If there’s no chance of you jetting off to Japan to join in the spring celebrations, here are six London restaurants going all out for cherry blossom season.
Over in Mayfair, Sake no Hana have once again outdone themselves with a spring art installation and seasonal cocktails created in collaboration with Perrier-Jouët Champagne. London-based artist Lydia Kasumi Shirreff has created pink paper clouds of blossom suspended from the ceiling, inspired by the Japanese phrase ‘hana fubuki’ (cherry blossom blizzard). There is also an exclusive Sakura menu of dishes like chargrilled beef with chilli ponzu and salmon with Champagne yuzu miso sauce.
P. F. Chang’s are stepping into spring with a floral pop-up – the Bloom Room – that guests can book to dine in throughout April. Under a canopy of pink and white flowers, you can enjoy a Sakura Dream cocktail (spoiler alert: it’s pink) and dishes like dynamite shrimp, kung pao chicken, and Mongolian beef. Save room for the Pink Paradise – a large macaron filled with fresh raspberries and matcha ganache, served with rose ice-cream.
Get into the spring spirit with seasonal Asian dishes and sakura-themed cocktails at Mei Ume. From 16th April to 5th May, the restaurant’s pavilion-style bar will be decorated with cherry blossom branches weaving through its hanging lanterns. Alongside the a la carte menu, diners can try new dishes like Wagyu beef gyoza, miso sea bass with sake sauce, and sea urchin and scallop fried rice. Don’t miss head chef Tony Truong’s Sakura dessert – a delicate jasmine tea mousse with cherry compote and sorbet.
Until April 15th, Yamagoya is serving a special cherry blossom version of their Insta-famous raindrop cake. It’s served with molasses syrup (kuromitsu) and roasted soybean flour (kinako) to add flavour before it melts in your mouth. Once you’ve finish photographing and prodding it, the refreshing jelly-like dessert is a great way to cleanse your palate after a bowl of their spicy ramen. If you don’t fancy noodles, we can also vouch for their katsu curry.
At ROKA’s basement bar, the Shochu Lounge, you can sip cocktails and share platters of sashimi under a neon-lit canopy of cherry blossom. Until June 20th, they’re serving three sakura-inspired cocktails – a Cherry & Tonka Manhattan, Morello Fizz, and a Sakura Sour made with plum sake, Arbikie vodka, passion fruit and sakura paste.
