“Instagrammable” seems to have become an official, and important adjective when it comes to describing restaurants these days.
The slow transition from taking pictures of just the food, to being able to use a restaurant as a backdrop in a full on instagram photoshoot, is a big driver in bookings. Brasserie of light is definitely here to tick that box.
Hidden on the side of Selfridges, behind a very well dressed doorman, is the start of your influencer dream. Don’t be surprised to find glamorous youngsters taking photos in the hallway downstairs. Coming out of the lift, you may be underwhelmed, until you turn the corner and enter the restaurant itself.
Decor
Brasserie of Light is an art deco utopia of mirrors, glass, gold and a giant pegasus. As a fan of Greek mythology and Damien Hirst, this was the feature that excited me the most, and I was not disappointed.
Hovering above your head, in the middle of the restaurant, is a 24 foot crystal encrusted pegasus, with a 30 foot wingspan. It is pretty majestic. The theme is carried throughout the restaurant, with mini versions of the mythical creature on every pillar. It’s even embossed on the menus, napkins and certain desserts too.
The photoshoot background options don’t stop in the restaurant, the loo’s also lend themselves to some great artistic pictures. Be careful if you’re just popping in for a quick wee though, you might find yourself barricaded by aspiring influencers (yes, this happened to me).
The restaurant, which could have very easily drifted on to the tacky side, has carefully and impressively stayed classy.
Food
The dinner menu at Brasserie of Light contains a variety of dishes from around the globe, including duck massaman curry, lobster linguine and lamb rump. Usually I’m not a fan of restaurants that don’t pick a specialty, however out of the few dishes I tried, I was pleasantly surprised.
I had the popcorn shrimp, lobster linguine, and saffron risotto, all were beautifully displayed and tasted great, however it didn’t blow me away. The desserts on the other hand… Wow. Whilst some of them may be a case of style over substance, others were definitely not. The time that must be put into these incredibly artistic designs is insane.
Even if you’re not the kind of person to be taking pictures in the toilets, I guarantee you will get your phone out for a snap of these. Disclaimer: not all of the desserts are insta-worthy, some just taste great. Ask your server for the low-down on which ones are which.
After a lot of back and forth, I ended up going for the Golden Apple (so delicious), and the recommended for instagram “Orbit”.
The drinks list is almost four times bigger than the food menu, with cocktails affectionately named after some of the Greek greats such as Aphrodite, and of course, “The Pegasus”.
Service
I had to specifically put a section in here about the service. Looking at some of the reviews on Tripadvisor, I wasn’t holding my breath for a great time. Boy was I wrong.
From walking in the front door, to leaving at the end of the night, I had the best customer service. Nothing was too much bother for any of the staff. Everything ran like clockwork, which is testament to everyone who works at Brasserie of Light. To the HR team: keep doing what you’re doing.
Price
I know what you’re thinking. A restaurant which is in a department store, made for instagram. It’s a breeding ground for people who are in money-spending mode right? Wrong.
Cocktails are around £11, which is way less than what I was expecting, considering I was in central London. A main course will set you back around £20, add a starter or a dessert for another £10. Not bad.
Overall
Despite what you might think, Brasserie of Light is a nice surprise. For the experience, and atmosphere of this place, you’re getting a great deal. And think of all the content you will be getting for your instagram, it’ll last weeks!
Book a table at Brasserie of Light here.
