Reviews of Archipelago. (Restaurant) in London (London).

Archipelago

391 Reviews

232 Comments

Restaurant

Eclectic restaurant

53 Cleveland St, London W1T 4JJ, United Kingdom

Description

Information of Archipelago, Restaurant in London (London)

On this page you’ll find the address, open hours, more popular times, the contact, photos and real reviews of this business.

This business has received very good reviews from their customers, so probably it’s a place you should try if you are looking for this kind of services.

Map

Open hours of Archipelago

Popular times

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Reviews of Archipelago

T. C. C.

A range of exotic foods to experience in a pleasantly warm environment. I was disappointed. I was hoping for a new taste that I would be itching to repeat, however, after raw camel, to crocodile curry, I can barely remember the feast. Nothing stood out and, I can't claim to have had my taste buds screaming with joy. Perfect for a first date or change of scene, but nothing to write home about.

m.

What an amazing restaurant! A review said it was a celebration of food from around the world and it truly is. From the moment you step in you know this restaurant is different. The deco is eclectic but pleasantly so, the staff very welcoming and attentive, the service wonderful and the food delicious with some surprise touches, which shows the chef is very accomplished. The show starts with a small 'pill' you place in a bowl with a bit of water and rose petals that will be your serviette to clean your hands before eating. The menu, kind of rolled papyrus inside a small chest. Little touches that add to a great atmosphere. I let myself be guided in my choices by Alejandro, and his suggestions were superb. My Serengeti Strut starter, crispy "jerky" zebra, with carrot n red pepper sauces was very good. The main Oudtshoom Patram, with Camembert cheese for the blue potato and parmesan for the salad was truly delicious. The Pharaoh's treasure as dessert, with hazelnut powder under the ice cream was also really good. All in all, an amazing place to try different food, delicious and with great staff.

B. D.

Exotic restaurant with an interesting concept. Good customer service and food tasted nice. Prices were reasonable. Cocktails weren't that great.

S. W.

Superb experience. Staff were great, recommended Alpaca when I was going for lamb as "You can have lamb anytime". Correct! Crickets, Alpaca and Mealworms. Not something I would normally go for but can't recommend it enough. Wonderful food, good atmosphere and brilliant people.

R. A.

Very unusual menu, basically items from a zoo, staff were friendly and explained how everything was made, food did taste quite different as expected

S. K.

Fantastic restaurant. Quirky and eccentric from the moment you book to arriving and right through your meal. Friendly and attentive staff. Exciting menu for people that want to try dishes out of the ordinary and all were superbly cooked and very well presented as well as being extremely tasty. Stand out dishes in my opinion were the zebra starter and the kangaroo main but would happily eat them all again.

M. R.

An amazing and fabulous restaurant with unusual but amazingly cooked food. From snake and insects to zebra and ostrich. Strange but delicious.

C. N.

One of the best experience ever! Very good food, good service also, the ambiance of the restaurant was really nice. Definitely will come back again

D. W.

Amazing little restaurant, very close to Warren St/Goodge St. We had the crocodile and zebra to start, with alpaca and kangaroo as main. All very well cooked and spiced, so they clearly know that they're doing with each type of meat. Dessert also incredible, possibly best ice cream I've ever had. Highly recommend.

m. s.

Went to Archipelago on a chum's recommendation for an anniversary of mine some years ago and it turned into excellent. Atmosphere become kick back, my form of vibe. The Swordfish steak changed into superb, dessert was interesting... Chocolate blanketed scorpions changed into a very good experience to have! Would simply suggest it.

A. W.

Very friendly staff, nice food and wine. Amazing experience all together.

N. S.

I've been to Archipelago twice now and both times, the food was delicious and very unique. Obviously, it's for the more adventurous eater, but all the dishes are cooked and presented beautifully. Everything my partner and I had was great, but I'd particularly recommend the zebra jerky, python carpaccio, kangaroo skewers and the "Pharaoh's Treasure". The decor is very interesting, and the staff are friendly and helpful. A great place for an unusual date! Currently they have some safety measures including a temperature check, NHS/contact tracing check-in, and limited seating.

J. W.

We received a very warm welcome with our little boy, who loved trying all the different types of unusual food, like frogs legs, zebra, crickets, and mealworms. Beautifully spiced and presented. Very pleased we gave it a try - thank you for a lovely evening!

J. W.

Incredible and unique food where each course is better than the last. Passionate and friendly service who are happy to make sure you have the best experience possible. A must-visit for those who like to try new things and a hidden gem of a restaurant!

j. m.

I've been to Archipelago twice now and both times, the food was delicious and very unique. Obviously, it's for the more adventurous eater, but all the dishes are cooked and presented beautifully. Everything my partner and I had was great, but I'd particularly recommend the zebra jerky, python carpaccio, kangaroo skewers and the "Pharaoh's Treasure". The decor is very interesting, and the staff are friendly and helpful. A great place for an unusual date! Currently they have some safety measures including a temperature check, NHS/contact tracing check-in, and limited seating.

M. S.

We came here to try more exotic food options (see the photo of the receipt). Zebra meat was incredible. Same as kangaroo. It wasn't the first time we had crickets, but these were really crispy and tasty. Crocodile tastes a bit like frog legs, so would recommend too. Python was slightly underwhelming, but you have to try it, as hardly anywhere else you will have the chance to taste it. Prices were fair, but not cheap. 2 people with drinks, starters, a main and desserts ~£150. Decor was cosy with all interesting art fixtures and decorations working together rather well. Clean bathrooms and covid measures were taken to provide safe dining experience. The drinks could have been more with the twist to accompany the food, but it's a personal preference. The only more exotic alcohol was The Visit of the Doctor which seemed like an absinthe that soaked on a snake that has been in the bottle for 20+ years. That's more on the edge, but I understand that normal customers may want to level the experience down with an ordinary drink instead. Really friendly and chatty staff. They explained every dish and answered all our questions. Definitely a must try experience if you want to treat your taste buds with something different.

