Debuting to critical acclaim in November 2020, amidst the height of the pandemic, neighbourhood restaurant and wine bar Café Deco has become quite the place to hangout in Bloomsbury, and having decided recently to add a Monday lunch and dinner service, now offers more diners the opportunity to taste the comforting, timeless dishes it has become renowned for
From head chef Anna Tobias and the team behind 40 Maltby Street, Café Deco is housed in a Georgian building, once a dairy shop. Designed by Michael Marriott in collaboration with architects Casswell Bank, the retro space exudes charm and a quintessential London-ness whilst simultaneously nodding to the laid-back ambience of European bistros.
The design of this quaint restaurant and wine bar embraces a sustainable approach through reclaimed materials and furniture, including bespoke curtains made from fabric offcuts. The restaurant’s iconic pastel-hued tiling lines the floor, while a hand-painted mural by London-based design duo Anna Hodgson and Harry Darby depicts scenes of harvest and bounty, and pays homage to the works of French artist Jean Cocteau.
With a weekly changing menu based on the produce sent by their local independent suppliers and farms, diners can devour ever-changing variations of simple soups, stews and salads that lean on broadly European influences. That means one can expect hearty, eastern European and British-style dishes in the autumn and winter, with lighter French and Italian-inspired fare during the warmer months, all accompanied by wines from a list curated by general manager Benedict Clancy.
Perfecting her craft at iconic restaurants including The River Café and Rochelle Canteen, Anna’s menu at Café Deco reflects the chef’s reverence for quality produce and a simple, considered approach. Thoughtful and elegant with a relaxed approach to the enjoyment of great food, this Bloomsbury favourite is sure to continue in the vein for which it has become much loved.
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Café Deco Bloomsbury Photography, James Nelson.
