Our Review Of 42 Holborn In Central London

Opening its doors for the first time last year, 42 Holborn brings a chic Mediterranean offering to London's dining scene. Its the ideal spot to dip away from London's bustling streets, especially if you're looking for a boujee spot to have a tipple or two. With an award-winning wine menu and delicious tapas dishes, booking a plane to the Mediterranean is no longer necessary with this little eatery on our doorstep. 

Chandeliers and sultry sips - what more could you want?

DesignMyNight Review Of 42 Holborn

Putting far too much faith in the British weather, I arrived at this gorgeous venue completely soaked by a classic UK monsoon. Despite repping the drowned rat chic, I was met with such warmth from the waiting staff at 42 Holborn.

Drawing inspiration from dishes across the Mediterranean, this unassuming spot situated just a minute away from Holborn station was an absolute London gem. The restaurant oozed class and sophistication, with elegant chandeliers dotted across the ceiling, red velvet booths and an array of foliage displayed around the room. One of the first things that caught my eye was the bar. It was long, sleek and the kind of spot you’d see James Bond sipping on a Martini (shaken, not stirred). But although it boasted elegance and decadent charm, it was still extremely warm and comforting, making you feel at ease.

I invited along one of my lovely friends for belated birthday celebrations, which naturally had to start with a cocktail. She went for the mezcal-based La Laja (£13) which had all the delicious and classic qualities of a margarita while boasting a tasty punch of peach and ginger flavours. I opted for the Las Monjas Collins (£12), a rum concoction with lychee, pear and pineapple fruitiness making it the ultimate refresher – very much needed after a torrential downpour.

The burrata was an absolute winner. 

After those sensational sips, we delved into our starters. I’m a ‘small bites’ enthusiast so the mezzes with pita (£15) were the perfect choice. Included was a selection of hummus, babaganoush, tzatziki and tabbouleh which we soaked up with the piping hot pita. Being that little bit extra, we also ordered the Padron peppers (£8) and the burrata (£12), both of which were devoured in a matter of minutes. The peppers were salted to perfection, offering an enjoyable crunch and juicy texture, while the burrata was so creamy and complemented the sweet tomatoes so nicely, making the whole starter experience very enjoyable. Before our next course, we ordered a bottle of the Bodegas Ondarre, Rioja 2022 (£40) to have with our mains. It was cold, light and refreshing with exotic fruity undertones that I absolutely loved.

The Mediterranean dishes were both fantastic and filling. 

The wine was the perfect pairing for our next course. I had the sirloin steak (£23) cooked medium rare which was an absolute dream. It was succulent and tender, melting in my mouth perfectly with every bite. My friend decided to pick something from the vegetarian menu and landed on the roast aubergine (£16). The red pepper sauce, tahini pistachio and apple salad were all layered onto the dish beautifully and the combination of flavours were sensational. I leant over to have a few bites (it would have been rude not to) but she insisted on devouring the rest. When I saw that classic Italian tiramisu (£9) was on the menu, I absolutely had to have it. The combination of mascarpone, coffee and cocoa powder was the ideal sweet treat to end our three-course dinner at 42 Holborn.

42 Holborn: Overall

If you're looking for a fanciful feast that offers flavours from across the Mediterranean, then 42 Holborn is for you. Boasting an impressive food menu (the burrata is to die for), wine list and cocktail selection, it makes for wonderful evening dining. Whether you're looking for a decadent date night or just fancy a night of good eats and drinks with friends, 42 Holborn has something for everyone. 

Explore more of the best restaurants in London, and sign up to our newsletter to stay in the know.