Estiva Par Excellence – Chelsea Harbour

Russell Rhys-Davies has a dining experience that he won’t soon forget at Chelsea Harbour

I recently had the pleasure of dining at the The Estiva Terrace Bar at the Chelsea Harbour Hotel. The restaurant and hotel boast a dynamic skyline - and stunning frontline waterfront setting, combining old and new London in one fell swoop.

On entering the hotel, I felt unusually relaxed considering I was in a part of town I wasn't familiar with. The decor was minimalist without being bereft of atmosphere - and I felt they had hit the right note for the surroundings.

The welcome at the Estiva Terrace Bar was highly personal and attentive and we were given the choice of traditional seating or something a little cosier, so we opted for the booth type seat. The view from the terrace over the Thames on this stormy evening was wonderfully atmospheric - adding to the restaurant being a place that you could relax in and just take a moment to enjoy your surroundings.

We were there for their Jazz night which consisted of a Trio of exceptionally gifted performers. The staff were very attentive and our order was taken for the set-menu, but not as deftly as our drinks order. The choice of Prosecco, Whispering Angel or wine made for huge indecision on my part, whilst my husband was decisively out of the blocks with a chilled glass of Whispering Angel.

Our starter was a divine combination of slow cooked pork and octopus. The presentation was exquisite, and the flavour combination hit all the right notes.

For our mains, I opted for the red mullet and my husband for the beef fillet. The fish was served with the most incredibly flavoursome sauce. The exquisitely cooked beef fillet was accompanied by potato dauphinoise - just the right side of buttery richness - finished with a rich and intense jus.

Dessert options were all too tempting, but we finally opted for the mouth-watering Key Lime tart - artistically presented with a light pastry case and zesty filling, topped with whipped meringue caps and accompanied by delicious organic vanilla ice-cream.

The overall restaurant vibe was incredibly chilled and relaxed, with beautiful food, attentive and friendly staff and a musical Trio that we would have gladly stayed for the duration of the evening listening to over a cocktail or two. A stunning location for a romantic dinner. We shall be back.

www.millenniumhotels.com/en/london/the-chelsea-harbour-hotel/estiva-rooftop/