Ivy Asia is best known as a splurge — the pan-Asian restaurant with its glittering, jade-green interiors and City of London views has long been a dinner-and-cocktails kind of place. The news from Secret London is that it now runs a dedicated lunch service, which changes the maths quite a bit for anyone who has been priced out of an evening visit.
For those who haven't been: Ivy Asia sits in the St Paul's development in the City, and it's about as far from a quiet sushi bar as a restaurant gets. Think dramatic lighting, a glowing bar as a centrepiece, and a menu that roams across Asia — sushi and sashimi, dim sum, robata-grilled dishes, plus the kind of showpiece plates the venue has built its reputation on. It's part of The Ivy's stable of restaurants, but this one trades the brand's usual brasserie cosiness for something much more theatrical.
The lunch menu matters because it's the most accessible entry point to a restaurant that otherwise skews expensive. Set lunch formats are how the group typically courts daytime diners at its other sites, and Secret London's piece flags that Ivy Asia is following suit with a shorter, cheaper daytime offering alongside the à la carte list. If you work in the City, it's an easy lunchtime hit; if you're visiting London, it's a way to see those famous interiors in daylight without committing to a full evening bill — though drinks can still push the total up quickly.
One practical note: this is a venue that books out, especially for weekend evenings and around the Christmas party season, so reserve ahead even for lunch. The dress code is smart, and it sits close to St Paul's tube station, so it pairs naturally with a walk along the Thames or a stop at nearby landmarks.
For travellers, the takeaway is simple: if Ivy Asia has been on your London wishlist but the dinner prices put you off, daytime is now the savvier window. Check the current lunch format and pricing on the restaurant's own site before booking, as set-menu details and availability change.
Original source: Secret London
