Over a decade since opening their first hotel in Shoreditch, the Hoxton team has opened their third hotel in London. Located in the central location of Southwark, the trademark boutique aesthetic has remained. The ground floor lobby is home to one of the hotel’s food offerings, Albie. However, we were heading up to Seabird, the Rooftop seafood restaurant and bar, opened in September.
Found on the 14th floor of the hotel, above all of the guest rooms, Seabird is definitely the jewel in the crown for the Hoxton Southwark, a light and airy take on Iberian cuisine. The more premium of the two food offerings in the hotel, this is a luxurious place to relax and take in the views.
Floor to ceiling glazed windows offer up expansive views across London, from different vantage points you can see all the top London sights. The interior as referenced previously is light and Mediterranean-inspired, with Tropical greenery throughout. Wicker and rattan chairs and barstools lend themselves to this vibe, giving the impression of relaxing on an outdoor terrace or beach club, whilst enjoying the best seafood on offer.
Tiled tabletops give a refreshing amount of texture and play a great backdrop to the refined tableware. The Zellige tiles are handmade and moulded from clay into a fish-scaled pattern, another nod to the offer at hand here. An open kitchen, as standard nowadays, is laid with other handmade tiles, to soften the space and allows you to see the spectacle of your food being prepared in front of you; and the food itself is lovely.
A collection of raw seafood and small plates to start gives way to heartier mains, some cooked on the Plancha, a very Spanish type flat grill which gives an amazing char and smokiness to the dishes. Despite Seabird being billed as a seafood restaurant, we would point you towards some of the vegetarian dishes on offer. We loved the grilled hispi cabbage, a smoky, charred wedge of vegetable on a bed of well-seasoned beans, onions and chestnuts.
The drinks list here is also extensive, with a number of house cocktails, continuing the tropical beach vibe. There is also a long list of wines, mainly from the Spanish and French regions. The expansive bar is one of the first elements you come across when entering the restaurant, you can wait here by the bar or also simply come up for drinks, there are soft velvet upholstered stools, and friendly bartenders to chat to.
Speaking of the staff, the attention to detail hasn’t been missed here either, with all the floor staff wearing clean whites, and linen blazers, to complement the beachside theme. They are warm and attentive, giving suggestions on the menu items which they have loved. They suggested we do not leave without trying the Manchego cheesecake, a dense luxurious slice, covered with a fresh shaving of Manchego at your table; a very, very good way to end the afternoon.
