Mirazur chef Mauro Colagreco to open two restaurants at Raffles London at the OWO

Mauro Colagreco – the chef behind the three-Michelin-starred Mirazur in Menton, France – is to open two restaurants at Raffles London at the OWO when it opens late next year.

Chef Colagreco will design a brasserie with a twist, a fine dining restaurant and an avant-garde chef’s table for the 125-bedroom hotel. The restaurants are described as being committed to seasonality, local procurement and sustainability. Colagreco’s dishes will also be available for in-room dining, curated events and for residents of the OWO Residences by Raffles.

Colagreco said: “The incredible location, combined with the professionalism of the Raffles London team, convinced me that this was the ideal time and place to launch for the first time in London with concepts that will be tailor-made for Raffles.”

Stephen Alden, chief executive of Raffles & Orient Express, said: “Chef Mauro is undoubtedly one of the world’s most recognised chefs and our partnership reaffirms London as a pre-eminent global dining destination. Mauro has a phenomenal reputation and we’re excited to see him bring his experience to Raffles London with concepts that are tailor-made for our well-travelled guests.”

Sanjay Hinduja of Hinduja Group, which owns the property, said: “We are thrilled to be working with a chef who is so in tune with our own ambitions and to have such an acclaimed talent establish Raffles London at the OWO as a new and exciting culinary destination for London.”

Philippe Leboeuf, managing director of Raffles London at the OWO, added: “The culinary offering will truly be the heart and soul of the hotel, featuring unique experiences in which guests and locals will come together to celebrate, meet, entertain and delight.”

Italian-Argentinian chef Colagreco opened Mirazur on the Côte d’Azur in 2006 having worked in Paris and held the posts of sous-chef de cuisine to Alain Passard at L'Arpège and demi-chef de partie to Alain Ducasse at Hôtel Plaza Athénée.

The Old War Office, completed in 1906 and designed by British architect William Young, was once the site of the original Palace of Whitehall, home to Henry VIII and other monarchs. The property served as the office to political and military leaders of the 20th century, notably Sir Winston Churchill, David Lloyd George and Lord Kitchener, and the haunt of the British Secret Service.

The hotel will be the first hotel in London for the Raffles brand, which started life in Singapore in 1887. Indian conglomerate Hinduja Group acquired the property for £350m in 2014. The venue is set to have 11 restaurants and bars in total. Raffles was bought, along with sister brands Fairmont and Swissôtel, as part of Accor's acquisition of parent company FRHI Holdings in 2016.