The restaurant and bar on the 19th floor of the hotel with panoramic views across the Thames to The O2 and of the surrounding area
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It’s a paradox that, in an area which boasts London’s largest concentration of tall buildings, there are few places that the public can access to go aloft and enjoy the view.
Only restaurant and bar Bokan on the Isle Of Dogs offers significant altitude and its views across the London skyline to The Shard, are soon to be reduced by the rise of a residential block on its western side.
Now though, there’s a new player in town.
Alto 19 is located on the top floor of Locke London Canary Wharf, overlooking Blackwall Basin, Wood Wharf, Billingsgate and even boasting views towards One Canada Square from its wrap-around windows.
While 19 storeys isn’t especially high for the locality, the hotel’s position on the edge of the dock at some distance from any of its neighbours, means guests enjoy an almost uninterrupted panorama over much of its surroundings.
The geography also means nothing is likely to get built right next door any time soon.
designed for fun
“This restaurant has been designed as a really fun place,” said Chris Miller, CEO of White Rabbit Projects, which works with hospitality brands such as Lina Stores and Kricket.
“Alto 19 came from a partnership we’ve had with Locke Hotels for a number of years.
“For example, a couple of years ago we opened a restaurant with them in Lisbon – Santa Joana with chef Nuno Mendes – which has been a fantastic site for us and recently hosted former US president, Barack Obama.
“Locke told us they were opening a hotel in Canary Wharf and asked whether we would be interested in creating something there.
“We asked ourselves what we could bring to Canary Wharf that would make it a destination to match the views.
“From the success of the Lisbon restaurant and other venues we’ve worked on, we thought about something focussed on Mediterranean cooking.
“There are lots of places doing this well in London, but what we’re lacking in the capital is some fun.
“The intention for Alto 19 is that it should deliver that.
“We’ve got a DJ booth in the bar area, sexy lighting and a head chef in Chris Dargavel who cooks fantastic food made from great ingredients.
“He absolutely blew us away with his ideas and his career across some of the best restaurants in London is a testament to his huge talent.”
Mediterranean cuisine at Alto 19
Dargavel does have an impressive CV – he’s worked at the likes of Daphne’s, J Sheekey, Scott’s, Roux At Parliament Square and Le Caprice.
He’s also a man who clearly delights in his job while largely letting the dishes he cooks do the talking.
“When I first saw the vision that Chris had for the venue, I thought I had to work with these guys,” said Dargavel, who moved to London at the age of 17.
“To drag me away from Caprice Holdings after 22 years, it had to sit right with me.
“Jamie Oliver is partly responsible for my career.
“I watched his Naked Chef programme when I was 16, thought it was cool and it got me into cooking at home.
“At Alto 19, I just want to showcase Mediterranean ingredients at their best.
“There’s a Sicilian Red Prawn Risotto for two to share on the menu and, for me, it epitomises how great produce can be. It’s really fresh, light and flavoursome.
“I don’t want to mess with the ingredients too much – just well-seasoned, well-cooked and enjoyable to eat.
“Similarly, as a starter we have Prosciutto Di Parma, ham that’s aged for 24 months with Ligurian honey melon, which is the best in Italy.
“Both are fantastic products that you don’t need to mess with. You don’t need anything else to make that dish great.”
sleek design for wide appeal
With an interior by designer Holloway Li that fuses the futurism of a grand 1960s airport lounge from the jet set age with the rich red velvets of a nightclub, Alto 19 has capacity for 100 covers.
In addition to the bar and restaurant there’s a 10-person private dining room at the north-east corner, with views over Blackwall Basin and down towards Billingsgate.
But both Miller and Dargavel are clear that the venue is pitched for broad appeal.
“We wanted it to be accessible to everyone,” said Dargavel.
“When people finish work in Canary Wharf they can come here for a bowl of pasta and a drink on their way home.
“Guests don’t have to spend lots of money.”
Miller added: “It is very relaxed. Of course you can come here for a big sharing steak and we’ve got 300 wines on the list.
“You absolutely can go big and have a celebration.
“But you can also have a glass of wine and something smaller all while surrounded by the stunning views over the London skyline.
“Then, in the lounge area on selected nights we’ll have sunset sessions with DJs and we’ll have a livelier later night offering too.
“Because of its position, this is going to be the place to be on New Year’s Eve or even for fireworks night.
“But we also want this to become a regular place, especially for people working on the Wharf as well as a destination for people coming from across London for the views and the food.
“That’s why the menu has crowd-pleasers alongside special dishes that you might normally associate with dining on a beach somewhere in Italy.”
talking on the plate
One of those showstoppers is the Branzino Baked In Salt And Rosemary, a whole sea bass cooked, flavoured with fennel, tomatoes and olive oil.
“That’s a great centrepiece for the table,” said Dargavel. “It’s a kilo of fish and we break the crust, then serve it with the dressing.
“We want dining here to be a sociable event.
“It’s all about sharing courses, getting messy and food all over the tablecloth, so people can try all the flavours.”
There are sweet treats on offer too, with Miller picking out the Chocolate Mousse and a “really boozy” Tiramisu as two of his favourites.
He said: “We’ve also done a lot with the drinks.
“The bartender we’ve brought in ran his own bar for about nine years and he’s a Willie Wonka of cocktails.
“There are loads of bizarre and interesting flavours and the amount of research he’s done into ingredients from across the Med, is phenomenal.
“We did a tasting with 10 people the other day and they split the room. Some will love them and others will find them challenging.
“But we want to be a place where people can try new things.”
Dargavel added: “The food is driven by what’s in season – simple with elevated flavours.
“I want to see a full dining room with people enjoying themselves and having a good time – you can’t put a price on that.
“I’ve got a great team behind me, so it’s go, go, go. I’m looking forward to what the future holds.”
key details: Alto 19
Alto 19 is located at Locke London Canary Wharf off Cartier Circle.
The restaurant is currently open for dinner from 6pm-10pm, Tuesday to Sunday. Starters range from £11-£18 and mains from £18-£44. Pasta dishes are around £23.
You can find out more about the restaurant here
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