Restaurant · in London · ⭐ 9.1/10 · 7648 reviews
Address: 20 New Change, London EC4M 9AG
Glamour with a dragon ceiling, minutes from the cathedral steps
The Ivy Asia St Paul’s opened on 18 November 2019 as The Ivy Collection’s first pan-Asian restaurant in London, and it was built to be looked at as much as eaten in. The site had been Jamie Oliver’s Barbecoa; almost nothing of that grill room survived the rebuild.
The Concept · The Story
Richard Caring’s Caprice Holdings took the space in 2019 and stripped it back to the shell. Architects Pumphouse and principal contractor Brown & Carroll then ran a fit-out in which, by the builder’s own account, every surface had a bespoke finish: 360 square metres of back-lit semi-precious agate laid as flooring, a coffered ceiling carved with a dragon, a bar cut from amber onyx and a full-scale pagoda around the welcome desk, with a twelve-foot samurai sculpture at the entrance. The contractor still calls it the most complex project it has delivered.
What to Order
The kitchen, led at launch by Deepak Kotian, is pan-Asian rather than Japanese: dim sum, robata and curry share one page. Among the small plates the prawn har gow dumpling and the aromatic duck spring rolls are the reliable openers, with pork and kimchi gyoza and spiced tempura prawn bao buns alongside. The large plates lean rich: "Black Cod" Miso, char siu pork belly, robatayaki wagyu beef, and a Keralan chickpea and aubergine curry that quietly looks after vegetarians. Sushi is where the theatre lives, in the Ivy "Volcano" roll and the tiered Silver Shell and Black Shell platters. Desserts are named like characters: Golden Dragon, Samurai, ube doughnuts.
The Space
Two floors, two moods. Downstairs the fluorescent pink onyx floor glows from underneath, set against panelled Japanese landscape artwork and a pink pagoda. Upstairs the stone turns green and the room opens onto tall windows that frame the dome of St Paul’s, with an antique gold mirrored bar and brass tables. A private dining room seats up to twenty, DJs play at the weekend, and the volume rises with the evening.
Good to Know
Do I need to book? Yes, and well ahead for a weekend evening; ask for the upper floor if the cathedral view matters.
Is there enough for a vegetarian? Yes — wok-fried broccoli and tofu, the Keralan chickpea and aubergine curry, and cucumber, asparagus and avocado maki.
Does it work for a celebration? It is designed for one: the private dining room takes up to twenty guests and the desserts arrive as a small performance.
Is there a dress code? Smart is the norm rather than the rule: the room is dressed up and guests match it.
When is it quietest? At lunch and early midweek; once the DJ starts at the weekend it is a different venue.
Opening hours
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday | 11:30–00:00 |
| Tuesday | 11:30–00:00 |
| Wednesday | 11:30–00:00 |
| Thursday | 11:30–00:00 |
| Friday | 11:30–00:30 |
| Saturday | 11:30–00:30 |
| Sunday | 11:30–23:00 |
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Visitor reviews
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Ivy Asia St Pauls has become one of my favourite restaurants, where I often drop in after events in London. The atmosphere here is bright and fun, with wonderful views of St Paul's Cathedral from the windows and theatric…
From start to finish Alicia was attentive, polite and very welcoming. Her service is the best I've ever encountered, and I eat out weekly. It was my 60th birthday celebration, and the little dessert at the end with a can…
We had dinner at The Ivy Asia St. Paul's. It was my early birthday celebration. The food was wonderful. The king prawn curry tastes very similar to our Indonesian rendang, and I also liked the rice and the green pak choi…
We had a wonderful time at The Ivy Asia, celebrating my 30th birthday. The menu was just incredible, every dish was very tasty and beautifully served. Special thanks to Nick, the best waiter we could ask for. He explaine…
We decided to upgrade the tasting menu. My daughter doesn't eat prawns, and it was disappointing to hear that her prawns couldn't be replaced with another dish from the vegetarian tasting menu. The waitress said she coul…
We visited Ivy Asia St Paul's for an early dinner on Christmas Eve with friends around 6pm. Since the restaurant wasn't very busy at that time, they kindly seated us earlier than booked, which we appreciated. The decor w…
Reviews last updated: 2026-06-30 20:42:41
Data is refreshed monthly. Sources: londonka.uk and editorial picks based on reviews.
Yuri was an incredible host. Engaged and polite, fun yet professional. He happily recommended dishes and had really good knowledge of the goings-on. The food was truly wonderful, the place organised and clean. I sincerel…
Had a tasty dinner at The Ivy Asia St Paul's last week. It's a beautiful place, and the lunch menu is incredibly good value. Our waiter, Sagar, was very attentive, suggested dishes and even remembered our names. Thank yo…
The food was just wonderful, and the atmosphere was also great. I gave the service 4 stars because our waitress cleared our main courses but unfortunately didn't clear the table afterwards and didn't offer us a dessert m…
Celebrated my birthday here at brunch, and it was an unforgettable experience. The decor was a real feast for the eyes – so much detail and vibrant colour added a special atmosphere to the day. We had a wonderful view of…
I really enjoyed this place. Simply a gem! The decor and atmosphere are on another level – refined and welcoming. We were seated quickly, even with a booking. We chose the set lunch menu, which is a great choice given th…