Early 2017 saw the team behind 10 Greek Street and 8 Hoxton Square bring their seasonal style of cooking and expertly curated wine lists to locals and gallery visitors alike. A part of the Whitechapel Gallery, the café and bar are located in a bright, modern space with art deco and mid-century influences.
The Whitechapel Refectory daytime café: Open Tuesday through to Sunday (10.30am to 6pm), a large marble counter displays a selection of daily changing salads, sandwiches and cakes alongside hot dishes to be enjoyed in a relaxed pared back space. The Whitechapel Refectory menu showcases 8 Hoxton Square and 10 Greek Street co-founder and Chef, Cameron Emirali’s brand of seasonal cooking, drawing on Anglo, Med and Middle Eastern inspiration to create fresh and light dishes. Highlights include a chorizo and potato tortilla with salad; Hoxton smoked trout, horseradish and watercress sandwich; butternut squash, lentil, beetroot & goats cheese salad. Sample sweet treats include salted caramel & peanut butter cookies, raspberry friands and almond & marmalade cake.
After Hours evening wine bar: Every Thursday, Friday & Saturday evening (6pm to 11pm), The Refectory space transforms into After Hours – an informal wine bar serving an assortment of charcuterie, cheeses and homemade terrines from artisanal suppliers alongside an evolving wine and craft beer list. The fabled Black Book, found at 10 Greek Street and 8 Hoxton Square, also has its own counterpart at After Hours. A monthly changing list handwritten by co-owner Luke Wilson features rare bottles of wine, sourced from private cellars and at auction with low mark-ups.
The gallery is open late every Thursday evening until 9pm allowing food lovers and culture vultures to pair an exhibition such as Benedict Drew (open 7 June to 10 September), with drinks and small plates at After Hours. After Hours host fortnightly tutored tastings on Friday evenings to highlight some of the fantastic producers and suppliers that they work with across their restaurants, including an upcoming ‘Best of British’ (Friday 16 June) and an evening celebrating Spanish charcuterie and wines (Friday 30 June). On Saturday evenings, expect an exciting programme of fortnightly musical highlights.
Whitechapel Gallery: For over a century the Whitechapel Gallery has premiered world-class artists from modern masters such as Pablo Picasso, Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko and Frida Kahlo to contemporaries such as Sophie Calle, Lucian Freud, Gilbert & George and Mark Wallinger. The Whitechapel Gallery is a touchstone for contemporary art internationally and plays a central role in London’s cultural landscape. The Whitechapel Refectory also works closely with the gallery on their Thursday ‘Gallery Lates’, rotating exhibitions and ongoing events.