Dinner by Heston Blumenthal to Close: What We Know So Far
One of Knightsbridge's defining restaurants has a closing date. Heston Blumenthal has confirmed, in an interview with The Times reported on 9 March, that Dinner by Heston Blumenthal at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park will close at the end of January 2027. Rumours had circulated for months. The good news is that there is plenty of time left to go, and the restaurant plans to mark its final month with celebratory menus.
Fifteen years on Knightsbridge
Dinner opened in 2011 at 66 Knightsbridge with Ashley Palmer-Watts as its original head chef; he now leads the food at The Devonshire in Soho. The restaurant quickly became one of the city's most talked-about tables. The idea was distinctive: dishes inspired by centuries of British cooking, reworked with the science-minded precision that made Blumenthal's name at The Fat Duck. It rose to become one of London's few restaurants with two Michelin stars, and its dining room, with views across Hyde Park, became a fixture for birthdays, business lunches and visitors from around the world.
The dishes that made it
Two creations will be remembered above all. Meat Fruit, a parfait disguised as a glossy mandarin, became one of the most famous dishes in London and a calling card for the whole restaurant. Tipsy Cake became its signature dessert, the order that many diners planned their meal around. If you have never tried either, the next ten months are your window. The kitchen has said the last month will bring celebratory menus, which suggests a look back at the dishes that defined its run, so keep an eye out for announcements towards the end of the year.
Why now, and what comes next
No official reason has been given. Hot Dinners' report notes that the restaurant's profile has dipped in recent years, but neither the chef nor the hotel has tied the decision to any single cause. As for the space, the Mandarin Oriental has not yet announced a replacement and has the rest of the year to decide. Given the hotel's standing, with Michelin's top Three Key rating, whatever follows will be closely watched.
What it means for the neighbourhood
Knightsbridge's dining scene is in a period of change. Michelin has just restored a star to Tom Brown at The Capital on Basil Street, and new arrivals keep appearing along Brompton Road. Losing Dinner removes one of the big destination names, but it also opens one of the best restaurant sites in London to a new idea. Expect speculation to run through the summer.
How to book a farewell meal
- Lunch is often easier to book than dinner, and the park views are at their best in daylight.
- The final month is likely to be the hardest to secure, so plan around it rather than for it.
- The restaurant is a short walk from Knightsbridge station, with the hotel entrance on Knightsbridge itself.
For other tables worth booking this spring, see our restaurant guide.
Lead image: Ewan-M via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0.
