When you think of dining in a museum, what likely comes to mind is a quick coffee and cake from a canteen. Ochre restaurant, located in the National Gallery, breaks this stereotype, standing out as a fine dining destination in its own right.
As soon as you step into the gorgeous space with soaring ceilings and large windows, you know this is not just a museum café, nor a standard restaurant.
Serenity served
Set on the ground floor of The National Gallery, Ochre retains many of the building’s original Neoclassical architectural features while offering a sense of calm and cosiness – a striking contrast to the bustling Trafalgar Square.
The design takes inspiration from the name “ochre” itself, a pigment found in rocks and soil. The palette for the dining space is a mixture of earthy colours, including burnt oranges, yellows, and browns.
These natural tones are carried throughout the varied textiles in the restaurant, ranging from deep, luxurious velvets and bouclé to embroidered fabrics, raw cotton, and linens, all of which informed the design process from the start. The addition of hand-branded brass, used as a repeated detail throughout, further enhances this painterly palette, while handmade ceramic tables recall splashes of ochre paint.
Cleanse your palette
The inclusion of contemporary banquette seating, zigzagging across the centre of the main space, serves to separate the drinking area from the dining space. Designed and purpose-built to mimic the playful sweep of a paint stroke, this focal point pays homage to the building’s history and to the act of painting itself. Even the wooden bar stools continue the artistic theme, with their bases shaped like painter’s palettes.
Overall, Ochre creates an atmospheric ambience as if diners themselves are seated within a still-life painting. The restaurant manages to feel grand but not ostentatious, thanks largely to the attentive staff, who are as charming and welcoming as they are knowledgeable.
The restaurant is run by Charlotte and Sam Miller, the husband-and-wife duo with two other establishments in the National Gallery – Muriel’s Kitchen and the Espresso Bar.
Art-inspired cocktails
When it comes to drinks, we recommend starting with one of Ochre’s signature cocktails – all named after famous artworks in the gallery. Try the Sunflower Sour, a homage to Vincent van Gogh’s masterpiece from 1887. This beautiful drink, with sunflowers printed onto the foam, is made with turmeric mezcal, apricot, lime, pineapple, and agave, resulting in a strong, smoky flavour.
If you prefer something lighter, we suggest The Fighting Temeraire, named after the 1838 oil-on-canvas painting by English artist Joseph Mallord William Turner. This refreshing mocktail consists of Botivo, elderflower, lemon, and tonic water, tasting like an extra-citrusy mojito.
Culinary work of art
With drink in hand, we opted for the Mac & Cheese Croquettes. Whatever you order, make sure to put the croquettes at the top of your list – they are absolutely phenomenal, and the truffle garnish complements them perfectly. This dish alone proves Ochre’s right to be included in the Michelin Guide 2024.
You also can’t go wrong with slices of 48-hour sourdough bread with sea salt butter, which is the perfect way to ease your taste buds in. Another highlight from the starters was a vibrant plate of shredded Cornish crab topped with fennel, grapefruit, golden-hued kohlrabi, and red caviar.
For mains Ochre offers seasonally-inclined dishes. We chose the Devon Crab Linguine with a kick of chilli and lemon, and the Pan-Roasted Chalk Stream Trout with sauce vierge, basil, and chives. Both arrived with a generous portion of tomatoes. The combination of seafood flavours and juicy vegetables made for an indulgent, flavour-packed spread.
If you’re after something less fancy, the Ochre Cheeseburger is a great choice which you don’t see in most restaurant of the same calibre.
Mouthwatering desserts
Don’t leave without trying the desserts. The Apple Tarte Tatin, made with Braeburn apples, cinnamon, and vanilla ice cream, and the Basque Cheesecake served with luscious poached peaches, both felt Michelin-worthy. It’s an art to make something so simple taste so special.
We finished with a picture-perfect cappuccino, with a snapshot of The National Gallery printed on the foam. Our waiter mentioned that anything can be printed, even personal photos, but the gallery design made perfect sense.
Not only will you leave the restaurant perfectly fulfilled, but you’ll feel like you had a mental cleanse from the relentless thrum of the city, ready for more cultural enrichment and new adventures.
Ochre is located at National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN.
More information can be found here.
Image credits: © Ochre, Laura Jalbert
