The Ivy City Garden

There’s something very full circle about this Ivy site, which is the second to possess the ‘Garden’ moniker after The Ivy Chelsea Garden. It was Vintage Salt under previous tenant Des McDonald, who himself used to be head chef at – you guessed it – The Ivy.

Located right by Liverpool Street station in serene Bishopsgate Gardens, the space incorporates a restaurant, bar, private dining room and the namesake garden, all decked out in the brand’s well-groomed, colourful interiors. A long, cuisine-leaping menu features everything from the famous shepherd’s pie to tuna carpaccio; ask one of the one-the-ball waiters for advice if you’re stumped what to order.

We’d recommend prawn tempura pepped up with a matcha tea sauce and sprinklings of green papaya, edamame beans and cucumber shavings, and a generously portioned main of perfectly-cooked lobster with a side of rich truffle-and-parmesan-topped thick-cut chips.

Dessert was a real showstopper, a chocolate bombe on a bed of milk foam, soft vanilla ice cream and sticky-sweet shards of honeycomb, melted at the table with a hot salted-caramel sauce. Vibrant surrounds (including a DJ) help this incarnation of The Ivy keep up with its younger City counterparts, and for big groups there’s a 32-cover private dining room upstairs which overlooks the garden.

Serial restauranteur Richard Caring’s ever burgeoning Ivy collection now comprises 32 locations around the UK and Ireland, with each restaurant christened as either ‘Brasserie’ ‘Garden’ ‘Market Grill’ or ‘Café’. Of course, all of these off-shoots are nods to The Ivy’s iconic original site in Covent Garden.

Located in the historic Bishopsgate Gardens, an easy and pleasant walk from Liverpool Street Station, The Ivy City Garden is a charming and elegant spot for guests to enjoy breakfast, brunch, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and cocktails. The brasserie style restaurant is a relaxed yet sophisticated setting serving a menu of modern British and international classics seven days a week in the beautiful Dashwood House. The interiors are bold and vibrant with colourful leather and velvet furnishings, a long glamorous bar and bright contemporary artwork on the walls. Perhaps the biggest draw of this location is the glass roofed garden area, complete with tables and a bar, where diners can enjoy a meal al fresco surrounded by an abundance of leafy green foliage and tropical flowers. It’s a particularly special spot in the summer but the overhead heaters make it possible to enjoy this tranquil spot all year round. A gorgeous private dining room is also a popular venue for everything from informal gatherings to corporate meetings.

The a la carte menu is full to brim with crowd pleasing choices that range from light, healthy dishes to indulgent comfort food classics. The Ivy staples include the signature shepherd’s pie with slow-braised lamb leg, Wookey Hole Cheddar potato mash and truffle sauce, and of course The Ivy hamburger – chargrilled and served in a potato bun with mayonnaise, horseradish ketchup and thick cut chips. Special starters to look out for include the yellow fin tuna carpaccio served with cucumber, baby basil and an apple, jalapeno and avocado sauce; and the duck liver parfait on toasted brioche with caramelized hazelnuts, truffle, pear and ginger compote.

A City Garden special on the drinks list comes in the form of a Kir Royale made with Plymouth sloe gin, Briottet rose liqueur and hibiscus topped with The Ivy Collection Champagne – perfect for toasting just about any occasion!