Elegant French Eats In Mayfair: Our Review Of Riviera London

It's not often that you get South of France vibes on a November day in London, but I was hoping to change that with a trip to Mayfair restaurant Riviera. Found close to The Ritz and even Buckingham Palace itself, this destination was promising a pretty high-end experience, from its artistic interiors to a menu inspired by the Cote De Azur. The exclusive eatery was created by twins and culinary masters Arian and Alberto Zandi (the brains behind Zuaya, El Norte and Como Garden), so it's clear that this place has got a lot going for it.

Though it may be Central London rather than the French Riviera, the views here are pretty great.

DesignMyNight Review Of Riviera London

Upon entering, we were immediately impressed by the level of service. There's a reception area at the entrance where we were greeted, before being whisked up to the restaurant area in a tiny, dimly lit lift. Once we stepped out, the room was instantly flooded with natural light shining through their impressive floor-to-ceiling windows - brightening up the grey winter day. These also offered a second-floor view of the streets below, and all the beautiful buildings nearby.

It would be hard not to be impressed by this venue, with its striking golden bar at the centre and its gorgeous greenery. Despite the luxurious feel of the restaurant, it was also very cosy - thanks to armchairs around every table and quirky artwork that takes its inspiration from 20th century artists like Picasso - reflecting the beauty of Southern France.

We kicked things off with a glass of Crement D'Alsace sparkling wine (£13.50 each), the perfect aperitif to prepare us for the feast to come. This was followed by a cocktail each to enjoy with our food, and my choice was the Peach Caviar (£19). This was a light, refreshing blend of peach and vanilla liquors, topped off with apricot soda, lemon juice and a double cream foam, finished with floral touches. My dinner date opted for a Paradis de Mangue (£16), which combined mango vodka with a fruity mix of passionfruit, vanilla, orange and lime juice - topped off by a white chocolate foam that had the texture of whipped cream.

Pair French flavours with fruity cocktails.

The Riviera restaurant menu takes you on a journey through Southern French flavours, and we wanted to try a bit of everything. To start, we enjoyed a selection of hors d'oeuvres and small plates - our firm favourite being a ratatouille brioche roll - a crispy bread roll that was lightly toasted and topped with tender, roasted vegetables in a rich tomato sauce, finished with crumbled feta. We split this and a truffle and goat's cheese-studded courgette flower (£17), which came in a tempura batter, and had a rich, tangy flavour from the melted cheese. This selection was completed by a nicoise salad (£24), featuring thin slices of tuna steak, perfectly soft-boiled eggs and a crisp base of crunchy lettuce, cherry tomatoes, olives and hard-boiled potatoes.

After a fresh start to the meal, we indulged in two of their pasta dishes - though they also offer a huge selection of meat and seafood plates that looked tempting. First was the truffle and cheese gnocchi (£31): tender, squishy bites of potato pasta coated in a mild, creamy sauce. The cheese flavour was delicious, though I couldn't detect too much of the truffle here. Our second pick was a roasted vegetable rigatoni, which featured firm tubes of pasta topped with tender chunks of aubergine, courgette and red pepper, covered in a thick tomato sauce.

We also enjoyed a couple of their sides with our mains, grilled broccoli (£13) in a lightly chilli-infused olive oil drizzle and a deliciously smooth and creamy portion of mashed potatoes (£9) - some of the best that I've had.

Try a range of meat, fish and pasta dishes on the Riviera London menu.

Taking a brief break before dessert to digest this colossal helping of food, we ordered two glasses of Cotes De Provence rose (£14 each). This was a crisp, dry wine with slight floral notes, and the perfect pause before we shared a lavender crème brûlée (£14). The sweet custard base was topped with a thin, crispy layer of burnt caramel, finished with a lavender-flavoured shortbread biscuit. Lavender can often be an overpowering taste, but they absolutely nailed it here, as the flavour didn't detract from the rest of the dish.

Riviera Mayfair: Overall

There are a number of fantastic, luxurious restaurants to try in the Mayfair area, but I'd definitely recommend adding this elegant French venue to your list. The huge windows provide pretty views from the second floor and a bright, airy atmosphere to dine in, and their menu speaks for itself. While the Riviera London prices may be on the higher side, you do get very generous portions that high-end eateries are often missing, and the cocktails are seriously impressive too.

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