If you’ve passed Old Street in recent years, you may have noticed the new glass tower rising above Hoxton and wondered what it was for. The answer came last year when art’otel London Hoxton opened its doors. Now, its top floor is finally stepping into the spotlight as well. From this Friday, 12 September, the 25th floor will be home to Solaya, a French Mediterranean restaurant led by Michelin-starred chef Kenny Atkinson.
Atkinson, who turned Newcastle into a dining destination with House of Tides and Solstice, is making his first move into the capital. At Solaya, he brings his flavour-driven style south, pairing Mediterranean cooking with some of the most expansive skyline views in Shoreditch.
A new stage for Kenny Atkinson
Atkinson is best known for transforming Newcastle’s dining reputation with House of Tides and Solstice. These two restaurants earned him two coveted Michelin stars and a loyal following well beyond the North East. His cooking is rooted in precision and flavour, with a style that balances refinement against approachability.
Solaya is his first solo venture in London. But for a chef whose career has largely been defined outside the capital, Solaya is more than just another opening. It’s his way of showing how Mediterranean food can carry both the conviviality of shared dining and the sharpness of fine technique.
The setting
art’otel London Hoxton opened in 2024 with 357 rooms, a gallery space, and even a pair of Banksy originals on display. Designed as much a cultural hub as a hotel, it was always going to demand a destination restaurant to match.
That role now falls to Solaya, which occupies the entire 25th floor. Wrapped in glass with panoramic views and flanked by two terraces available for private hire, it brings a French Mediterranean menu shaped around warmth, seasonality and sharing.
Inside, the design is deliberately contemporary. Think blue velvet seating and quilted banquettes, pendant lights, and a backlit wall of wine bottles. It avoids the clichés of rooftop dining by feeling warm rather than showy and sleek without being sterile.
The food
The menu is built for sharing, but it sidesteps the fatigue of endless small plates. Starters include a scallop crudo dressed with sauce vierge and tuna carpaccio with chilli and mango vinaigrette. Vegetarians can enjoy wild mushroom croquettes, enriched with aged parmesan and black truffle.
For mains, there’s steak tartare crowned with confit egg yolk and sourdough and a burrata paired with figs, walnuts (vegetarian). Larger plates are classically French. Think bouillabaisse, côte de boeuf, and grilled seabass for two, brushed with smoked olive oil and burnt lemon. Vegetarians have just two larger plates to choose from:
- BBQ spiced cauliflower with ajo blanco and almond gremolata carries both smokiness and freshness
- Gnocchi alla sorrentina, layered with roasted cherry tomatoes, ricotta and basil
Beyond these, there are also vegetarian-friendly small plates, desserts, and sides, from pomme frites with rosemary salt to green beans Lyonnaise and other French bistro-style staples.
The drinks
If the food is bright and flavour-led, the cocktails carry the same energy:
- Le Fizz combines Lillet Blanc vermouth with orange marmalade, honey, and champagne. The honey rounds out the vermouth, giving the drink a smooth balance of bitter and sweet.
- La Paloma uses Ojo de Dios hibiscus mezcal with agave, lime, pink grapefruit soda, and sumac salt. The mezcal brings a smoky depth that’s beautifully offset by the bright, tangy citrus.
- Sling is gin-led and fragrant, with Monkey 47, lychee, elderflower, and peach & jasmine soda.
These are just three examples from a broader list of easy-to-love cocktails, each with its own distinctive character.
All you need to know
Solaya offers a refreshing departure from London’s often ostentatious dining scene. Perched on the 25th floor of art’otel London Hoxton, it pairs stunning city views with an atmosphere that feels classy and luxurious without ever being pretentious.
Chef Kenny Atkinson brings the sun-fresh flavors of the Mediterranean to an extensive menu that’s both beautiful and approachable. From shareable small plates to indulgent mains, every dish is vibrant, and the inspired cocktails complement the food perfectly. It’s a restaurant that has everything going for it – atmosphere, views, and genuinely excellent, sun-kissed Mediterranean cooking.
Opening date: 12 September 2025
Location: Solaya, 25th Floor, art’otel London Hoxton, 1–3 Rivington Street, London EC2A 3DT
Bookings: Open now via solayalondon.com
Opening hours: Daily, 12pm – 12am
Instagram: @solayalondon
See also our review of CÉ LA VI London, The Pot Luck Club, and Shanghai Me.