The Owl & Monkey
Earl's Court, London
Restaurant in London, United Kingdom
Book with PearlThe Read
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
The Owl & Monkey is a practical South Kensington option for an easy evening booking, especially if convenience matters more than a chef-led menu or award credentials. It is not the strongest choice for brunch, a special occasion, or diners who need clear cuisine and pricing before deciding.
About The Owl & Monkey
The Owl & Monkey is a London venue with a direct evening schedule and a smart-casual dress code. It works best as an option to evaluate for an evening plan rather than a venue to choose on the basis of a documented chef-led menu, awards, pricing, or a clearly published cuisine.
The Owl & Monkey opens at 5 PM every day, runs until 12 AM Monday to Saturday, closes at 11 PM on Sunday. That makes it better suited to dinner-hour planning than breakfast, brunch, or lunch, none of which are supported by its hours.
Use it for an easy London evening, not a high-stakes meal
For a repeat booking, keep the decision practical: an evening slot, a smart-casual setting, expectations appropriate for a venue without a named dish, tasting format, chef, or award history. The main advantage is its timing, with late evening hours most nights of the week.
That does not make it a bad choice. It makes it a choice that should be made with limited public detail in mind. The Owl & Monkey suits visitors who want a simple London evening option and are comfortable checking current details, availability, any booking requirements directly before committing. It is less clear as a special-occasion choice where the venue itself needs to carry the night.
What to know before choosing it over other options
If you are comparing options, The Owl & Monkey should be weighed against what is actually known: evening opening hours and a smart-casual dress code. Bombay Brasserie, Fait Maison Salon de Thé, London Secret Garden, The Bugis Singapore Restaurant, UMAMI may also be worth comparing depending on the kind of evening you want, but check each venue directly for current details, availability, practical details.
Reservations: check directly with the venue before planning around a visit. Dress: smart casual. Budget: confirm current pricing before committing, since no price tier is published. Timing: plan around its evening hours: 5 PM to 12 AM Monday to Saturday, 5 PM to 11 PM on Sunday. For broader planning, use Pearl's London restaurants guide alongside the London hotels guide if the booking is tied to a stay.
Planning details
- Location
- 21-23 Harrington Gardens, South Kensington, London SW7 4JS, United Kingdom
- Reservations
- Book on OpenTable
- Website
- otherhouse.com
- Phone
- +442039844811
The take
The Take
The Vibe
The Owl & Monkey sits quietly within South Kensington's residential grain, tucked into period stucco terraces on Harrington Gardens. It reads more like a neighbourhood room than a destination theatre — a place that balances local regulars with museum visitors and travelers staying in nearby boutique hotels. The prose in the area stresses a different tempo from London's louder dining corridors, and this address mirrors that: composed, subtly assured and approachable. The restaurant feels like the kind of place locals return to weekly and visitors discover between gallery visits, offering a restrained, classic backdrop to polished cocktails and shared plates.
Best For
This is a venue that works for people who want a measured, neighbourhood dining experience — museum-goers, international residents and hotel guests who are looking for convenient, well-crafted meals rather than a destination tasting-menu night. The Owl & Monkey suits midweek dinners, relaxed after-work drinks and occasions when a quieter, composed table is preferable to the bustle of central dining districts. Because the description emphasises a steady mix of regulars and transient visitors, it also performs well for small groups who want reliable, convivial service close to South Kensington’s cultural attractions.
Ordering Tips
Lean into the venue's signature drinks and shareable items. The bar's namesake cocktails — including the Negroni Special, Jungle Fever, Monkey See Monkey Do and Orange Is the New Sour — are highlighted as standouts, and the Ostbräda cheese board is listed among signature plates. For a typical visit, start with a cocktail at the bar and pair a cheese board or other sharable starters to sample the kitchen’s approach. The place’s neighbourhood focus rewards casual sharing and a paced, relaxed order strategy rather than an all-in tasting slog.
Venue details
Ambiance
Low lighting with sumptuous textures, bold tropical-inspired wallpaper, patterned seating, and vintage-style lamps create a sophisticated yet playful atmosphere with curated playlists.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Sourcing
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Smart Casual
- Noise Level
- Conversational
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Standard
- Capacity
- Medium
Signature Dishes
- Negroni Special
- Jungle Fever
- Monkey See Monkey Do
- Ostbräda cheese board
- Orange Is the New Sour
Planning details
Location
21-23 Harrington Gardens, South Kensington, London SW7 4JS, United Kingdom · Directions
Also consider
Also Consider
- Bombay Brasserie, Notable alternative
- Fait Maison Salon de Thé, Notable alternative
- The Bugis Singapore Restaurant, Notable alternative
- London Secret Garden, Notable alternative
- UMAMI, Notable alternative
Restaurant context
How The Owl & Monkey compares in South Kensington
Choose The Owl & Monkey when booking ease and location are the main requirements. Compared with Bombay Brasserie, it is the lower-commitment option, but Bombay Brasserie is a clearer choice when the group wants a defined restaurant experience with a stronger sense of occasion.
For daytime plans, Fait Maison Salon de Thé is the better fit because its format aligns more naturally with tea, lunch, or a lighter meet-up. For dinner with a clearer cuisine direction, compare The Bugis Singapore Restaurant and UMAMI before choosing The Owl & Monkey.
If ambiance is the deciding factor, London Secret Garden is the more setting-led cross-shop. The Owl & Monkey wins on simplicity: easier to understand as a casual evening fallback, less compelling when value for money depends on a known menu, published pricing, or award recognition.
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full The Owl & Monkey guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare The Owl & Monkey
| Venue | Location | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| The Owl & Monkey | London | No published awards |
| Bombay Brasserie | London | 2026 OAD Casual in Europe Recommended |
| Fait Maison Salon de Thé | London | No published awards |
| The Bugis Singapore Restaurant | London | No published awards |
| London Secret Garden | London | No published awards |
| UMAMI | London | No published awards |
How The Owl & Monkey London compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Owl & Monkey good for solo dining?
Information about a specific solo-dining setup is not available. It may still suit an evening visit in London, but check the venue directly for the current layout, booking policy, current details before planning around it.
What should I wear to The Owl & Monkey?
Its dress code is smart casual. The Owl & Monkey opens at 5 PM every day, so plan for an evening visit in London.
Is lunch or dinner better at The Owl & Monkey?
Dinner is the clear fit based on its hours. The Owl & Monkey opens at 5 PM and runs until 12 AM Monday to Saturday, with an 11 PM close on Sunday.
Is The Owl & Monkey good for a special occasion?
It is not presented as a special-occasion venue. It may work for an evening plan in London if the hours and smart-casual dress code suit you, but check current details, availability, setting directly before booking for an important occasion.
What are alternatives to The Owl & Monkey?
Other options to compare include Bombay Brasserie, Fait Maison Salon de Thé, London Secret Garden, The Bugis Singapore Restaurant, UMAMI. Check each venue directly for current details, hours, availability, booking details.
Can The Owl & Monkey accommodate groups?
Group capacity information is not available. If you are planning for a group, contact The Owl & Monkey directly and confirm availability, booking requirements, any party-size limits before you go.
