Located on a water-level floating pavilion within Canary Wharf sits the new Aegean restaurant Hovarda. The second location in London after debuting in Soho in 2017, this dinner-only restaurant designed by the acclaimed Hurle & Martin is set to be the area’s go-to night spot, with a license until 2am ensuring guests and dine, drink, and dance into the early hours with a lineup of world class DJs.
Hovarda blends the rich culinary traditions of Greece and Turkey, transporting guests to sun-drenched Aegean coastlines, with authenticity built into every dish, drink and experience from the moment you set foot on the floating deck situated in Wood Wharf.
The Executive Magazine paid a visit to Hovarda, one week after opening, to explore the menu and dining experience during a busy Friday Night service. Starting with drinks available, there are a fantastic range of signature cocktails available from the in-house mixologists, who have been given the freedom to create unique drinks that resemble classics, but with a distinct Aegean twist, incorporating ingredients such as Mastiha, Grape Molasses and Tsipouro.
The wait staff are incredibly attentive and knowledgeable, and as we were going for the true Aegean experience the dishes we chose what was recommended to us, starting with an incredible Tarama and Pita starter – freshly made in house of course, with soft fluffy bread and silky smooth and perfectly seasoned classic Greek Taramasalata to accompany. Then we tried two mezes, the saganaki, aged feta with a crisp delicately fried coating sitting on a generous serving of truffle honey, and the scallop meze which was perfectly cooked and well dressed with Mediterranean Ezme. The entrée was Lobster Pasta, a personal favourite, which was charmingly rustic but not lacking in depth and flavour.
We took our time with this meal, as the décor, lighting and environment invites you to relax and go at your own pace, and as we reached the busy hour of service the noise levels were never high enough to be disturbing, and the music a perfect match for the room. A little later in the evening, the DJ began to increase the tempo and volume – possibly signalling to diners that there is more to enjoy than just your meal, as this is a late-night spot, the effort put in to accommodating all guests, including those not ready for the night to end, does not go unnoticed.
We can see a lot of potential for this new restaurant in Canary Wharf, built on the already successful concept of their first location, and for those who work nearby or find themselves passing through, the experience leaves a lasting impression, and we will definitely return soon.