Revamped American Classics: Twenty8 Redefined Nomad
NoMad London has announced the opening of Twenty8 NoMad, a restaurant with influences from New York City. The restaurant, which serves NoMad’s hallmark cuisine, is run by pastry chef Martha Hernandez, executive chef Zak Gregoire, and acclaimed chef and NoMad culinary director Bryce Shuman.
Twenty8 NoMad presents a distinctive interpretation of authentic New York food. It is situated across from the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden and in the centre of the 91-room hotel. Its moniker, Twenty8, honours the famous addresses of its New York and London counterparts: NoMad London is situated at 28 Bow Street, home to one of London’s most illustrious historic buildings, and NoMad New York was located on 28th Street in Manhattan.
Twenty8 NoMad sees Martin Brudnizki Design Studio (MBDS) put a fresh, fun spin on the classic palm court. Think less buttoned-up luxury and more moody, playful charm. A wood-burning hearth is at the heart of the space, setting a warm, inviting vibe.
Brudnizki’s signature style comes through in layers of greenery, trinkets and textured touches. Rattan is woven throughout, nodding to vintage palm courts of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but with a laid-back twist. The colour palette leans into earthy tones, deep browns, greens, and mustards, grounding the space in nature while keeping things interesting with a hint of mystery.
Twenty8 NoMad’s art programme pays tribute to Napoleon Sarony, the avant-garde photographer known for his portraits of Oscar Wilde, the playwright who was famously tried at 28 Bow Street during its previous life as a Magistrates’ Court and Police Station. Sarony’s famous portraits, including those of Oscar Wilde, will be exhibited throughout the space.
New York Cuisine
The new restaurant will be led by NoMad London’s Executive Chef, Zak Gregoire, who began his career as an intern for NoMad and rose through the ranks, supporting NoMad hotel openings across multiple cities. Working alongside Zak is Food & Beverage Director Vanessa Mosca, both under the guidance of newly appointed Culinary Director, Bryce Shuman, a longtime friend and collaborator of the original NoMad team. The menu will offer moments of New York nostalgia, brought to life with inspiration from the classic French Brasserie, showcasing dishes that are cherished and familiar, reimagined through NoMad’s distinctive lens, breathing new life into the cuisine.
Continuing NoMad’s legacy of exploring the interplay between its geographical inspirations, Twenty8 NoMad presents New York cuisine through the eyes of its culinary creators. The crudités honour Shuman’s early-morning trips to Union Square Greenmarket where coincidently, Napoleon Sarony’s famous studio and gallery was located; the grilled flatbread features a secret dough recipe Shuman acquired from one of Little Italy’s most beloved pizza shops in his early days as a chef; and the NoMad Chicken, served with black truffles and foie gras, continues the legacy of NoMad New York’s most coveted and decadent dish.
“Working under the roof of NoMad feels a lot like coming home. I am honoured to join my talented and inspiring colleagues here in London, to bring my slice of New York to one of the world’s most exciting culinary capitals,” says Shuman.
“Nothing brings me more joy than cooking with the finest ingredients, the greatest tools, and the greatest people. It is electric.”
Shuman has a passion for live, open-fire cooking. He grew up around BBQ in North Carolina, studying everything from Texas-style offset BBQ to wood-fired Italian Pizza and hands-on hearth cooking. Throughout his career, Shuman’s passion for this primal and ancient form of cooking has grown, leading him to develop flavours that range from the deeply rich and powerful to the smooth and subtle.
With this dedication to the craft, Twenty8 NoMad showcases a custom-built, eight-foot wood-burning hearth as the dining room’s dramatic centrepiece. The selection of wood-fired dishes on the menu includes a dry-aged, fire-roasted Galician Blond Steak – inspired by the best of New York’s classic chophouses. The Raw Bar section of the menu celebrates the abundance of fresh seafood found in both the British Isles and along the East Coast of the United States. The Seafood Tower pays homage to Chef Zak’s childhood, growing up on the Island of Nantucket, with its prominent seafood cuisine, while the Prawn Cocktail elevates a beloved classic to new heights.
Twenty8 Martini Menu
With a cocktail list curated by bar-world royalty Leo Robitschek – another New York City transplant and NoMad’s/Sydell Group’s Vice President of Food & Beverage – guests can experience an authentic taste of cocktail culture across the ages. Icons old and new are represented in a selection of New York drinks from the 1800s up to present day; the dedicated Twenty8 Martini Menu takes guests on a journey through the evolution of the martini, from its origins to its modern expressions – from the Martinez to the Twenty8 Martini, which is finished with a smoked olive and blue cheese garnish.
The Modern New York Classics menu features cocktails from bartenders who shaped New York’s modern cocktail renaissance. They include a playful and seasonal take on Toby Cecchini’s Cosmopolitan, Penicillin (created at Milk & Honey in 2005), Julie Reiner’s Clover Club Cocktail recipe (reimagined at Flatiron Lounge in 2003) and Leo’s Sherry Painkiller (created at NoMad New York in 2014). The menus are joined by a selection of classics such as the savoury and delightful caprese sour or a white negroni inspired by flaked guava and cheese pastries– plus a stellar list of non-alcoholic drinks.
Wine Programme
NoMad London Wine Director Alessia Ferrarello helms the wine program and embraces New York’s quintessential family-style dining. The restaurant features half-bottle carafes to encourage guests to sample different varieties. The list will offer a mix of classic, esoteric, and obscure bottles, with a strong focus on provenance, ethos, and Nebbiolo as a prominent variety—a personal favourite of Ferrarello.
From London to New York
Twenty8 NoMad will capture the brand’s deep connection to London and New York, reflecting the unique relationship between these two cities. This notion is explored throughout the hotel, from its vast collection of art that explores Europe and America’s influence on one another’s art scene, to the signature approach to service that has established the NoMad brand as a global hospitality leader.
“It is with great pleasure that we set the heart of our beautiful hotel beating anew, with the opening of Twenty8 NoMad,” says Andrew Zobler, Founder and CEO of the Sydell Group.
Within it, we will revive the convivial spirit of the grand Victorian palm courts active during the era when 28 Bow Street was built. It is very much in the spirit of NoMad to view London carefully and thoroughly through the eyes of a New Yorker – we love the reference to Sarony because he did the same over 100 years ago, in a modern, exciting, and inclusive way. It brings me great joy to open a restaurant that embodies these principles in a building where, for too long, they were absent.”Twenty8 NoMad will be open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner at 28 Bow St, London WC2E 7AW.
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