Bob Bob Cité restaurant opens in London

Hallway at Bob Bob Cité restaurant which has white and blue striped tables, round blue chairs, wall mirrors and a strip of glowing blue numbers running below the ceiling.

(Image credit: TBC)

last updated 26 July 2022

When it opened in 2008, London's Bob Bob Ricard became an instant hit, as much for its elaborate marble and gilded interiors – modelled on the Orient Express – as for its champagne delivery at the push of a button.

Now, more than a decade later, its founder, Leonid Shutov, has unveiled his second much-anticipated venture, this time, as its name suggests, in the Square Mile. More precisely housed inside a new-build structure that sits suspended within the Leadenhall Building – also known as the Cheesegrater – Bob Bob Cité is, if possible, an even more extravagant version of its Soho sister, only strengthening Shutov's chutzpah to once again pierce the London restaurant scene with a showstopper.

Over half a decade in the making, and with a price tag reported to be around the £25 million mark, the all-booth restaurant is the work of both Shutov and London-based outfit Brady Williams, who harmonised the warren of rooms, which includes a series of private dining spaces, around the concept of luxury travel, in particular, megayachts, early 20th century Zeppelin airships and first-class train carriages.

And so, lashings of mirror-polished steel trim and rosewood marquetry panelling – created offsite by Warwickshire-based specialist joiners Stan Tarver – form a base material palette for embellished Japanese book-binding paper, 800 or so bespoke light fittings, including 24 chandeliers modelled on the original Bob Bob Ricard ones, colourfully bold artwork by Supermundane, and bespoke leather banquettes, from Glasgow-based Andrew Muirhead & Son, that nod to racing car seats.

In the open kitchen, Michelin-star chef Eric Chavot sends out a menu of perfectly executed French classics from escargot to the creamy veal blanquette à L'Ancienne, all served on Wedgwood china designed by Shutov himself. Don't miss out on the deliciously robust French onion soup or the buttery pan-fried Dover sole, washed down with a glass or two of bubbly, that of course, can be summoned by the touch of a button.

Dining booth at Bob Bob Cit&eacute; restaurant with a decorated table, white and blue chairs, a window, wall lights and a strip of blue glowing numbers running below the ceiling.

Dining room at Bob Bob Cit&eacute; restaurant with white and blue tables, white and blue benches against the walls, round blue chairs, wall mirrors, a chandelier and a strip of blue glowing numbers running below the ceiling.

Dining room at Bob Bob Cit&eacute; restaurant with a long white and blue table, blue covered chairs, a chandelier, large windows and a strip of glowing blue numbers running below the ceiling.

ADDRESS

122 Leadenhall Street

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Lauren Ho is the Travel Director of Wallpaper*, roaming the globe, writing extensively about luxury travel, architecture and design for both the magazine and the website. Lauren serves as the European Academy Chair for the World's 50 Best Hotels.