Cacio e Pepe Spaghetti, renowned for its simplicity, yet pure indulgence. This classic Roman dish combines perfectly cooked pasta with the sharp tang of Pecorino cheese and the bold kick of freshly ground black pepper, resulting in a delicious and satisfying plate of heaven. You’ll be needing a week on the spin bike, just to burn the calories off.
To finish, an incredibly fun take on the classic tiramisu. This dish is made tableside and completely deconstructed with everything put together and infused right in front of you. Mascarpone, Coffee, Savoiardi Biscuit, Frangelico – its so fun to watch it all come together.
I absolutely adore visiting the Corinthia Hotel. What makes it even more perfect for me is that it’s just a short, leisurely stroll back home, which helps me burn off those extra calories so that I can still do it all again soon. The hotel, as a whole, is stunning and not just The Garden. The food, no matter which part of the hotel, is always delicious, and the service is impeccable. I don’t think any other London hotel is as good as this one, and its size allows for a more personal service. If you’re looking to celebrate or simply want to enjoy good food and luxurious surroundings, then I couldn’t think of a better place to do it than here, in The Garden.
