Alex Dilling

Alex Dilling, two Michelin stars at Hotel Café Royal

Alex Dilling is a two-Michelin-star restaurant located on the first floor of Hotel Café Royal, overlooking Regent Street, in London. It opened its doors on 1 September 2022 as chef Alex Dilling's first standalone establishment. Born in London, he offers cuisine based on select ingredients and inspired by French classics.

Chef's career

Alex Dilling discovered his passion for gastronomy from a very young age and developed a curious and passionate palate through his travels and his contact with different techniques and products of European cuisine. His professional journey began under the legacy of Alain Ducasse at Adour, in New York, where he was mentored by Didier Elena and Tony Esnault; together with his team he obtained two Michelin stars in early 2012. He later went on to Caviar Russe, where his appreciation for caviar was born, which remains one of his most recognised ingredients. Back in the United Kingdom, he joined Helene Darroze's team as Executive Corporate Chef, contributing to maintaining the group's two Michelin stars between London and Paris. He later developed his offering at The Greenhouse, attracting an international audience.

Menus and culinary offering

The restaurant works with tasting menus and a shorter version. The site indicated a short-edition dinner menu for £165 and special New Year's Eve and New Year's Day menus, with a shorter menu on the night of 31 December at £325. For Valentine's Day, menus were announced for Friday 13 and Saturday 14 February at lunch and dinner, and a brunch on 15 February, with prices of £215 for eight courses, £145 for the short dinner menu and £125 for the Saturday five-course menu. The signature dish, Hunter Chicken, is always available on request even if it does not appear on the menu. Wine pairings are offered from £145 up to more than £495 per person. The wine list, tasting menus and event menus can be downloaded as samples and are subject to change due to the seasonal nature of the cuisine.

Dietary options and reservation policies

The restaurant offers vegetarian and gluten-free menus, and endeavours to accommodate dietary requirements, for which it asks guests to contact reception or detail them in the online booking. It does not offer a vegan menu. Allergies must be notified at least 72 hours in advance; those notified at the last minute will be accommodated where possible but cannot be guaranteed. Solo diners are welcome, with tables reserved at every service. The dress code is smart casual; sportswear and loungewear are not permitted. Children aged seven and above are welcome. Cancellations within five days of arrival incur a fee; for groups of five or more the period is extended to two weeks, and for private events or exclusive hires it is six to eight weeks.

Events, catering and private spaces

The restaurant handles private events, private dining and external catering, with capacity for groups from two to hundreds of diners depending on the format. In addition to the main dining room, it has access to several private rooms at Hotel Café Royal, with sizes ranging from 6 to 150 guests. The events offering extends under the brand Paloma - Events by Alex Dilling, which provides catering in London, the United Kingdom (including the Cotswolds and the Home Counties) and the rest of the world, including on jets and yachts. The chef creates bespoke menus, from a fine dining meal for an intimate gathering to a large wedding overseas, including options such as a pork belly roast for one hundred guests, fried chicken with caviar or a drinks and canapés reception.

Opening hours and additional services

The restaurant opens Tuesday to Saturday for dinner from 18:00 and Saturdays for lunch from midday. Outside these hours, exclusive hire and events are available. The website allows the purchase of gift vouchers and experiences, as well as the purchase of its own gin, Alex Dilling's Gin - 5 Puffins. It also offers the possibility of subscribing to a newsletter for news and events.

Location and contact

Email: reservations@alexdilling.com