House of Louie, located in an historic 19th century townhouse in Covent Garden’s West Street, opened in 2020 on the former site of the London Atelier Robuchon, one of the few closures to strike a street where you’ll find the original Ivy Restaurant, with its Art Deco architecture and stained glass windows, which opened in 1917 during the First World War, and the neighbouring Ivy Club (2008). On the corner of the street stands the equally iconic St Martin’s Theatre, home of ‘The Mousetrap’, the longest continually running show in the world, never mind the West End. Having celebrated their 30,000th performance in March 2025 they are currently booking into their 75th year and I can only hope that House of Louie has the same longevity.
Operated by luxury hospitality collective Paris Society and the brain child of Guillaume Glipa, the man behind Zuma, Chiltern Firehouse and Coya, House of Louie offers guests three glamorous dining-come-nightlife experiences; from the elevated izakaya Japanese restaurant, Wani Tzuki (meaning Alligator Moon) located on the ground floor, to classic French dining at Louie Restaurant on the second floor, and the all-day Alligator Bar located at the top of the house featuring a hidden outdoor terrace which offers a secret hideaway for sipping cocktails by day and an indoor gilded dance space which comes alive with DJ sets come nightfall, the choice, as they say, is yours.
Louie initially served French dishes with a Creole twist such as a New Orleans Gumbo, but have since streamlined their menu in favour of a contemporary take on traditional, strictly French dishes more guaranteed to please. Regardless of my love of French food, it seemed only right to experience the original restaurant first, so I headed upstairs with my husband on Valentine’s Eve lunch time, ahead of an evening at the theatre; leaving the world’s cares at the door and escaping the drizzle of a cold February day to find an inviting space with a central bar and a table opposite the blazing fireplace; not only adding to our physical warmth but that of the overall intimacy and ambience.
French design duo Dion et Arles have captured the timeless appeal and romance of a traditional Parisian bistro whilst injecting contemporary elegance with a neutral palette and comfortable sofa and banquette seating offering the perfect backdrop for Louie’s live jazz evenings which afford the restaurant a speakeasy feel worthy of F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald.
Despite the glamorous surroundings, it was reassuring to find the heartier, more comforting French classics on the menu such as veal cheek pot-au-feu style with turnips, carrots, leeks and bone marrow toast and roast chicken with roasted baby potatoes and a wild mushroom and chasseur sauce, along with a who’s who of French delights I can no longer consume due to a gluten allergy – something which didn’t stop my mouth from watering; from cheese gougères and the simple pleasure of a basket of French baguette and butter, to a foie gras terrine with fig salad and toasted brioche. As for desserts, just a glimpse of the profiterole stack with chocolate sauce shared by the next table was enough to make me groan.
But fear not, aside from the various bakery temptations (which is as it should be in any good French restaurant) there were plenty of other appealing signature dishes, such as the duo of hand-dived scallops served in the shell with an indulgent Champagne velouté finished with salmon caviar. My other half opted for the perfectly rare beef fillet with silky peppercorn sauce and fries for main course, while I ordered the suitably romantic lobster Américaine with no bib in sight; fully prepared by the kitchen, the succulent flesh returned to the shell only for presentation before being doused in a frothed-up version of the classic tomato, garlic and Cognac-based sauce which easily rivals the heavier, more famous Thermidor sauce. For dessert, we shared two scoops of Louie’s exceptional homemade ice cream; vanilla and chocolate with warm caramel to pour over. The smile on my face said it all.
Whether you dine at Louie in the evening, when your experience might be accompanied by live music and you decide to head upstairs for a nightcap in the Alligator Bar, or like me, enjoy a quieter lunchtime or pre-theatre experience, it’s the kind of restaurant which succeeds in making you feel like part of a club. Priding themselves on a loyal clientele and regulars who introduce others who also enjoy the finer things in life, the House of Louie is as exclusive as a members club without the annual subscription.
Louie Restaurant at House of Louie, 13-15 West Street, London WC2H 9NE. Lunch is served Tue – Sat 12pm – 3pm, dinner is served Tue – Sat 5pm – Late. For more information and reservations please visit the website.
