Julie’s restaurant brings French Epiphany tradition to Holland Park with Galette des Rois celebration

Julie’s restaurant in Holland Park will mark the French celebration of Fête des Rois (Feast of the Kings) by offering a traditional Galette des Rois for dinner on Tuesday, 6^th January. The pastry, which is available for pre-order, will be served at the West London establishment as part of the annual Epiphany festivities. 

Chef Patron Owen Kenworthy oversees the kitchen: a regularly changing, all-day à la carte menu, presenting Modern French brasserie cooking, is served family-style for all-round fare. The seasonal dishes showcase ingredients coming from British farming and purpose-driven regenerative agriculture practices, including line-caught fishand pasture-fed meat.

The restaurant, which was inaugurated in 1969 and named after its first proprietor, interior designer Julie Hodgess, reopened in 2024 under new ownership, Holland Park resident Tara MacBain.

The Fête des Rois, celebrated in France on 6^th January, is a longstanding tradition that marks the Epiphany, commemorating the visit of the Magi to the infant Jesus. Central to the celebration is the Galette des Rois, a round, golden pastry filled with almond frangipane and encased in puff pastry. A key feature of the custom is the inclusion of a fève – a small charm or figurine – hidden inside the galette. The person who finds the fève in their slice is crowned King or Queen for the day and typically wears a paper crown for the remainder of the celebration.

The Galette des Rois – priced at £24 for four people and £36 for six people – will be available by pre-order for those wishing to participate in the celebration at Julie’s. The event offers a taste of French festivity in London, providing an opportunity for families and friends to gather at the close of the holiday season. While the tradition is well-established in France, its observance in London has gained popularity in recent years, with several bakeries and restaurants offering their own versions of the galette.

Food Desk

For further information and reservations, visit Julie’s website here.