The 5-star Megaro Hotel in Kings Cross pays homage to London with its quirky, colourful and brazenly British style. independent hotel Defiance of convention with a modern luxury aesthetic, offering eclectic signature rooms and designer apartments. But what makes it absolutely amazing is its food and drink offering. Let’s take a look.
The Megaro has two main attractions: food and drink. Here, we’ll take a look at Magenta – its fine dining restaurant inspired by northern Italy – and Hokus Pokus – its alchemy lab’s bar reminiscent of a new bespoke cocktail concept.Some The best places to eat in London.
magenta
Magenta is A restaurant as bright as the hues, offering an imaginative Northern Italian menu. Curated by Executive Chef Manuele Bazzoni, it also features an extensive wine list showcasing the best of Italy’s vineyards.
Magenta’s striking interior was designed by renowned British artist and designer Henry Chebaane, with 19th The century-old heritage of the building in which it is located; the industrial-age heritage and dynamism of the contemporary art culture of Kings Cross and its Italian immigrant community.
creative menu
Chef Manuele Bazzoni has crafted a genius four-course a la carte menu based on the flavours of his native northern Italy.
You’ll start with Manuele’s unique charcoal flour bread recipe – which looks and tastes amazing. Quality British produce is used throughout the starter, including the wonderful wild sea bass tartare, Sicilian orange gelato and black sesame ice cream. The highlight was the frozen San Marzano tomato soup and strawberries with poached Scottish lobster and English peas. The perfect combination of contrasting flavours and textures is exquisite in every way.
For Primi’s first course, smoked buffalo ricotta ravioli with English asparagus and black truffles are simple and delicious. And the pasta “alla chitarra” with oyster butter, red shrimp and sea urchin is a must try.
At this point, your palette is open and your taste buds will be screaming for more flavors. For your Secondi second course, every option is to die for, but the two that stand out the most are the Cornish Monkfish cooked over charcoal or…my personal favorite – Roasted Lamb Chops Served with pistachio rind, sweetbread croquettes, traditional carrots and licorice. Cooked to perfection, the pistachio rind adds excellent texture and enhances the flavor of the meat thanks to the licorice.
If you have room for Dolci (dessert, you have to), opt for the Sicilian Pistachio Mousse and Garrigate Strawberry Sorbet and stick to the Sicilian, Strawberry and Pistachio theme above. Refreshing and very enjoyable.
Mauve – Magenta Private Dining Room
Inside the Mauve Private Room, you’ll find The Mauve Private Carriage, a fantastic steampunk food truck. It’s an homage to King’s Cross and Victory Hall of yesteryear, with its high arched windows overlooking the entrance to the Megaro Hotel. It takes its name from the stately room at HMS Victory, which includes a table made from the wood of the iconic ship.
Two private dining rooms, accessible by dedicated stairs, can accommodate up to 12 people each.
mischief
Hokus Pokus is a super stylish, apothecary-style bar in the heart of Kings Cross, reminiscent of a new bespoke cocktail concept. It is run by new bar manager Greg Chudzio. Guests can now set their sights on exciting and delicious potions expertly handcrafted by skilled in-house alchemists. Each cocktail has a variety of concoctions to choose from. Or simply leave it to an expert to create a custom potion based on your personality!
The new menu and concept of Hokus Pokus will take guests on a captivating sensory journey. While they don’t claim any health benefits, the team at Alchemy Labs believe the tincture can still do wonders for your mood. There are seven different prescription categories for revellers to choose from: Fruity, Fire, Sour, Smoky, Coffee and Carbonated Potion.
Made from the highest quality fresh ingredients, these potions are cooked at a specific temperature for aroma and flavor. A few cocktails are then mixed with Hokus Pokus’ own elixirs, which are pure from fresh fruits and herbs, and top-of-the-line spirits for the ultimate luxury experience for cocktail connoisseurs. All potions and elixirs are made in-house by a team of experts.
Personal favorites are Smokey Potions’ Wagyu-washed bourbon, and Alchemist’s own barrel-aged absinthe. Other highlights include a fire potion, in which the smoke of the mixture is heated with fire in a glass to release the aroma.
An evening at Hokus Pokus and Magenta is sure to captivate you – we promise.
www.hokuspokus.co.uk
www.magentarestaurant.co.uk
