Just off Mincing Lane, Minster Exchange sits quite unassuming in the shadow of the Gherkin. Inside however, the restaurant is beautifully fit for any patron looking for privacy and memorable meals. Apparently, the restaurant can even host up to 400 people in its below ground facilities.
The Venue:
Minister Exchange is on the bottom right corner of Minister Court, a popular area between St. Dunstan’s Church and Fenchurch Street. The first part of the restaurant is a bar and the candlelit dining area lies behind a curtain in a room with exposed brick walls and log panelling - aesthetically, the interior reminded me of some lounges I’ve been to in Milan.
Minster Exchange excels in charming interiors.
The Ambiance & Clientele:
The restaurant is in the middle of the City and we dined on a weeknight, so we basically had the whole place to ourselves. That’s something to keep in mind if you’re planning a date! The service was impeccable; it really felt like seconds went by before we were poured two glasses of wine and diving into our starters.
Dark, broody and overflowing with character, this is one good looking City bar and restaurant.
The Food & Drinks:
We chose Riesling, a sweetish white wine from Alsace to go with our mains—but I think it went better with my starter, the beef brisket. Stuffed with chives, onions, mustard seeds, and potatoes it quite literally melted in my mouth--and that wasn’t just because of the dribbling poached egg on top; it was honestly really good. After my salmon main, I finished the night with a zesty lemon tart. Now even though I didn’t really have any problems choosing what I wanted, make sure you have a look at the menu before going. Minster Exchange has a large number of drinks options, and the starter and main combinations have all these really alluring adjectival descriptions.
For relaxed vibes and top class service, Minster Exchange is your one stop shop.
Summary:
Please, please, please remember this one for date nights. If you come here you won’t have to smack yourself for paying hefty prices for lower standard food and drinks in those not-to-be named ‘restaurants’ in London. Minster Exchange can guarantee you tranquility, delicious morsels, and an overall relaxing time.