G. V.

We (3 italians) just wanted to try this new experience. Food was definetely better than expected (just based on our food culture and preferences). Good vibes. Just one bad thing, we waited about 1 an a half hour to have our starters but the waiter was so kind, nice and sorry so I understand this can happen sometimes. Will try again!

J. H.

The food here is amazing. Don't go in thinking it's a novelty restaurant; it's really not. I did have a an order of ants, which was kind of a novelty, but the rest of the food was amazing. I had the Cayman Islands starter (crocodile wrapped in vine leaves) and the ostrich steak for my main. They were phenomenal. I've had crocodile and ostrich before, but it was top notch here. They obviously know how to combine the meat with other ingredients to bring out the best flavours. Very friendly, and great ambiance as well. I've already planned my next visit.

R. A.

Amazing service 👍

s. f.

A quaint little restaurant that offers a great dining experience but not all the dishes will fill you up. If you're looking to taste something far more exotic than chicken (and even that's also on the menu), then this is the place for you. Zebra, crocodile, python and kangaroo to name a selection of the meats, although not much in the way of unusual vegetables. And of course, insects are also options (when not sold out). Just a note about the 'chocolate covered locusts'. They are tiny! I was expecting biblical plague-sized, and instead I got something that could be packed up inside a Malteaser! To sum up: If you're an adventurous eater or you just want to gross out your friends, then give this place a try! [Marked down one star because some of the portions were too small!]

V. C.

Service was excellent from the moment we entered though I wasn't sure why we were given a password for the booking! The decor is eclectic as seen in the photos with red walls and lots of traditional artifacts from around the world. They moved here 4 years ago but the place is a little dated (eg. toilets). The menu is served as a scroll and was great value with a promotion. Cayman Islands (crocodile) starter was tasty served in a vine leaf wrap. The Burmese Embrace (python) was almost as good. We avoided the crickets (and the more traditional pork belly) starter. For mains, the Peruvian Jumper (shredded alpaca meat with buttermilk jelly) want as spicy as we were told and was too much meat with too little flavour. They had a great idea with buttermilk and chilli jelly on each other to choose from as you desire but the chilli was too subtle. The ostrich steak on the other hand was excellent (medium rare was just right and not tough to eat). Try their roasted leaf eater ants as a cheap side (one spoon) - they're salty and crunchy. Desserts were also good. The Pharaoh's Treasure sounds like a gimmick with a chocolate soufflé pyramid and white chocolate and curry ice cream with gold leaf. But the ice cream was very good though the souffle tasted strange. Medieval Hive (brown butter ice cream, caramel sauce, honey and a crisp) was delicious. Cafe de olla (black coffee made with cinnamon and molasses) was also excellent and sweet. A great meal out. Can be pricey if a la carte.

M. R.

If you've seen the menu, you'll know why people come here - it is anything but run of the mill. The food is excellent, the staff are keen to help explain the menu (you may know what the animals are, but the accompaniments are also anything but everyday!) and were friendly, polite and helpful. Out of three courses, there was only one thing we felt jarred (the black olive sauce in the dessert just didn't work) but when you had the absolutely magnificent hazelnut and curry ice cream on thr same plate, that was easily overlooked. You have to come here. It's amazing.

A. Y. A.

Food was excellent! Thoroughly enjoyed the Ostrich steak. Also, would highly recommend the mealworm dessert! (Timon & Pumbaa knew what’s good for the palette) so go out there and live a little! Only downside for me was that all the other girls received a rose on arrival (it was a Valentine’s Day special) but I didn’t (story of my life :/ )...nonetheless I still had to give the place 5 stars because the excellent food, outstanding company and impeccable service fairly outweighed a single red rose.

L. R.

Lovely experience. My family love exotic food and everything is prepared so well and presented beautifully. My favorite has to be the the smoked python. My son’s favorite is the chocolate coated scorpion (check picture). While the food is exquisite, the staff weren’t very welcoming to kids. That said, it was easy to ignore the snarky comments and attitude and enjoy our time!

A. E.

A great experience to taste exotic food from an equally exotic restaurant. It's s cosy restaurant, decorated with ornaments from the owners travels. Every dish is explained, service excellent and friendly.

B. H.

Service was fantastic, food was excellent. We tried a number of dishes to make the most of the experience and it did not disappoint. For starters we shared the python carpaccio, Zebra jerky and Cayman in vine leaves. All presented beautifully and the salads served with the dishes were very tasty. Mains: Ostrich steak with twice baked blue cheese potatoes and salad slaw; and Kangaroo skewers with beetroot salad and onion cornbread. Ostrich was very tender and combined with the blue cheese potatoes were a heavenly comfort combination. The roo kebabs were juicy cubes of meat, I don't normally like onions but the cornbread was great. I thoroughly enjoyed both mains. Dessert: chocolate covered locusts. Never tried before and was nice since it was in chocolate! It came with a shot of alcohol to help wash down. It's an experience I'd recommend to try out

P. T.

Travel-around-the-world gastronomy experience for taste explorers. The place, the menu, music, decoration and the waiter himself make you feel like you entered a treasure hunting game with very interesting ingredients and flavour combinations: crocodile, zebra, alpaca, austrich, scorpio and more, unique desserts and even a piece of gold to find at the end. Try guessing where the waiter and chef are from :). 5 mins walking distance from Goodge street underground station (Northern line).

