In the gleaming jungle of buildings within the confines of Canary Wharf lies the Azura Restaurant and Bar at the Radisson Edwardian Hotel. In an area already saturated with upmarket hotels, bars and restaurants, this place was always going to have to pull out the stops to be noticed - and so it has.

The Venue
The Radisson Edwardian Hotel is, unsurprisingly if you know the maze that is Canary Wharf, difficult to find. By the docks of New Providence Wharf, it’s best to do as all the suits do and taxi it – it’ll be worth the £5 fare. As you pull up you won’t be able to help being impressed by the obviously modern and immaculate building. A short walk through the glistening reception and up a small set of stairs will take you into the Azura Bar. Relatively compact, there are a few seating areas, which are actually rather comfortable – not putting style over substance. The bar stands proudly at the helm; however, it does feel like more of a holding area for those who wish to eat at the restaurant.

The restaurant, located just along from the bar, fits in with the style of the rest of the hotel. The tables are clean and well spaced, the decor is understated (you could say sterile, but only if you were being very picky) and you mustn’t forget their piece de resistance - the terrace, where you can eat your meal or have a drink whilst looking over the beautiful views of New Providence Wharf. It truly is the jewel in Azura’s crown.

The Atmosphere
The atmosphere at Azura Restaurant and Bar is exactly what you’d expect of an upmarket hotel in Canary Wharf. It could be accused of being slightly cold - with the subdued chatter and calm resonance of the restaurant - but then that’s sometimes what you need after a day of meetings and stress. The staff help to dull any feelings of sterility with an efficient and very warm service. Friendly, knowledgeable and engaging, they help to turn the tide and keep that smile on your face.

The Food
You can expect the chefs at the Azura Restaurant and bar to entertain your tastebuds with dish after dish of delicious offerings. The starters are beautifully presented with care and attention given to the placement of food on the plate based on colour and texture. Dishes such as the seabass with avocado caviar and clams are especially divine, coming together in your mouth in an explosion of flavour. The seabass is delicate and light, mixing exquisitely with the saltier, softer avocado caviar. The clams lift out of their shells with ease and almost melt in the mouth with the lightest of bites and will leave your palette feeling cleansed.

The mains are also excellent. Dishes like the free range chicken are especially recommended. The creamy chicken and leek sauce could so easily have been overbearing in its richness, but instead it works with the succulent, moist chicken. However, it’s not all perfect – choose the lamb with lentils and you’ll have a perfectly cooked, tender piece of lamb that’s just fatty enough to allow the juices and flavours to work together without being slimy, but with too many lentils to allow for the flavour of the well cooked meat to fully shine. Slightly too salty and a little on the hard side, the lentils cause the dish to just miss the mark – but only just.

Desserts finish the menu off with aplomb. If sweets aren’t to your taste then try the cheese board, an excellent selection of cheeses from brie to stilton are accompanied by the freshest, sweetest grapes and various flavoured biscuits and crackers. Overall, you can expect a well executed, delicious meal that almost ticks every box at prices to match the surroundings, but not so extortionate that you’ll feel short changed.

The Drink
There’s not the largest selection of wine here, but there is a nice enough range to satisfy most tastes and budgets. You can expect to pay around £20 for a full bodied, fruity wine with no vinegary aftertaste.
Best of all are the cocktails, which are stunningly presented, taste amazing and are filled with alcohol – no watering down with soda water here. Their specialist gin and curacao cocktail may look pretty toxic all in blue but tastes incredible, even if you’re not the biggest gin fan. The taste of the premium gin is clear and light, just be wary of the alcohol hitting you before you know what’s happened.

The Last Word
The Azura Bar and Restaurant is an excellent choice for a nice meal and drink in the high powered financial district. If the area isn’t to your tastes you may not appreciate it, but everyone likes a good quality meal and excellent service and this place has it in droves.

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