London’s icy winter is beginning to look that bit sunnier as fabled Italian hotel, Il Pellicano takes residency at Claridge’s. For one week in February ( 17 – 22 February) the Tuscan hotel will bring its dolce vita Italian charm to Claridge's renowned high-glamour restaurant. You'd be remiss not to book a table.
Claridge's Il Pellicano restaurant residency
The exterior of Claridge's
Celebrating its sixtieth anniversary this year, Il Pellicano was built on 1950s Hollywood charm, a secluded hideaway to enjoy refined hospitality and relaxation. Overlooking the Mediterranean sea, the hotel – once a favourite of Sofia Loren, Charlie Chaplin and Jackie Kennedy – has a timeless elegance, balanced with a contemporary spirit which is threaded through its 50 rooms and suites.
Il Pellicano's astice blu radice arancio salsa arachidi ( Blue lobster with orange root and peanut sauce)
Integrating this charm at Claridge's luxurious Mayfair address, guests will experience a fusion of flavours inspired by the Tuscan coast, within Claridge’s grand English glamour restaurant. The space underwent a refurb last April, under the guidance of Bryan O’Sullivan Studio (who also designed the new Brook Suite). Staying true to the hotel's Art Deco design codes, the new space is both grand and intimate.
Il Pellicano's bar
The menu is a blend of sophistication and nonchalance, dishes designed to be shared between intimate gatherings and relaxed conversations. Its authentic feel is thanks to Chef Michelino Gioia, and barman Federico Morosi who worked closely in pairing succulent plates with refreshing cocktails. Il Pellicano’s specialties are of course the main event, featuring an abundance of pasta and risotto to start, including Maremma-style ravioli with butter and sage, to risotto with shrimp, ginger and lime.
Il Pellicano's restaurant terrace
For the main course, veal cheek doused in potato cream, chicory and Chianti sauce is on offer, while turbot with stuffed escarole and anchovy sauce is a fresh and summery choice. Also on the menu: a lightly-poached organic egg with asparagus cream, smoked scamorza cheese and black truffle. To finish things off, it would be a sin not to indulge in an Italian favourite: the perfectly layered Tiramisu.
Claridge's Restaurant with Art Deco detailing
The bar menu is a nod to the timeless elegance of Italian cocktails. From Il Pellicano's hotel classic The Pelican Martini, to The Teller Negroni, which pays homage to photographer Juergen Teller. Each cocktail is thought out and selected to tell a story which reflects Il Pellicano’s star-studded history.
Il Pellicano's restaurant terrace
Commenting on the residency, Marie Louise Sciò, CEO and creative director at Pellicano Hotels says, ‘This residency feels particularly special, as both Claridge’s and Hotel Il Pellicano share a legacy of excellence and a passion for creating unforgettable, timeless experiences for our guests. It’s even more meaningful this year as we celebrate the 60th anniversary of Il Pellicano, marking six decades of cherished memories, exceptional hospitality, and lasting connections.’
Il Pellicano’s laidback luxury partnered with Claridge’s Art Deco character makes for an intriguing yet harmonious partnership to drift away from any winter blues.
Hotel Il Pellicano X Claridge's runs from Monday 17 to Saturday 22 February 2025. To book a table please visit www.claridges.co.uk to find out more.
-
Don’t Move, Improve 2025: the 14 London homes adding design oomph to the everydayThe shortlist for Don’t Move, Improve 2025 has been announced, revealing 14 residential projects across London that add value and pizazz to their inhabitants’ daily lives
-
When galleries become protest sites – a new exhibition explores the art of disruptionIn a new exhibition at London's Auto Italia, Alex Margo Arden explores the recent spate of art attacks and the 'tricky' discourse they provoke
-
Space House: explore the brutalist London landmark’s new chapterSpace House, a landmark of brutalist architecture by Richard Seifert & Partners in London’s Covent Garden, is back following a 21st-century redesign by Squire & Partners
-
Lunar New Year in London: where to celebrate the Year of the Wood SnakeDo you want a year of good fortune and happiness? Then it is time to tuck into some of London’s cult favourite hotspots, devour decadent treats, and toast the Lunar New Year, and we have you covered with our guide to all things going on in the city (from 29 January until 8 February 2025)
-
Celebrate Día de los Muertos at one of London (and the world’s) finest Mexican restaurantsDía de los Muertos will arrive at KOL in Marylebone on 2 November, with a collaborative menu including dishes from the chefs behind Endo at The Rotunda to The Connaught, wrapped up with a mezcal fiesta
-
Mark’s Club’s interior refresh brings British countryside charm to the heart of MayfairLocated in a classic Mayfair townhouse, Mark’s Club unveils its new interiors, from greenhouse extensions to a new open-plan layout full of trinkets and charm
-
Frogs legs to fromage: Café François is London’s newest French canteen, serving up all the classics with a contemporary global twistThe founders of Mayfair's Maison François have opened a new addition, Café François. The Borough-based canteen offers an array of French classics from dawn to dusk
-
Dramatic and immersive, Dosa dishes up Korean cuisine with a moody flairThe Mandarin Oriental Mayfair welcomes Dosa, a new Korean restaurant by Akira Back
-
Yauatcha’s bespoke mooncakes mark the start of delicious celebrations for Mid-Autumn FestivalYauatcha, London’s Chinese dim sum teahouse, celebrates Mid-Autumn Festival (17 September) with three flavours of limited-edition mooncakes
-
Why bread is back on the menuGone are the days of carb-avoidant diets dominating restaurant menus. Food Critic, Leonie Cooper, celebrates the return of pillowy, inventive bread as London's stand-out dish
-
Birley Chocolate hits the sweet ’n’ chic spot in London’s ChelseaThe new Birley Chocolate shop, a sibling to Birley Bakery, is a confection of colour as delicious as its finely crafted goods