V. G.

Small and secluded restaurant with the weirdest menu I've seen in London. Crickets, alpaca and mealworms are on the photos, but you'll see other strange menu items as crocodile, kangaroo, scorpions and many others, too. I admit, I didn't expect to like them all, but they taste so good! The staff are very attentive and helpful, too. Definitely recommend!

J.

Went to Archipelago on a friend's recommendation for an anniversary of mine a few years ago and it was brilliant. Atmosphere was chill, my kind of vibe. The Swordfish steak was excellent, dessert was interesting... Chocolate covered scorpions was a good experience to have! Would definitely recommend it.

R. D.

Amazing experience all round. The food was superb, the staff incredibly friendly and helpful. We had the Camel and zebra starters which melts in the mouth and the Alpaca and Elk mains which were so flavourful and tender! The mealworm desert was very tasty which was a pleasant surprise! 100% recommended

K. C.

Exotic eats galore. Tried the cricket entree, alpaca main and mealworm dessert. They were all good, with mealworm being the highlight. The alpaca was a tad salty though. Also had side silkworms and worms, which were nice and crunchy. Service was very friendly and attentive throughout the evening.

B. M.

This place is 1 of a kind. For adventurous eaters of all walks of life.very exotic experiences from the decor to the food and the lovely hostess.

E. F.

Such a special meal every time. Perfect everything. Decor stunning. Very friendly hosts. Love it.

P. W.

Brilliant experience all round. Great decor and ambience. Lovely, friendly, helpful service from staff. Super yummy, interesting food and cocktails. We tried crocodile, camel, ostrich, kangaroo and bugs! (There are some more mainstream and veggie options as well for the less adventurous.) Don't regret a penny of cost. Well worth it. Will be back.

G. B.

One of the most authentic non-sushi restaurants in London. Great value for money. Beautiful interior.

C. S.

Amazing food, highly unique and interesting. We had a selection of nine dishes from starters to mains which were all brilliant, favourite was likely the Ostrich 👍👍

S. V.

Excellent dining experience. Our favourite was: - Zebra - Cangaroo We've only eaten particular kind of meat, £60 pp

O. N.

Really enjoyed the variety of food, the presentation and the service. White truffle dessert was brilliant. We look forward to coming back again!

D. S.

Hands down the best culinary experience of my life. I highly recommend the crocodile and zebra starters. Make a reservation, it's a small and cosy place.

d. b.

Amazing restaurant and amazing staff i was much impressed with their cleanliness and services

D. M.

We celebrated our friend’s birthday in Archipeloho. To say that we were surprised with the food selection is an understatement. everything we tried was very tasty and is certainly worth a try.

M. S.

Incredible dining experience. Food and flavours I've never tasted before. Would highly recommend

S. M.

Unique menu with meats you won't be served elsewhere - go for the experience and funky ambiance. It is on the relatively expensive side however.

K. T.

Unusual meats/insects cooked in unusual ways. Beautiful interior decor. Friendly staff. Thank-you.

R. A.

The food was outstanding. The service was second to none. I'm definitely going back again at so point!!

C. B.

Amazing, one of the best restaurants I have been in London. Definitely a must-go

D. W.

Friendly, informed and quick service. Food was delicious, even the ants! Was quite quiet when we were there (Thursday evening), but that was no bad thing. Get the ostrich!

T. T.

Amazing place. Warm, friendly staff. Exceptional menu! Lunch deal is a total bargain!

c. b.

One of the best tasting menus I've been to in London! Highly recommend!!! Different and delicious. Service amazing as well.

G. S.

Without a doubt a mind blowing experience. Food menu is out of this planet. Amazing food. And all round great experience.

M. S.

Great restaurant, exciting menu, romantic setting, tried python for the first time. Great experience!

H. M.

Delicious food as always.

R. W.

Great experience. The food was delicious but they take too long to serve.

L.

Amazing experience! Fun menu, staff, and set up of the place! The unique experience was clearly to my liking

M. D. a.

The food was amazing and the staff were friendly overall the place was a nice experience I'd definitely go again

R. S.

This as an interesting place to eat at. The food was really good, I would recommend to go just to say you have been.

H. V.

Fantastic meal, staff helpful and friendly. Great place for a special celebration.

J. F.

Great service. Creative beverage & food menu. Make reservations to secure your table. Enjoy! Cheers

M.

Stumbled in on a Monday at noon when nobody was there, was very pleasantly surprised, food is fantastic and the decorations are amazing! Highly recommended.

C. B.

Fantastic experience that cannot be faulted. Will definitely be back to visit again in the future!

A. F.

We've been to Archipelago many times and each time has been as good as the others! It was great to go back after the third lockdown; it was so good to be back in the quirky surroundings of the restaurant. The food is always delicious and the rosé was lovely, especially in the stylishly mismatched wine glasses. Our waiter, Alex, was a delight and gave us useful information about the food. I recommend the crocodile, roo and camel!

F. T.

High quality of food with reasonable price, highly recommend!

j. s.

The food was absolutely spectacular, and service even better. We tried both the standard and vegetarian menu, and they were both fantastic

J. M. D. A.

Amazing food, friendly staff ,the atmosphere was good, i would definitely come back

E. B.

I have to say this is one of the most amazing restaurants I have ever been to. They sell quite an 'unusual' menu which makes it more interesting. The atmosphere and decor in the restaurant is incredible

c. b.

Loved it. If you're adventurous and looking for something different food was delicious and host was very friendly

J. L.

Great food and service but took a bit long to bring our food.

C. H. (.

Amazing experience and lovely food. Went for my birthday with my girlfriend and both loved it. Had kangaroo and zebra and curry ice cream and some ants :)

a. h.

