The Latest Ivy Franchise Is Not What You'd Expect

The Ivy Asia is the latest string to the Ivy Collection's bow, and the interiors more than live up to the Ivy franchise's design reputation.

The latest London offshoot features12 foot tall limited-edition antique Samurai warriors and illuminated semi-precious stone floors, and hassweeping views over St Paul’s Cathedral.

Restauranteur Richard Caring has transformed the 200-seat venue in the One New Change shopping centre which was formerly Jamie Oliver’s meat restaurant Barbecoa.

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The restaurant's in-house design team collaborated with Adam Ellis Studio to create a lavish and theatrical interior.

The first Asian-inspired eatery to fall under The Ivy Collection's umbrella of brasserie-style restaurants, The Ivy Asia isimbued with Japanese decor details.

On arrival, diners are met with a show-stopping fluorescent pink onyx floor, impressive panelled artwork depicting notable Japanese landscapes, and a pink-hued pagoda, before climbing the stairs to the first-floor restaurant.

Upstairs,glass lines one side of the restaurant — with views over St Paul’s Cathedral — andthe entire floor is inlaid with green, semi-precious stone, backlit to emit a neon glow.

Intricately painted Chinese dragons snake their way across the ceiling,a dramatic feature that the design team wanted to be seen from outside the restaurant by people wandering at street level.

Gold leaves wind across the jet-black tiles that clad the upper half of the room's walls, while the lower half has been panelled with a series of vignettes that depict 18th-century Japanese scenes.

These scenes have also been blown up and turned into wallpaper for the corridors leading off the central dining space.

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Aside from creating the wallpaper, Adam Ellis Studio also designed and created all of the artworks specifically for Ivy Asia, making sure to payhomage to a series of pan-Asian influences including flora, fauna and mythology.

At the tables, jewel-encrusted napkin rings add a touch of glamour to the place settings, matched with hand-crafted glazed crockery in moody shades.

Each dining table is surrounded by jewel-tone dining chairs or curved banquettes upholstered in ornately patterned silks, interspersed by leafy trees.

The fabulous glass etchings are by Paul Clifford.

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Food is in keeping with the theme, with dishes including Ivy staples like the crispy duck salad and tempura prawns, as well as new additions includingyellowtail sashimi with truffle, chilli and tosazu dressing, and Wagyu beef tataki with pickled vegetables.

There's also a bespoke express lunch menu with bento boxes for those on the go.

At the back of the room lies agold-mirrored bar under afaux tiled roof, a clear nod to an Asian temple.

The Ivy Asia is located at St Paul’s 20 New Change, London, EC4M 9AG. For reservations call 0203 971 2600.

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