The London outpost of New York’s two Michelin-starred Nordic restaurant Aquavit is found in St James’s Market, stablemates with other acclaimed London haunts such as high-end West African operation Ikoyi and fusion concept Scully.
Aquavit’s dining room is a stylish and striking affair split across two floors, but the space still manages to feel warm and relaxed. Attractive lighting and glossy marble floors add a sense of glamour and there is a standalone bar too, where you can pull up a stool to enjoy some pre-dinner sips of Aquavit with tonic or a selection of house made cocktails.
The menu at Aquavit is an extensive a la carte offering, although set lunch pre-theatre options are also available. On your visit, you can kick things off with your choice of smorgasbord, with combinations of toppings to choose from including duck liver parfait with cassis compote and toasted kavring or pan fried diver scallops with burnt leeks, fish veloute and dill. For your main course, tuck into the meaty likes of Swedish meatballs with lingonberry, pickled cucumber and mashed potato or braised ox cheek with swede puree pine oil and tenderstem broccoli. There are fish options too, such as Norwegian halibut with palourde clams, samphire and a saffron butter sauce, while vegetarian diners can delight in dishes such as pearl barley and wild mushroom risotto.
You can pad out your meal with side orders of braised red cabbage or truffled mash potato, while Aquavit’s list of puddings features sweets treats such as blueberry poached pineapple with fresh berries and mint, and Kladdkaka (a sticky chocolate cake) finished off with white chocolate ganache and lingonberries.
Drinks wise, Aquavit offers a wide selection of cocktails and global wines by the glass or bottle, as well as a few Champagnes, plus international gins and whiskeys.