Amazing experience with delicious food and great service! The ostrich was outstanding and the kangaroo delicious too 👏

D. C.

Interesting ingredients, you've got to be adventurous with your food selection to enjoy this place and be prepared for some dishes not to work out

M. J.

Expensive, but amazing food. Try something new, it's tasty and you'll regret not doing it later! Loved the atmosph and the decor.

A. J.

I went with my friend just before the 2nd closure due to covid. The restaurant is very nicely decorated, we loved the exotic vibes. The food was very good, we tried crocodile meat and all possible insects i.e. in salads. I only think the desserts could be bigger for the price or cheaper. The waiter was very friendly. We will definitely come back and can highly recommend the place. It is the only restaurant in London with so much exotic food choice.

P. C.

The restaurant was small but had a very exotic and intriguing decor and atmosphere. The staff (we had a portuguese waiter) were so friendly and funny. The food menu is not for the faint hearted, but I tried almost everything weird on the menu and this is my verdict: You must try the kangaroo skewers and the alpaca. They were devine! The pharaohs treasure and caramelized mealworms were some of the yummiest puddings. The python starter, chocolate locusts and the lovebug salad were a novelty to try, but didn't taste memorable. I tried several of the cocktails and loved them all so no complaints there. All in all a great night and I definitely feel I will go back. You should definitely try Archipelago at least once, such a unique experience.

L. B.

Had a brilliantly fun meal here. Lots of interesting options (zebra, crocodile, snake etc!) including some delicious choices for vegetarians. Staff are really friendly and the service was quick without ever feeling rushed. A unique night out and will definitely be returning.

A.

This place is amazing! The food is absolutely delicious, especially the ostrich with blue potatoes, and zebra jerky. The desserts are amazing too. The decor is quirky but in a sophisticated manner, giving the place that "posh" feeling. Every single detail works and just creates that unique atmosphere, like scroll menus, bill arriving in a little wooden chest, dessert menu in an old book bookmarked on the page where the menu is....the staff is very nice and attentive. What was also a lovely touch is that the manager (or the owner) knew it was my partner's birthday, and his dessert arrived with a little candle and "happy birthday " written on a piece of chocolate - that's shows how much they care about their guests. It's our new favourite place in London, we'll definitely be back

S. R.

Been here 3 times. The atmosphere is lovely. The food is amazing. Nothing is disappointing! My favourite dish is the Peruvian Jumper. You must try their coffees especially the Cinnamon one and Cafe soo nong

M. K.

Incredible - we got 3 starters and 3 mains of the strangest meats we could find on the menu, we managed to eat it all, amazing food, amazing staff, great atmosphere 11 out of 10

S. S.

Absolutely amazing experience even on a Monday. Took my boyfriend there for his birthday and from the start to end it made a boring monday very special. The food was absolutely fantastic and everything tasted so good plus the service was very hospitable and friendly We had the Zebra and Crocodile for starters, Bison and Alpaca for dinner and the Chocolate covered locust for dessert. The Visit from the doctor was a interesting experience!!

L. F.

Very nice restaurant, beautiful interiors and amazing food, it really is like being in some remote far away exotic place! I had the python carpaccio as a starter and the kangaroo skewer as a main, both were absolutely delicious. I also tried my mate's crocodile dish, very good too. The dessert, a white chocolate truffle with a carrot puree was simply perfect and the right choice to end an incredible food experience in central London! A bit overpriced but I do get it as you're eating not so easy to find products, will definitely go back!

V. G.

Mechlin Recommended! Amazing place! Me and my wife are going to this place always! Nice Design and 5* service! Would you like to try a crocodile 🐊 or maybe a scorpion? Then this is the place where to go and give a try :) By the way if you will plan once your visit to Archipelago then I would really recommend you to try the ostrich steak! One of the best steaks i ever had in my life! Very soft, it’s melting straight away in your mouth and feels kind of sweet! And i do really recommend for desert to have the desert with worms! Sounds weird and maybe horrible..... but don’t panic! This is one of the most tasty deserts i ever had! Recommend to one who wants to try something new!

L. D.

The unconventional menu (zebra, crocodile, bison, scorpion desserts!) and quirky atmosphere make this one of the most unique restaurant experiences I've had. The place is rather small and - this is a slight negative - not all that lively (both times I've been there), but it makes up for this with a unique decor and presentation. The glasses and cutlery and even the menus are presented in idiosyncratic ways that make the whole experience engaging. The service is very good; the food does take a while to arrive but this is understandable given the eclectic items on the menu and the different preparation styles on offer. A possible downside of this type of restaurant is that - not knowing what to expect - the dishes can be hit and miss, but the preparation and presentation make up for this. I'd say 80% of what I've had I've enjoyed immensely, the rest being.... 'interesting'. And the desserts - even the one made with worms - are superb. The only other downside is the price, and even with a tastecard it ends up being quite high if you buy drinks. The overall experience, though, is well worth it.

C. W.

All around an exquisite dining experience. The food is beyond fantastic with a variety of unique cuisine that dazzles your taste buds. Everything is delicious no matter what you order. It is a very intimate setting with low lighting and collectible antiquities from around the globe. Although it is pricey, it is definitely an experience you won't forget. Make sure to save room for one of their mind blowing deserts!

M. R.

Fantastic food and lovely decor. We had the lychee cocktail with zebra, python and pork starters with the crocodile curry (delicious). We also tried the caramel meal worms, yummy and glad i tried the worms but probably wont have them again. Very friendly staff too. 110% recommend

S.

Beautiful food, friendly staff.

