Latine, a French-Latin restaurant, is set to open in Mayfair, London W1 in June. Hospitality & Catering News reports that it will spread across several floors in Lancashire Court, part of the new Mayfair Quarter development, and is designed to take guests from drinks to dinner and on to late-night cocktails.

The spaces

  • Ground floor: 'The Restaurant' and a dedicated Crudo Bar, plus a champagne terrace that extends into the cobbled courtyard of Lancashire Court.
  • First floor: 'La Candela', described as a lively restaurant and lounge.
  • Second floor: 'El Cielo', a hand-painted private dining room seating up to 20 guests.
  • Downstairs: 'LACAV', a warm, low-lit space with South American influences. It opens in September, after the main restaurant, with cocktails, champagne and music including live DJ sets.

The food

The kitchen is led by Executive Chef Francisco Lafee, who trained at Le Cordon Bleu and worked in Michelin-starred kitchens including Centrale, El Celler de Can Roca and Barrafina before travelling across South America. The menu pairs classic French technique with Latin American ingredients and bold flavours.

Seafood is central. The Crudo Bar will serve ceviches, tiraditos and tartares made with fish and shellfish.

Signature dishes named by the restaurant include:

  • Steak tartare with truffle mayonnaise
  • Wild seabass with beurre blanc and ají amarillo
  • Chargrilled beef fillet with Périgord sauce and dark chocolate
  • A tarte tatin of ripe plantain with coffee caramel, among the dessert highlights

The drinks

Cocktails draw on the tropical fruits, warming spices and citrus notes of Latin America. The wine list was put together by Romain Audrerie, previously of The Savoy, Tramp and Chiltern Firehouse. It pairs classic French regions with producers from across Latin America.

What the restaurant says

A Latine spokesperson said: "Latine draws on different influences, but always with the intention of creating something that feels natural, generous and full of life." The spokesperson added that the venue was meant to "evolve from day to night", letting guests settle in and stay as long as they like.

Photo: Lewis Clarke, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Geograph.