Concealed behind the elegant façades of Knightsbridge, CLAP London arrives as a theatrical, multi‑level dining destination that deliberately blurs the line between refined restraint and joyful eccentricity. The venue’s aesthetic — a tension between polished craftsmanship and pop‑cultural whimsy — is the work of Japanese designer Noriyoshi Muramatsu of Studio Glitt, whose layered, cinematic interiors set the tone for an evening that feels equal parts stage show and supper club.

Reports differ on one of the restaurant’s most intriguing conceits. The fit‑out leans heavily on cues associated with disused subterranean infrastructure — arched volumes, tiled surfaces and a mezzanine plan that evoke a tube station — and has been variously described as “what looks like a former tube station, but isn’t” and as a refurbished or revamped station‑like site. Either way, the design plays with that architectural memory to create a dramatic, slightly uncanny sense of arrival that prepares diners for something out of the ordinary.

Up close, the interior vocabulary reveals the layers of the concept. Chandeliers repurpose the delicate language of traditional Edokiriko glass‑cutting and combine it with thousands of glass figurines that nod to animé, while lamps assembled from vintage Japanese toys and weathered steel plates speak to a curated reuse logic. Studio Glitt frames some of these choices within the Japanese notion of motta inai — avoiding waste by repurposing materials — and the effect is a space that is at once industrial, lovingly detailed and playfully theatrical.

At the heart of the project, however, is the food. French culinary director and chef Renald Epie oversees a tasting‑led menu that reviewers and menus alike describe as eclectic, precise and notably light in touch. Signature items cited repeatedly include a Salmon Volcano roll, a lacquered Black Cod Miso that leans sweet and supple, a Pistachio‑Crusted Baby Chicken served with yuzu daikon, and a Charred Cauliflower dressed with soy aioli, toasted panko and parmesan. Industry profiles of the brand’s Beirut flagship credit Epie with omakase‑style rigour and a large, disciplined pass — a culinary philosophy the London outpost appears to transpose to Knightsbridge.

Dessert continues the venue’s interplay of Japanese ingredients and Western technique. The restaurant’s own dessert menu lists Tira’Miso as a signature offering: an espresso‑soaked miso sponge layered with vanilla mascarpone and finished in a miso‑caramelia glaze, presented with suggested pairings. As this comes from the restaurant’s published menu, it confirms CLAP’s stated aim to reinterpret classics through umami‑led pastry techniques, though readers should note that such descriptions derive from the company’s materials.

Beverages are treated with equal care. CLAP offers a broad wine and sake selection and a curated roster of cocktails; a sommelier is available for pairings. The cocktail list ranges from the crimson, tequila‑led “Bloody Geisha” and the vanilla‑kissed “Zebra” to other inventive serves reported in design and lifestyle coverage, signalling a mixology programme that aims to be as theatrical and exacting as the kitchen. Profiles of the brand’s earlier venues also point to a comprehensive drinks philosophy — vintage champagnes, a considered sake list and inventive cocktails — that the London branch appears to uphold.

CLAP’s arrival in London is part of a wider expansion from the group’s origins in Beirut and the Middle East. The building’s multi‑level plan includes an adjacent daytime concept, CLAP KA‑FE, which is reported to offer an all‑day menu of sushi, sandos, salads and pastries, and a rooftop terrace that looks toward Harrods. Taken together, the group presents itself as both a late‑night, theatrical destination and an accessible daytime neighbour for shoppers, tourists and local residents — a duality that the fit‑out, menu and beverage programme aim to reconcile.

For diners seeking a thoroughly styled night out — where interior theatre, precise cooking and playful cocktails combine — CLAP London offers a distinctive, if slightly self‑conscious, proposition. Photography provided by the restaurant underlines the visual intent, and the overall impression is of a restaurant that plays the hospitality game with confidence: equal parts design statement and culinary showcase.

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Reference Map:

Source: Noah Wire Services