C. M.

This is a one of a kind dining experience in London. I can't think of anywhere else you can go where you can have such a unique menu that includes the likes of crocodile, ostrich, scorpion, crickets, ants and more. But it's not done in a way that is gimmicky: the dishes are clearly all well considered and planned. Great care comes with their preparation, flavouring, and even presentation - which is actually something which needs to be said about the restaurant. So much attention is placed on the cozy decor too: the little details, like the menu that comes in the form of a map, all make the difference to create something which could be described as more of an experience than a meal. You feel like you've been transported somewhere like the South Pacific, of an obscure Asian island perhaps. It's a great place to try with a friend, but it makes a fantastic place for a date night: particularly if you're both up for testing each other's boundaries! Start with the love bug salad and go from there! Only negative for me is the cost-to-portion ratio. The meal is not cheap, as you probably expected, and the portions are not big either. If you haven't had a thing to eat all day, you may want to get in a snack first :)

p. K.

Great service, nice atmosphere and good food

J. H.

An amazing and restaurant with an unusual but delicious menu.

P. P. O.

I visited last week and it was such an amazing experience. The menu is very diverse for the adventurous belly. For those who would like to stick to the usual, this caters for you as well. Note that the decor is very detailed and elaborate with sculptures everywhere; I freaked out at points but meal was good enough to distract me. They are very helpful and take time to explain the items on the menu. It will weigh more on the expensive side but very worth it for the experience. Three course for two people without drinks will be about £100 on average. I will definitely visit again to try other meals and I highly recommend them to anyone seeking something unusual and new!

N. G.

Pretty fun, and service was great. The zebra jerky was delicious, but mostly the exotic meats thing is a gimmick, and the food is more about novelty than about good taste. As long as you set your expectations right, it's worth going for the novelty. I enjoyed it, but I don't I'll be coming a second time.

T. S.

Highly recommend to anyone! Amazing tasting food. Great decor. Friendly staff. Truly an experience you will never forget. And a Visit From The Doctor tops off the night!

K. R.

We had a truly lovely meal! I can only highly recommend! I absolutely loved the zebra starter and alpaca main. The flavours were amazing. The service is simply fantastic and the restaurant itself is amazingly special Try it!

C. D.

An absolutely wonderful exotic food experience. Unusual meats are used to make beautiful, well balanced and flavoured dishes. The bug side salad was a great accomplyment to the mains. Dessert was very fun and used more bugs.

T. G.

In one evening, I had crocodile, alpaca, python, and kangaroo! It was all delicious. The restaurant has a great vibe as well - very interesting decorations, which fit nicely with the theme of the restaurant and the whole experience. It's not cheap, but a lot cheaper than a trip to Australia to try this stuff there. Would highly recommend.

D. G.

Food was nice, the service was excellent. Overall a very nice experience! We had the curry crocodile and the kangaroo skewers, both delicious. We went on a Thursday evening and it was very quiet which made it a calm and cozy night out.

W. C.

one of the hidden gems in London. A small, cosy place to taste amazing flavours. Python? Kangaroo? Scorpion? I can definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for something new. Definitely a place we keep for special occasions, inviting friends and so on. It is also one of the very few places where you can eat bugs-based dishes... and to be honest - they are great!

S.

Great food, great experience.

M. C.

Nice quirky food, great cocktails, friendly staff, a little expensive, but fun

L. Z.

If you are adventurers looking to travel in exotic places without moving from a comfy armchair then this is the place for you. The staff is extremely friendly and the dishes are carefully made with attention to details and quality of the ingredients. Go for the chocolate-covered scorpions ;-)

D. A.

What an unusual place. Quite quirky, great food if you like Kangaroo, Crocodile steaks, bison and tasty bugs. Although its a bit pricey, its defiantly worth a try. "Visit from the doctor" is also a must. I would give it another try.

K. P.

In this restaurant, you can dine amidst the luminosity of golden Buddhas. The ambiance also includes dwarf palm trees and giant peacock feathers. The place also has a sensuous fragrance. Their hallmark dishes include python, crocodile, and kangaroo with fine blended whiskey such as Louis XII Cognac. Their other classics consists of chicken, fish and a line-up of innovative vegetarian food. Their champagne and the sparkling collection includes Prosecco, Gaston Chiquet Brut Tradition 1er Cru, Dom Perignon, Ventoux, Merlot, Pullenta, etc.

L. N.

Amazing food, amazing staff and highly recommended. Fantastic variety of tastes in all the food.

S. M.

Awesome restaurant! The food was amazing, the decor and atmosphere fabulous and the service fantastic. It was my friend’s birthday and they added a chocolate plaque with happy birthday and a candle on. Totally recommend!

J. W.

Something different to try. Food was good in my opinion

M. D.

Did I love the food? Not strictly in truth. Tried the Crocodile, The salad with crickets and locusts and the Kangaroo. That said, it was an experience and that's essentially why anyone visits here. Did they deliver an unusual experience in crazy surroundings? Definitely.

J.

One of London's more unusual restaurants. Archipelago's menu is driven by 'exotic' meats not usually found on the menu but rather than settling with that as being sufficient appeal for custom, there's a wonderful amount of craft and attention to flavor from the chef(s) in the dishes. The eccentric decor matches the menu perfectly, as though you were sitting amongst the collections of curios belonging to an old-time wealthy explorer. They manage to achieve all this without descending into being a gimmick-driven restaurant.

R. D.

One of my favourite restaurants in London. I've been coming here for the last 3 years. It's very romantic, cosy and fun - Great to go with a partner or on a date. Eating a bee dessert, zebra, crocodile or kangaroo while laughing about it and it still tasting fantastic is a great way to spend the evening. The décor is also great, every chair is different and there are all sorts of funky collections on the walls from all parts of the world!

