Lotus

This is one restaurant concept that London foodies will not want to miss. Unique among the capital’s many Italian restaurants, Lotus offers not only superior Italian food covering the classics and their contemporary interpretations, but also reworked cocktails and – wait for it – edible flowers! Yep, harvested from suppliers in Kent, the so-called garden of England, these blossoms find their way into this very special Clapham restaurant and bar’s food and drink, bringing colour and a host of health benefits to table and tumbler. Rounded off with live entertainment and three different areas to explore, book your bouquet at this Clapham High Street before the season’s out.

Roses are red, and violets are blue, the concept is curious, but then so are you. Orange blossom, peony, marigold, violet, hibiscus, jasmine, red rose, angelica, lavender and, last but not least, this special London restaurant’s namesake, the lotus, are just some of the blooms that the endlessly inventive chefs and mixologists at London’s Lotus incorporate into their Italianesque dishes and cocktails. Each bloom has its own character, flavour, and health benefits, and we can only suggest that the bold foodies out there surrender themselves to the expertise of this Clapham High Street restaurant’s proprietors and allow the chefs and bartenders to whip up a personalised menu of food and drink next time you book.

Lotus’s menu is Italian at heart, with a particular focus on regional cuisine from Abruzzi. Many of the organically grown ingredients that make their way into Lotus’ Clapham High Street kitchen come direct from growers in the region, including the restaurant’s supply of extra virgin olive oil, which serves only to underline this fantastic London concept restaurant’s commitment to exciting, considered cuisine. Divided into three sections – the Lotus Lounge, the Flora Room and The Goddess of Flowers Suite designed for VIP dining – Lotus has room for any occasion, be it a solo voyage into the land of the lotus eaters (you’re not going to want to leave), a small party or a big celebration. With a split-level interior decked out in rich and warm hues, one feels as if one is dining cocooned in a blossom – this really is one of the most unusual and desirable gastronomic (and horticultural!) hotspots in the capital. Book well in advance.