New West African restaurant to open in London


Ikoyi is to launch its first restaurant at The Crown Estate and Oxford Properties’ new £400m landmark destination, St James’s Market, bringing Central London its first taste of Jollof Cuisine – an innovative approach using refined cooking techniques to cast a new lens on traditional West African flavours.

This latest deal completes the last of seven restaurant lettings at St James’s Market, where Ikoyi will join some of the great names of global cuisine, including the internationally acclaimed Nordic restaurant Aquavit; Danish bakery from Ole and Steen; Japanese Anzu, Salt Yard Group’s Veneta, and the new Duck and Waffle Local.

Ikoyi will be a first of a kind contemporary West African Restaurant located in central London, at which diners will be able to experience the bold heat and flavours of Nigeria, Senegal and beyond. The new restaurant, born out of a friendship between Chef Jeremy Chan and Director Iré Hassan-Odukale, will be Ikoyi’s first permanent home, following a series of celebrated popups and residencies across London.

Anthea Harries, on behalf of the St James’s Market Partnership, said, “We’re delighted to see Ikoyi complete the roster of world class restaurants at St James’s Market, further strengthening the area’s reputation as the destination of choice for the best in international dining. Ikoyi brings a fresh array of exciting flavours to London’s food scene and we’re thrilled they’ve chosen St James’s Market as the place to make their mark.”

Iré Hassan-Odukale of Ikoyi said, “We are privileged to have been selected to join St James’s Market and to call it our first home and we believe it’s the perfect location for us to introduce Jollof Cuisine to a London and global audience.”