Given the success of its in-house restaurant, the Game Bird, it's hardly a surprise that London hotel, The Stafford, has splashed out on another venture with its culinary director, Ben Tish.
This time setting up within a three-storey Georgian townhouse in Fitzrovia, Norma is a Sicilian restaurant, threaded with the Moorish influences of the island's cuisine.
Inside, local firm Rosendale Design has created a thoughtful mood-board of textures and references, while avoiding obvious tropes.
The Moorish and Sicilian elements are present, but in discreet touches of encaustic tiles - inlaid with Islamic geometric patterns - mosaics, antiqued mirrors, and Verde Alpi Marble from Italy. These are more quietly offset by a more global palette that includes dining chairs and tables from Inside Out Furniture and bespoke lighting by Atelier Schroeter and Nocturne Workshop.
All this comes together to form a suitably warm and welcoming backdrop for Tish's menu which showcases seasonal Italian produce that underscores his success with the Game Bird. Standouts include the crudo bar, which takes centre-stage on the ground floor; Sicilian red prawns dressed with rosemary and orange; the grilled pork chop topped with spiced quince and served with potatoes and black cabbage; or the array of house-made pasta, including the taglioni with sardines, fennel, raisins and pine nuts.
INFORMATION
ADDRESS
8 Charlotte St
-
Year in review: top 10 furniture launches of 2024, as selected by Wallpaper* global design director Hugo MacdonaldThe furniture launches that wowed global design director Hugo Macdonald this year
-
Unboxing beauty products from 2024, as seen on the pages of Wallpaper*Wallpaper's 2024 beauty picks included Chanel lipstick, Bottega Veneta perfume and solid soap from the likes of Aesop, Celine, Diptyque, Hermès and Sisley
-
The cosiest alpine retreats to book in EuropeBrowse the Wallpaper* edit of European alpine retreats where to fully embrace the ski season
-
The most whimsical hotel Christmas trees around the worldWe round up the best hotel Christmas tree collaborations of the year, from an abstract take in Madrid to a heritage-rooted installation in Amsterdam
-
Wallpaper* checks in at Hyde London City, the perfect free-spirited boltholeHyde London City, the brand’s UK hotel debut, brings contagious energy and maximalism to a Victorian classic
-
The Park: step inside Jeremy King's mid-century dinerOne of several 2024 openings from restauranteur, Jeremy King, food critic Ben McCormack books in at The Park
-
Six brilliant bars for your 2025 celebrations, hot off the Wallpaper* travel deskWallpaper’s most-read bar reviews of the year can't be wrong: here’s inspiration for your festive and new year plans, from a swanky Las Vegas lounge to a minimalist London drinking den
-
Book a table at Row on 5 in London for the dinner party of dreamsRow on 5, located on the storied Savile Row, emerges as a perfectly tailored fit for fans of fine dining
-
This picky customer finds ‘perfection’ at Nipotina, Mayfair’s new pizza and pasta jointWallpaper* contributing editor Nick Vinson reviews Nipotina, a new Italian restaurant in London offering a carefully edited menu of traditional dishes
-
Beloved Italian, Babbo finds a new home in St John's WoodBabbo, the Mayfair Italian beloved of Premier League footballers, has re-located to St John’s Wood High Street. Is NW8 the new West End?
-
Osteria del Mare brings a slice of coastal Italy to The StrandSpanking fresh fish is the house speciality in this new London restaurant with a menu inspired by the Tuscan seaside
