London Restaurant Amber Brings Modern Mediterranean To Aldgate East
Standing in my kitchen yesterday, paintbrush in hand and checking my email (how's that for multi-tasking?) I opened up a message from British furniture designer Charles Dedman. A new discovery for me, I fell pretty hard for this man's serious skills - boy does he know how to design a chair. He told me he'd just fitted out a new London restaurant with his Turner collection and did I want to see for myself...
Now, I'm a total sucker for restaurant spaces - it would be impossible for most of us design loving creatures not to be, after all, the space you eat in sets the tone for what you eat. It's all about the ambience, how it compliments the menu, the whole experience. Needless to say, I jumped on this one pretty quickly to bring you a taste of Amber, Aldgate East's new modern Mediterranean restaurant.
Designed by Hamburg based Solveig Castell, a chance encounter via an Instagram story led to her commisioning Dedman's full complement of his Turner collection. Amber's light and warm aesthetic was inspired by a Midsummer garden. A backdrop of lush planting draws the eye to Dedman's pieces, including the Carver chair, Turner high stools and cafe tables made from olive ash. Two five metre custom banquettes along the back wall create a focal point against plaster pink walls and polished concrete floors.
There's so much inspiration to take away from this design that can be applied to your own home; from the wall mounted terracotta planters and globe pendant lights to large-scale round mirrors. The blend of raw finishes, basic materials and simple shapes make for a sophisticated feel.
Of course, it's all very well designing a beautiful space, but what about the food? Well, I'm told it takes its name from the ancient Amber trade route, with a modern twist on Moorish cuisine. Founders Murat and Pierre present a menu packed with flavour, from the oven baked Pide, Middle-Eastern breakfasts and group friendly sharing dishes. With Spring on the way, it looks to be the London restaurant in which to while away the afternoon.Amber - Goodman's Fields - 21 Piazza Walk - London E1 8QH