Designed by David Yeo, founder of Hong Kong’s Aqua Restaurant Group, Hutong at The Shard will serve the relatively unknown but diverse cuisine of northern China. Based on the restaurant of the same name in Hong Kong, London’s Hutong will be the first overseas location for the brand.
Complete with panoramic views over the London skyline from Europe’s tallest building, the 130 cover restaurant – situated on level 33 of The Shard – takes its inspiration from the Lu School of Chinese cuisine, which has roots in the province of Shandong. Aqua Restaurant Group’s head chef for Chinese cuisine, Yuan Shihai, has developed an innovative menu inspired by the culinary styles of Peking, Shandong and Sichuan provinces.
Hutong’s design is inspired by Beijing’s hutongs, fast disappearing, narrow lanes that criss-crossed the city. Billowing silk curtains, traditional Chinese red lanterns and hand-carved wooden panels adorn the room. David Yeo’s vision also extends to the table itself, with a beautiful array of bespoke China plates and tableware made exclusively for Hutong.
A wall of tea brick tiles – dried Chinese tea compressed into bricks – and vintage tea canisters dating from the 1940s, celebrates the link between China and London thanks to its old tea warehouses. Private dining rooms will be available for parties and events.
In addition, a three-storey atrium bar – serving quintessentially British cocktails with an emphasis on gin and tea – will link to Aqua Shard on level 31. The 220-cover restaurant, also brought to London by Aqua Restaurant Group, will serve a menu devised by David Yeo and executive chef, Anthony Garlando, which combines classic British produce with Anthony’s contemporary international cooking techniques.
