Ever since it opened its doors in 2017, The Ned hotel has become a hit with City workers, East London dwellers and tourists. The gargantuan art-deco hotel is unique in that its ground floor is home to what is essentially a glorified food hall. This is no casual affair though, with The Ned’s so-called ‘Banking Hall’ actually boasting a live music stage as well as eight restaurants that are open to the public, ranging from high-end Italian restaurant Cecconi’s, all the way to casual Californian-inspired eatery Malibu Kitchen.
So, who’s responsible for The Ned? Well, that would be Soho House, which is a group of private members’ clubs that is among the most easily recognisable in the world. The Soho House brand has expanded significantly over the years from its original Greek Street location to now include outposts in the likes of New York, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Mumbai and plenty more. As well as private members’ clubs, Soho House has also launched hotels, cinemas and restaurants.
The story of The Ned’s conception is actually a rather interesting one. The building that the hotel is found in was previously the Midland Bank and despite its location right outside of Bank tube station, the property had sat empty for almost eight years. Nick Jones, founder of Soho House & Co, fell in love with the space and set about transforming it in partnership with Andrew Zobler, the CEO of New York's Sydell Group.
The new-look hotel may have all of the mod cons, but its interiors hark back to the 1930s, while some of the building's original features remain. The original verdite columns on the ground floor are used to separate the restaurant spaces, while downstairs you’ll find a private cocktail bar in the space which once housed Midland Bank’s vault, accessed through a giant steel door.
Every one of The Ned restaurants and bars
There are a total of eight restaurants at The Ned that are open to the public, as well as two bars. Hotel guests and club members have access to a further two bars and a fine-dining restaurant. Below, you will find information on every restaurant and bar at The Ned, including what’s on the menu and how much it costs to dine there.
Cecconi’s City of London
What: There are already branches of high-end Italian Cecconi’s in Mayfair and Shoreditch, but this outpost at The Ned feels a little more casual thanks to the buzzy surrounds. It’s an all-day operation complete with switched-on service, so swing by in the morning to enjoy a ham and cheese croissant, while later in the day you’ll come across classic cicchetti and pizzas, alongside crab ravioli and rib-eye with Barolo sauce and rosemary.
How much: One of the more expensive restaurants in The Ned, you can dine here for around £50 per person.
Vibe: More casual than its other siblings in the capital, but you can still expect old-school service and a capable wine list.
Millie’s Lounge
What: Millie’s is a casual restaurant serving an all-day menu of comforting British favourites. You can stop by here for afternoon tea that’s served daily and visit on the weekend for brunch, while the à la carte is a round-up of nostalgic teatime favourites. Tuck into the homey likes of shepherd’s pie, butter chicken masala curry with basmati rice, or classic fish and chips served alongside mushy peas and tartare sauce.
How much: It depends on what time of the day you visit, but if you’re enjoying dinner here expect to spend around £40 per person.
Vibe: Millie’s is a cosy spot and perhaps the most Instagram-friendly of the lot, thanks to its millennial pink banquettes.
The Nickel Bar
What: One of just two bars open to the general public at The Ned, The Nickel Bar is a buzzy space which serves up staple American cocktails alongside classic sips. You can order the likes of a Miami Mule and The Harbour Punch, while bar snacks include pastrami cheese fries and a lobster roll. The Nickel Stage next door is home to a daily-changing line-up of live musicians and bands, ranging from jazz trios to emerging artists.
How much: A cocktail here will set you back around £12.
Vibe: Often packed, The Nickel Bar is best suited to casual drinks and last-minute catch ups with friends.
Zobler’s Deli & Diner
What: Zobler’s takes its inspiration from the casual delis of New York, serving up a selection of dishes that can be ordered to takeaway or enjoy indoors. At breakfast, you’ll find eggs any style or buttermilk pancakes topped with maple syrup and bacon, while later in the day expect to tuck into NY-style bagels, sandwiches and burgers. Our recommendation? Go for the classic Reuben, comprising salt beef, sauerkraut and Swiss cheese.
How much: Definitely one of the cheapest options in The Ned, you should be able to eat here for under £20.
Vibe: A casual grab-and-go spot, this is where to come for quick lunches or dinners when you’re flying solo.
