Adam Rawson to oversee food at relaunched Café de Paris

Chef Adam Rawson, previously executive chef at the Standard hotel in London and head chef at Laylow, will be overseeing the food concept at the former Café de Paris, relaunching as Lío London next year.

“Decadent” menus will be complemented by wines selected by head sommelier Romaine Aurdrerie, who previously worked as both head sommelier for the opening of Chiltern Firehouse, and later global wine director for Andre Balazs’ properties.

Pacha Group is relaunching the site in London’s West End under its Lío brand next year. The nightclub, one of London's oldest, was taken over by Ibiza club operator Pacha Group last year after owner Maxwell's Restaurants went into liquidation.

Lío London is expected to open in February 2023, joining the group’s flagship Lío Ibiza – a modern interpretation of an immersive cabaret and dining show, the former curated by Pacha’s creative director Joan Gràcia.

Spanish architectural design studio Lázaro Rosa-Violán is overseeing the transformation of the site, preserving the heritage elements of the Grade II-listed building, including the site’s 1924 staircase. Guests will be seated on the original ballroom floor, or on the wraparound mezzanine.

After the show, the room will transform into a nightclub with space for up to 715 guests. The stage will disappear into the ground making way for a dancefloor, with resident and international DJs performing, in addition to Lío club nights from Wednesday to Saturday.

Café de Paris launched in the 1920s and hosted performers including Judy Garland and Frank Sinatra.

Pacha ran an eponymous nightclub in London's Victoria for 13 years before it closed in 2014. The site has since reopened as Market Halls Victoria.

Sanjay Nandi, chief executive of Pacha Group said: “Since opening its fabled doors in the 1920s, Café de Paris has long been a symbol for indulgence, style and glamour, and we are thrilled to be taking it into the next phase of its life.

“True to its roots, it will remain somewhere that people can come and experience the absolute best entertainment hospitality. It’s creative, wild and seriously good fun – we know London is going to love Lío!”

Photo credit: Lázaro Rosa-Violán Studio