15/08/25

Galvin La Chapelle – One of London’s Most Affordable Michelin-Starred Dining Experiences

Nestled in the heart of historic Spitalfields, Galvin La Chapelle offers one of London’s most accessible Michelin-starred dining experiences. Celebrating 20 years in the restaurant industry, brothers Chris and Jeff Galvin remain true to their mission: to deliver exceptional French cuisine rooted in quality, seasonality, and elegance—while keeping it refreshingly within reach.

Their new 'Taste of Summer' menu is a shining example of this ethos, offering two beautifully prepared courses for £49 or three for just £55, a remarkable value in the fine dining world.

The restaurant is housed in a Grade II-listed Victorian school chapel, and the setting alone is worth a visit. Towering stone-vaulted ceilings stretch high above, their grandeur softened by warm lighting that pours in through soaring arched windows. Ornate chandeliers sparkle overhead, and a dramatic central bar draws the eye. The atmosphere is majestic yet welcoming, combining the reverence of a cathedral with the intimacy of a well-loved dining room. It's a space that invites you to linger, to savour, and to appreciate.

Arriving on a sunny afternoon after a stroll through the vibrant stalls of Spitalfields Market, we were greeted warmly and led to our table in the centre of the grand dining hall. A glass of Galvin Champagne—crisp, balanced, and developed by the brothers themselves—set the tone for the meal ahead. The menu, thoughtfully curated to showcase peak seasonal ingredients, was bursting with colour, creativity, and flavour. Even the side of fresh bread and salted butter was exceptional, leading us to ask for a second helping.

To begin, we chose the heritage tomatoes with almond cream, saffron and lavender—an elegant composition that was as fragrant as it was fresh. The tomatoes were perfectly ripe, their natural sweetness elevated by the gentle floral notes of lavender and the richness of the almond. Alongside it came the barbecued aubergine with pine nuts, Taggiasca olives and piquillo pepper—a dish layered with aromatic depth and Mediterranean brightness. Each course was expertly paired with wine, with our server explaining the selections with genuine passion and precision. The service throughout was warm, charming and exceptionally well-informed.

For our mains, the potato gnocchi arrived dressed in saffron, Scottish girolles and a truffle cream so fragrant it turned heads as it was placed on the table. The gnocchi were feather-light, the sauce indulgent yet balanced. A standout dish followed—the wild halibut, which carries a £20 supplement, but is well worth the indulgence. Served with quinoa-stuffed courgette flower, marine plankton and sauce meunière, it was almost too beautiful to eat. The plating was precise and delicate, the flavours harmonised to perfection, with the sauce tying everything together in a sensational taste embrace.

Dessert brought a final wave of creativity. The Amalfi lemon mascarpone cheesecake was a triumph—light and ethereal, with just the right snap to its base, and paired with a surprisingly successful coffee and liquorice ice cream. The apricot soufflé, towering and airy, was branded with the Galvin insignia, and when pierced, revealed a dreamy white chocolate and elderflower centre. A perfectly matched dessert wine complemented both selections.

As a final flourish, a petite box of petit fours arrived, presented on a bed of raw cocoa nibs, along with a pot of fresh green tea. It was a thoughtful and tactile ending to a meal that had been generous, elegant, and entirely unpretentious.

What stands out most about Galvin La Chapelle is not just the food, nor the beauty of its setting, but the atmosphere the team has cultivated. Despite its Michelin star and grand architecture, the restaurant is genuinely welcoming. It doesn’t whisper exclusivity—it invites you in. The staff are friendly without being fussy, knowledgeable without pretence, and clearly proud of what they do.

The 'Taste of Summer' menu is available for lunch, Monday to Saturday, from 12pm to 2pm. It’s a rare opportunity to experience high-end cuisine at a modest price, in one of London’s most beautiful dining rooms. Whether you're celebrating something special or simply treating yourself to an afternoon of elegance, Galvin La Chapelle offers an unforgettable journey of taste, texture, and hospitality.

For reservations and more information, visit galvinrestaurants.com

Written by Claire Bloom

1st image by Patricia Viven

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Birch Selsdon – Review

Nyla Sammons
Oct 10, 2023
4 min read

Updated: May 28, 2024

Earlier this year Birch introduced its Hertfordshire hotel’s wild sister in Selsdon, South London. True to form, Birch has managed to take a 19th-century mansion and extract all the formalities and stuffyness of a countryside dwelling, turning it into something quite special. The style and ethos mirror the original hotel and members club, built on community, creativity, nature, and playfulness.

