Briefed with the task of creating a contemporary restaurant with Nordic influences, London-based design firm Block1 looked to an interior that would compliment the wholesome grain-based dishes on offer at 26 Grains; opting for a stripped-back palette of natural woods, clean marble and rough rendered walls.
Located at 1 Neal’s Yard, 26 Grains bases its menu around the agreeable concept of Hygge, that brilliant Danish word with no direct translation; best described as a kind of wintery ‘cosiness’, and pronounced ‘hooga’, it’s a favourite among fans of warming Scandinavian aesthetic.
As expected, the dishes here are clean and healthy, and use a variety of grains and spices — sourced from wet, muggy climates, the UK is a big supplier; South America and Asia too. With large bi-folding doors, the restaurant opens out into the centre of Neal’s Yard, making a lovely spot to enjoy a Chai Bircher Muesli for breakfast, Hygge Bowl of freekeh, beetroot, butternut, sage, hazelnuts and hummus for lunch, or a glass of wine in the evening. Perhaps best enjoyed under a hand-knitted blanket on a crisp autumnal night.
