Dining at Altitude: Galvin at Windows

Destroyed by fire in 1666 and once again trampled on by war during the Blitz in 1940, everyone knows that you can’t bring old London down!
The London skyline is ever evolving, once dominated by Big Ben, church spires and cathedral domes, in the last fifty years skyscrapers have shot up and the panoramic view of London has well and truly changed.
In 1999, the London Eye was constructed and is now one of the most iconic structures forming the skyline and in even more recent years The Gherkin, The Cheesegrater (loving the foodie names) and The Heron Tower have all shot up. The Shard, finished in 2012, became the tallest building in the EU, and it’s tremendous pointy pinnacle has become a prominent feature in London.
One of the best ways to view London is from one of these high vantage points, which is why dining in the sky has become such a trend in the city. In my Dining at Altitude series I have so far reviewed:
Delicious food on a foggy day at Oblix in the Shard
The fabulously glamorous City Social
Awesome Nikkei cuisine at Sushi Samba
Today’s post will be the last in the series for this year, but I will pick up where I left off next year as there are so many wonderful sky high restaurants to share with you.
My final choice has long been a favourite of mine…
And sitting on the 28th Floor of the Hilton Park Lane, Galvin at Windows is the 8th highest restaurant in London.

 

I’m actually rewinding here and going back to the day of my birthday and my special lunch with my mum, sorry for the strange order!
The interior of Galvin is classic, white table clothes and green leather chairs are the order of the day, because what really shines here is the incredible view. From here there are 360 degree views of pretty much everything that you could hope to see in London. Skyscrapers in Canary Wharf, The London Eye, the vast expanse of Hyde Park and London’s royal residence, Buckingham Palace.
The Shard may have stolen it’s thunder a little but I can’t recommend Galvin at Windows enough for special occasion dining. And if you just want a quick view from the top, the bar is also fabulous!
Warm bread and butter is my first birthday treat. A simple selection but beautifully done.

 

My starter is marinated Loch Fyne salmon, dorset crab, orange, beetroot and horseradish cream. The plate is not only beautiful but tastes incredible. A warning though, if you’re not a fan of horseradish, the taste is quite powerful in this dish. Fortunately, I am a fan!
Susan SilverSpoon’s plate is also pretty as a picture and her mackeral is perfectly paired with avocado and pecans.
It’s hardly surprising that the incredible French food here is so good. Galvin at Windows has a Michelin star which it has maintained since 2009. The service is also perfection as the restaurant is overseen by General Manager Fred Sirieix, a celebrity in the world of restaurant service. Also known as the ‘Service Jedi’ he has over 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry. It’s clear why Galvin at Windows has over 30 awards and is one of the best restaurants in London.
My mum has many talents but photography isn’t one of them so when I asked her to take a photo of me with my food…. she cut off the food and took a blurry photo…. bless her.
As you can see I get my love of fish from my mum. I chose a roast fillet of cod, served with cuttlefish and artichokes. A well-balanced salty flavour came through from the ham and it was finished with a light basil dressing.

 

My mum’s plaice was served with a chicken oyster, a beautifully creamy onion puree… and ummm… crisps!
As they often are in such elegant restaurants, portions were small but I was glad of this as I knew I had a big feast coming at Roka that night and that said we decided to forgo dessert for coffee and chocolates.

 

But the lovely staff had over heard it was my birthday. *Maybe* I’d said it a few times…and they bought out a mini chocolate brownie for us to share.

 

Followed by a jar of house made marshmallows; raspberry and passionfruit!
Galvin at Windows is totally wonderful, it may not have the altitude of the Shard or the Heron Tower but it’s an enduring classic that will always be one of my top choices in London.
Galvin at Windows
22 Park Lane
London
W1K 1BE
020 7208 4021

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