S. D.

Simply a brilliant experience. Go with a few friends and try your way around the menu. Some dishes were just nice, others were fabulous. The Doctor Calls drinks tray at the end is a must!

M. H.

Nice food in a very unique, intimate dining experience. Great for a second or third date as there's lots of wordy food to try, and plenty to talk about. Ask for the doctor when ordering desert and you'll be pleasantly surprised. Worth a visit.

M. L.

A meal of two halves. 5 star starters followed by 3 star mains, but still a good solid 4 star overall experience. The obvious draw here was the unusual menu, but the experience was more than just that. The telephone call on the day of your reservation to inform you of the password for your booking which you need to provide upon arrival is a good indicator that it is going to be a less than ordinary restaurant meal. Our table was booked for 19:30 and upon arrival after checking our password we were seated. The decor really works, the tables are garnished with unusual trinkets which serve no purpose other than decoration and this really adds to the ambiance. I felt like I was surrounded by the artefacts collected by an explorer, it was very Tomb Raideresque I was torn with my choice of starters so I had two, the python and the zebra. Both were great, there was no reliance on the obscurity of the meat to make the dish interesting, both were presented well and were paired with other ingredients to make a dish which really worked. Even now looking back I couldn't pick between them, I'd order both again. For my main I had the alpaca. The waiter made a point of warning me it was super hot and spicy, for me this is like drawing a line in the sand. Don't promise me something will be super hot and spicy if you can't back that up with something super hot and spicy. It inevitably leads to disappointment, as it did here. When I called him out on this after my food had arrived he simply said it was the hottest thing they made, no offer to try and spice it up a bit more for me. Izy said her main was a bit cold, as though it had been sat around a few minutes before being served. Mine was nice apart from the spice issue but it seemed that as the place really filled up (20:30ish) the kitchen and/or the waiting staff started to feel the pressure a bit and the quality slid as a result. It was still a really good meal, I would go back for sure. A good place for those looking for something a bit less ordinary. 2 covers including service was £130, including £45 drinks bill.

R. G.

Not really sure why the recent bad reviews of this place, the original location (Still marked as it is on the street) was on the corner of Grafton way and Whitfield street, was great, I have had the pleasure of dining their many a times. It felt quite cosy because the ambiance provided a feeling of being in an Asian/African outdoor. Quirky furniture added a unique experience to being there.Talking about food, yes, it is somewhat at the upper end compared to many places across London, then again, you won't find Kangaroo, Zebra, or crocodile on the menu. Don't expect gourmet cuisine but a slight twist. Finish your meal with a "Visit from the doctor" with the special venom voodoo box, is the highlight everyone must try, and if your medicine turns out to be a lucky pill, you may get a second round of after dinner visit at your table. The last time I was there the staff was from around EU, and London has a nasty habit of taking customers for granted if the place is busy and service levels deteriorate. Hence probably the reason why people have rated the place down, twice in a row. I would definitely give it a try...

T. H.

Absolutely loved this place took my boyfriend here for his 25th and we had an absolute blast. The wine was amazing and the food was absolutely out of this world, literally. The staff were very knowledgeable and friendly too!

S. A. K.

Fun place with lots of different exotic dishes. The staff were very knowledgeable.

N. V.

A great meal, the food all tasted amazing, great drinks too. Great atmosphere and everyone in the restaurant seemed to be enjoying themselves. Was worth the money and would definitely recommend!

A. N.

Wonderful food and meats from across the globe. The staff were helpful, friendly and buzzing with excitement. The complete experience is a feast for your senses and I will be returning again to try many more dishes.

C. B.

The two of us went for lunch and had the exotic platter. Wonderfully cooked and nicely presented. Friendly staff in an unusual setting. We will be back. Many thanks!

M. S.

Moderately priced, fine. Pleasant decor, fine. First courses? Okay. My eel was alright-ish..., people liked the badger-pellet lookalike crocodile parcels etc etc. Opted for the alpaca main. Don't. A bowl of blandish minced animal (at £20 it had better have been alpaca!?!), blandish soggy pancake, and a bowl of slighty less bland sour vegetables-all served luke-warm. Not impressed. Service was slow too, probably accounting for the warmth of the food. I'd be skippy like the kangaroo and just walk on by rather than go again.

E. N.

Great little place and nice birthday visit. The menu is fantastic and i would suggest if you bring someone dont let them see it in advance. It was my birthday so i finished the meal with a shot from the doctors medicine cabinet which i would strongly suggest.

S. J.

Amazing attentive staff, brilliant food and some surprises :-)

A. M.

The service is excellent and there are some unique dishes. Definitely worth a try. However, if you've not got adventurous tastes or willing to try something new it's quite expensive.

E. R.

A unique novelty experience. Owner is very knowledgeable & adds a personal touch & sense of humour with his recommendations. Food was good even though I may have been a little apprehensive initially with some of the items...

J. F.

A very large drinks list, hard to know what to choose. Amazing displays, some cocktails are more for aesthetics than taste. Defo worth a visit

C. H.

Absolutely fantastic!!!! From Python starters to caramelised meal worm deserts and lastly which is so much fun "a visit from the doctor" Staff and service was 100% and gave me and the Mrs a night to remember!

