Last week, we celebrated a major milestone in the lockdown easing phase—indoor dining was finally back! To support the hospitality industry and make up for weeks of braving the cold, rain, and darkness, I couldn’t resist booking a cosy lunch with my hubby!

I chose a venue that is perfect to make you feel far away from the capital and provides top-notch food and service.

Today, DOYOUSPEAKLONDON takes you to The Ivy Café in Richmond, where charming ambiance meets delicious dining in a perfect spot for any occasion!

The Ivy Collection Restaurants

I discovered the Ivy restaurants quickly after settling in London. I went several times to The Ivy Chelsea Garden, the Chelsea branch, which is certainly the most Instagrammable of all the Ivy venues with its stunning seasonable displays…

The Ivy’s first restaurant in Covent Garden marked its 100th anniversary in 2017. The Ivy collection includes brasseries offering modern British dishes and cafés with a more relaxed, yet stylish, vibe in London’s chic village-style neighborhoods.

Today, the collection counts 16 venues in London, 18 in the rest of England, 1 in Ireland, 2 in Scotland, and 1 in Wales.

What all these venues have in common are their unique interior designs, exceptional food, and impeccable service.

The Ivy Café Richmond

We got lucky with the weather, arriving between two rain showers, giving me the chance to admire and snap pictures of the venue’s perfectly symmetrical entrance.

What struck you most when stepping inside this place is the vibrant tropical colours everywhere.

These green, yellow, blue and orange colours from floor to ceiling completely absorb your attention and you are drawn to every piece of decoration around you.

Another unmissable component of The Ivy’s identity: the smiles on every staff member’s lips. From the start, we knew we would be in good hands!

Exquisite lunch at The Ivy Richmond

Although we were on a tight schedule during this weekday, we still managed to enjoy our lunch at a relaxed pace. There was a brief wait before our starter arrived, giving us a little extra time to take in the surroundings. Our meal, which included a shared starter, two mains, and a shared dessert, was leisurely savored without any rush, perfectly fitting into our time frame.

We chose a starter from the all-day menu: the “bang bang chicken” was just the perfect option as we really appreciated the combination of tasty chicken with the peanut dressing spiced with some chilly, and the crispy vegetables.

Then we opted for a steak tartare and a Seabream, which were both delicious and well-presented.
We had a few yummy chips to accompany these meals and really enjoyed our treats!

On the desserts menu, we had almost tried everything so far and we were looking for new sensations. This is how we ended up selecting a crème brulée (vanilla custard with a caramelised sugar crust), which I had not eaten for ages so I was pleased to reconnect with a classic of French Cuisine. And it went down very well!! The only regret was to have shared it 🙂

I hope you’ve enjoyed this post and found inspiration here. If you are planning to visit The Ivy Richmond soon, please share your experience and opinion on DOYOUSPEAKLONDON’s blog!

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To go further:
The Ivy Collection restaurants website
The Ivy Chelsea Garden website
The Ivy Café Richmond: 9-11 Hill St, Richmond TW9 1SX

“Menus feature modern British dishes drawn from The Ivy’s own extensive menu and offer afternoon tea, brunches or a three-course meal.

Restaurants are open seven days a week offering a full service from breakfast through to dinner. Each restaurant also has a dedicated number of unreserved tables available throughout the day offering everyone the chance to enjoy a little taste of The Ivy’s glamour, whatever the occasion”.

Check out my other restaurant recommendations in and around London here.