MiMi Mei Fair, London – England

Housed in a Georgian townhouse, the three-storey restaurant is imagined as the private residence of Empress MiMi – keeper of China’s most revered culinary secrets.Spanning three floors and six rooms, the restaurant is where old-fashioned Oriental glamour meets modern eclecticism.The design was inspired by Beijing’s Forbidden Palace, ancient folklore tales and the extravagant era of 1920s Shanghai. Filled with trinkets, antiques and memorabilia from founder Samyukta Nair’s personal collection and her travels around the world, each room tells a story in line with the ethos of MiMi Mei Fair.The first level leads to “The Hall”, a room inspired by Beijing’s Forbidden Palace, imagined through the lens of a Wong Kar Wai film. A series of sapele wood screened halls flank a custom marble mosaic floor with a fish scale pattern. Each salon houses upholstered cabins in vibrant red leather for 2 to 4 people, wrapped in wood and teal panels, offset by aged brass and mirrored wall lights. Custom chinoiserie cabinets with Belvedere marble counters, paired with antique vases, highlight the woodwork in the heart of the room and frame the view of the Drawing Room.“The Library”, a room covered in emerald green and black hand-painted silk wallpaper, in the manner of an English country house, inspired by late 19th century Chinese decorative styles, awaits you on the second level. Rich green leather and deep-pile velvet banquettes frame the room, which is centred around a St Denis Green marble fireplace and green lacquered library shelves where a rare collection of MiMi’s favourite books can be found.On descending downstairs you will be led to the atmospheric verre eglomise mirror-panelled Moon Bar, inspired by the tale of the Jade Rabbit of the Moon, who mixes the Elixir of Life with his pestle and mortar.The kitchen is led by Executive Chef Peter Ho, a Singaporean Chinese, who brings to MiMi Mei Fair years of experience gained at Singapore’s Michelin-starred Lei Garden, My Humble House in Beijing and HKK and Hakkasan in London. Combining traditional cooking techniques with his diverse roots, Peter’s menu reflects authentic and innovative Chinese dishes inspired by Empress MiMi’s travels through Hong Kong, Singapore and the provinces of mainland China, particularly Guangdong, Sichuan, Fujian and Hunan.