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About us

The History

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Gateway to The City

Opening our doors in 2023 – in the twentieth anniversary year of our iconic sister restaurant – The Wolseley City brings a sense of familiarity and timeless elegance to the London Square Mile.

Offering guests a destination dining experience, inspired by its heritage in hospitality and refined classics.

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The History

The Wolseley, our Piccadilly sibling opened its doors in 2003. Taking its cue from Europe’s Grand Café tradition, it quickly set the bar for a new kind of all-day dining experience in the capital: relaxed and convivial, within a setting appreciated for its flawless design details and airy interior. Located in a standout 1920s building designed by William Curtis Green, the restaurant’s architectural features took on iconic status, as did its reputation for relaxed dining.

Tipping its hat to the original, The Wolseley City fuses a sense of familiarity with a refreshed dynamic that plays on the heritage, architecture and atmosphere of its historic Square Mile setting. A large restaurant, two private dining rooms and three bar spaces add a new twist to the elegance of our forefather.

Hearty breakfasts and all-day menus remain intrinsic to our offering and continue to run through our DNA.

The Sister Restaurants

Since our landmark Piccadilly opening two decades ago, The Wolseley Hospitality Group has opened further notable restaurants across the capital, noteably Brasserie Zédel and The Delaunay. From grand dining rooms to neighbourhood favourites, each distinctive venue celebrates the art of British or European restaurant culture – often striking a creative and distinctive balance between the two.

Porto Tonico
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Line drawing with water colour detail of the exterior of the The Wolseley City at 68 King William Street

The Design

In a playful nod to our much-loved heritage, our interiors draw inspiration from the original distinguished architecture of 160 Piccadilly, featuring intricate ironwork, Byzantine-style chandeliers and the graphic, monochromatic colour palette associated with our name. Several design motifs are instantly recognisable, including a reinterpretation of the vaulted ceiling and grand pillars associated with our Piccadilly sibling, alongside a tribute to the familiar ‘horseshoe’ entrance beloved by our guests.

Bringing a sense of familiarly to the heart of the City, we are inspired by the ideals of heritage hospitality and refined classics, delivered in a dynamic setting.

The Location

Like the original Wolseley, we are located in a flagship 1920s building. Formerly a bank and latterly a department store, our striking building is known for its distinguished steel and Portland stone façade, crowned by a copper-domed stone cupola. Situated on King William Street close to Monument Square, we are on the threshold of London’s Square Mile, home to the capital’s financial district.

In a neighbourhood anchored by St Paul’s Cathedral, where historic architecture and medieval alleyways blend seamlessly with modernist buildings, our restaurant conjures the comfort of classic dining and heritage design paired with a creative, forward-looking approach.

Private Dining

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Steamed short rib pudding with a light grave, a side of chips and mixed greens. Two glasses of wine on the marbled table top