La Môme London to open at The Berkeley
French Riviera institution La Môme is set to bring its Mediterranean menu and theatrical dining style to The Berkeley hotel in London. Olivia Palamountain reports
French restaurateurs Ugo and Antoine Lecorché are bringing their celebrated Cannes institution La Môme to The Berkeley, marking their first venture outside the French Riviera.
Set to launch on February 7, 2025, the 220-seat restaurant, plus 30-seat terrace, will recreate the glamour and energy of their original establishment, which has become a favourite among celebrities and locals near Cannes' famous Promenade de la Croisette.
Cannes-based interior architect Samy Chams will design the space, incorporating rich materials and colours. The walls will feature Slim Aarons' photographs capturing 1960s Riviera life, reflecting the brothers' appreciation for the era's style. The restaurant promises a largely Mediterranean menu amplified by theatrical flourishes, from synchronised tablecloth changes to tableside preparations - including fresh herbs being cut for olive oil and the deboning of flame-grilled whole fish. Cocktails arrive under glass cloches, dramatically unveiled through clouds of dry ice.
"We want to bring part of the elegance of the French Riviera of the 60s and 70s to Belgravia," says Ugo Lecorché. His brother Antoine adds: "We are trying to bring to The Berkeley an experience that is about all the senses: not only about the food, but about the welcome, the service, the music, the energy, where something interesting is happening every day."
The Knightsbridge outpost will be the Lecorché brothers' fourth location, following successful launches in Cannes, La Môme Plage (2018), and Monte Carlo (2022).
The name pays tribute to Lucienne Suzanne Vreurick, known as 'La Môme Moineau' (the little sparrow), a renowned Cannes hostess during the Riviera's golden age who was famous for her parties at the Art-Deco Villa Bagatelle.
A bar will serve cocktails and small plates, while live music featuring a DJ, singer, and pianist will accompany evening service. The restaurant will open seven days a week for lunch and dinner.
Kostas Sfaltos, The Berkeley's general manager, says: "We are excited to bring La Môme, a true Cannes legend to London, and believe their cosmopolitan energy and joie de vivre will bring something new to the capital."