Malibu Kitchen
What: Health-conscious Malibu Kitchen takes its inspiration from the sun-soaked shores of California, serving a menu which majors in salads and seafood. Expect to try Cali faves such as a seabream tacos or ahi tuna poke, all accompanied by the likes of sweet potato fries and avocado dip. Dessert is taken care of via raw chocolate cake and acai panna cotta, while the cosy booths offer a nice bit of privacy away from the buzz of the main Banking Hall.
How much: A casual feel means casual prices (at least by The Ned’s standards). Here, you’ll spend around £25 per person.
Vibe: Tucked away in the corner, Malibu Kitchen is a little calmer than some of The Ned’s other restaurants, and is best suited to casual dinners that won’t leave you feeling bloated.
Kaia
What: Adding to the international selection of cuisines on show at The Ned, Kaia is an Asian-inspired restaurant with counter-style seating that serves up colourful bowls of poke, alongside the likes of sushi and sashimi. There are a few indulgent treats too, such as prawn tempura and Japanese fried chicken, while sweet-toothed serves include matcha cheesecake and chocolate and sesame slices.
How much: While Kaia’s individual plates are fairly-priced, you’ll need to order a few to fill up, which means you’re looking at a bill of around £30 per head.
Vibe: The counter dining layout means Kaia is best suited to casual meals with small groups between two and four.
Café Sou
What: Decked out like a Parisian haunt, Café Sou is a French restaurant that serves breakfast and lunch, followed by charcuterie boards in the evening. At breakfast, things are kept simple with a selection of freshly-baked pastries and omelettes, and there’s a to-go counter if you need to rush off to work. Come lunchtime, you’ll find classic French snacks such as croque monsieur and filled baguettes, while the evening is all about the cheese and meat boards.
How much: Among The Ned’s cheaper options, dining here should set you back less than £20.
Vibe: Come here for your breakfast business meeting and then back in the evening for a glass of wine to debrief with friends.
Lutyens Grill
What: Originally a members-only restaurant, steakhouse Lutyens is the only restaurant on The Ned’s ground floor that is housed within its own room. The intimate space, with its wood-panelled walls, has a clubby feel and was previously used as the Bank Manager’s office. On the menu, you’ll find a range of luxury prime cuts, including Wagyu and Hereford, alongside fish dishes such as grilled lobster and turbot on the bone.
How much: The most expensive restaurant on the ground floor, dinner at Lutyens costs around £80 per head.
Vibe: This place is popular with the business crowd at lunchtime, but it’s a romantic spot come evening.
Ned’s Club restaurants and bars
As well as being a hotel, The Ned is also home to a private members’ club called Ned’s Club. Members are granted access to the hotel’s rooftop pool, as well as its basement gym, spa, restaurant and cocktail bar. Thinking of getting a membership? Here’s what you need to know.
The Dining Room
What: The only fine-dining restaurant inside The Ned can be found in the basement. The room is truly stunning, with the interiors featuring a blend of velvet club chairs in seaside hues of blues and greens and hand-painted golden de Gournay wallpaper. The menu is modern British, with starters including native lobster, and mains such as Wagyu sirloin with courgette and mint. As for dessert, we’d recommend the coconut marshmallow ice cream.
How much: A three-course dinner here without drinks will cost around £50 per head.
Vibe: The Dining Room definitely feels more luxurious than the restaurants upstairs and is well suited to date nights.
The Vault
What: The jewel in the crown of The Ned’s basement levels is The Vault Bar. The stunning drinking den is found behind a 20-tonne, two metre wide vault door that is an original feature of the building, while inside the walls are lined with 3,000 original safe deposit boxes. You can expect to find all of the classic cocktails on the menu, alongside bourgeois bar snacks and a few remixed sips.
How much: Drinking in the City doesn’t come cheap; expect to pay around £15 per cocktail.
Vibe: Seductive and genuinely cool, this is the place to take someone that you’re looking to impress.
The Library Bar
What: This intimate bar is tucked away in a corner of the ground floor, behind a sweeping jacquard curtain. The menu is made up of 30 Champagnes, while a Martini trolley making its way around the room makes blends to order. Our favourite sip is Breakfast at Emily’s, a Martini that magically tastes exactly like marmalade on toast. If you’re feeling peckish, you can supplement your cocktails with snacks such as manchego and chorizo bon bons.
