Located just off Regent Street on the top floor of the former Dickens & Jones department store, Aqua Nueva is a charming oasis away from London’s hustle and bustle.
The head chef here is Barcelona-born Mateo Garcia, known for his contemporary take on Spanish cuisine. His Saturday brunch offers a selection of small plates and signature dishes of modern Spanish cuisine alongside free-flowing drinks for 90 minutes.
Tapestry of elegance
A life-size blue bull greets guests at the entrance of the restaurant, setting the tone for our dining experience. The Spanish theme dominates not only in food here but in the restaurant interiors.
A barrel-shaped ceiling, black and white mosaics, embossed leather panels with a lacework pattern, and a colour scheme incorporating rich burgundy and gold to elegantly suggest colours associated with Spain. Despite lush décor the restaurant boasts a warm, inviting atmosphere.
The broad restaurant space spills into a spacious roof terrace overlooking Regent Street with dazzling panoramic views across the whole London skyline. The perfect place to enjoy a few cocktails on a nice day and enjoy the relaxing music, away from the busy street full of tourists below.
A second roof terrace with sofas can be found next to the chic private dining room, only accessible for the private dining guests.
Small plates, big flavours
We began with Sangria – as you do – before diving in to the rest of the menu. Perhaps one of the most refreshing things about brunch at Aqua Nueva is the set menu. Last thing you want to do on a relaxing Saturday is to make numerous choices and try to calculate how much food you need.
The starters, presented as tapas to share, were a delightful array of flavours and textures. We savoured the rustic tomato bread (a Spanish twist on bruschetta), chorizo iberico (succulent pork sausage), and the creamy, tangy Manchego cheese paired with slightly spicy Padrón peppers. The goat’s cheese with marmalade and thinly sliced Iberico ham provided a perfect balance of sweet and savoury.
Beef bliss
Seafood lovers are not left disappointed with the fried cod served with tartar sauce and prawns, which were crispy on the outside and tender inside. For a touch of heartiness, the beef skewers with potato spirals added a robust, savoury note to the meal and beautifully presented.
The only executive decision you will need to make is whether to have meat, fish or vegetarian for the main. The choice is simple – the raised beef short rib with potato gratin was absolutely heavenly, cooked to perfection and an easy 10/10. The pan-fried salmon with grilled seasonal vegetables was also delicious. Dessert is a no-brainer for a Spanish restaurant – glazed churros served with orange marmalade.
We had a wonderful experience at Aqua Nueva with excellent food, a beautiful restaurant, exceptional service and a brilliant location. We also loved being serenaded by the traditional Spanish singers as they moved around the restaurant. If you love tapas and want a brunch with some pizazz and a more upmarket experience, you cannot go wrong with Aqua Nueva.
Free-flow brunch at Aqua Nueva is served every Saturday from 12:00pm – 2:45pm. More information can be found here.
Image credits: © Aqua Nueva, John Stephens
