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Wild Honey St James

Michelin-starred French-influenced cooking in a Grade II-listed banking hall, where refined technique meets understated elegance.

4.4

A one-Michelin-starred brasserie de-luxe housed in a Grade II-listed former banking hall within the Sofitel hotel on Pall Mall. Chef Anthony Demetre's refined French-influenced cooking emphasizes quality ingredients and elegant simplicity, avoiding unnecessary showmanship. The restaurant offers both an à la carte menu and pre-theatre set menus, with signature dishes including hand-dived scallops, rare venison, and the celebrated wild honey ice cream served with warm madeleines and raw Bermondsey honey carved tableside. The sophisticated yet relaxed atmosphere suits both special occasions and casual dining.

A brief summary to Wild Honey St James

  • 8 Pall Mall, London, St. James's, SW1Y 5NG, GB
  • +442073897820
  • Visit website
  • Duration: 1.5 to 3 hours
  • Luxury
  • Environment icon Indoor
  • Mobile reception: 5 out of 5
  • Tuesday 5 pm-9:30 pm
  • Wednesday 12 pm-2:30 pm
  • Thursday 12 pm-2:30 pm
  • Friday 12 pm-2:30 pm
  • Saturday 5 pm-9:30 pm

Local tips

  • Book the pre-theatre menu (approximately £59 per person) for exceptional value on Michelin-starred dining before West End performances. Service is efficient and designed to accommodate theatre schedules.
  • Reserve a table for the wild honey ice cream dessert, served with warm madeleines and raw Bermondsey honey carved tableside—the signature dish that defines the restaurant's philosophy.
  • Visit Bistrot at Wild Honey for a more casual atmosphere and better value, with a bargain prix-fixe menu available noon to 6:30pm, or drop by 5–7pm for the cinq à sept offer of wine with charcuterie or cheese croquettes.
  • Engage with the sommelier on wine pairings; the wine programme is serious and staff are knowledgeable about creative matches beyond conventional choices.
  • Arrive with an appreciation for French culinary traditions and ingredient quality rather than expecting theatrical presentation; this is a restaurant for food lovers, not Instagram moments.
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Discover more about Wild Honey St James

A Michelin-Starred Kitchen in a Banking Hall

Wild Honey St James occupies one of London's most distinctive dining spaces: a Grade II-listed former banking hall within the five-star Sofitel hotel on Pall Mall. The architecture speaks of grandeur and permanence, with soaring ceilings and classical proportions that once housed financial transactions now serving as the backdrop for culinary ones. Yet despite this imposing heritage, the restaurant resists formality. The interior balances modernist touches—elegant cylindrical lighting, tastefully patterned wall panels, and floor-to-ceiling windows—with understated sophistication that never feels pretentious or overwrought.

Anthony Demetre's Philosophy of Refined Restraint

Chef Anthony Demerte's one-Michelin-star cooking defines itself through what it does not do. His dishes are impressive precisely because they eschew showmanship in favour of clarity, balance, and respect for ingredients. The menu draws heavily from French culinary traditions—terrine en croûte, rabbit à l'ancienne, tarte tatin—yet incorporates modern sensibilities and seasonal British produce. Starters might feature crisp Sutton Hoo chicken with black winter truffles and hand-cut macaroni, or Isle of Orkney hand-dived scallops with white vermouth and XO sauce. Mains showcase rare fallow venison with walnut, cocoa and kumquat; halibut with red shrimp, kaffir lime and Tokyo turnips; or Loire Valley rabbit. Portions are generous, flavours are rewarding, and the cooking demonstrates technical mastery without unnecessary complexity.

The Signature Experience: Honey at the Table

The restaurant's namesake dish—wild honey ice cream served with warm madeleines and raw Bermondsey honey—has become iconic. The theatre lies not in artifice but in authenticity: the honey is carved directly from the beehive slab at your table, a moment that transforms dessert into experience. This signature captures the restaurant's ethos perfectly: impressive without pretension, theatrical without artifice, memorable without gimmickry. Other desserts, including a celebrated custard tart and classic cheesecake, demonstrate equal care and craftsmanship.

Dining Formats for Every Occasion

Wild Honey offers flexibility alongside fine dining. The pre-theatre menu provides excellent value at approximately £59 per person for three courses, making Michelin-starred dining accessible before West End performances. The à la carte menu, while more substantial in price, reflects the quality of ingredients and precision of execution. A separate space, Bistrot at Wild Honey, occupies the former bar area and offers a more informal setting with a bargain prix-fixe menu available from noon to 6:30pm, plus a cinq à sept offer (5–7pm) of wine with charcuterie or cheese croquettes for £11. This tiered approach means the restaurant welcomes everyone from theatre-goers to casual lunch diners to special-occasion celebrants.

Service and Atmosphere Without Pretension

The service style mirrors the kitchen's philosophy: warm, efficient, and knowledgeable without being overbearing. Staff are well-versed in wine pairings and the details of their trade, yet the overall tone remains relaxed and approachable. The restaurant avoids the stuffiness sometimes associated with Michelin-starred establishments; the atmosphere is airy and light, encouraging conversation rather than hushed reverence. This balance—elegance without stiffness, sophistication without snobbery—defines the entire experience.

A Restaurant for Food Lovers

Wild Honey St James is not designed to impress the Instagram crowd or those seeking theatrical presentation for its own sake. It is, fundamentally, a restaurant for people who care about food: the quality of ingredients, the precision of technique, the thoughtfulness of flavour combinations. The setting is beautiful, the service is attentive, and the wine programme is serious, but none of these elements overshadow the primary focus—a well-made meal that rewards attention and appreciation.

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