Tom Aikens returns to fine dining with intimate new Belgravia restaurant

Opening its doors in January 2020 will be Muse, Tom Aikens’s new restaurant, a cosy 25-seater renovated mews house in Belgravia. Muse will provide a unique and intimate dining journey, offering each and every guest a kitchen table experience from either the kitchen counter or table side.

After many years spent searching for the perfect location, Aikens has finally found his new home. The youngest ever chef to receive two Michelin stars (for London’s Pied a Terre when he was 26), Aikens has previously run Tom Aikens and Tom’s Kitchen, both based in Chelsea. Muse looks set to be the pinnacle of Aikens’ career thus far, a place where food, interiors and service will come together to provide a memorable atmosphere for all who dine there.

The new project is close to Aikens’s heart, drawing on the pivotal relationships, experiences and influences which have led him to this point in his life. He will draw inspiration from memories of his early childhood and professional path to create Muse’s seasonal, stripped-back tasting menu. Signature dishes will spotlight one key ingredient or element per dish, allowing it to tell a story through minimal, yet expertly-selected produce.

The dining space will be split over two floors of the characterful mews house, each with a fully open-plan theatre kitchen, giving diners a chance to see Tom and his kitchen team orchestrate each meal. Designer Rebecca Korner has created the interior, combining an eclectic mix of furniture and lighting with exquisite fabrics, rich woods and jewel-toned marbles.

On the inspiration behind the opening of Muse, Tom Aikens says: “Throughout my life, I have been inspired and influenced by many different people, places, time and travels. From my mother, Tania, who opened my eyes to the infinite pleasures and absolute delights that food can bring – like the very first time I tasted a warm, juicy strawberry or a crisp, sweet pea-pod plucked straight from the ground – to all of those who have guided and supported me throughout my journey; from my initial steps into a kitchen to where I am today. I still carry with me an inherent pride in my Norfolk provenance, alongside the many places that were considered a home-from-home in those early years.

“That’s why my new home, Muse, pays homage to all of these and more. To the big and the small things that have had the greatest impact on my life, inside and outside of the kitchen, and that to this day mean the most to me. Welcome to Muse, where you can enjoy a carefully considered and totally personal collection of my fondest food stories and memories. Where each and every guest is warmly greeted to get a first-hand look into my life of inspirations and influences.”

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Featured image: Muse by Brodie Williams

Muse will open at 38 Groom Place, London SW1X 7BA, in January 2020. For more information, visit Muse’s website here.