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Interior design practice, Fabled Studio, is pleased to unveil the interiors of its latest restaurant project, Socca, as it opens its doors to diners.

The new culinary experience in Mayfair is the first joint foray from Michelin-starred chef Claude Bosi of Bibendum in Chelsea and restaurateur Samyukta Nair of LSL Capital. Situated on a beautiful corner of South Audley Street, the duo’s first venture pays homage to its namesake – a chickpea flatbread, famed of Nice and the Côte d’Azur – and serves the finest French Mediterranean cuisine in playful and whimsical surroundings.

The award-winning team at Fabled Studio, led by Co-Founder, Tom Strother, were appointed by Samyukta Nair to bring a taste of the French Riviera to the heart of Mayfair. The restaurant, which resides in a beautiful Grade II listed building that has been serving Mayfair diners since 1901, draws inspiration from French institutions such as La Columbe d’Or and the whimsical stylings of Villa Santo Sospir.

Set back behind sun- kissed, sky blue awnings and a charming planted terrace, diners are first welcomed into the restaurant by a sculpted rattan greeter desk before being drawn into the Grand Salon; elegantly proportioned and layered with subtle detailing. The walls are lined with warm timber panelling, complemented with deep navy leather and patterned fabric banquettes and booths set off by fresh white linen clothed tables. Taking centre stage in the Grand Salon is a Breccia Violetta marble raw bar, detailed with embossed leather and bronze metalwork and table lamps, which sits poised beneath two grand pendant lights, hung from the ornate, heritage plaster, moulded ceilings.

The room is elegantly styled with whimsical fabrics and a curated selection of playful artworks, in homage to La Columbe d’Or, and its strong connection with local artists’ pieces adorning the walls. The studio commissioned artists to adorn the walls and fixtures taking inspiration from Jean Cocteau and Raoul Dufy’s painting of Nice.

At the rear of the Grand Salon is ‘Le Bar’ a charming timber-lined bar where diners can enjoy pre and post dinner drinks, perched on oxblood leather bar stools or the elevated banquette, whilst overlooking the Grand Salon and white jacketed bartenders mixing signature cocktails for a bustling dining room.

Hidden at the back of the restaurant, diners discover the Petit Salon a playful, residential-style, snug dining room with walls adorned with a whimsical, layered mural wrapping around the room amongst olive green, leather banquettes and delicately pleated, silk wall lights emanating a seductive warm glow to the room. Sunshine yellow drapes screen off a flexible private dining space for guests of 10, all beneath Mother of Pearl ceiling lights anchoring the corners in this cosy, art-filled dining room.

The residential ambiance continues down the stairs and into the bathrooms, with the women’s bathrooms painted in pink and yellow hues offset with striped wall coverings. Silver leaf mirrors sit above Rossa Luana marble vanities complemented with bronze hardware. The design of the men’s bathrooms follow the same direction with walls painted in tones of green and complementing striped wall coverings.

Claude Bosi has crafted a menu of delicate simplicity, seasonal to its core, where comforting dishes are elevated with refined skill. Starters include globe artichokes and Ortiz anchovy dip or Mediterranean octopus, harissa, preserved lemon and parsley. Pasta dishes include blue lobster orecchiette and shellfish rice. Fish and meat dishes include tronçon of turbot, sauce Romesco, and beef cheeks Provençal. To finish, guests can enjoy honed classics such as crème brûlée and Menton iced lemon sorbet.

Socca is the sixth restaurant project created by Fabled Studio in partnership with Samyukta Nair and LSL Capital. The collection of restaurants includes recent Japanese opening, KOYN, and the opulent Chinese restaurant MiMi Mei Fair, with each restaurant boasting their own unique identities and narratives to distinguish each restaurant as unique members of the collection of restaurants and collaborations between the two.

‘It is with great anticipation we open our little pocket of the Riviera in London – a place with terrific French Mediterranean food at its heart. As we say at home ‘un peu trop c’est juste assez pour moi’, a bit too much, is just enough for me!’, says Claude. ‘Socca will mark our fifth opening in Mayfair, and it has been a joy to partner with Claude, we can’t wait to throw open our doors and welcome locals, friends and family in the best way we know how – with good food and good wine’, adds Samyukta.

Tom Strother said;

“We are always delighted to work with Samyukta and LSL Capital and so we were thrilled to partner with them once again for Socca – a playful, whimsical and intimate space where diners can enjoy evenings absorbed in conviviality, fine wines and delicious French Mediterranean cuisine. We hope that this bijou and playful restaurant will become a Riviera escape in the Mayfair landscape.”

Socca is now open

41a South Audley Street

London

W1K 2PS

www.soccabistro.com | @SoccaBistro