About
Manhattan Grill, the restaurant at the Canary Wharf Marriott, flies the American flag but the inspiration for the hotel’s rebooted bar and lounge is taken from the 17th Century English tea clippers that berthed at West India Quay. Alight here for traditional afternoon tea, reasonably priced at £19.50 (2-5pm), as well as all-day snacks such as steak toastie, Devon crab salad, potted shrimps with mace butter, beef and Kentish blue cheese or homity pie and haddock goujons with chips. G&T and gin cocktails (such as a bergamot tea-infused cousin of the French 75 among a selection of prosecco sparklers) are what to drink. Also new is a heated and covered terrace where suggested sip and cigar pairings include Blanton’s Silver Edition bourbon with a Partagas Serie D No.4 (£25), a young robusto with hints of tangerine and café-crème. Will the summer 2014 changes be enough to tempt local workers and loft-dwellers into a venue that is frequented ‘90% by hotel guests’ according to one barman?