Bonds

Bonds Restaurant provides a fresh approach to modern British cuisine in the heart of the Square Mile in London. A long-time favourite with City locals, seasonal cuisine by chef Stephen Smith attracts a well-heeled crowd of foodies.

Just a few hundred yards from the Bank of England, Bonds provides a relaxed but sophisticated escape for City types looking for a cocktail and some high quality, fresh British cuisine.

Whether you’ve made or lost a million today, the bar at this City bar and restaurant with its interior featuring subtle lighting and rich colours is the perfect place to unwind over cocktails.

Magnificent columns punctuate the space between the luxury restaurant and bar while walnut and oak flooring create a lasting impression for a business breakfast or lunch, romantic dinner or celebration. Bonds is also the winner of 2 AA Rosettes and can offer private dining rooms in addition to the restaurant. Bonds Bar complete with the original banking counter as its feature bar offers a wide variety of cocktails as well as a selection of fine wines and casual dining.

Bonds is by far the cosiest of the City’s converted banking halls, with its dramatically high, coffered ceiling softened by subdued lighting, rust-red upholstery and dark matched woods. The arrival of a new chef has seen a shift towards more conservative, but highly accomplished cooking with some thoughtful flavour combinations: seared Scottish scallops are teamed with crisp bacon, cauliflower purée, caramelised pineapple and curry oil to surprisingly subtle effect, a neatly layered tian of crab and avocado is served with an elegant tomato vinaigrette, and mains of herb-crusted new season’s lamb or pork belly with pea and ham croquettes, savoy cabbage, apple and Armagnac are meltingly tender. The menu offers wine suggestions for many dishes, while the cosmopolitan list is strong on New World names and big-ticket French bottles.

Cocktails range from old favourites to more unusual concoctions such as the Chocolate and Pear Mojito with mint leaves, fresh pear, chocolate liqueur and Havana Especial five year aged rum.

It’s grand without being intimidating. It’s spacious without being distant. It’s very ‘City’; the place where serious business deals are struck.

Visit after work on ‘Market Meltdown and Martini Mondays ‘when Bond’s speciality martinis are only £8. Bonds also offers a special Valentine’s day 5 course menu for £60 per person.