The Clove Club
Creative · Shoreditch, London
Restaurant in London, United Kingdom
The Read
Provenance-Driven British Tasting Menu
Price
££££
Chef
Isaac McHale
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
Two Michelin stars and World's 50 Best #86 anchor Isaac McHale's ingredient-led tasting menus (£185–£235) in a stripped-back Shoreditch room. Book 60–90 days ahead for the hyper-seasonal British cooking that uses every part of the ingredient — prawn heads, sardine bones, pulled pork in tacos — with minimal fine-dining formality.
About The Clove Club
The Clove Club is a ££££ creative restaurant in London from Isaac McHale. Verified practical details are concise: the restaurant is open Monday to Saturday, with afternoon hours also listed Wednesday to Saturday, the dress code is smart casual. Confirmed recognition includes Star Wine List (2026), La Liste Top Restaurants (2026) at 90pts, National Restaurant Awards Top 100 (2025). One verified note mentions the house martini.
The Menu: Creative Cooking in London
The verified cuisine category for The Clove Club is creative, Isaac McHale is the confirmed chef/owner. Beyond that, specific dish names, course counts, menu formats, exact food pricing are not verified here, so the safest way to approach the restaurant is as a high-end creative London booking rather than as a page built around a fixed list of dishes. Check the restaurant directly for the current menu and any dietary or booking details.
How It Sits in London's Creative Dining Field
The Clove Club sits in the ££££ creative category in London. The Fat Duck is an comparable venue for diners making broader comparisons, though it should not be treated as part of London dining. If you are choosing between them, compare current menus, availability, travel plans, the kind of occasion you want rather than relying on unverified claims about course counts, prices, or service style.
Compared with Interlude, The Clove Club is best framed by the facts available here: it is a ££££ creative restaurant in London led by Isaac McHale. For a final choice, use the current booking pages and menus, since specific format, room, service comparisons are not verified in this data.
If you are also considering 670 Grams, treat the comparison as a prompt to check current details rather than as a direct substitute with verified matching specifics. The grounded description is simple: The Clove Club is ££££ in London, while any finer distinctions around booking difficulty, menu length, or format should be checked directly before you decide.
Practical Notes
Reservations: Check directly for current availability and booking rules. Dress: Smart casual. Budget: ££££. Hours: Monday and Tuesday 6:30–11 PM; Wednesday to Saturday 12–4:30 PM and 6:30–11 PM; Sunday closed. Best time: Choose a time based on the verified opening hours and your schedule; specific booking-pressure claims are not verified here. Solo or group: Confirm seating and party-size details directly with the restaurant.
For more creative dining in London, see our full London restaurants guide.
The take
The Take
The Vibe
The Clove Club pairs high technical standards with a deliberately unfussy setting. Housed in a repurposed Victorian civic hall in Shoreditch, the room balances formal provenance with rawer touches — bare wood floors and a blue-tiled open kitchen — that strip away pretense while keeping the focus on precise, ingredient-led cooking. It consistently earns two Michelin stars and regular spots on international rankings, and that pedigree sits alongside an atmosphere that feels more approachable than austere. The result is a historic, quietly charming dining room that feels intimate and distinctly East London rather than starchy or overly ceremonial.
Best For
This is a destination for serious dining, best experienced at night for a focused, celebratory meal. The Clove Club’s two-Michelin-star standing and repeated inclusion in global rankings make it an obvious pick for special occasions and elevated date nights when you want technical, ingredient-driven cuisine in a less hierarchical setting. The Shoreditch location and the restaurant’s balance of civic architecture with a stripped-back interior also suit guests who appreciate a strong sense of place and the theatre of an open kitchen without the formality of grander dining rooms.
Ordering Tips
Book well in advance: the profile and consistently high rankings mean reservations are competitive. Once seated, lean into the kitchen’s strengths by sampling signatures that reflect its approach to British ingredients — for example, the buttermilk fried chicken and Cornish crab tarts highlighted for the venue. The open kitchen and ingredient-driven cooking reward attentive dining, so allow time for a multi-course experience and follow the staff’s suggestions rather than rushing for a quick meal.
Planning details
Location
Shoreditch Town Hall, 380 Old St, London EC1V 9LT, United Kingdom · Directions
Recognition and awards
Also consider
Also Consider
- The Fat Duck, Creative, ££££
- Le Pavillon - Hôtel Westminster, Creative, €€€€
- 670 Grams, Creative, £££
- Le Pily, Creative, €€€
- Interlude, Creative, ££££
Restaurant context
At two Michelin stars, The Clove Club occupies the same technical tier as The Fat Duck (Bray, also ££££ and tasting-menu-only), but McHale's cooking is less theatrical and more ingredient-focused than Heston Blumenthal's approach. The Fat Duck delivers a longer experience (14 courses, £395) with more multi-sensory performance art; The Clove Club is shorter, half the price, rooted in seasonal British produce rather than nostalgia or molecular technique. For diners who want creative cooking without the showmanship, The Clove Club is the better fit. Booking difficulty is comparable for both, expect 60–90 days' lead time for Friday or Saturday dinner at either venue.
