When Tigermilk opened its doors this June, it didn’t just introduce Londoners to its exuberant take on Latin American dining. The 138-cover restaurant marks the UK debut of a cult Parisian group whose design aesthetic is as integral to its appeal as the food on the plate.
Founded in 2019 by restaurateurs Nina and Alexis Melikov, Tigermilk has quickly grown into a phenomenon across France, serving more than 3,500 guests daily across its ten locations. Each site has carved out a reputation not only for vibrant flavours and generous portions but also for its immersive interiors—spaces that transport diners far beyond their immediate surroundings.
For the London outpost, the brand’s in-house creative studio, Studio Leche, worked in collaboration with Soho House alumna Christie Ward to bring its bold, layered vision to life. The result is a space that draws inspiration from the faded grandeur of Cuernavaca’s estates, once defined by marble courtyards, mirrored halls, and luxuriant gardens.
Step inside and the references are immediate. White and red marble floors echo old-world elegance, while mirrored ceilings expand the room and play with reflections of the cascading tropical greenery. A sweeping open kitchen becomes the beating heart of the space, pulling the theatre of food preparation into the dining experience itself. At the same time, a dramatic bar stretches the length of the room, fronting a glowing wall that showcases more than 250 bottles of mezcal and tequila.
This balance of theatre and intimacy is central to Tigermilk’s design philosophy. Each element, from the marble and mirror to the greenery and lighting, was chosen to evoke not a literal Latin America, but an atmosphere of generosity, vibrancy, and timeless festivity. “Not authentic, not traditional, just full of life” could be said as much about the interiors as the food.
Across two levels, the restaurant creates shifting moods: lively and communal upstairs, more atmospheric below, where mirrored walls and warm tones heighten the sense of indulgence. The design plays a clever game of contrasts, weaving between polished surfaces and raw natural textures, between the grand scale of a sweeping bar and the detail of hand-finished joinery.
The food and drink menus were developed in tandem with the design ethos. Tableside guacamole, ceviche as bright as stained glass, or a rocoto-glazed lamb shoulder meant for sharing all echo the restaurant’s spirit of spectacle and togetherness. Likewise, the cocktails – mezcal mules, hibiscus margaritas, or the playful Tigermilk Spritz – find their perfect stage in a bar designed for lingering.
By embedding these layers of cultural reference and sensory detail, Tigermilk’s design succeeds in creating something more than just a backdrop to dining. It’s an atmosphere that is charged, generous, a little hedonistic and it encourages Londoners to step out of the everyday and into a Latin-tinged celebration.
For a group that has already conquered Paris with its unmistakable blend of hospitality and design, Charing Cross Road feels like a natural stage for the next act. Tigermilk is loud, unapologetic, and full of soul and its interiors make sure that spirit isn’t just tasted, but felt from the moment you walk through the door.
