The latest hot ticket to open on Mayfair’s Dover Street, The Dover is a riot of golden-age glamour and dining decadence. The eatery evokes the splendour of old-school New York paired with classic Italian charm – an ode to ‘Sophia Loren in 1970s Brooklyn’, according to former Soho House group COO Martin Kuczmarski, whose debut restaurant this is.
Promising respite from the workweek hustle and a haven for weekend rest, The Dover is an exercise in traditional elegance – and securing a table here requires mastering the time-honoured art of making a phone call.
It’s golden hour at The Dover
The Dover menu subtly illuminated by a vintage lamp
Architect and design firm Quincoces-Dragò & Partners infused the space with understated sophistication. After stepping through the sumptuous velvet curtains, guests find themselves in an intimate dining room adorned in rich red and pink hues, accented by the heady scent of Mysore sandalwood. It sets the stage for glamorous evenings accompanied by the dulcet tones of vinyl records. Curated music selections, spanning classic soul, funk and disco, transport diners to different eras.
The Dover is an exercise in traditional elegance and golden-age glamour, decked out in a quietly refined material palette of wood, brass and glass, enhanced by ambient lighting
The starting point for designers David Lopez Quincoces and Fanny Bauer Grung was ‘to tell a story of the past and the future, where traditional hospitality meets novelty in an intriguing mix that’s welcoming and not intimidating’.
They continue: ‘We wanted to match simple materials with precious pieces, a lot of wood with patina against velvet, Murano glass chandeliers by Venini, and small hints of brass. These materials never age and make the space feel like it’s always been there, timeless. The Dover is an extremely special place, intimate but open, naughty and polite all at once.’
Under the guidance of head chef Valentino Pepe, who trained with Alan Yau and Gennaro Vitto, the menu pays homage to timeless classics such as prawn cocktail, beef tartare and lobster ravioli. Drinks-wise, there’s an enticing array of martini options, New York and Italian classics, and a signature creation crafted from Konik’s Tail vodka, Cocchi vermouth and orange bitters.
See more of our favourite Italian restaurants in London.
A version of this article appears in the April 2024 issue of Wallpaper*, available in print, on the Wallpaper* app on Apple iOS, and to subscribers of Apple News +. Subscribe to Wallpaper* today
-
‘I’ve considered every single detail’: how Victoria Beckham designed the perfect make-up brush collectionVictoria Beckham speaks to Wallpaper* about the meticulous design process behind her debut collection of make-up brushes, which perfectly treads a line between form and function
-
Can Maserati modernise or is the sun setting on one of Italy’s most beloved automotive brands?Maserati’s GranTurismo Folgore is an epic electric grand tourer without equal. If only its traditionalist customers wanted it more
-
Viviane Sassen considers fine art, fashion photography and fragility in ItalyViviane Sassen’s exhibition, 'This Body Made of Stardus' at Collezione Maramotti, spans two decades off Sassen's career
-
One Club Row is London’s answer to the Lower East SideLocated at the site of the former hotspot Les Trois Garçons, One Club Row brings back noughties glamour with 19th-century interiors, gourmet bites, and jazz nights
-
Marylebone restaurant Nina turns up the volume on Italian diningAt Nina, don’t expect a view of the Amalfi Coast. Do expect pasta, leopard print and industrial chic
-
Dining at Pyrá feels like a Mediterranean kiss on both cheeksDesigned by House of Dré, this Lonsdale Road addition dishes up an enticing fusion of Greek and Spanish cooking
-
London restaurant Tatar Bunar puts Ukrainian heritage front and centreFamily recipes and contemporary design merge at this new east London restaurant by Ukrainian restaurateurs Anna Andriienko and Alex Cooper
-
Corner Corner may be London's most unique entertainment destination yetThe newly-opened venue combines food, jazz and—yes—urban farming beneath one sprawling roof
-
For a taste of Greece, head to this playful new restaurant in London’s ChelseaPachamama Group’s latest venture, Bottarga, dishes up taverna flavours in an edgy bistro-style setting
-
A buzzy Korean pop-up becomes a permanent fixture in East LondonChef Joo Won has turned his Calong pop-up permanent in the arty enclave of Stoke Newington
-
New London restaurant Alba is a sun-soaked affairIts name meaning ‘sunrise’ in Italian, Alba is a new Amalfi-inspired restaurant set to shine in Knightsbridge
