Shoreditch isn’t short on good places to eat. New arrivals like Legado, One Club Row and Singburi are shaping London’s culinary landscape in 2025, but few local competitors can offer sky-high dining above the entire city. Enter Solaya, the supremely swanky new restaurant and cocktail bar atop the art’otel in Hoxton. Chef and owner Kenny Atkinson runs two Michelin-starred restaurants in his native Newcastle, making Solaya his London debut.
An intimate and warm welcome sets the mood from the moment you enter the restaurant’s reception, which sits within the art’otel lobby. Guests are greeted with a quietly choreographed escort to the lift, followed by a smooth ascent 25 floors into the sky. If you are looking to impress a special someone, this is your new spot. Expect genuine “oohs” and “ahs” when the doors open.
Inside, the atmosphere is calm but undeniably sexy, thanks to the uninterrupted 360 views of London’s urban skyline that frame the restaurant. The dining room – which wraps around the glass-panelled circular building – glows in dimly lit tones that accentuate the glittering cityscape beyond. Though I’m sure you don’t actually have to be on a date to enjoy this restaurant, it feels highly suggested. The restaurant space is relatively narrow, so that each table can enjoy a sense of privacy, and views are guaranteed to be on the cards.
Touches of luxury – black marble table tops, dainty wine glasses, perfectly polished cutlery – further soften the scene. The chef’s pass takes centre stage: a brightly lit rectangle that contrasts with the moody lighting beyond. The restaurant has only been open for two months, but the service seems to run harmoniously, and the serving staff are hyper friendly and attentive.
Now for the food: the menu draws inspiration from French and Mediterranean cuisines, and sharing is encouraged. In contrast to its glimmering demeanor, Solaya is at heart a casual French bistrot with some quirky flourishes. If Solaya were a person, they would be that sexy cousin who moved to England when they were three and has a near-perfect British accent, but insists on wearing turtle necks year-round and smokes Vogue cigarettes in homage to their roots.
From the starters, barbecued mussel skewers in a rich ‘nduja butter cream have a lovely bite. Crudo scallops, thinly sliced, are topped with pretty squares of tomato and microherbs and rest in a refreshing pool of vibrant green herb-infused oil.
For mains, the grilled sirloin in a sauce au poivre is beautifully seasoned and cooked rare. Rosemary chips are home-cut, crispy and evenly coated in rosemary salt. Perfect when accompanied by a glass of the velvety Pinot Nero. Bouillabaisse is proposed as one of the house dishes, but for me it leans a touch acidic, and the desserts could benefit from a little more refinement to match the strengths of the savoury courses.
Nonetheless, an evening that starts at Solaya is romantic, comforting, and a little bit special. While the menu is unlikely to win Atkinson any new stars, Solaya is undoubtedly an ambitious new project that manages to capture some of the pulse of London’s streets below, and is a welcome addition to the Shoreditch dining (and dating) scene. Oh, and don’t descend without trying the dirty martinis from the cocktail bar next door.
View on Instagram
25th Floor, 1-3 Rivington St, London EC2A 3DT; Solaya
