I tried out a winter terrace right in the heart of Covent Garden, central London’s ground zero for Christmassy frivolity.
And given the area just kicked off its festive season with the switch on of its huge, 60-foot Christmas tree, there’s a lot of festive action in Covent Garden right now.
In addition to the massive tree, the Market Building has also had a festive glow up, adorned with new Christmas decorations this year – 40 massive bells plus some huge baubles and glitter balls too. In an area densely populated with glitter and sparkle, this enormous shiny installation really pops.
The general festive vibe is strong in Covent Garden, with Christmassy pop ups, carol singers and people eating and drinking or ambling around as they soak up the atmosphere and get swept up in the romance of Christmas.
Adding to the festive vibe is SushiSamba’s winter terrace. The Nikkei-style restaurant’s West End outpost is right in the heart of the neighbourhood’s action. Inside, the maximalist, extra-as dining room looks out across the piazza from its prime position on top of the Market Building.
Its just-launched winter terrace however, juts out into the piazza like a little VIP party section amongst all the festive action. And it’s cute.
Thanks to its frosted foliage privacy hedge, it is secreted away from the crowds and the riff raff, yet oh so close to it. Inside the wintery shrubbery, it’s a heated, covered little hidey-hole complete with a bar that has as few festive cocktails on offer.
The terrace is a collaboration with Grey Goose, so unsurprisingly the vodka features in many of the drinks.
I tried a snowplow espresso martini, which was a rich tipple giving off chocolaty white Russian vibes. I also had a L’orange amore, a clean, sweet, citrusy drink made with Grey Goose L’Orange vodka, Red Maple sake, orange bitters and vanilla syrup.
The other two festive specials – a samba-style mulled wine with rum, Japanese plum wine cacao nibs, sounded good, as did the Butterscotch Collins with vanilla vodka, Galliano and topped with soda.
For the non-booze drinkers, the nutty punch with almond and pistachio syrup served with Palette Roots non-alcoholic spirit and lime juice served over crushed ice, which also sounds refreshing and suitably festive.
Food wise, there’s plenty of yummy, fresh tasting things to eat. The restaurant mixes Peruvian, Japanese and Brazilian cuisines together and there’s plenty of small plates and picky bits to go with your drinks.
Crispy taquitos are like tiny little tacos stuffed with either a mix of yellowtail, avocado and corn miso, a salsa-y vegetable mix or lobster with avocado.
From the robata, there’s grilled asparagus, eggplant or a selection of meat, and of courses various tempura nibbles, such as battered beans or prawns.
SushiSamba’s winter terrace has rockstar position in the thick of Covent Garden’s festivities, so if you’re looking for a pitstop to refuel and recharge before heading back into the throng, it’s a pretty good option to have up your sleeve.
Find SushiSamba at 35 The Market, Covent Garden WC2E 8RF or visit sushisamba.com for more information.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here