Martin Williams, CEO of the Evolv Collection, has shared his favourite dining destinations in the Square Mile ahead of the Toast the City awards.
Williams oversees 33 venues across his collection, nine of which are located in the City of London, giving him an intimate knowledge of the area’s food scene.
He began his career in the area with Gaucho in 2004, later becoming MD of the brand before departing in 2014 to found M on Threadneedle Street.
Bloomberg Arcade, which opened in 2017 and was curated by the late Richard Vines, remains one of his go-to destinations for after-work dining and casual lunches.
Brigadiers, situated at one end of the arcade, earns particular praise for its terrace, its hidden bar with pool table, and a menu built around bold, spiced dishes.
Williams singles out the Achari beef shortrib, tandoori lamb chops, and roasted goat shoulder as standout dishes, recommending the Prophets Rock Pinot Gris, Otago at £80 to accompany the food.
He describes Brigadiers as an excellent choice for both lunch and dinner, noting that “as with all JKS restaurants, the service is on point: attentive and caring.”
One Lombard Street, originally a banking hall beside Mansion House, was transformed into a restaurant in 1998 by former banker Soren Jessen, who reportedly walked in during the late 1990s and immediately saw its potential.
The venue went on to win the City’s first Michelin Star and became the address where deals were signed and bonuses celebrated, filling a gap in serious City dining alongside the recently opened Coq d’Argent by Sir Terence Conran.
Williams enjoyed elevated comfort food there recently, including caviar on a rosti and short rib croquettes with bearnaise, as well as a St John-labelled 2018 Pinot Noir at £120 from the wine list.
As exclusively revealed in City AM in June, 1 Lombard Street is currently in a sale process, with Richard Caring slated to take control, potentially marking the end of its current era.
Coq d’Argent, Williams’ own venue at 1 Poultry, won last year’s Toast the City award for best roof terrace and continues to rank among the Square Mile’s most popular destinations.
Chef Damien Rigollet has led the kitchen for over 20 years, delivering Burgundian classics including escargots de Bourgogne, terrine de lapin, Dover sole, and a fondant au chocolat noir that has earned the status of a City classic.
This spring’s asparagus tasting menu was a highlight, best paired with Chateau Lamothe Bousquet 2018 at £100, while the restaurant enjoyed a record summer following the addition of a Laurent Perrier terrace and the Mirabeau Long Lunch garden.
The Sir James Stirling-designed building is set to be redeveloped, meaning Coq d’Argent will move to a new riverside home at One Millennium Bridge at the start of 2027, overlooking the Bank of England, St Paul’s, and the Tate Modern.
Voting is open for Toast the City 2026, with categories including Best Restaurant, Best Bar, Best Boozer, Best Breakfast, Retailer of the Year, Best Art or Culture Attraction, Best Green Space, Most Fun Experience, and Best Roof Terrace at cityamevents.co.uk/toast-2026.