VIAJANTE & THE CORNER ROOM

El Bulli alumnus and cooking whizz kid Nuno Mendes hit the big time with Bacchus before moving on to his secret supper clubs at The Loft Project. But if you can’t be doing with membership fees and exclusive dinners for 15, then you’re in luck: Viajante is his latest offering and has just received its first Michelin star, with rave reviews from top city critics lauding the worldly combination of ingredients and flavours.

Located within the smart Town Hall Hotel and taking inspiration from his travels, it serves up surprising and innovative fare via six, nine and 12-course tasting menus that feel robust, with none of that molecular magic to contend with. Instead you’ll find poetic menus, playful combinations and an experience to remember – with only 40 covers up for grabs at any one time and an open kitchen to watch the action, you won’t feel overlooked.

If the intimate experience and high price point aren’t exactly what you’re willing to dig into your wallet for, there’s now a second space upstairs serving more low key fare. The Corner Room may be more affordable, but the service is just as friendly and the dishes aren’t diluted versions of the real deal. Bistro-style servings are split into five starters, three mains and two desserts; a succinct selection that still bear the Mendes hallmark of full-flavoured intricacy.

A piece of the action up here is hard to come by, with the increasingly trendy no bookings policy holding court, so be prepared to wait over cocktails in the bar; meaning that final amount may come to more than expected anyway. Mendes has obviously learnt something on his jaunts – and we get the feeling that no amount of bartering will get you out of this bill.