We Experienced A Masterclass In Fine Dining At Belgravia’s Coolest Restaurant

Finding hidden gems in London is DesignMyNight’s lifeblood. We simply can’t get enough of it. Keeping an ear to the ground for the hottest openings is something we all get excited about, and after launching last year, great things have been said about Ganymede. So, it’d be rude not to swing by and check it out, right?

Championing seasonal, local ingredients is what Ganymede is all about.

Occupying a corner of a Belgravia side street, it’s a cute little spot that just oozes charm. Previously the legendary Ebury Wine Bar (you can totally imagine what it was like), Ganymede is quickly establishing itself as a mainstay on the luxury restaurant scene: boasting seriously upmarket meals without the stuffy, formalness of dining rooms from yesteryear. Inside, and as you walk through, the space is separated out by a bar area towards the front, and the restaurant a few steps downstairs at the back. Cordoned off by a velvet curtain, the dining area is intimate, almost feeling private, and very classy indeed. It channels Bridgerton-esque regency members’ club vibes, with navy panelled walls, green leather seats, mahogany furniture and cosy, romantic lighting. But it’s also very relaxed too.

Our sophisticated and elegant evening started with a welcome glass of bubbles. Our knowledgable and friendly waiter suggested Coates And Seely Brut Reserve (£12): a quintessential English sparkling wine that can only be found in handpicked restaurants, and was refreshing, crispy as well as fruity. 

A dreamy, intimate dining space.

Next came the starters. Being a vegetarian, I opted for the goat’s cheese and leek tartlet (£12.50) and boy, was it pretty or what? The buttery shortcrust pastry encased the tangy, crumbly dairy delight and the crispy onion gave the dish texture, plus the bitter leaves and earthy Crapaudine beetroot cut through the creaminess. Quality stuff. My date chose the chicken ravioli (£14.50) and was blown away by the wafer-thin pasta, leek fondue, roast dinner-like flavours and the final kick of green peppercorn from the silky Madeira sauce.

After I (reluctantly) finished my glass of fizz, we ordered our next round of drinks. Ganymede has been applauded for their extensive wine offering, and it was tempting to go for a red, but instead, we went for two beaut cocktails: a blood orange margarita (£10 – it’s as good as it sounds) and the Great British Hugo (£12), the latter especially chosen to match my next meal. Tasting like a summer’s evening, the tipple was mixed with soda, fresh mint, elderflower and lime, alongside English sparkling wine and British gin. You could imagine this being served at Wimbledon.

Wine lovers rejoice: you'll be spoilt for choice here.

Now, let me tell you about the mains. The homemade tagliatelle (£23.00), is Ganymede's most popular dish and a favourite among the waiting team, and I can totally understand why. This cheesy masterpiece, complete with truffle and mushrooms, was delightfully rich and the shavings of flaky, melt in your mouth Belpa Knolle is an absolute work of art. My date’s halibut main (£32.00) was a true taste of the sea: seaweed gnocchi, little orange balls of caviar and finished with a chivey beurre blanc. The fish was as light as a cloud and the baby leeks combined with pickled cucumber rounded off the dish nicely.

A feast for the eyes as well as the stomach.

By this point, bellies were suitably stuffed, but we’ve been told their desserts are stunning. So, we shared the bitter chocolate and dulce de leche tart (£12.00), and we’re very glad we did. It was almost fudge brownie-like, hugely decadent, and Instagram-worthy gorgeous. The honeycomb was airy yet deliciously chewy and combined with the buttery shortbread and chocolate chip dotted ice cream, it was a fitting end to a luxurious evening.

The DesignMyNight Digest 

Named after Jupiter's largest moon, this gorgeous bar and dining room is all kinds of wonderful and with Hubert Beatson-Hird and Oliver Marlowe at the helm, you can expect some pretty exciting things to come. We loved the elegantly casual dining, homegrown ingredients, superb staff and although the meat-heavy menu doesn’t leave much room for herbivores, I can't sing Ganymede’s praises enough.

A few days on, I’m still dreaming about that pasta.

Has this got you in the mood for more fine dining restaurants in London? Find our faves here. Stay in the know with the hottest openings with our weekly newsletter.