Ralph Lauren’s Polo Bar Restaurant Is Coming To London
By
2 hours ago
The American fashion brand is bringing its culinary concept across the pond
Since landing in New York’s Midtown in 2015, just behind Fifth Avenue, The Polo Bar Ralph Lauren has become one of the city’s most in-demand destinations. Getting a reservation is notoriously hard – and those who do manage to snag a table could be dining beside anyone from Taylor Swift to George Clooney to Meghan Markle. And now, the fashion brand has announced it will be bringing the restaurant to London, set to open in 2028 in the former Vogue House in Mayfair’s Hanover Square.
A Ralph Lauren Restaurant Is Coming To Mayfair
Founded in 1967 in New York, Ralph Lauren has had a close connection with London ever since the flagship store opened on New Bond Street in 1981. Now, there are 12 shops dotted around the city, alongside two branches of Ralph’s Coffee, and since 2006 the brand has been the official outfitter for Wimbledon. Launching a Polo Bar Restaurant feels like the natural next step.
‘I have always been inspired by the special charm and heritage of the British way of living,’ says CEO and founder Ralph Lauren. ‘There is an effortless grace that is rooted in centuries of tradition – a blend of timeless sophistication, understated ease and natural elegance. That perfect balance of refinement and warmth, and the comfort of sitting around a table enjoying a meal with loved ones, are what my restaurants have always meant to me.’
According to the press release, ‘the London location will showcase the brand’s signature charm and timeless elegance with a refined, yet welcoming dining experience.’ The restaurant group offers an all-American menu, beginning with starters of oysters, tuna tartare and shrimp cocktail, ahead of signature mains including the corned beef sandwich (Lauren’s go-to, apparently) lobster roll and grilled branzino, alongside a selection of steaks and burgers.
There’s also a dedicated martini menu, plus an extensive selection of cocktails featuring US-inspired drinks like the Polo Bar Summer Punch, a tequila, watermelon and lemon drink, and the Hamptons Spritz, made with St. German, Lillet Blanc and cava.
The London restaurant will join Ralph Lauren’s existing hospitality portfolio which includes branches in Paris, Chicago, Milan and Chengdu. No doubt it will sport the signature Polo Bar look: think wood-pannelled walls, equestrian-themed paintings and leather banquettes.
View this post on Instagram
‘Creating a restaurant was a natural extension of the worlds that I create,’ Lauren said in an promotional interview ahead of the launch of the first Polo Bar in 2015. ‘I had created the clothes, the home environments, and now I’ve added the food, even the coffee, to make life fuller and more vibrant. Everything I do is inspired by living.’
This opening is one of a string of New York eateries making their first foray into London right now. A-list hotspot Carbone recently opened in the former American Embassy in Mayfair, beloved Greenwich Village bar Dante is proving a hit in its current Claridge’s residency, and this autumn Brooklyn’s Theodora is hosting its first ever international residency in Soho.
There’s also a wider trend for fashion brands opening food pop-ups and restaurants all over the world. In London, Rixo’s Chelsea flagship store has its own cocktail bar, and Tiffany brought its Blue Box Cafe to London a few years ago. Meanwhile in New York, Louis Vuitton opened a new cafe last year, Dior has a cafe in Paris, and Gucci has restaurants in numerous cities around the world including Florence and Tokyo.
Lauren founded his eponymous brand in 1967, initially launching with a line of men’s ties and growing to offer a full menswear collection. In 1971, he introduced the now famous pony insignia, as well as expanding into women’s tailored shirts, releasing his first womenswear range the following year.
