Fabled Studio is delighted to reveal the interior of Manzi’s, the long-awaited Soho seafood restaurant by The Wolseley Hospitality Group.
Manzi’s pays homage to its much-loved forefather, a restaurant which famously served Londoners on the corner of Leicester Square for over three-quarters of a century.
Drawing inspiration from the original whimsical atmosphere of plaited loaves of plastic bread, mermaids etched into mirrors and fishermen’s nets, Fabled Studio has re-imagined nautical motifs in a modern and glamorous guise to deliver a playful, fresh and adventurous ambience ensuring Manzi’s will live up to its legend.
On arrival, guests are welcomed in the impactful lobby. White-washed walls feature a mural from Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea, and a full-size marlin replica mounted onto the wall in a reference to the old man’s battle with the sea creature. Netting is tightly stretched across the ceiling creating an architectural feature that draws the eyes up to a glamourous scallop-shell chandelier.
Set over two levels, each floor has its own distinct look and feel. Inspired by the interiors of Rick’s Café in Casablanca, the ground floor has an airy Mediterranean feel and is flooded with light from the exceptionally large windows. Rope detail on ceilings, walls and chandeliers adds texture and warmth against the crisp white walls. Diners can opt to sit at the ground floor bar that emulates the curves of a scallop shell, and behind this, textured walls are illuminated by mollusc shell lights.
The first floor draws from the decadence and debauched hedonism of the original Manzi’s and translates it to a theatrical interior that ignites the imagination and intrigues the eye. Guests enter a glamorous space with a palette of gold, whites, and sea greens where four Verdigris mermaids prop up the marble bar. The shell-like bar encourages cocktail sipping with offerings such as an updated classic like the Old Cuban, Manzi’s Seabreeze or a theatrical Sgroppini. A hidden booth with coral red silk drapes and an underwater coral forest mural gives a nod to the original restaurant’s hotel bedrooms and pleasure-seeking history.
From the 8km of rope detailing used throughout on pilasters and chandeliers, to the intricate hand laid mosaic floor, the large-scale alabaster Poseidon presiding over one of the dining tables and the mermaids perched on all four corners of the first-floor bar, every corner of Manzi’s tells a tale of the whimsical, fantastical world of escapism.
Manzi’s is an all-day, seafood-focused restaurant with dishes encompassing everything from Moules Marinière to a wide range of crustacea, a ‘catch of the day’ and a classic Dover sole. Manzi’s is relaxed, accessible and fun with a large outdoor terrace that draws you in from the street with its intricate cast iron awning featuring eye-catching touches such as fish-tailed lights and the eponymous sign.
Situated at ‘Bateman’s Buildings’, a wide alleyway running south from Soho Square parallel with both Greek and Frith Streets, Manzi’s is set to become a Soho favourite that epitomises the fashionable and creative Soho district and becomes a home away from home to its surrounding creative community, drawing in a cool and artsy crowd.
Images (Copyright: Manzi’s)
