Above
Bow, London
Restaurant in London, United Kingdom
The Read
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
Above is a narrow-window Bow dinner option for diners who already want an east London night and do not need every menu or price detail settled in advance. It is less suited to brunch, lunch, large groups, or high-certainty occasion planning. Cross-shop Elis for a clearer Modern Cuisine brief, Da Terra for a higher-tier creative meal, Fatto a Mano Bethnal Green for an easier casual fallback.
About Above
Two evenings a week is the useful signal here: Above is a narrow-window London dinner option, not an all-day fallback. It works when the appeal is a Friday or Saturday evening plan in London rather than a fully documented chef, cuisine, or price story. If the decision needs certainty on menu style, spend level, or occasion polish before committing, compare it closely with other London options first.
Above currently reads as a targeted evening choice rather than a broad crowd-pleaser. The verified details point to a limited weekly rhythm: it opens 5–11 PM on Friday and Saturday, is closed Monday through Thursday and Sunday. It suits diners who are flexible on timing and comfortable confirming details directly. It is not useful for anyone trying to plan a breakfast, brunch, or lunch around a fixed itinerary.
Book it for a London dinner, not for a fully signposted occasion meal
The smart use case is simple: choose it when the night is already built around a Friday or Saturday dinner in London and the group is comfortable proceeding with fewer public signals than a heavily documented venue. That is not a negative, but it changes the risk profile. A diner comparing options by cuisine, chef, price, or awards may get a clearer read from another venue. A diner comparing by schedule should note that Above has a limited opening window.
For groups, keep the plan lean. With no confirmed seat count, this is better treated as a dinner to confirm carefully in advance rather than a large celebration assumed in advance. The dress code is smart casual. For dietary needs, confirm before committing rather than assuming flexibility from details that are not verified here.
Where it sits among London options
Above is best compared cautiously because only a few practical details are verified. It opens for dinner on Friday and Saturday, with a smart casual dress code, but cuisine, price, chef, menu format, seating details are not confirmed here. If you are weighing it against Fatto a Mano Bethnal Green, Da Terra, or Elis, make the choice based on what you can verify for the date you want rather than assuming Above has a specific format or style.
Planning details
- Location
- Grove Rd., Bow, London E3 5TH, United Kingdom
- Website
- thevic.london
- Phone
- +442087125125
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Above positions itself as a purposeful outpost of high-end cooking on the eastern edge of London’s restaurant map. Situated in Bow rather than the West End, it trades inherited prestige for a quieter, discovery-driven rapport with its neighbourhood. The description emphasizes a collaborative, unitary approach — kitchen, floor and cellar working together — which signals a disciplined, ingredient-forward operation rather than a chef-as-celebrity proposition. The result reads as a considered, quietly ambitious fine-dining destination that feels like a notable new chapter in London’s shifting culinary geography.
Best For
Above is best suited to diners seeking a refined evening experience anchored in serious cooking. Framed as part of the high end of London dining, it naturally aligns with dinner service and occasions that call for elevated food and thoughtful service. Its location in Bow also makes it appealing to guests who enjoy discovering leading restaurants outside traditional West End addresses — local patrons and foodie travellers who prize ingredient budgets and cellar-conscious hospitality over established name recognition.
Ordering Tips
The menu highlights signature plates — notably the Nest Egg and White Beetroot with caviar — and the editorial emphasis on the cellar suggests that beverage choices are integral to the experience. Prioritise the listed signatures to get a clear sense of the kitchen’s intent, and expect wine or cellar-driven pairings to complement ingredient-led courses. Given the restaurant’s stated focus on cohesive kitchen, floor and cellar collaboration, lean into dishes that showcase provenance and subtle technique rather than overtly theatrical preparations.
Planning details
Location
Also consider
Where to go if Above does not fit
Book Elis if the group wants a clearer Modern Cuisine brief and a known £££ spend before committing. Choose Fatto a Mano Bethnal Green if the priority is an easier, more casual nearby meal with less planning pressure.
Restaurant context
How Above compares in east London
Above is the lower-certainty choice in this set: useful if Bow works for the night and the appeal is trying a less heavily signposted room. Elis is easier to assess before booking because the Modern Cuisine format and £££ price tier are clear. Choose Elis when the group wants fewer unknowns around spend and food style.
Da Terra is the splurge comparison: ££££, Modern European, creative in format. It is the stronger pick for a planned occasion where the meal itself is the centre of the evening. Above makes more sense for a shorter east London plan where flexibility matters and the booking does not need the same destination weight.
For casual value, Fatto a Mano Bethnal Green is the safer group fallback. The Empress and Corner Room are also worth checking if location or availability is driving the decision, but Above is the one to choose when Bow itself is convenient and the group is comfortable with a tighter weekly schedule.
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Above guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Above
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Price | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Above | London | ; | ; | No published awards |
| The Empress | London | ; | ; | No published awards |
| Corner Room | London | ; | ; | No published awards |
| Elis | London | Modern Cuisine | £££ | Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 20262025 Michelin Plate2024 Michelin Plate |
| Da Terra | London | Modern European, Creative | ££££ | 2026 Harden's Top 100 UK Restaurants · #92026 National Restaurant Awards Top 100 · #462026 OAD Top Restaurants in Europe Ranked · #82Star Wine Lists 2026Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 20262026 La Liste Top Restaurants2025 National Restaurant Awards Top 100 · #19The Good Food Guide 20252025 The Best Chef One Knife |
| Fatto a Mano Bethnal Green | London | ; | ; | No published awards |
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How Above London compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a first-timer know about Above?
Treat Above as a Friday-or-Saturday dinner choice only, since it opens 5–11 PM on those two nights and is closed the rest of the week. The verified location detail is London, so it makes sense when that limited dinner window fits your plan.
Is Above good for a special occasion?
It may work if the occasion fits a smart casual Friday or Saturday dinner in London. For a more formal occasion, confirm the format, seating, menu, any other planning details directly before booking.
Is lunch or dinner better at Above?
Dinner is the only verified option, since Above opens from 5–11 PM on Friday and Saturday and is closed the rest of the week. That makes it a dinner-only pick, not a flexible all-day venue.
What are alternatives to Above in London?
Corner Room, Elis, Da Terra, Fatto a Mano Bethnal Green, The Empress are relevant names to compare with Above. Check each venue's current details directly, especially if your decision depends on cuisine, price, menu format, or availability.
