Nikkei restaurant to launch in former Blue Garden site near Trafalgar Square

Describing itself as the ‘new name in Nikkei cuisine’, the 190-cover Contigo is set to launch in spring next year. 

Dishes have yet to be revealed, but the menu will be focused on high quality British produce and will include sushi and robata-cooked items. 

Contigo will also offer one of ‘the largest selections of spirits from Central and South America’.

The restaurant’s interiors show off the fabric of the building with an arched glazed façade leading from the traditional colonnade terrace into a double-heighted space with a mezzanine level and dining room towards the back.

Floor-to-ceiling windows provide ‘swathes of natural light’ to the front of the restaurant which boasts large feature elements including a pink concrete cocktail bar, green granite kitchen and a pewter cocktail bar.  

“My vision for Contigo is to be an unexpected discovery in the heart of London. A place to meet, eat and celebrate life that’s completely inclusive,” says founder and managing director Keith Dube.

“I wanted to create a space of comfort and calm whilst maintaining energy and intrigue. The design reflects the culinary offering, with spaces that create a seamless journey through the elegance of Japan through to the freshness of Peru.”

Located on the strand, 1-3 Grand Building was most recently home to Blue Garden and, before that, Mark Harris’ Strand Dining Rooms.