Londoners of a certain vintage will remember a certain over-the-top drinking and dining destination that used to keep the party going into the wee hours once found in Camden Market.
In its heyday, the Babylon-themed venue was fun and theatrical and drew an A-lister crowd. With its elaborate, maximalist interiors it was one of the first Instagrammable restaurants before social media was even a thing, and now noughties institution Gilgamesh is making a comeback.
Making the move from Camden to Covent Garden, the restaurant is expected to open its doors on Monday, December 4.
Gilgamesh’s reincarnation will retain the same spirit, sense of theatre and fun as the original. In fact, it will retain some of the original’s furnishings and interior embellishments which have been held in storage since the venue closed.
The new venue will have space for 160 diners and span three floors. Interiors will be inspired by ancient mythology which will be mixed up with contemporary design, so that the restaurant retains the original Gilgamesh feel while still being modern.
Guests will enter through the ground floor lounge bar from where guests can move on to Zion, a mezzanine space filled with lush foliage or descend into Babylon, a decadent, golden, Mesopotamian-inspired room made for late night adventures. Designed by Studio Minerva, it features hand-carved bronze work and dark woods that vividly narrate the epic take of Gilgamesh.
The pan-Asian menu serves up dishes from China, Japan and Southeast Asia such as sushi, sashimi and nigiri, as well as grilled Dover sole with basil and black Angus ribeye, lamb chops and aubergine miso from the Robata grill.
The crispy duck, watermelon and cashew salad from the original menu will also make a comeback.
When Gilgamesh opens on Monday, December 4, find it at 4A Upper St Martin’s Lane WC2H 9NY.
The venue is open for bookings on gilgameshlondon.co.uk
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