How much: A Martini in The Library Bar clocks in at £16.
Vibe: Cosy and intimate, this is the place for quiet drinks away from the City’s hustle and bustle.
The Ned afternoon tea
Afternoon tea is a British tradition that doesn’t appear to be waning in popularity any time soon. There are two afternoon teas to choose from at The Ned, and we’ve got the scoop on both.
Millie’s afternoon tea: At Millie’s, afternoon tea is a traditional affair. The tea features a selection of finger sandwiches, as well as scones slathered with jam and clotted cream.
Served Monday to Friday 2-5pm and Saturday 12-5pm, from £40
Kaia afternoon tea: Kaia serves a Japanese inspired afternoon tea that features pastries such as matcha buns with kumquat compote and strawberry yuzu choux.
Served Saturday 2-5pm, from £30
The Ned brunch
A weekend without brunch is a weekend wasted in our opinion. A handful of The Ned’s restaurants have a brunch menu, so check out our thoughts on each of them below, including bottomless and all-you-can-eat options.
Kaia Sunday brunch: The all-you-can-eat Sunday brunch at Kaia is a feast of Japanese cuisine, featuring sushi, sashimi, poke bowls and dishes cooked on a Robata grill.
Served Sunday, 11.30am-5pm. £45 per person
The Nickel Bar brunch: The Nickel Bar’s low-key brunch menu features the likes of buttermilk pancakes, an avocado bagel and fried waffles with chicken.
Served Saturday, 12-5pm. Dishes from £7
Zobler’s brunch: Saturdays at Zobler’s mean a two hour long bottomless Mimosa brunch, which you can quaff while tucking into French toast and bagels stuffed with classic fillings.
Served Saturday and Sunday, 12-5pm. Additional £20 per person for bottomless Mimosas
Malibu Kitchen brunch: Every Saturday, an all-you-can-eat vegetarian brunch takes over Malibu Kitchen’s dining room, full of healthy, vibrant and colourful brunch fare.
Served 12-6pm. £34 per person
The Ned Sunday feast: The Ned’s Sunday feast is essentially an epic brunch selection served across Millie’s Lounge, The Nickel Bar and Lutyens Grill. Expect oysters, lobster, classic brunch dishes and more.
Served Sunday, 12-8pm. £48 per person
The Ned breakfast
We’ve all heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so you may as well give this meal the attention it deserves. The Ned’s breakfast options are plentiful, so pick from the selection below.
Cecconi’s breakfast: Breakfast at this Venetian brasserie means homemade pastries and eggs any style, all washed down with cold-pressed juices and superfood shakes.
Served Monday to Friday, 7am-midday and Saturday and Sunday, 9am-midday
Millie’s breakfast: At Millie’s, breakfast is all about the British classics – think a sausage or bacon bap, or toasted crumpets with a selection of preserves.
Served 6am-midday
Zobler’s breakfast: Expect a New York-style breakfast at Zobler’s, where you can tuck into a breakfast burrito or chow down on a salmon and cream cheese bagel.
Served 8am-midday
Café Sou breakfast: Breakfast at Café Sou is chic and simple, much like Paris. Get out of your morning funk with a ham and cheese croissant or a three-egg omelette.
Served 6am-midday
The Ned Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why is The Ned called The Ned?
The Ned gets its name from the architect who designed the original building it resides in. That man was called Sir Edwin Lutyens, but would regularly sign his name as Ned on documents.
What bank was The Ned hotel?
The Ned was formerly the Midland Bank. Before The Ned opened its doors, the former bank had sat empty for almost eight years.
Is there a dress code at The Ned?
There is not an official dress code policy at The Ned, but guests are encouraged to look presentable. It’s also worth noting that due to the hotel’s location in the heart of the City, many of the guests are dressed in the business and formal wear they wear at their jobs.
Who owns The Ned?
The Ned is the result of a partnership between Soho House and Sydell Group. The hotel is owned by Soho House controlling shareholder and Sydell partner, Ron Burkle.
If you can’t secure a booking at The Ned or if you’ve already tried all of its restaurants, check out our pick of the best restaurants in the City of London.