Adeline at The Memoir Club

Last Updated on January 27, 2026

The  Eastern Mediterranean comes to central London.

3.8 out of 5.0 stars

Virginia Woolf enjoyed a lunch à deux and would no doubt have been thrilled to dine at a restaurant named in honour of her first name, Adeline. The restaurant is located in the heart of central London, where Woolf lived and worked; hence, her literary and artistic group is known as the Bloomsbury Set. For those like me with a love of Woolf’s writing, it was a special treat to be invited to lunch at Adeline. The restaurant is part of the recent refurbishment of a hotel that has stood on this spot since 1908. Previously known as The Ambassadors, The Memoir Club is now open. While Adeline is the in-house restaurant, it is also available to the public for lunch, dinner, and afternoon tea.

Channelling the spirit of Virginia Woolf, I, too, booked a lunch for two and took my husband along for what I expected to be a light meal before heading into Bloomsbury for a stroll and a visit to The British Museum. One could indeed have a light lunch – there is an enticing small plates menu. However, we also cast our eyes over the à la carte menu, and before we knew it, a three-course meal had been ordered.

We had a wonderful server, Alex, who was warm and welcoming and allowed us to sit in a small conservatory section usually reserved for afternoon teas. Here, we were able to enjoy comfy armchairs and the sunshine. He guided us through the menu options and helped us pair a few small plate dishes as a starter course before moving on to the à la carte options for mains and dessert.

There is a short wine list with options by the glass, but we chose refreshing soft drinks. Fever Tree cloudy apple and mint, and an orange with passion fruit. The Eastern Mediterranean inspires the menu, and all that was missing was the sound of the sea lapping at our feet. We began with three small plates and one dish from the starter list of the à la carte menu.

Sun-blushed tomatoes, avocado and halloumi pastry rolls were served with a chunky chilli jam, which was rather moreish. Devonshire crab croquettes were served with a homemade aioli. I liked the mustardy note in the croquettes, and I imagined myself nibbling on these at a beach bar. My favourite starter arrived in a small ceramic dish – grilled octopus and olives, comprising small pieces of very tender and tasty octopus with large, pitted olives, served warm. I could happily have eaten several portions (ideally with a cold beer on a Greek island).

Harissa king prawns with sourdough toast and smashed avocado was a step up from the poached egg and avo toast that I regularly eat for brunch. Three large prawns looked resplendent on the wedge of toast, but the dish could benefit from more of a harissa kick.

Portions are generous at Adeline, and the main courses were particularly so. My seafood bisque fregola was easily enough for two people. This is a typical Sardinian dish that I recall enjoying during my visit to the island. Here, a large bowl of rust-coloured fregola was topped with meaty chunks of monkfish, king prawns and mussels. It looked lovely and was very tasty, the sauce spicy but not overly so.

My husband had an equally attractive dish – a rump of Welsh lamb and broad beans. It looked the epitome of an English summer and put me in mind of green fields following rain. The tender lamb was served sliced, perched on broad beans, and accompanied by a deliciously rich and verdant pea and mascarpone risotto with lemon gremolata. I could not resist helping myself to several forkfuls of this creamy and beautifully green accompaniment.

There was simply no room for dessert, although that did not deter us from ordering a chocolate fondant with vanilla ice cream – very chocolaty – and a poppyseed, polenta and orange cake with honey and Greek yoghurt. The cake was light and not overly sweet.

The menu at Adeline covers all the bases, offering plenty for vegetarians and a few vegan dishes as well. Pescatarians are particularly well catered to, as there is a wide range of fish and shellfish dishes available.

For guests staying at The Memoir Club, it’s worth noting that the in-house restaurant is a great reason to stay. Adeline is also conveniently located for those travelling into London. It is less than a five-minute walk from Euston Station and not much more from St Pancras. Within a 15-minute walk, you can reach The British Museum and the trendy boutiques of Lamb’s Conduit Street. In the other direction, you are not far from Regent’s Park and the delights of Marylebone High Street.

By the time we left, tables were filling with pairs of women seated for afternoon tea. Virginia Woolf would certainly have approved.

Adeline at The Memoir Club,
12 Upper Woburn Place,
Bloomsbury
London WC1H 0HX

+44 20 7693 5425