A new late-night cocktail bar and restaurant that promises to “transition from dining to vibing” will open in a Georgian townhouse this September.
Geode will be spread across three floors of a property in Knightsbridge, bringing a “theatrical ambiance,” press material said, with a seasonal menu influenced by Mediterranean and Asian cooking.
Interiors at the 7,000 sq ft. building will be “luxurious,” meanwhile, with a gold-chrome front door leading through to a three-storey, “sprawling” space featuring a bronze cocktail bar and a split-level mezzanine above an open-plan kitchen and conservatory.
A colour scheme in the lounge and bar areas will move from coral and terracotta to Provence-inspired lavender purple; the main dining room will invoke the “serene landscapes“ of the Med in olive green and sea blue.
The venue, named after a spherical, hollow rock containing colourful crystals, will house two restaurant areas, the second of which, on the top floor, will continue to serve food until the early morning — the time of which is as yet unspecified — while the ground floor will host live music and DJs.
In charge of the food will be executive chef Francesco Scala, formerly of Tanit on Sardinia, and the Japanese chef Yuka Aoyama, who will lead on sushi and other Asian dishes.
An announcement sent to the Standard also said the kitchen will be “all black”, in contrast to the chefs in kitchen whites, and much of the cooking will be done on a robata grill, a rotisserie station, and in the pizza oven.
Highlights from the Mediterranean section of the menu include beef tartare (£18), Spanish fish stew (£82 for two), while Japanese and Asian dishes will include king crab gunkan (£27) and miso sea bream (£39).
Food aside, and it is here we learn more about the “dining to vibing” element of Geode. Post-pudding and the lights will softly fade and the music will intensify.
In the conservatory, a curtain will be drawn, placing greater focus on the marble-topped and copper-fronted and gem-studded bar, from which ruby negronis, old fashioneds, and fig and lavender tequila cocktails will be served.
It will come as no surprise to fans of London hospitality that Geode is the work of two ex-Novikov restaurateurs, namely Salvatore Broccu and Marios Louvaris.
Both said they hope to recapture the “old school glamour” of Knightsbridge, forming a team made up of Mayfair chefs, bartenders and front of house staff.
“Each guest will be taken on a timeless journey, where the cocktails are great, the people are better, and the vibe is high,” the Standard was told.