Compared to Interlude (also ££££, also creative), The Clove Club offers a less formal room and a shorter menu at a slightly lower price. Interlude leans more classical in presentation; The Clove Club feels looser, younger, more willing to juxtapose ginger-cinnamon-crab with pulled-pork tacos on the same menu. For diners who prioritise polish and service ritual, Interlude edges ahead. For those who want ingredient-driven cooking with less ceremony, The Clove Club is the stronger choice.
If the booking window or the tasting-menu commitment feels prohibitive, 670 Grams (£££, creative, easier to book) offers a similar ethos, hyper-seasonal, ingredient-led, playful, at a lower price and with more format flexibility. It won't match the technical precision of a two-star kitchen, but it delivers a comparable spirit without the 90-day advance planning.
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full The Clove Club guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare The Clove Club
| Venue | Cuisine | Price | Awards | Booking Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Clove Club | Creative | ££££ | Star Wine Lists 2026 · #12026 OAD Top Restaurants in Europe Ranked · #86Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 20262026 Michelin 2 Stars2026 La Liste Top Restaurants2025 National Restaurant Awards Top 100 · #692025 World's 50 Best Restaurants · #862025 OAD Top Restaurants in Europe Ranked · #93The Good Food Guide 2025 | Near Impossible |
| The Fat Duck | Creative | ££££ | 2026 OAD Top Restaurants in Europe Ranked · #442026 Harden's Top 100 UK Restaurants · #54Star Wine Lists 2026Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 20262026 La Liste Top Restaurants2025 OAD Top Restaurants in Europe Ranked · #40World's Best Wine Lists 20252025 Michelin 3 Stars2025 The Best Chef Two Knives | Unknown |
| Le Pavillon - Hôtel Westminster | Creative | €€€€ | 2025 Michelin 1 Star2024 Michelin 1 Star | Unknown |
| 670 Grams | Creative | £££ | SquareMeal UK Top 100 Restaurants 2026 · #872026 Michelin PlateThe Good Food Guide 20252025 Michelin Plate2024 Michelin Plate | Unknown |
| Le Pily | Creative | €€€ | Michelin Guide France & Monaco 20262025 Michelin 1 Star | Unknown |
| Interlude | Creative | ££££ | SquareMeal UK Top 100 Restaurants 2026 · #522026 Harden's Top 100 UK Restaurants · #752026 National Restaurant Awards Top 100 · #80Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland 20262026 La Liste Top Restaurants2025 National Restaurant Awards Top 100 · #49The Good Food Guide 20252025 Michelin 1 Star2024 Michelin 1 Star | Unknown |
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How The Clove Club compares with nearby options at a similar price tier.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I wear to The Clove Club?
The verified dress code is smart casual. Keep the look polished but comfortable, check directly with the restaurant if you are unsure about a specific item.
Is the tasting menu worth it at The Clove Club?
The verified information does not confirm a specific tasting-menu format, course count, or menu price. What is confirmed is that The Clove Club is a ££££ creative restaurant in London from Isaac McHale, with recognition including Star Wine List (2026), La Liste Top Restaurants (2026) at 90pts, National Restaurant Awards Top 100 (2025). If that combination appeals, check the current menu before booking.
Can The Clove Club accommodate groups?
Group size and seating logistics are not verified here. check the venue's official channels for current booking options, especially for larger parties.
Is The Clove Club good for solo dining?
Solo-dining suitability, counter seating, room layout are not verified here. A solo diner interested in Isaac McHale's creative cooking should check current availability and seating details directly before booking.
Is The Clove Club worth the price?
The verified price category is ££££. It is most likely to suit diners looking for a high-end creative restaurant in London from Isaac McHale. For value, compare the current menu, hours, booking terms with your expectations before committing.
Is lunch or dinner better at The Clove Club?
The verified hours list Monday and Tuesday 6:30–11 PM; Wednesday to Saturday 12–4:30 PM and 6:30–11 PM; and closure on Sunday. Choose based on your schedule and current availability; claims about easier booking windows or different service atmosphere are not verified here.
Is The Clove Club good for a special occasion?
Yes, it can be considered for a special occasion if a ££££ creative restaurant in London is what you want. The confirmed chef/owner is Isaac McHale, the restaurant has verified recognition including Star Wine List (2026), La Liste Top Restaurants (2026) at 90pts, National Restaurant Awards Top 100 (2025).
