City restaurant Sushisamba, on the 39th floor of the Heron Tower, is to expand one floor up this April with the opening of a new bar, lounge and events space.
The Samba Room will occupy 2,500sq ft in a separate area of the Bishopsgate skyscraper and will feature an eye-catching design from Fabled Studio. A gilded canopy entrance and mirrored walkway will lead to a sky bar where cocktails will be served against a panoramic backdrop of east London.
In addition to the new bar, an adjacent lounge can be reconfigured as an events space or a private dining room for 26, with a custom-designed sculptural table lowered from the ceiling.
“Since its inception in 2012, Sushisamba Heron Tower has redefined the City of London,” group CEO Omar Gutierrez told the Standard.
“The Samba Room represents the evolution of the brand and ignites our creativity even further — a one-of-a-kind space where exceptional design and breathtaking views meet exquisite cocktails and unparalleled service.”
Together with its 40th floor stablemate Duck and Waffle, Sushisamba arguably kickstarted the trend for restaurants in tall buildings, with many skyscrapers since anchored by a restaurant, from Hutong in the Shard to Sky Garden in the Walkie Talkie and Allegra at The Stratford. The Japanese-Brazilian fusion restaurant also made the idea of dining in the Square Mile appealing to an audience beyond City suits on expense accounts.
Gutierrez said that the new offering will keep Sushisamba as much of a destination as imminent outposts in Bahrain, Riyadh, Abu Dhabi and Milan, as well as existing restaurants in Covent Garden, Edinburgh, Doha, Dubai and Las Vegas.
He added: “As our global presence grows and we unveil new Sushisambas worldwide, it is imperative that our London flagship upholds the standards our clientele has come to expect.”
