Morchella, in Clerkenwell, serves Mediterranean classics and Old World wine
Morchella restaurant and wine bar brings finely crafted cosy chic to a former bank near Exmouth Market, London

Morchella is the new Clerkenwell hotspot from the team behind Perilla, the Newington Green restaurant known for its experimental take on European cuisine. Much like its north London sibling, this new eatery serves inventive dishes in a beautifully crafted setting, but co-founder Matthew Emmerson (who runs both projects with chef Ben Marks) says Morchella is one of a kind: ‘We have intentionally done things differently. Morchella is its own entity.’
Step inside Morchella
The starting point for Mochella was the site itself. ‘We’ve always been led by area and building,’ says Emmerson. ‘It had to have a certain ambiance, and we weren’t prepared to compromise on space or light.’ A former bank located around the corner from Exmouth Market ticked their boxes. Built in 1894, it had incredibly intricate details, soaring ceilings and – crucially – large south-west-facing windows that meant light would beam in throughout the day. ‘It just felt right,’ Emmerson continues. ‘It had bare bones, and the building was beautiful. We knew we could create a room that would be amazing to dine in.’
Morchella might have a certain level of grandiosity and splendour, but stuffy it is not. Instead, it is warm and welcoming, cosy and chic – particularly in the evening when illuminated by candlelight. ‘Our vision was to mix the old British building with the lush, light tones of the Mediterranean,’ says Emmerson, who worked with Up Architects on the project. ‘We worked hard to restore the original features. That included the curved restaurant doors and the wood panelling, which had been painted with hundreds of coats of paint. That was a painstaking process but worth it.’
The colour scheme is neutral, featuring elements of emerald green – see the tiles on the kitchen counter, for instance – while the material palette is defined predominately by wood. ‘We worked with Tim Parker on the joinery, and the level of detail is incredible, from the curved corners of the bar mirrored in the banquettes to the T junction where every bit of oak meets,’ says Emmerson. Clever round bar stools that fold away and slick dining tables, which feature drawers, home to the menu and cutlery, within a terrazzo frame, are particularly noteworthy.
At the heart of the 68-seat restaurant lies the kitchen, which is decorated with graphic prints by artist and Marks’ grandfather Gordon House, paintings by Corin Kennington and Murano-inspired chandeliers. From here, head chef Daniel Fletcher cooks Mediterreanean-inspired dishes with surprising twists: small sharing plates include red prawn pil pil and salt cod churros, and larger dishes, such as monkfish with cuttlefish, pork jowl and fish stew. Save room for dessert and order the blood-orange, black-olive portokalopita.
Morchella also houses a private 14-seat dining room downstairs and a separate adjacent wine bar that services the restaurant. Here, gorgeous terracotta tiles run underfoot, the walls have been painted a pleasing shade of chalky green, and the same emerald tiles from the kitchen counter front of the bar. As Emmerson explains, ‘There’s a synergy between both spaces, but they each have their own personality.’
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Billie Brand is a London-based writer and editor. She has previously held positions at The Modern House, Matches, The Guardian and Observer, and contributed to titles including World of Interiors, i-D and The Face. Her work has a particular focus on beautifully designed and innovative spaces and places – and the forward-thinking people behind them.
-
We open up the best concepts and future facing tech from MWC 2025
Barcelona’s Mobile World Congress has become the phone industry’s major hotspot for launches and new technology. Here are six of the best conceptual designs from this year's event
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Walk through an Indian villa near Mumbai, where time slows down
In this Indian villa, Architecture Brio weaves together water features, stunning gardens and graceful compositions to create a serene retreat near Mumbai
By Stephen Crafti Published
-
'Bold and unapologetic', this contemporary Wimbledon home replaces a 1970s house on site
This grey-brick Wimbledon home by McLaren Excell is a pairing of brick and concrete, designed to be mysterious
By Tianna Williams Published
-
La Môme London finds its home at The Berkeley hotel
All the razzle-dazzle of Cannes and Monte Carlo is wrapped up in this one fabulous dining room and terrace in London
By Ben McCormack Published
-
The new dawn of the London sandwich shop
The appeal of a quick meal between two slices of bread has long held sway in the UK. We look back on the rise of the sandwich shop and explore the new wave of London venues that are making it a more stylised experience
By Toyo Odetunde Published
-
London's coolest design-led coffee shops for your Fashion Week fix
Coffee shops are the heart of London’s neighbourhoods, discover those fusing speciality beans and stylish interiors for the perfect brew
By Sofia de la Cruz Published
-
Shakara is a stylish new addition to London's West African dining scene
Shakara, a new Marylebone bar and dining room, adds to the city's ever-more impressive high-end West African dining scene
By Ben McCormack Published
-
First a fishmonger then a restaurant, how Applebee’s became a Borough Market staple
In line with the London seafood restaurant’s 25th anniversary, Applebee’s is reopening with a new menu and a new look courtesy of design studio A-nrd
By Ben McCormack Published
-
Mayfair restaurant Silva is a dainty ode to the Mediterranean
Envisioned by Studio Wren, Silva is a dynamic, textural restaurant that reflects nature’s rhythms through its cuisine and design
By Sofia de la Cruz Published
-
Peek inside Heathrow’s new VIP terminal: exclusive travel from door to departure
The Windsor is Heathrow’s newly refurbished private terminal boasting a private gallery, cuisine from a Michelin-starred chef, and butler and chauffeur services
By Tianna Williams Published
-
Night at the museum: the best art hotels to book now
Sleep amid surrealists at London’s Broadwick Soho, or wake up to contemporary favourites at New Hotel in Athens – indulge in an immersive art hotel experience
By Dalya Benor Published