InterContinental O2 destination bars
The InterContinental London – The O2, set to open in winter 2015 on the vibrant Greenwich Peninsula, has unveiled five destination restaurants and bars for the luxury new hotel.
The Meridian Lounge, Clipper Bar, Market Brasserie, Peninsula Restaurant and Eighteen Sky Bar have been designed to capture panoramic views of the water from each space. Providing an inspirational setting to reflect on the thriving trading activity of the 16th century East India Docks that welcomed huge naval ships carrying tea, spices, pepper and silk to local merchants, the spaces offer a unique vantage point.
The local history is subtly reflected in the DNA of each restaurant and bar, from concept design through to the menu and dining experience.
Within the heart of the dining space is the Clipper Bar, with an impressive oval marble bar and 270 degree views of the rive. Offering a full range of wines, draught beers, signature spirits, cocktails created by world-class mixologists, the bar also offers Afternoon Tea menu with a choice of 34 loose teas from The East India Company.
The Market Brasserie offers an interactive dining experience inspired by the original Greenwich trading markets and fresh new experiences from London’s bustling Billingsgate, Smithfield and Covent Garden markets. The lively brasserie will boast floor-to-ceiling windows and open plan kitchen, with fresh breads and pastries made daily, impressive displays of British cured meats and sides of smoked salmon. During dinner, guests can choose from a selection of regionally sourced meats and fish from the British Isles at their table and have their choice cooked to their liking in front of them in the theatre kitchen.
On the 2nd floor is The Peninsula Restaurant, an elegant dining room for 80 guests with a private dining space for up to 24. The Peninsula will serve a daily fine-dining menu of modern European cuisine with a hint of exotic flavour reflective of the active spice trade that passed through East London’s docks.
On the hotel’s 18th floor is Eighteen Sky Bar; a stylish and sophisticated rooftop space exposing far reaching views of the London skyline and offering a cocktail menu inspired by spice, herbs and botanics. A full range of local and international craft beers and specialist wines, spirits and Champagnes will be served alongside a refined pan Asian inspired menu of Sushi, Sashimi and steamed buns against the glittering backdrop of Canary Wharf, the City of London and the Royal Borough of Greenwich. Situated just a few steps from the hotel’s penthouse and with an in-built dancefloor, Eighteen can be hired exclusively for private parties and special events.
To complete the full-service offering is The Meridian Lounge, a meeting hub on the ground floor, aptly named to reflect the hotel’s location within Greenwich, a destination marking the starting point of every time zone in the world. The Meridian Lounge will provide guests with a relaxed environment in which to work or entertain, with teas from The East India Company, aromatic coffees, hot chocolate, freshly baked pastries, salads and gourmet sandwiches served either inside or relaxing on the 45-seat outdoor terrace with views of the river Thames.
Carl Chapman, Food & Beverage Director at the new InterContinental London – The O2, comments: “We are incredibly lucky to be positioned within the historic landscape of Greenwich that has inspired these authentic and iconic experiences for our diners.”
Chapman continues, “Each of our restaurant and bar outlets have been deliberately designed to incorporate uninterrupted views of the river with choice menus and dining experiences developed to evoke memories of Greenwich’s rich naval history – the docks, the food merchants, smokehouses, bakeries, the history of time and nautical triumphs. The lineage of the area is laced into every concept within the hotel and my hope is that guests absorb this through the wonderful choice of fresh ingredients and suppliers we work with.”
The InterContinental London – The O2 is managed and operated by The Arora Group under a franchise agreement with InterContinental Hotels Group.
