IKOYI Restaurant

IKOYI Restaurant

Ikoyi is a first of its kind restaurant concept, a high-end dining experience inspired by West African cuisine. Located on St. James Market Street, the restaurant offers a dynamic dining-experience in a relaxed setting.

London-based Studio Ashby were the brains behind the interiors and design concepts. Taking inspiration from Head Chef Jeremy Chan and Owner Ire Hassain Obdukales they sought to align modern dining with heritage and authenticity. The restaurant connects to Western Africa through the use of rich, natural materials, alongside carefully curated objects to create an establishment with soul.

The restaurant looks to combine “bold heat and umami with high quality products in a rich a welcoming environment”. Jeremy Chan explores ingredients such as Grains of Selim, a smokey peppercorn with the scent of eucalyptus, wild black tiger prawns and scotch bonnet chillies, fermented, burned and pickled for an exotic taste.

Max and Noel Venning of Three Sheets Bar have worked closely with Ikoyi in the lead up to the opening to also design a colourful drinks menu to complement the food.

A careful space planning exercise by Studio has enabled Ikoyi to host 42 dining covers, with a further 6 seated at the bar.

Fiona Blanchot, an associate at Studio Ashby, spoke to Premier Hospitality in depth about the project:

“We were introduced to the client by a mutual friend and print designer Lisa King. Jeremy and Ire had a very clear vision for the dining concept, the colours and flavours are bold, but the presentation is very refined.

“We interpreted this direction, creating a timeless interior which we hope acts as a complimentary backdrop to the vibrant menu. It was really important to us that the restaurant felt welcoming and authentic, we’ve referenced classic West African building styles through the use of a dusty pink polished plaster wall finish, sourced Characterful English Elm for the bar tops and tables, and the Stools have been handcrafted and shipped in from Swaziland.

“Our biggest challenge was trying to achieve the number of covers required in a wide but very shallow space, particularly as the client was keen to introduce a bar to complement their drinks offer.

“Planting is very important to Studio Ashby, so we designed a bespoke trough, finished in a deeper pink; it’s full of verdant, lush planting and helps to blur the boundary between bar and dining. It also helps contain people waiting and for a table and gives the restaurant some much needed hidden storage!!

“Jeremy and Ire were a pleasure to work with, and were involved every step of the way. Their attention to detail is second to none. We are proud to be part of such a strong restaurant concept and hope that we’ve created an interior that is true to the client’s vision.”

IKOYI opens for lunch and dinner Monday to Saturday and is also available for exclusive hire on Sundays.

For more information visit their website at https://ikoyilondon.com/ or call them on +44 (0)20 3583 4660.