Angler. Taste Some Excellent Fine Dining Seafood On London’s Moorgate

Judith Baker reviews Angler a Michelin starred restaurant on the top of South Place Hotel in the City of London with a stunning rooftop terrace and fresh sustainable British seafood.

Angler restaurant perches on top of the elegant South Place boutique hotel which has brought a contemporary twist to this historic part of London usually dominated by business and commerce.

The traditional pub on the corner of the street may be buzzing with noisy post work City drinkers on a weekday evening, but all is peaceful and bright on the refreshing rooftop of South Place Hotel the Angler restaurant oozes calm and class with its huge windows looking out over the City, airy space and cool ambience. The Angler Terrace operates as an extension of the restaurant for lunch and dinner with a retractable roof and heaters offering a weather proof bright space. The private spaces offer an intimate dining option

Chef Craig Johnston was the youngest ever winner of MasterChef: The Professionals aged just 21 and he has risen to become one of the industry’s brightest stars. At Angler he uses only seasonal and carefully sourced produce to create beautiful plates. While seafood is the star of the show, carnivores and vegetarians are also catered for.

I chose the 5-course tasting menu, which we paired with wines selected by the sommelier. Each plate was a feast for the eye and the tastebuds, stylishly presented and delicious. We began with tiny amuse bouche including a dinky Tunworth cheese cornetto with candied walnuts.

Tuna Tartare followed, with a zingy ginger dressing and looking so colourful that even a firm anti food photographer like me was tempted to take a snap. Newlyn Cod came with caremised celeriac lovage and chicken butter sauce, absolutely melt in the mouth, fresh and glorious. All these seafood plates were small but perfect, and there could be no refusing the blood orange with champagne and chamomile and a strawberry pavlova.

Each course was paired with lovely wines, but the sweet Hungarian DORGO Tokaji wine stole the show for me. Not being a sweet wine afficianado, this is not one I would have chosen, but the sommelier’s suggestion proved to be the perfect accompaniment to the sweet treats at the end of our meal.

An A La carte menu with seafood specials such as Wild Turbot and Monkfish is also available featuring some of Chef Craig’s signature dishes. An extensive bar menu with a range of cocktails, aperitifs and fine wines completes the sophisticated dining experience.

The meal was made memorable not just by attentive and helpful staff but the cool airy space and bright atmosphere. Fellow diners were a mix of romantic couples, City diners and hotel guests. This is a real refreshing and stylish find in the heart of a busy business district with its elegant décor, contemporary feel and top-class food.

Tell me more about Angler Restaurant.

The five course tasting menu is £85 per person. Angler is open from Tuesday to Friday 12pm-2.30 for lunch and Tuesday to Saturday from 6pm -9.15pm for dinner.

The restaurant reopens after a summer break on 2nd September.

Angler at South Place Hotel, 3 South Place, London EC2M 2AF

E: Angler@southplacehotel.com T: 0203 215 1260

Angler is part of The South Place Hotel which has 80 chic rooms, five bars and a floor of event spaces. It is the first hotel from restaurateurs The Evolv Collection. As well as Angler there is the relaxed Bluebird City restaurant and a hidden outdoor terrace on the first floor, the Secret Garden.