Metro St James

Backing onto the 1920s heritage-listed sandstone building of St James station, Metro St James is the second venture by Philippe Valet and French-trained chef David Bransgrove, the team behind Crown Street’s La Brasserie. Inspired by Parisian bistros and New York cafes, you’ll enjoy expansive views of Hyde Park here, with gentlemen huddled around a giant chess set nearby and the grand St Mary’s Cathedral stretching toward the sky in the background.

Divided by the white-tiled barista counter serving coffee by Caffe Molinari, a casual bar area and table service dining feature here. The casual ‘Park Life’ menu is limited to toasted sandwiches on Brasserie bread, with classics like croque monsieur (béchamel, Swiss gruyère, thyme and leg ham on sourdough) and vegetarian fillings of mozzarella, olive tapenade, capers, red pepper puree and semi dried tomatoes. Dripping with juices, a more substantial alternative is the ‘McMetro’ Wagyu burger.

With French wine and native Kronenberg beer on tap, dishes on the ‘Bistro Park’ menu have been designed suitably to match. Try buttermilk fried chicken with celeriac remoulade or for something light, decadent salmon fish cakes with a poached egg and watercress. For something sweet, head to the counter for a daily selection of tarts, friands and pastries.