G. L. P.

Crocodile, wildebeest or locusts anyone? It’s like The Lion King turned into a restaurant (where the circle of life comes to an abrupt culinary end). ‘Hakuna matata’ clearly didn’t quite work out. With dishes and décor from literally the four corners of the earth, you won’t forget this gastronomic adventure in a hurry. Started by Bruce Alexander in Jan 2000, Archipelago strives to take diners on an adventurous culinary journey without trying to gross people out. Although they serve some somewhat exotic delicacies, this is not the Bush Tucker Challenge and we can happily confirm you will not be plated up any eyeballs or testicles. In fact no offal is to be found on the menu - their ingredients are all organically reared without any help from growth hormones and chemical additives or other such bad stuff. Archipelago is most definitely one of London’s most exotic and unusual dining destinations. As famous for its décor as it is for its menu, the dining room is packed full of peacock feathers, palm trees and artefacts from all over the world. There's a sort of 'Zen den' downstairs, and every corner of the interior is filled with the likes of miniature Buddhas (not covered in hair), wooden parrots or bamboo trellises. Signature meals, including seared zebra, kangaroo fillet and African crocodile bites, are offered alongside more conventional dishes of chicken and fish and exciting vegetarian choices. But it's not novelty grub at the expense of flavour - the kangaroo and zebra we had were genuinely delicious. Start your evening with a cocktail or two in the bijou 'Peacock Lounge' bar. Apparently some even have 24crt gold in them. As you do. Thanks for the tip off: Dave Foot, Rick Elmos, Ramin Beheshti and Grazzie Bell.

Y. T.

For those looking to try something different and exotic ...

R.

Absolutely wonderful restaurant. Highly recommend the crocodile and Kangaroo! Staff were lovely too - very friendly and knowledgeable about the food.

E. G.

Very tasty food and nice environment.

M. G.

Really good place to eat unusual dishes including incescts, crocodile and kangaroo

P. H.

Unique interesting food!

L. K.

Quirky little restaurant.. Archipelago serves world cuisine to include crocodile ! all dises are well presented and just delicious . Not cheasp but definitely worth it!

N. P.

Great birthday lunch! Couldn't fault anything we tried, great cocktail to start too!

R. A.

Exiting food . A bit pricey bit the stuff they have u won't get anywhere else

A. D.

Exotic foods are a major draw here, but even with regular meats the preparation and flavors at Archipelago would still shine.

C. D. G.

My bf booked it as a surprise on my birthday. Loved the food and cocktails. Incredible service and a genuinely unique experience.

J. V.

Amazing place and delicious food 😍

O. R.

Adorned with trinkets and geegaws from foreign lands, this "picturesque" spot whisks you "around the world without leaving" Fitzrovia; the global tour continues with an "exotic" International menu featuring "quirky" meats like crocodile, zebra and alpaca – "not cheap" but suitable to "impress someone" on a "special occasion".

L. P.

Food was exquisite and service at the table very friendly. Unfortunately guy who greeted us at the door was very rude and unwelcoming. Downgraded 2 stars because this.

c. r.

You can eat insects and exotic meats hete but you don't have to and all the food is very well made: as the chef said, they would not have lasted if they were gimmicky

R. W.

good food

A. F.

Food is delicious!! Servise is more then perfect, and ambient is thery cosy! Compliments to the Chef!!!

D. P.

I can't fault this amazing and wonderful restaurant. Not only great novelty ingredients but all the food superbly prepared with great imagination - highly recommended.

T. P.

An adventure! Very cosy restaurant where you feel like you're in David Attenborough's house. The food is a real variety and not every day flavours

N. D.

Wow from start to finish.

G. J. B.

If you're up for an adventurous dinner this is definitely the place for you! I suggest the zebra and the crocodile - didn't try the insects though!

M. S.

Cool experience! the atmosphere is perfect and the food "surprising" .. it's not a place I'd like to return though.

D. D. D.

This restaurant is a must if you're visiting London. We tried a sampler of the different meats, all were absolutely delicious!

S. B.

Great food, and the staff were great at explaining what all the different meats were like. The Alpaca was amazing.

M. B.

Great exotic restaurant. Unusual menu. A bit chilly in the basement part of restaurant. But I could recommend and would like to visit again.

C. R.

Fantastic place, unique food that's not for the faint hearted. If you feel like something different give it a go!

R. H.

This place is like nothing else on earth, you won't regret eating here

B. H.

Quirky and excellent food but different. Give it a try and talk to the staff about the food they know the dishes.

A. F.

Great place with nice vibe and special food. Staff was very friendly and helpful and the food was great. Definitely worth it

S. P. G.

Loved this place! I got to tried food I 've never eaten before. Delicious and lovely staff.

D. O.

Absolutely delicious food. Dont be afraid to try a new tastes :) Highly recommend.

P. M.

Not just a novelty, really great food in a nice atmosphere that also proved inclusive, welcoming and family-friendly.

A. G.

Was good

K. 1.

Exotic meats and insect sides in flamboyant restaurant with Buddhas, palms and peacock feathers.

c.

Good for novelty value as it's the only restaurant I could find in London that serves insects. Otherwise the food is unremarkable.

G. A.

Great service and exotic food was good, especially the ostrich steak

T. Q.

Brilliant place, tasty food, delightful service and exotic atmosphere, all good; highly recommended.

B. D.

Delightful and patient service

T. B.

A unique restaurant for the adventurous taster. I cannot recommend the kangaroo highly enough.

P. A.

Twas good but expensive. Never happy with automatic service charge of 12.5%. Especially this was a table of 2 on a quiet Tuesday night

R. S.

Exotic in every sense.

L. G.

Very interesting meal with surprising ingredients but still standard tastes

H. M.

Extraordinarily wonderful. Exciting cuisine in a delightfully comfortable and 'boutique' style restaurant.

y. y.

Cosy. Expensive but worth every penny. Lovely food. Relaxed atmosphere.

C. K.

This place is great , the ostrich steak was amazing. Im definitely going again

N. T.

Particular and very nice. Must try! Perfect to impress someone! Full dinner not cheap

j. z.

Quirky, great service, small intimate restaurant, amusing to eat something that can be quite out of your comfort zone.

