Solaya: Moonlight, Music and a Table Above Shoreditch

There are nights in London that feel cinematic. And then there are nights at Solaya.

Perched high above the city within art'otel London Hoxton—the dynamic sister property to Art'otel London Battersea Power Station—Solaya is not simply a restaurant. It is an atmosphere. A mood. A vantage point.

On the 25th floor, under dimmed lights that flatter both face and skyline, London stretches endlessly beyond the glass. The terrace opens onto a sweep of city lights—buildings glowing, windows flickering, the moon suspended above it all as if deliberately staged. After weeks of relentless rain, the sky was finally clear. London without rain feels like a reward. London from this height feels intimate.

The vibe is unapologetically seductive. Low lighting. Soft shadows. A subtle hum of conversation. Live music—elegant, unforced—floating through the space. Entertainment Art Director Didier Agueh was present that evening, his creative touch evident in the seamless flow of sound and ambience. Nothing felt accidental. Nothing felt overdone.

Service matters at this level, and Hosea, our waiter, understood that instinctively. Attentive without intrusion, warm without performance. The kind of service that allows a dinner date to breathe.

And then—the bread.

I do not usually review bread. It is often an afterthought, placed on the table out of habit. But here, it demands attention. Warm, perfectly textured, deeply comforting. It is rare that bread alone makes one consider a return visit. Writing this, I would go back for it without hesitation. It was, quite simply, exceptional.

Paired with great wine - We began with peppers—thoughtful, balanced, confident. A strong four out of five.

The duck, however, did not quite honour its surroundings. It arrived overheated, with a pronounced smokiness and subtle signs of reheating that dulled what should have been a centrepiece. In a setting this refined, precision must follow through to the plate. I will return, curious to see it perfected.

The cod restored the evening’s rhythm. Delicately cooked, tender, clean in flavour. A dish that respected restraint. It allowed the ingredient to speak. It was, without question, the culinary highlight.

Desserts leaned generously into indulgence. The chocolate was rich and enveloping. The crème brûlée offered that satisfying crack of caramel before revealing smooth, velvety custard beneath. Both comfortably four out of five.

Yet Solaya’s greatest luxury may not be on the menu.

It is the terrace under a clear moon. The skyline uninterrupted. The feeling of dining above the rush, rather than within it. The music. The low light. The city performing quietly in the distance.

Solaya is a place for conversations that matter. For dates that deserve atmosphere. For evenings that stretch beyond dinner into memory.

I will return. For the bread, the cod. For the terrace. For the music. And yes—for the duck, in the hope that next time it rises as beautifully as the view that surrounds it.

Review by Rebeca Riofrio