Launched December 2018, Meraki Bar is a hidden living room bar housed below the popular modern Greek restaurant Meraki in Fitzrovia owned by Peter Waney. Meraki Bar aims to bring the bohemian gypset vibe to London synonymous to the relaxed and artistic atmosphere experienced at the most popular restaurant and beach locales on the island of Mykonos.
Meraki Bar is the latest addition to a portfolio of world-renowned restaurant brands co-founded by Peter and his brother Arjun Waney that include Zuma, Roka, Coya, La Petite Maison, The Arts Club and Oblix at The Shard. Peter has partnered up with a collective of top international industry veterans including Alain Dona, Adam Bel Hadj and Laurent Manuel to launch Meraki Bar. Together they combine their experience, network and creativity to meticulously create an atmosphere that engages all six senses.
In Greek ‘Meraki’ means to create something with your heart and soul, and Meraki Bar attempts to capture this ‘sixth sense’ or ‘heart and soul’ as an extension of the warm atmosphere, hospitality and high-quality Mediterranean cuisine that diners enjoy when visiting the restaurant. Representing a bit of Mykonos is the resident mascot ‘Peter’ (Petros in Greek), the great white pelican who was the official mascot of the island for years and incorporated in the bar logo.
Housed over two floors the main upstairs bar is open to the public where guests can enjoy an after-work cocktail or order dinner at the expansive Carrara marble-top bar. The setting is intimate and warm with rich leafy foliage, exposed brick and vibrant orange walls. A separate secret entrance, located behind a bookshelf, descends into a subterranean bar and lounge making it ideal for a big night out spent under the radar.
A unique sixth sensory experience awaits guests once they descend the stairs to the hidden bar below. With dim warm lighting, eye-catching tropical wall treatments, and lush velvet seating in rich jewel-tone colours, the subterranean bar can accommodate 50 people standing or 30 people seated for dinner. A late-night menu will be on offer where guests can book tables for dinner whilst enjoying musical beats from international DJs in an intimate environment that makes you feel as if you were lounging in the living room of your most stylish globe-trotting friend.
Green foliage, flowers and indoor climbing vines cover the walls and ceilings envisioned by one of London’s top bespoke floral designers, Chantal Flores, who has created eye-catching floral designs for top fashion brands and many of the Waney’s venues in London and internationally.
For those not wanting to be seen, the bar offers two private tables artistically built into enclosed caves with velvet curtains that can be drawn for more privacy. The private caves can accommodate 8-10 people seated for dinner with your own personal wait staff. Each cave is outfitted with high-tech lighting and speaker systems that guests can control to play their own music.
The bar’s music programme is overseen by renowned French DJ, Malik Alary, who is responsible for creating the rhythmic musical atmosphere at top international venues including Chiltern Firehouse and creating mixed tracks for The Hôtel Costes soundtrack.
The late-night dinner menu is an extension of the contemporary fresh Greek fare served at Meraki Restaurant, conceptualised by head chef Athinagoras Kostakos. Kostakos gained famed by winning Greece’s version of Top Chef, and later led the kitchen at the famed beach bar and restaurant SCORPIOS in Mykonos.
The menu is split into a selection of cold and hot Greek mezze dishes, a seafood menu, and a selection of the restaurant’s most popular signature dishes. Highlights include Santorini Cherry Tomato Salad with thyme, caper leaves and goat cheese, Slow Cooked Veal Cheek with veal sauce and handmade gluten-free Greek traditional hilopites pasta, Charcoal Grilled Lamb Chops with baked aubergines and hummus, Baby Chicken marinated with lemon, mustard sauce, herbs and burnt lemon, and a raw bar of seam bream and octopus carpaccio, prawn ceviche, and beef and black olive tartare.
Cocktail highlights include the Black Swan, a term used to describe a rare and unpredictable phenomenon. This vodka-based cocktail combines familiar and exotic flavour combinations to provide a fruity and complex taste. Blended with passion fruit, lychee juice, honey, black tea and basil, and garnished with an edible viola flower.
