Drive through London, stop by Harvey Nicks and enjoy a six-course gourmet dinner. Sounds like an episode of Absolutely Fabulous.
Except we’re on a bus.
Bustronome, a double-decker bus converted into an exclusive mobile restaurant, combines a traditional sightseeing tour of London with fine dining.
Unlike the typical alarmingly red tour bus, its sleek black exterior is more inconspicuous.
While waiting for it to arrive at Embankment bus station, it’s easy to confuse Bustronome with any other bus. That is until you enter.
Bustronome combines a traditional sightseeing tour of London with good food. MailOnline Travel’s Jessica Hamilton had the chance to try out the restaurant on the move last month.
The upper deck has space for 38 diners in table configurations of two to eight and features a transparent glass roof.
Entering through the middle door, my dining companion and I pass through a small kitchen, where a single chef is preparing our first course, before ascending to an elegant dining room.
The upper deck has space for 38 diners in groups of two to eight. The wooden tables and chairs are securely fastened to the floor, and each table is meticulously laid out, with magnetic placemats that keep cutlery safe.
Above us, a transparent glass roof wraps around the restaurant and offers panoramic views of the city.
Sitting comfortably in a padded booth, our waiter quickly welcomes us with a glass of champagne and carefully places it on a custom-made clear table stand, which holds several glasses throughout the evening.
It then directs us to a QR code, which reveals our virtual menu and the bus route. Ahead of us are six courses, four different wines and a look at some of London’s top attractions.
Meals on wheels: Bustronome has a ‘sleek black exterior’, unlike London’s usual tour buses
The transparent glass roof “encloses the restaurant” and offers “panoramic views of the city.” Above: Jess takes in the view.
Before the bus sets off, I pour myself some more water, but the eagle-eyed waiter quickly advises me: ‘Fill the glasses only halfway. If we go over an obstacle, they will fall.
Despite my initial fears about broken dishes and spilled drinks, the evening goes off without a hitch. We glide through the city center, with only the occasional wobble of a wine glass to remind us that we are mobile.
‘How do you stay upright?’ I ask our waiter. “We have magnets in our feet,” he answers jokingly. But it may also be true, as the six courses are served effortlessly throughout the evening.
The first was the tuna tartare, served with avocado, tomato and spicy ponzu dressing. Next, a roasted eggplant salad served with tahini sauce, lettuce, chives and pomegranate.
Each table has a custom-made clear drink holder, which can hold several glasses throughout the evening.
LEFT: Tuna tartare, served with avocado, tomato and spicy ponzu dressing. RIGHT: Mango pana cotta served with homemade crumble
LEFT: Rack of lamb, served with mashed sweet potatoes in cranberry sauce. RIGHT: Grilled salmon served with leek and potato veloute.
Other dishes included grilled salmon, rack of lamb, brie with apple and bear chutney and brioche, and mango panna cotta.
The menu changes seasonally and the chef promises “the best of English cuisine with a French touch.”
Each course was as impressive as the last, but the highlight remains the ever-changing views of London’s top attractions.
As we cross Tower Bridge at dusk, the city skyline transforms before us, framed by the bus’s transparent glass roof.
As we pass iconic landmarks like St. Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey and Harrods, I find myself taking more tourist photos than in the entire two years I’ve lived in London. They are much easier to appreciate while protected from the hustle and bustle below.
“The highlight remains the ever-changing views of London’s top attractions,” writes Jess. The photo shows the sunset over London Bridge.
Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, St Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey and Harrods are just some of the attractions on display.
Navigating through city traffic is a typically slow and tedious task, but to my surprise, the evening ends on time.
Three hours later, we return to the Embankment, the bus stop and the doors open, offering guests the chance to leave or savor their drinks a little longer.
A six-course dinner from Bustronome London (which lasts three hours) costs £120 per person, or £150 with wine pairings and £50 for children. A four-course lunch costs £70 or £90 with wine pairing for adults and £40 for children. Afternoon tea is priced at £69, or £89 with bottomless prosecco and £40 for children.
Bustronome also operates in Paris. You can find more information about both tours at www.bustronome.com/es/.