Cycene

About

Cycene, located on Chance Street in Shoreditch, has quickly become a culinary gem since its 2022 opening, earning a Michelin star within five months. Initially led by chef Theo Clench and now under Taz Sarhane, the restaurant offers an elevated fine dining experience with an innovative tasting menu that blends seasonal British ingredients with global influences. Cycene is particularly celebrated for its wagyu dishes and creative fermented preparations, with standout dishes like aged blue fin tuna with foie gras, barbecued lobster with wagyu fat, and 70-day aged Hereford beef with sea buckthorn and truffle.

The dining experience at Cycene is a multi-floor journey, beginning with house-made bread and seasonal broth in the bar, transitioning through the kitchen for chef-served courses, and concluding in an intimate dining room. The ambiance is one of “quiet luxury,” with candlelit tables, Persian rugs, and artisanal ceramics, creating a cozy, romantic, and trendy atmosphere perfect for special occasions. Service is consistently praised as “stellar,” with sommeliers offering inventive pairings like half-and-half wine and kombucha combinations. Reviewers have called Cycene “one of London’s most unique restaurants”, with dishes described as a “masterclass” and flavors that are “intense and luxurious”.

Cycene’s unique features include interactive elements where guests briefly enter the kitchen to watch the preparation of dishes like charcoal-grilled oyster with caviar or aged tuna. The drinks menu is equally impressive, with batched cocktails like the butter-washed old fashioned and rare wines from minimalist estates. With a cost of £315+ per person (with premium wine), Cycene’s blend of theatrical dining, technical precision, and intimate ambiance cements its status as a standout in London’s fine-dining scene. Reservations are required well in advance, with bookings open through April 2025.