ATLAS treats dinner as a record of places visited and flavours remembered. Created by James and Maria Close, the restaurant occupies its own building at Rockliffe, giving the three-hour experience a distinct sense of occasion from the moment guests arrive.
The menu maps the couple’s travels through precise, personal cooking. Pintxos, gunkan and ceviche introduce a sequence that reaches Saint Malo through lobster, the Jura Mountains through quail and vin jaune, and Japan through Miyazaki wagyu grilled over binchōtan. A non-alcoholic pairing draws cucumber, apple, shiso and other ingredients from Rockliffe’s Walled Garden.
The raised Chef’s Table offers the closest view of the kitchen. Dessert brings a chocolate trolley named Bruce, ending an ambitious evening with exactly the right amount of humour.
