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Summary
Is it London? It doesn’t feel like it at this enchanting, 17th-century ballroom adjoining Holland House, and surrounded by the tranquility of Holland Park. As a restaurant, it’s had many ups and downs over the years (there’s always a temptation here to coast on the location), and its latest incarnation was launched without fanfare in December 2022 by George Bukhov-Weinstein and Ilya Demichev, of Goodman, Burger & Lobster and Wild Tavern. True to the DNA of these other offerings, it’s been handsomely revamped and now serves an Italian-influenced menu centred on luxe casual dining – raw seafood, USDA steak, plus fancy pizza and pasta. In a February 2023 review, Giles Coren of The Times decried it as akin to “the second-best Italian restaurant in Dubai” whose unifying principle is “expensive” not Italian. Our initial reports are less sniffy: “an amazing meal with attentive service, and good ambience even if the decor is a bit overdone for my taste and the food is on the pricey side for what it is”.
Summary
One of London’s most stunning and pretilly located venues – this 17th-century former ballroom in Holland Park itself is scheduled to reopen in the latter half of 2022 under the ownership of Ilya Demichev and George Bukhov-Weinstein, the Russians behind Chelsea’s Wild Tavern and surf-and-turf specialists Goodman and Burger & Lobster. The menu is expected to be Italian-led and there will be room for 120 diners on two floors – each with its own bar. The venue has had various high-profile tenants, including Marco Pierre White, but has often slipped into complacency based on its location – let’s hope they break that mould.
Summary
“There’s not a better setting in London for romance” than this 17th-century former ballroom inside Holland Park: “a walk to the restaurant through the greenery is a joy, the space itself is elegant and light; and in the summer, the terrace offers al fresco dining overlooking the formal gardens”. Some reports still talk of the “pretty ordinary” modern British food and “adequate” service that’s often dogged the place, but overall feedback was more positive this year: “its lean years of so-so food and service are behind it” – “it’s a shame more people don’t go”.
For 33 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at Belvedere?
off Abbotsbury Rd in Holland Park, London, W8 6LU
Restaurant details
Belvedere Restaurant Diner Reviews
"Upmarket Italian. Great surroundings - expensive for what it is"
"Mediocre in every respect, apart from the beautiful setting in Holland Park "
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £25.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £3.00 |
 Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Service | 14.50% |
off Abbotsbury Rd in Holland Park, London, W8 6LU
| Number of Diners: | |
| Required Time: | |
Opening hours
| Monday | CLOSED |
| Tuesday | 5:30 pm‑12 am |
| Wednesday | 5:30 pm‑12 am |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑12 am |
| Friday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm, 5:30 pm‑12 am |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑12:30 am |
| Sunday | 12 pm‑10:30 pm |
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