Although London has seen a socio-economic shift in the past few months, its high-end retail and hospitality scene seems resilient and unaffected, remaining for the time being one of Europe‘s most dynamic. Mind you, new striking establishments continue to open, and one of them is the design-led Canal restaurant in the city’s leafy Maida Vale neighbourhood. Situated on the premises of Westbourne Park, a sizeable new urban redevelopment project, Canal occupies a lofty 280 sqm. (3,014 sq.ft.) unit on the ground floor of a newly constructed building overlooking the Grand Union Canal. The interior design is a collaborative effort of interior and furniture design studio A-nrd, Dominic Hamdy of HAM Restaurants, the company which manages Canal, and furniture and lighting practice Interior Address, the settings take ample cues from the area’s industrial past and its waterside setting. As such, a palette of raw finishes, from exposed concrete to visible conduits, forms an alluring backdrop for the restaurant’s raw, handcrafted interior.

A sizeable zinc-clad bar with a marble top and stools sits on one side of the restaurant, wedged in between two support pillars. It’s flanked on one side by lacquered timber shelving units, cabinets, and bar-style seating, while directly opposite, a configuration of larger communal timber tables, and smaller metal tables with cushioned beechwood benches finished with hand-chiselled detailing can be found. The shelving units are adorned by hammered zinc panels with a dappled finish, which is a nod to the water’s surface outside. Lighting is largely captured by suspended light spots, supplemented by decorative wall sconces and chunky, paper-clad pendant lamps. Large floor-to-ceiling windows allow in floods of daylight while also allowing ample views of the aforementioned canal and the outside terrace with additional seating. The open kitchen has been designed in a similar style, allowing guests ample peeks of the staff’s culinary preparations. And speaking of food, Canal serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, celebrating the best of local and European produce while also following the seasonal cycle. © superfuture