Be still, our beating heart-eyes. 😍
Petersham Nurseries in Richmond has been attracting visitors from across the city for ages – its’ greenhouse-based gaff offering a gorgeous dining experience, if subject to wildly-differing temperatures, depending on the weather. Well, after an agonising wait, the team have finally opened a sister restaurant in Covent Garden, central London, and naturally, it’s cute as candy.
The main restaurant, The Petersham, bills itself as an ‘elegant à la carte restaurant’, and offers all-day dining in a swishy setting, with a menu heavy on Italian flavours. Dishes on the launch menu include Portland crab and fennel salad, venison tartar, saffron gnochi, and fish stew with native lobster; such fine dining comes at a price, however, with starters around £15 and mains getting on for £30.
There’s also a rather charming courtyard you can sit in when the sun is shining – a little oasis of calm away from the thronging tourist crowd of Covent Garden itself…
For those lighter of wallet, check out the La Goccia restaurant on the same premises: less about getting that ‘gram, but way more about snacking your way through the best of Italian casual cooking.
All prepared in an open kitchen, you can order antipasti, mini pizza and spatchcocked quail from the oven, bowls of ravioli and squid from the grill, among other mouth-pleasing morsels – check out the full menu here. Dishes here are more like £8 – £10, although realistically, you might end up getting through more than a few of them before you’re done.
Naturally, the bar here offers botanical cocktails inspired by the brand’s floral heritage, with herbs, petals and other adornments.
And that’s not all: the Petersham complex is essentially Disneyland for lifestyle bloggers. While you’re visiting, check out their gorgeous interiors store:
Grab some beautiful blooms from their florist:
Or simply grab a quick croissant or flat white from their lovely deli.
Frankly, we can’t wait to try it – just as soon as it’s payday. Bookings are now open – enjoy.
Location: 27-31 King St, London WC2E 8JB.
Opening hours: The Petersham restaurant is open seven days a week; 11.30am–midnight, for lunch and dinner. La Goccia is also open seven days a week, including early for breakfast and late for cocktails; generally 8am – midnight.
Price: dinner with wine will easily set you back £75 at the Petersham; small plates at La Goccia are all under £10, but portion sizes are TBC.
More information: from their website.
Photography: Paul Craig.