Eat & Drink
Originally published on Wednesday, 9th June 2010
Inn The Park
Leafy lakeside urban idyll
St James’s Park, SW1A 2BJ - 020 7451 9999 - www.innthepark.com
Location
The verdant setting of this peaceful St James’s Park spot, paired with Oliver Peyton’s modern British know-how, make this one of London’s fairest and most appealing warm weather hang-outs.
Vibe
So much more than just a cafe, you won’t find second rate sandwiches, melted KitKats and leaky tin teapots here. There’s a spacious, decked terrace looking out across the lake to Duck Island on which to enjoy a sunny day or balmy evening, and if it gets a bit blustery there’s plenty of contemporary but comfy seating inside – or you can make the most of the Grab & Go range that includes salads, tarts and homemade ice-cream, and create your own picnic.
Flavours
Well-sourced and inventively English, the food here is, perhaps surprisingly, cooked by an Australian chef, but this does mean that Amanda Wilson is a bit handy with a barbie and on Saturdays and Sundays from midday you can enjoy expertly grilled Longhorn organic burgers with Coleston Basset stilton, Barnsley lamb chops and Cornish sardines.
Décor
The elegantly sweeping design, with its Deco meets Scandinavian log cabin feel, are the work of Tom Dixon and Hopkin Architects. Described as ‘retro-industrial’ it’s actually gentler than that and blends in perfectly with the sweeping lawns and foliage. The latest feature is the rooftop bar where you can sit back and sunbathe or star-gaze with a cucumber and mint martini or watermelon cooler.
Upshot
Great British food and tipples in gorgeously green surroundings; Inn The Park is a summertime winner - breakfast here (fried duck egg and bacon and sage sausages, anyone?) being a particularly tranquil and indulgent way to start the day.
