Situated within elegant The Peninsula London is Canton Blue, one of the hotel’s signature dining institutions celebrating both Cantonese cuisine and British culture in one place. On my recent trip to London, I indulged in an evening of flavorful, spicy and bold flavors at Canton Blue.

© Aoife O’Riordan

The space alone is a fusion where East meets West. I noticed the details along the walls and in the lighting that the restaurant makes nods to connection, contact and trade between the two sides of the world via ship. In our booth, a towering wall of blue Cantonese porcelain with intricate designs adorned one whole side. I observed in other booths walls of similar porcelain, but one was of many yellows, while another displayed deep and light reds. Who knew pottery could come in so many colors?

© Aoife O’Riordan

On our way to our table, I also peeked into one of two private dining rooms, the Silk Room, bathed beneath vibrant red, vase-like lights hanging from the ceiling. The wall was adorned with a colorful tapestry, too.

The menu embraces sharing as part of the dining experience; good stories shouldn’t be the only thing swapped between diners here. We opted for the baked barbecued Iberico pork buns. Tender, rich and savory, these buns set the stage for the rest of the evening, and we couldn’t have been more excited.

© Aoife O’Riordan

For mains, we landed on wok-fried wagyu ribeye with spicy black bean sauce, tossed with onions and bell peppers. The ribeye was cooked to absolute perfection and practically dripping in that sumptuous sauce we just couldn’t get enough of. We also cleared the plate of Kung Pao chicken with vegetables, chili and peanuts, as well as the stir-fried egg noodles with bean sprouts, chives and dark soy sauce. We got a little bold and even blended some sauces together for the ultimate combination.

Canton Blue offers an extensive and impressive wine list, but we could not pass up on the Rambutan cocktail, made with soft lychee, pisco and Anji Bai Cha tea, nor the Mach II Gin, one of The Peninsula’s iconic martinis.

© Aoife O’Riordan

Although already getting full, I just had to try the intriguing charcoal custard bun, which literally came out as a black, steaming bun that, when opened, unveiled a rich custard cocooned in a pillowy dough.

Canton Blue is the go-to spot for upscale Cantonese cuisine with a subtle British twist, reflecting The Peninsula London’s greater approach in embracing rich cultures while staying grounded in the destination.

Canton Blue

The Peninsula, 1 Grosvenor Pl,
London SW1X 7HJ, United Kingdom
tel 44 20 8138 6888