Another cocktail original is the Rosy-Fingered Dawn, a reference to the pink hued skies that symbolize the coming of dawn and an epithet widely referenced in Homer’s writings. This pink-coloured cocktail gets its hue from a hibiscus rum blend, cognac, Falernum, orange liqueur, pineapple juice and pink grapefruit soda.
This new hidden haunt is on track to cater to London’s A-list and most fashionable tastemakers where they can discreetly dine, dance, drink and relax as if they never left the comforts of their own home.
For New Year’s Eve bookings, please contact:
Reservations@meraki-bar.com, Reservations@meraki-restaurant.com
Meraki Bar Fact Sheet
Location: 30 Foley St. Fitzrovia, London, W1W 7TJ
Official Opening: December 2018
Proprietor: Peter Waney, Alain Dona, Adam Bel Hadj, Laurent Manuel
Reservations: reservations@meraki-bar.com
Instagram: @bar.meraki
Website: http://meraki-bar.com
Upstairs Bar Capacity: 20 seated; 40 standing
Downstairs Bar Capacity: 30 seated; 50 standing; 2 private cave rooms seating 8-10pax
Upstairs Bar Hours:
Mon. – Sat.: 12pm–1am
Sunday: Closed
Dinner Served: 6:30pm – 11pm
Downstairs Bar Hours:
Wed. – Sat.: 7pm – 1:30am
Sun. – Tues: Closed
Dinner Served: 7pm – 11:30pm
Partners Bios
Alain Dona –
Born and raised in the South of France, Alain began his career working at the most exclusive clubs and restaurants along the French Riviera, Paris and Courchevel, catering to the world’s international jet set. Absorbed in French culture and VIP hospitality, he quickly developed a keen eye for detail and a rich understanding of exceptional service.
With an invitation to take on the role as VIP manager for the famous Mayfair nightclub Whisky Mist, Alain decided to export his expertise to London. It was in London that he collaborated with nightlife entrepreneurs Nick House and Piers Adams, and he remained an integral part of Whisky Mist’s success until 2012.
In 2012, Alain moved onto his next project co-creating a unique and visionary Mexican-themed nightclub concept called Tonteria in Chelsea’s Sloane Square. This underground hotspot become widely successful and a popular haunt frequented by British royals, well-heeled locals and A-list celebrities including the likes of Tom Hardy, Will.i.am, Leonardo DiCaprio, Rihanna, Justin Timberlake, Jesse J and Cuba Gooding Jr. to name a few.
Adam Bel Hadj Bio –
Adam has exceptional experience in what it takes to launch and build a global restaurant brand. He was put in charge of creating the COYA concept by Arjun Waney after working with him personally for many years. He has travelled extensively throughout Latin America and Peru, gaining curiosity and passion for the continent’s food and culture.
Utilizing his expertise and knowledge he led his team to make the concept a reality later becoming CEO and co-founder of COYA, the award-winning global contemporary Peruvian restaurant, Pisco bar and member’s club.
COYA went on to become one of the most successful and fastest growing restaurant brands achieving incredible press recognition and accolades, including winning The London Lifestyle Awards, and many more positive reviews and accolades in Dubai, Monaco and Abu Dhabi.
Laurent Manuel Bio –
Laurent is an American-French entrepreneur and investor from New York City. He played professional football after graduating with a B.A. in Economics from Brown University. Upon graduation he was drafted by the New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer (MLS).
Laurent’s investment activities in film, sport, tech, property and the hospitality industry are primarily developed through his company, LSM International Group. He was an original investor in the opening of The Garret, a popular retro speakeasy which has now expanded to three locations in New York City’s West Village, East Village and Nolita.
Laurent also dedicates a significant portion of his time to the École Jeannine Manuel, founded by his grandmother, which is a UNESCO-affiliated non-profit international network of schools in Paris, London and Lille with a mission to promote international understanding through the bilingual education of a multicultural student body.
