Continuing to reassure London's ever evolving restaurant landscape, Corbin & King's newest venture has quietly opened in St. John's Wood, adding to the group's growing assortment of relaxed neighbourhood cafés.
Once again, Jeremy King, together with Shayne Brady of London-based studio Brady Williams, took care of the design, transforming a period building into an informal rendezvous inspired by Paris' great boulevard cafés. Taking its cues from the neighbourhood's artistic heritage, in particular the nearby St John’s Wood Art School, the restaurant subtly references the Arts and Crafts Movement, layered with decorative Edwardian design details. ‘Our ambition with Soutine was to design a restaurant that would have been familiar to the artist who studied at St John's Wood Art School,' explains Brady.
And so, an ornate stained-glass skylight sheds a natural glow over rich maple timber furnishings – upholstered in tactile brown leather or floral patterns – custom-made putty-hued mosaic flooring, wooden wall panels – embellished with Edwardian Lincrusta panel inserts – and an impressive display of art. This includes a Michael May mural that nods to the local area with a depiction of the nearby Lords cricket pavilion, and the abstract still life by artist Jean Hélion, whose early work draws from Russian-French painter Chaïm Soutine, the restaurant’s namesake.
The best seat in the house is, no doubt, the grapevine-carved timber bar, topped with a pewter and granite countertop. Here, under the warm glow of linen-shaded table lights, linger longer over comforting French classics from the deliciously gooey Croque Monsuer to the Confit de Canard served with braised puy lentils. The escalope de veau Viennoise is a particularly comforting treat. Follow this with the Coupe Lucian – a deliciously indulgent ice cream dessert in honour of Lucian Freud who was a daily fixture at The Wolseley – and wash it all down, of course, with a glass or two from the restaurant's extensive wine list.
INFORMATION
ADDRESS
60 St. John’s Wood High Street
-
Alberto Caliri’s new vision for Missoni: ‘It’s about getting back to an essence’The Missoni mainstay has been part of the knitwear brand’s story since 1998. ‘The feeling was not one of radical change, but rather of return,’ he tells Wallpaper* of his first collection back in the creative director seat
-
Five new cutting-edge over-ear headphones deliver high-end audio in styleMeze Audio, Dyson, Noble, Grado and Écoute Audio offer up their latest wired and wireless headphones for a premium audio experience
-
Apple is rumoured to be releasing a foldable iPhone. How should it stand out from the crowd?The new model is forecast for 2026, but Apple’s competitors have already entered the foldable phone market. Is the tech megabrand late to the party, or can we expect something special from its contribution?
-
La Môme London finds its home at The Berkeley hotelAll the razzle-dazzle of Cannes and Monte Carlo is wrapped up in this one fabulous dining room and terrace in London
-
The new dawn of the London sandwich shopThe 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
-
Must-visit cinemas with award-worthy designThere’s more magic to the movies at these design-led cinemas, from Busan Cinema Centre’s ‘flying’ roof to The Gem Cinema Jaipur’s art deco allure
-
London's coolest design-led coffee shops for your Fashion Week fixCoffee shops are the heart of London’s neighbourhoods, discover those fusing speciality beans and stylish interiors for the perfect brew
-
Shakara is a stylish new addition to London's West African dining sceneShakara, a new Marylebone bar and dining room, adds to the city's ever-more impressive high-end West African dining scene
-
First a fishmonger then a restaurant, how Applebee’s became a Borough Market stapleIn 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
-
Mayfair restaurant Silva is a dainty ode to the MediterraneanEnvisioned by Studio Wren, Silva is a dynamic, textural restaurant that reflects nature’s rhythms through its cuisine and design
-
Peek inside Heathrow’s new VIP terminal: exclusive travel from door to departureThe Windsor is Heathrow’s newly refurbished private terminal boasting a private gallery, cuisine from a Michelin-starred chef, and butler and chauffeur services
