BOKAN 37 — Restaurant in London

My wife and I had the absolute pleasure of dining at Bōkan 37, an elegant sky-high restaurant led by Chef Robert Manea.

Set amidst the clouds of Canary Wharf, Bōkan offers not just a meal, but an experience — a journey through European flavours paired with breathtaking panoramic views of London’s skyline.

From the moment we arrived, we were made to feel special. Nicolas Jofre greeted us warmly, introduced himself, and thoughtfully walked us through the menu. His attentiveness and genuine hospitality set the tone for what was to be an unforgettable evening.

We began with a chilled glass of non-alcoholic Bottega Sparkling wine, which was light, refreshing, and set the mood perfectly. We also enjoyed beautifully balanced mocktails — fresh, vibrant, and crafted with care.

To start, my wife opted for the Cornish Crab with Avocado and Tomato Gel. The dish was delicate yet flavourful — the sweetness of the crab paired beautifully with the creamy avocado and a subtle acidity from the tomato gel.

I went for the Marinated Seabass with Blood Orange, Fennel & Chilli. Each bite offered a perfect balance — the citrus from the blood orange brought freshness, the fennel added crunch, and the chilli gave a gentle warmth without overpowering the fish.

For mains, my wife experienced Alaska Butterfish for the first time — grilled in a Josper oven and served with Yuzu & Daikon Purée and a Burnt Pepper Sauce. It was sensational. The fish was buttery-soft with a slight smokiness, beautifully complemented by the tangy yuzu and the umami-rich sauce.

I had the Halal Corn Fed Chicken Breast, served in a light consommé with spring vegetables. The chicken was moist, tender, and infused with subtle herbaceous flavours. A comforting, elegant dish done perfectly. On the side, we shared the Truffle Mash, and wow — this is a must-try. Velvety smooth and rich, the truffle was well-balanced and didn’t overpower. It quite literally melted in our mouths.

Dessert continued the high standard. My wife had the Chocolate, Pistachio, and Raspberry Sablée — a gorgeous mix of textures and flavours, with the nuttiness of the pistachio pairing wonderfully with the tart raspberry and silky chocolate.

I chose the Valrhona Jivara Chocolate Mousse with Hazelnut Crunch, Tropical Jelly, and Mango Sorbet — a harmonious medley of richness, nuttiness, and refreshing fruitiness. It was a perfect end to the meal.

As the evening progressed, we were treated to one of London’s most mesmerising sunsets, casting golden hues over the Thames and city skyline. Watching the city light up while dining with my wife was a truly special experience.

It’s clear that Bōkan 37 isn’t just about food — it’s about creating memorable moments. From the sophisticated ​​ambience and world-class dishes to the impeccable service from Nicolas, this restaurant excels in every category.

In my view, it’s only a matter of time before Bōkan earns its first Michelin star. A heartfelt thank you to the team — and especially to Nicolas — for making our evening so unforgettable.

Highly recommend booking a table just before sunset — you won’t regret it. We can’t...

Went as a party of three on a Groupon Brunch voucher. Three courses with cocktails included. We had to send our vouchers ahead to avoid being asked on arrival and the restaurant confirmed our booking for 3 persons at 14:30 several times ahead of the day of our booking, which all seemed positive and efficient. On arrival there seemed to be confusion with our booking but our coats were still taken and we were brought downstairs to the restaurant. We were then left in the table area and had to guess which table was ours. We were then questioned about our booking as they were only expecting two persons, fortunately I had brought printed copies of our vouchers along which I was able to give to the reception, otherwise I don’t think all three of us would have been served! Three menus were left on the table, not handed out or explained. There were no drinks menus left and no drinks offered at any point during our visit! I had to look up online what our deal included, three courses and a cocktail. Otherwise we would have had no idea! Brunch only had three options for starter, main and dessert. Two drinks were plonked on the table without any communication. We had to guess they were the free cocktail and had to call the waiter back to ask for the third. Again the third was put on the table, as if it was a real effort. We had to call the waiter back again to ask him to tell us what the cocktail actually was. At no point was there any allergy check. We then had to call him back again to ask for some table water. The waiter came to take our order and of the limited three desserts only two were actually available, with no other substitute. There was no check on allergies, which is pretty much common place in all restaurants. When one of our party asked if an ingredient could be removed due to allergy, she was informed that would not be possible and she would have go choose something different! The waiter serving the food, at least did explain what we were eating and was the only one of the team that showed us any courtesy. After we finished our food, a bill was slapped on the table and we were asked to leave because they were closing, despite other diners remaining. To our shock the table water was £6. In summary if you want to be made to feel extremely uncomfortable, ignored and don’t want your waiting staff to communicate or offer any pleasantries, then this is the place for you or if like us, service makes or breaks your experience, then avoid it at all costs. I can honestly say it is up there with one of the worst service experiences I have had and it ruined what should have been a...

I went to Bokan on 09/05/24, the ground floor receptionist called nickola who worked at 5.00 yesterday is losing you business. She said there no availability even after I told her I called to verify that there was. I requested she check again with Bokan as I had called earlier. She was dismissive, unhelpful and all round disrespectful, she categorically stated that even if I went up they would send me down. I was aware that there was an event at the terrace when I called but I was told that there was availability for two walk ins at the bar. I called Bokan personally to verify again as I had been told that there was availability and they concurred. Izobel my server was attentive and great, she made up for my tainted experience at the ground reception. I was originally considering an event in Bokan but I would not like my guests to feel unwelcome as the reception downstair will be their first impression of Bokan. I had been to Bokan a few years ago and wanted to refresh my previously pleasant experience but the receptionist and her male colleague were not slightly pleasant. This is sad as first impressions do count and they are the first representation of your Restaurant to me now. I do not know how many other people had my experience but it is a pity that your money is being turned away because a person who works in hospitality is not hospitable. Once again Bokan itself was great but going to a bar for drinks or a meal is an all encompassing experience and unfortunately your first impression from the reception will leave a bitter after taste and would make you think that all the staff are like her. I called Bokan from the reception and they were helpful. What made me livid about my encounter with her specifically was that fact that I asked her to check and she was so confident in her facts that she was dismissive of my request, saying that the priority was hotel guests and reservation at that specific time ( I am aware that this is the protocol when a hotel restaurant is full). Neither Nikola or her male colleague took any steps to be helpful rather they were dismissive and unhelpful. Hope you fix it or you will lose money and I don't think that is good for your business. Izobel (I don't know if I got your name right) but you are a gem, please give her a raise.... I don't really write reviews but if I can remember the experience fresh the next day then it was truly either amazing or truly...