26 Tudor Street,
The City,
London,
EC4Y 0AY
(020) 7822 2330
The ViewLondon Review
This is quite possibly one of the best-designed venues in the capital. If nothing else, the decor will capture your imagination.
The Venue
The Class Rooms had a great canvas to begin with - set as it is in a huge building that was formerly the Daily Mail headquarters. And yet they have built on this canvas to create a real work of art. Spread across several areas, this is the kind of place that you need to visit several times just to take in all of the decorative flourishes they have on show here. Luxury wallpaper, mixing up patterns and colours, is beautiful to look at alone, without the backlit artwork, display cabinets and light features set on and around it. Chandelier-style light features are far trendier than the usual offerings and even the bar itself has an intricate design. The lounge seating is modern and comfortable and comprises of yellow sofa-style leather chairs and armchairs. Positioned low to the ground and surrounding little tables, they're almost Japanese in design. The dining tables, meanwhile, are a deep black colour to match the chairs, and are simply adorned to make the most of the minimalistic theme.
The Atmosphere
The Class Rooms is working hard to stand out, offering comprehensive corporate packages, minimum-spend room hire and even a culinary school for those studying for catering diplomas and qualifications. The venue has the feel of a central London trendy club and dining room, almost entirely perpetuated by the stunning setting and the crowd of City workers with money to spend. It’s unfortunate, then, that the service is a bit of a letdown. Brusque at times, it can take a while to be served and then the attitude of the staff can grate on your nerves. A smile costs nothing, guys.
The Food
The restaurant menu at Class Rooms is well priced and designed to impress with most main courses coming in at under £20, including everything from vegetable risotto to lamb rump with sweet potato mash, green beans and red wine jus. If you’re just enjoying a drink, however, then the bar menu is easy to snack on and good value for money, including marinated olives, triple-cooked chips and vegetable crisps all for around £3. Alternatively, there are tapas dishes like pork belly and mussels for £3.50, burgers for around a tenner or platters priced at under £14. It’s a good selection that allows you to eat based on your party size and appetite.
The Drink
Cocktails are the order of the day at Class Rooms, although they’re not the cheapest (£8-£10.50). The price is somewhat justified, however, with excellent quality spirits used – there are no Smirnoffs and Bacardis here. The menu is lengthy and covers everything from martinis to dessert cocktails. For a twist on the favourite, the pineapple and ginger mojito comes with muddled ginger, ginger liquer, pineapple juice and ginger beer for a sweet and hot twist on the usual mojito. If you prefer your cocktails to come with a big alcoholic kick then the martini can be made however you like it (wet, dry or dirty, with a twist or an olive) using any spirit you like and is perfectly mixed, offering a clean hit of alcohol.
The Last Word
The Class Rooms is worth a visit if you want to impress someone with a beautiful setting. Ignore any bad service and enjoy a few cocktails surrounded by twinkling lights.
Class Rooms has been reviewed by 14 users