Bustronome
When I first heard about Bustronome my initial thought was - ‘why hasn’t someone done this before?’
Put simply, Bustronome is a fine-dining tour of London, on a state-of-the-art double-decker bus. This unique concept started life in Paris four years ago, and now it can be found whizzing around London, taking in all her fine sights. As a born and bred Londoner, I had concerns that the experience might feel, well, a bit touristy, but I can honestly say that I loved every minute and every mouthful.
When the bus pulled up near Embankment station, I was instantly impressed. Forget the old-fashioned red double-decker, charming as she may be, this sleek, black, custom-built bus is reminiscent of something that the Stones might go on tour in. The doors swung open and a smart pole and rope barrier was assembled, creating an instant sense of style and occasion. Party by party we were warmly welcomed and ushered inside by the delightful maître d'; on the bus’s lower deck is an ingeniously designed professional kitchen, along with a cloakroom, loo and small seating area, and on the top floor is an elegant, Orient Express-esque dining room which can seat 38, with vast windows and a wow-factor glass roof.
We settled in with a cold, crisp glass of ‘Bustronome’ cuvée champagne and some delicious canapés, and before we knew it, we were off; the top floor humming with excitement and lively conversation. Ingeniously designed Perspex tabletops provide handy slots so that your Champagne or wine doesn’t spill when rounding one of the capital’s corners (God forbid), and whilst the 360° views provide all the entertainment one needs, there’s also a map of your route on the table which connects to a clever ‘audio pen’, should you wish to tune in to occasional commentary and learn some genuinely fascinating titbits about our fine capital, without disturbing (or being disturbed by…) your fellow passengers.
And then, there was the food. A creative and indulgent six-course set menu, meaning there were no tough decisions to be made (hurrah). Based on the flashy bus and tour element it had occurred to me that there was a potential danger of ‘style over substance’, but thankfully that could not have been further from the truth. Every delicious dish that came up from the kitchen was prepared with skill, attention to detail, and was absolutely delicious; each one a homage to quality, seasonal, British ingredients transformed with a French twist (and by a very capable French chef downstairs). The crab and artichoke gateau with tobiko (flying fish roe) in a crab and wasabi sauce was so fresh and delightfully light, the crispy goats cheese roll with beetroot three ways was a divine medley of textures and flavours, and the beautifully seared tuna with carrot purée, girolle mushrooms and tarragon sauce was one of the most delicious dishes I’ve had the pleasure of eating recently. The wine was perfectly paired and plentiful – with the extended wine pairing we had plenty of white and a lovely red with the cheese (a ripe St Jude, served with jam and bread), and all this was efficiently served as we whizzed past the likes of Westminster Abbey, the Royal Albert Hall, St Paul’s Cathedral, and more; slowly crossing Tower Bridge at sunset and gazing at its architecture through a glass roof with a drink in hand was a truly unforgettable experience.
Soon night fell, the blue skies turned to black and London lit up like a Christmas tree. The edible icing on the cake was a gorgeous ginger pavlova with strawberries and ginger sorbet, followed by tea and coffee, served as we rounded an illuminated Trafalgar Square. The disappointment that we felt ‘disembarking’ was tangible, but luckily the charming chef was more than happy to give us a tour of his compact kitchen so that we could eke out a few final minutes on board.
In essence; it was three luxurious hours of beautiful food, beautiful wine and beautiful views. Whether you’re a seasoned local or visiting London for the very first time, Bustronome is an indulgent, effortless and incredibly enjoyable way to experience the capital and a very delicious one at that.
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The tour starts at Embankment and heads east to Tower Bridge and west to the Royal Albert Hall. Lunch from £65, afternoon tea from £60, dinner from £105 bustronome.com/en
