The Wolseley

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

Rooted in the tradition of Europe's grand café culture

The building at 160 Piccadilly has always commanded attention. In 1921, architect William Curtis Green was commissioned by Wolseley Motors to design a prestigious car showroom, incorporating marble pillars, archways, and Venetian and Florentine-inspired details into a space of genuine ambition. The cars eventually stopped selling, Barclays Bank moved in, and Green returned to add a banking counter and managers' offices — spaces that today serve as the bar and tea salon. The domed ceiling and monochrome geometric marble flooring he conceived remain intact and very much on view.

It was in July 2003 that restaurateurs Chris Corbin and Jeremy King acquired the building. A sympathetic restoration overseen by David Collins Architects followed, and four months later The Wolseley opened its doors as what was considered London's first Grand Café — "Piccadilly's Shining Pearl," as the building had been known during its banking years.

A room that earns its reputation

The interior does the heavy lifting before a single dish arrives. Spectacular in scale yet relaxed in atmosphere, it draws everyone from early-morning regulars to late-night diners, operating seven days a week from breakfast through to dinner. That range is part of the point: The Wolseley is built around the idea that a great café-restaurant should be available at almost any hour, in almost any mood.

The European cuisine spans a broad all-day menu alongside an à la carte for lunch and dinner, both drawing on the traditions of the great continental cafés. Breakfast — served from 7am on weekdays and 8am at weekends — is treated as "a meal apart," offered from an extensive menu. Afternoon Tea runs daily, with homemade cakes, scones, pastries and coupes. A Private Dining Room is available for more intimate gatherings at any meal.

Recognition that reflects longevity

Few London restaurants have earned the kind of sustained international regard that The Wolseley has. Appearing in The World's 50 Best Restaurants in both 2004 and 2005, it was recognised at a global level almost immediately after opening — a remarkable achievement for a room that was, in many ways, reviving a format rather than inventing one. That the European café tradition felt fresh in London at the time says something about how well Corbin and King read the city; that The Wolseley has remained a reference point ever since says something about how well it was executed.

Renowned for its spectacular interior, classic European food and seamless service, it has become, in the restaurant's own words, "an iconic institution the world over." Walk-ins are welcomed on the day, though reserving in advance is recommended.