Leading interior design and architecture firm A-nrd, along with furniture designer and environmentalist, Sebastian Cox have transformed this building into something to behold. From the moment you enter the reception, the awe-inspiring decor is quite something, and you can’t help but marvel and admire the contemporary pastel hues and warm tones, juxtaposed with original gothic features.

Only a 15-minute train journey from London Bridge or Victoria to East Croydon station, and then a 10-minute taxi ride. The hotel is surrounded by 200 acres of rolling, unkempt countryside, home to Birch’s long-term rewilding project, which aims to return the land to its natural state. Go for a wander and you might just bump into a roaming deer.

The rooms

There are 181 rooms at Birch Selsdon, and the type of room depends on the size of your party. The rooms are minimal, encouraging guests to spend time around the hotel rather than sitting inside watching TV. Warm soft palettes, give you a feeling of calm when you do spend time there. The beds are huge and comfy, and the furniture is made out of wood from the 200-acre grounds, connecting the inside to the local environment. There are beautiful oak nightstands by Sebastian Cox and hand-blown recycled glass lights, made in collaboration with London-based Michael Ruh Studio.

Checking in with my partner and baby, we opted for a room located in the family wing. The family-sized rooms are super spacious, our room came with a travel cot and bunk beds, which are ideal for older children. In keeping with the wild theme, a door from the room opens out into a garden, which somewhat felt exclusive… it was the perfect spot to sit on the grass, bask in the sunshine, and feed our little one.

Food and drink

Birch Selsdon’s eateries include the all-day brasserie Vervain, one of two onsite restaurants led by Michelin-starred chef Lee Westcott. Upon entering you will no doubt marvel at the decor, marble top tables, terracotta-colored walls, rattan chairs, large leafy statement plants, and beautiful sweeping windows, framing the natural world outside and flooding the restaurant with light. We recommend the Smoked Angus for brunch, a beautifully tender sliced brisket, topped with mustard mayo and fried egg. The second restaurant is Elodie, a more up-market affair offering a five-course tasting menu for £69pp, at the time of visiting Birch, Elodie wasn’t open, so we didn’t have an opportunity to try it out.

For coffee in the day and casual drinking into the evening, The sunny orange walls of Meadows Bar connect Vervain to a beautiful conservatory, in turn leading out onto a grand patio where you can drink outside and gaze over the grounds. Meadow Bar stays open as long as the Vervain restaurant in the week (around 10-11pm).

Weekend visitors can grab late-night drinks in the more sophisticated adults-only, and pet-free Angelica bar. Guest DJs provide the evening’s soundtrack as you sip on a negroni or your favourite hand-crafted tipple. Note it is only open on Fridays and Saturdays.

Gym and wellness activities

It’s always worth checking in early to make to most of the activities and facilities that Birch has to offer. Members and hotel guests can access the gym, fitness classes, and free wellness classes for free.

During the warmer months, the art-deco-inspired lido is open, towels are provided, so there is no need to carry them to and from your room.You can have a swim or chill out with a drink from the poolside bar, with DJs spinning the decks on the weekends.

Co-working space

Unlike the Hertfordshire hotel, the co-working space here is only open to the members, a great space to work, take private calls in their booths, and take time away from the stresses of the office. However there are rumours that a new co-working space is currently in the works for hotel guests as well, so watch this space…

Get creative

Guests and members can try their hands at pottery and screen-printing in the on-site studios, where art is used as a form of meditation and escapism. I enrolled in a beginners two-hour pottery in the morning, learning the art of how to hand build, it was thoroughly enjoyable and perfect to have some time to use my hands to get creative while enjoying my weekend break. To sign up for a class before your trip at Birch, visit their website to see what classes they have.

Overall

Birch Selsdon is a cool, countryside retreat out on the outskirts of London, where there’s always something to occupy your time, from wandering the natural world to fine dining, wellness, and pottery. Above all, it’s a place to connect with yourself and others.

Rooms at Birch (Selsdon) start from £119.00 per night, to book your stay visit www.birchcommunity.com/selsdon

Address: 126 Addington Road, London, CR2 8YA

Written by Rick Hartley

Photos courtesy of Birch

#birch #birchselsdon