R. G.

My new favourite restaurant. Had the zebra, crocodile and then Scorpion for desert.

S.

Still amazing as all the years before ❤

V. W.

What a fabulous unique place, amazing experience and the food was quite delicious.

E. B.

Quick surprising lunch with kangaroo, crocodile and tasty worms. Definitely to try !

J. “. F.

Amazing food and lovely decor. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

A. Y.

If you're not squeamish then you'll be rewarded with some delicious exotic meats.

D. M.

Nice

H. S.

I find it overrated and overpriced, the food doesn't taste great and it's above average at best

J. B.

Love this place so quirky and cosy, and a menu you need to try!

R. F.

Very good zebra, alpaca and kangaroo. Highly recommend.

J. G.

For the best experience, choose the most unusual animal on the menu!

D. M.

Same menu for years, worth a visit. Go for kangaroo and alpaca

J. J.

It was okay. Very nice food and customer service. Very very expensive..!!

E. A.

Everything was tasty, and the waiters were lovely.

L. R.

Fantastic and unique experience! Would highly recommend!

C. M.

It's worth a visit if you wan't to try something (very) different!.

P. G.

Great fun, great atmosphere. Perfect for something a bit different.

A. S.

Truly amazing food! The python is delicious

s. w.

Amazing food with a great decorative interior

S. F.

Fun to try different food

I. N.

It’s once in a lifetime experience 🙏

m. s.

Ambience. Food. Service. Limited choice for Vegetarians.

K. C.

Great attentive service from super pleasant staff.

S. P.

So cute ambiance .. I loved so much .

P. B.

Worth every penny

D. N.

Very exotic and intriguing food.

A. O.

Pricey but worth a visite if you fancy a break from the norm

R. Y.

Wonderful experience; unique in london; great service

H. O.

Nice service, interesting food.

R. S.

Cosy restaurant with spectacular dishes and friendly staff

A. C.

Loved it there you should go now!!!!

J. C.

Try the bugs and the chocolate scorpions, are cool:)

D. B.

Crocodile, pythonand kangaroo... very exotic!

N. w.

Great dining experience!

d. t.

Unique food in an equally unique setting

E. M.

Exotic meats and insects. Yum!

N. F.

The only place Lestrade barfed at work

L. N.

Nice experience but an expensive one

J. D.

Enjoyed some exotica food

J. S.

Great food

Y. L.

Amazing exotic experience

R. S.

The right place for a different experience.

S. P.

Delicious and good meals .....

L. A.

Amazing

D. J. S.

Exotic

V. K.

Out of the box

J. F.

Reccomended

G. P.

Worth visiting

B. S.

Excellent!

D. H.

Del...I...could

L. f. B.

(Translated) very very friendly staff, very amazing dish idea and very good, we are not big eater quantity a bit limited. (Original) personnel très très sympa, idée de plat très étonnant et très bon, nous ne Sommes pas de gros mangeur quantité un peu limite.

R. L.

(Translated) Small restaurant with no more than 6 tables, it is essential to book in advance and also prepare the wallet. Experience to taste meat from different animal species, you can sample for example: zebra, crocodile, python, among others. The staff makes you experience an entire experience from the moment you enter. Restaurant very well decorated to the smallest detail. To visit at least once on a visit to London. (Original) Restaurant petit amb no més de 6 taules, imprescindible reservar prèviament i també preparar la cartera. Experiència per tastar carns de diferents espècies animals, pots tastar per exemple: zebra, cocodril, pitón, entre altres. El personal et fa viure tota una experiència des del moment en que entres. Restaurant molt ben adreçat decorat fins al mínim detall. Per visitar almenys una vegada en alguna visita a Londres.

F. M.

(Translated) For exotic flavors it is unbeatable .. They range from crocodile to scorpions to finish with ice cream in gold leaf (Original) Per i sapori esotici è imbattibile.. Si va dal coccodrillo agli scorpioni per finire col gelato in foglia d'oro

G. S.

(Translated) All excellent and particular, too bad the rush to close the place, we went out without the coffee. (Original) Tutto ottimo e particolare, peccato la fretta di chiudere il locale, siamo usciti senza il caffè.

P.

(Translated) Restaurant atypical both in the mood of the dishes served. Very good service, very good food but a little disappointed because all exotic meats (Zebra ...) are in fact dried and smoked what really limit the real appreciation of taste (Original) Restaurant atypique aussi bien au niveau de l'ambiance que des plats servis. Très bon service, très bonne cuisine mais un peu déçu car toutes les viandes exotiques (zèbre...) sont en fait séchées et fumées ce qui limite vraiment l'appréciation réelle du goût

L. D.

(Translated) What a journey ! Certainly the dishes are original even strange but above all very well cooked !!! A delight ! Top service. (Original) Quel voyage ! Certes les mets sont originaux voire étranges mais surtout très bien cuisinés !!! Un régal ! Service au top.

J. C.

(Translated) Great exotic restaurant food very well done by Chef 5 stars! It is worth checking... (Original) Ótimo restaurante exótico comida muito bem feita por Chefe 5 estrelas! Vale apena conferir...

정.

(Translated) I went to see a British man and I ate a crocodile meat curry and it was neat. The shop atmosphere was also good. (Original) 영국남자 영상보고 가서 악어고기 카레 먹었는데 깔끔했어요. 가게 분위기도 좋았어요.

M. M.

(Translated) The best exotic restaurant in London. Mega climate. (Original) Najlepsza egzotyczna restauracja w Londynie. Mega klimat.

S. C.

I. A.

A.

(Translated) Differentiated food and very good service, I recommend. (Original) Comida diferenciada e muito bom atendimento,Eu recomendo.

O. N.

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