Set in the handsome Victorian Shoreditch Town Hall, The Clove Club serves a tasting menu of extraordinary modern British cooking from Isaac McHale. The buttermilk fried chicken with pine salt is one of London's most talked-about dishes. The open kitchen creates theatre, and the natural wine list is excellent.
The Clove Club opened in 2013 inside the handsome Victorian Shoreditch Town Hall in east London and rapidly earned a Michelin star, a position in the World's 50 Best Restaurants list, and a reputation as one of the most exciting places to eat in England. Chef Isaac McHale cooks an evolving tasting menu of modern British food that draws on classical French technique and a Scots sensibility toward produce provenance. The buttermilk fried chicken with pine salt served as a snack during the opening sequence became one of London's most-discussed single bites. The kitchen sources from small British farms and fisheries, and each menu section reflects a strong seasonal and regional logic. The dining room wraps around the open kitchen, meaning that counter seats facing the pass offer a front-row view of service. The natural wine list is among London's most interesting and the sommelier team engages with genuine enthusiasm. Tasting menus run to around eight or nine courses; a shorter bar menu is occasionally available. Reservations open on a rolling four-to-six-week basis and tables sell quickly, particularly for weekend dinner.
Location
51.5277, -0.0820 View on map
Highlights
- One Michelin star and World's 50 Best ranking for consistently inventive modern British cooking
- Buttermilk fried chicken with pine salt — a single bite that became a London icon
- Open kitchen counter seats offer an immersive view of the pass and brigade
- Natural and low-intervention wine list assembled with real depth and curiosity
- Set in Shoreditch Town Hall — a handsome Victorian landmark in east London
Tips for visiting
- Counter seats facing the open kitchen are worth requesting specifically — reserve these at booking.
- The bar menu, when available, offers a shorter and less expensive version of the kitchen's cooking.
- Tables release on a rolling four-to-six-week window; checking the reservations page weekly is advisable.
- Weekend lunches are marginally easier to secure than Friday or Saturday dinner sittings.
- The natural wine list rewards asking for a sommelier recommendation over ordering blind.
Accessibility
Shoreditch Town Hall has step-free access to the ground floor. The Clove Club dining room is on the ground level and is accessible to wheelchair users. Contact the restaurant ahead of the visit to confirm seating arrangements.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of food does The Clove Club serve?
The Clove Club serves modern British tasting menus built around exceptional seasonal produce from small UK farms and fisheries. The cooking style draws on classical technique but is distinctly contemporary, with strong Scottish and northern British influence in the sourcing.
How difficult is it to get a reservation at The Clove Club?
Reservations are competitive, particularly for weekend evenings. Tables typically open on a four-to-six-week rolling basis and sell within the first few days of release. Booking as soon as tables open is strongly advised.
Is The Clove Club suitable for vegetarians?
The kitchen produces a dedicated vegetarian tasting menu with the same level of ambition as the main menu. This should be requested at the time of booking to allow the team to prepare accordingly.