Last Updated on February 28, 2026
Champagne & Chopsticks
It’s not often I associate Chinese food with hushed dining rooms and starched linen. More usually, you’ll find me hunched over a bowl of noodles in Chinatown well past midnight, or sharing baskets of dim sum on a bustling Sunday, chopsticks darting between plates. Years ago, in Shanghai, I discovered Chinese food that bore little resemblance to the sweet-and-sour staples of London, and I’ve been quietly chasing that revelation ever since. So, when the invitation came to dine at Imperial Treasure – a name that carries with it a promise of precision, polish and price tags to match, I was hardly going to say no. After all, if you’re going to experience high-end Chinese cuisine in London, this is where you come to do it.
Imperial Treasure is housed in a Grade II-listed former Lloyds bank, on stately Waterloo Place in St James’s, it’s the kind of building that whispers old money and long lunches. As the London outpost of an internationally lauded restaurant group, with Michelin stars scattered across Shanghai, Singapore and Guangzhou, it brings serious pedigree to the capital, offering elegant, meticulously prepared Cantonese cuisine in surroundings that are as polished as the service.
Step inside and you’re met by courteous staff and a space that’s quietly confident in its elegance. Designed by the late, great Christian Liaigre, the interior is a masterclass in considered luxury, where English heritage, Chinese culture, and French design meet in a way that feels deliberate rather than showy. There’s a striking onyx bar, imported from Brazil, that anchors the room, while high ceilings and arched windows nod to the building’s grand past as a former Lloyds bank.
Dark wood panelling, stone floors and marble surfaces create a sense of weight and permanence, softened by patchwork leather banquettes, while the marble-topped tables offer comfort with a couture edge. Even the chairs are engraved with Liaigre’s name, a subtle signature in a space where everything has clearly been chosen with care. And for a more intimate dining experience, there are three equally refined private rooms at Imperial Treasure.
Service throughout the meal at Imperial Treasure was charming and assured, making you feel instantly at ease. Our sommelier, knowledgeable, engaging, and full of good stories, began the evening with a glass of Louis Roederer Champagne. Glowing gold in the glass, with a fine, steady stream of bubbles. Bright and well-balanced, it offered ripe stone fruit on the palate and a clean, elegant finish – a quietly luxurious start to the meal.
We dined from the set menu with wine pairing, beginning with a trio of steamed dim sum served alongside a selection of chilli dips. Juicy prawns were wrapped in delicate, translucent skins, one topped with a glint of gold leaf – while the mushroom dumpling was more restrained: earthy, subtle, and perfectly judged. It was a polished and delicious take on the familiar, elevated just enough to signal that you’re in fine-dining territory.
Next came a quarter of the Signature Peking Duck, its skin bronzed and glistening. We were encouraged to dip the crisp shards of skin into sugar, traditionally a way to cut through the richness of the fat and add an unexpected hit of sweetness. The meat itself was tender and full of flavour, served with fine, freshly made pancakes, Tian Mian Jiang sauce, spring onions and cucumber in the classic style. It was all done with care and precision, and the results were quietly spectacular.
The first wine pairing was a glass of Cullen Amber, a biodynamic orange wine from Margaret River, its notes of nectarine, orange blossom, and a touch of honey adding a fragrant, gently sweet lift to the dim sum.
Next came a hot and sour soup with prawn, thicker and more robust than the lighter Asian broths you might expect. It was deeply warming, with just the right level of spice to build gently rather than overpower. Studded with plump prawns, slices of chilli unagi, and slippery black fungus, it had real depth and complexity.
The mains were showstoppers, superbly presented and full of flavour. The sautéed lobster with black truffle was a standout; the sweetness of the shellfish was lifted by the earthy richness of the truffle without ever overpowering it. Alongside it, the generous chunks of beef tenderloin were meltingly tender, topped with a scatter of crispy garlic that added just the right crunch.
Sides were no afterthought either: sautéed asparagus came laced with shrimp paste and preserved black olive vegetables for a punch of umami, while the egg fried rice was perfectly judged, light, fluffy, and quietly essential.
We paired the main course with Pascal Jolivet’s Pouilly-Fumé Les Terres Blanches – crisp, elegant, and refreshingly minerally, with bright notes of lemon and grapefruit and a subtle hint of spice. A beautifully balanced wine and a spot-on match for the richness of the dishes.
Finally, a pair of understated but thoroughly enjoyable desserts – cool, refreshing cubes of wolfberry jelly and soft sesame-laced balls that were just sweet enough to round things off without overdoing it. These were paired with a lovely Hungarian dessert wine, Kardos Tündérmese, all bright mandarin and rich honey, its vibrant acidity keeping everything in check. A clean, clever finish to a well-paced meal at Imperial Treasure.
Dining at Imperial Treasure is a luxurious treat, where authentic Chinese flavours are served with finesse in a beautifully elegant setting. It’s the kind of place that feels made for special occasions or an indulgent night out in London, when only the best will do.
Imperial Treasure
9 Waterloo Place,
St James’s
London
SW1Y 4BE
Phone: 020 3011 1328
http://www.imperialtreasure.com
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