Every London dog owner knows and loves Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park, but did you know there’s a stunning dog-friendly restaurant right in the middle of these famous parks? We were recently invited to try out The Magazine Restaurant at the Serpentine Gallery, and it did not disappoint. Here are our reasons why the stunning Magazine Serpentine is the perfect place to enjoy a post-walk breakfast or lunch with your pup…
1. Location, Location, Location
Many Londoners are lucky to have Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park on their doorsteps. Perhaps not quite, but close enough for weekend walkies at least. Well, now we have a beautiful dog-friendly restaurant to enjoy in the heart of the park too – The Magazine at the Serpentine Gallery, located inside the stunning Zaha Hadid extension. And at just a stone’s throw from both Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park, you couldn’t ask for a better location whether you’re a London dog or human.
2. The Magazine at The Serpentine is Dog-friendly Indoors and Out
Boasting an absolutely stunning interior (more on that in a moment), as well as an outdoor terrace, The Magazine Serpentine is dog-friendly indoors and out. So whether it’s for a post-walk breakfast or lunch or accompanying your humans for a cheeky afternoon cocktail, The Magazine has canines covered, down to the treat jar at the bar.
3. It’s Simply Stunning
The Magazine Hyde Park was designed by renowned Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid, known for her futuristic architecture that effortlessly merges curving façades with sharp angles. When it comes to design, The Magazine restaurant does not disappoint. It is undeniably unique, and unlike any other restaurant we have seen in London. In fact, you can’t quite believe it when you stumble across it tucked away in the park or that dogs are welcomed inside, but thankfully they are.
4. You Can Dine Sustainably At The Magazine Hyde Park
The Magazine at The Serpentine is not just about good looks; it also serves a menu that tastes amazing and has a positive effect on the planet.
Sustainable dining is central to The Magazine’s ethos. Head Chef, Tomas Kolkus, has created a minimum-waste ‘Becoming Climavore’ menu with ingredients that positively affect the planet by using regenerative coastal ingredients that support marine ecology. You can read more about the Climavore concept on the Becoming Climavore website.
Here are some highlights of the Becoming Climavore menu at The Magazine:
- Soda bread with seaweed butter
- Scottish rope-grown mussels (white wine, garlic, Urfa chilli, sea fennel)
- Charred kohlrabi (marsh samphire, saffron brown butter, green apple slaw)
- Slow-roasted cauliflower (turmeric hummus, date molasses, chickpeas dukkha, parsley)
- Bonfire potatoes (seaweed aioli)
- Poached apple (walnuts & buckwheat crumble, tahini custard, salted caramel ice cream)
- Seaweed Seeper (gin, samphire, elderflower and tonic)
- Virgin Seaweed Seeper (Seedlip, samphire, elderflower and tonic)
Head Chef Tomas said: ‘Waste is minimized by innovative and creative means; we trim, dehydrate and turn unwanted parts of vegetables into powders and spices and use them as new components of our dishes. We infuse leftover herbs into oils and sauces, turn fruit and vegetable peelings into gravies & extracts and preserve or ferment any surplus produce. Our food bins are almost empty at the end of the day, which makes us very happy.’
The Magazine’s menu is also surprisingly affordable with two courses starting from £15. I tried the Soda bread with seaweed butter, the Slow-roasted cauliflower, Bonfire potatoes and Poached apple for dessert and it was all delicious.
Initially, I approached some of the dishes with a healthy amount of scepticism (the cauliflower in particular). However, the explosion of delicate flavours that awaited had me swiftly converted, and I would definitely order everything I had again. We also tried a selection of items from the standard menu and these were equally as tasty.
5. The Magazine Restaurant At The Serpentine Is One Of A Kind
It’s not often you find such a stunning sustainable restaurant that welcomes dogs in a central London park. The Magazine Hyde Park ticks all those boxes. Unique, gorgeous, delicious and ideally located are all words that spring to mind when you think of The Magazine. And not forgetting dog-friendly, of course.
We will definitely be back.
Essential Info
Where: You’ll find the Magazine at the Serpentine North Gallery, W Carriage Dr, London W2 2AR
When: Open Tuesday 10 am – 6:30 pm, closed Mondays
Menu/Booking: See the menu or book a table here.
Getting there: The closest tube is Lancaster Gate then it’s a short 10-minute walk through the park. Parking is available at West Carriage Drive or either side of the Serpentine Bridge if you want to drive. However, be aware that at weekends the car parks can get busy.
Why not add a visit to the Magazine to your list of Dog-friendly Things To Do in London, enjoy puppers!
