Cooksister | Food, Travel, Photography

Food, photos & faraway places

  • HOME
  • ABOUT
    • About me
    • Contact me
    • Work with me
    • Legal
      • Copyright notice & Disclaimer
      • Disclosure
      • Cookies and Privacy Policy
    • Press and media
    • Cooksister FAQs
  • RECIPES
    • Recipe Index – by course
    • Baking (savoury)
    • Braai/Barbecue
    • Breakfast & brunch
    • Christmas
    • Dessert
    • Drinks
    • Eggs
    • Fish
    • Gluten-free
    • Leftovers
    • Pasta & rice
    • Poultry
    • Pulses
    • Salads
    • Soup
    • South African
    • Starters & light meals
    • Vegan
    • Vegetables
    • Vegetarian
  • RESTAURANTS
    • British Isles restaurants
    • Dubai restaurants
    • France restaurants
    • London restaurants
    • Montenegro restaurants
    • New York restaurants
    • Pop-ups and supperclubs
    • Serbia restaurants
    • Singapore restaurants
    • South Africa restaurants
    • Sweden restaurants
    • Switzerland restaurants
    • USA restaurants
  • TRAVEL
    • All my travel posts
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Canada
      • Dubai
      • Cruise ships
      • France
      • Germany
      • Greece
      • Grenada
      • Hong Kong
      • Hotel reviews
      • Italy
      • Israel
      • Jersey
      • Mexico
      • Netherlands
      • Norway
      • Portugal
      • Singapore
      • Ski & snow
      • South Africa
      • Spain
      • Sweden
      • Switzerland
      • UK
      • USA
      • Wales
  • PORTFOLIO
    • Freelance writing portfolio
    • Speaking and teaching
    • Photography portfolio
    • Buy my photos
You are here: Home / Restaurants / London restaurants / Guess who went to the Gherkin bar?

Guess who went to the Gherkin bar?

by Jeanne Horak on July 23, 2006 6 Comments in London restaurants

Iris-Gherkin-Bar © J Horak-Druiff 2016

 

For those of you picturing me spending my Friday evening making small talk at some sort of deli counter with barrels of pickles, think again.  The Gherkin is the affectionate name given to London’s newest landmark building – it’s real name is the Swiss Re building (after its anchor tenant) or 30 St Mary Axe (its address).  But to everyone in London, it’s the Gherkin.  Look at the shape & it’s easy to see why – it looks kind of like a… erm… fat cucumber or, well, other things… so from the time it was still being built it got the nickname, and it’s stuck.

The 40-storey building itself is really interesting.  It was designed by renowned architects Foster & Partners on a circular plan and tapering towards the top in order to appear less bulky than traditional square buildings, and it is London’s first environmentally sustainable building.  This is as a result of some clever tricks by the architects such as the spiral lightwells that run through the building which give greater access to daylight, reducing the lighting requirements; movement and light sensors to prevent unnecessary use of electric lighting; floor-to-ceiling windows to make maximum use of natural light; ventilation and cooling assisted by clever systems in the building’s double glass skin and the spiral lightwells; and extra bicycle parking in the basement, together with extra showering facilities (there are no private car parking spaces).  Further fun facts & figures include that it is 180m tall (3 times the height of Niagra Falls), can transport up to 387 people at one time in its 18 elevators that travel at up to 6m per second, contains 24,000 square metres (or five football pitches) of external glass, and despite its curvy good looks the only curved piece of glass in the skin is the circular lens right at the apex.

Unlike it’s nearby tall neighbour, Tower 42, which also has a (small) bar at the top, The Gherkin was clearly built with an entertainment space in mind.  Whereas Tower 42 looks as if its bar was thrown together from the narrow observation deck around the lift shafts, the top three levels of The Gherkin were designed to function as a light and airy bar, restaurant and priovate function rooms with unobstructed 360 degree views of London.  From Monday to Thursday the restaurant is open only to tenants of the building for lunch and for private functions in the evenings (if you have a spare £9,000 floating about!), but on Friday nights employees working in the building and their guests can reserve tables for dinner or drinks.  And lucky ol’ me has a good friend working there! [**2019 edit – the bar is now open to the public daily – make a reservation.**]

 

Gherkin wine glass © J Horak-Druiff 2006

Getting in is a bit of a palaver (as with Tower 42’s Vertigo!) and involves airport-style security and a number of changes of elevator bank, but when you finally arrive on the 39th floor and glimpse the view from the lift lobby through the restaurant window, you can’t help but gasp.  Then it’s a flight of black granite spiral stairs up and you arrive at the bar.  Cue more gasps of delight.  A room with a tall, domed class ceiling, a polished granite floor and a view from here to eternity.  My first reaction was just to stand there grinning for a while, so it’s a good thing Nick and the rest had the presence of mind to grab a table!  As there were already quite a few people there, we got a table roughly in the middle of the room rather than on the edge near the window. But this wasn’t a tragedy as a) even seated near the windows, you can’t get near the glass (this is because of a very wide counter running around most of the room, while on the west side, the bar forms a balcony overlooking the restaurant); and b) the room is spacious enough that you can get up and go and look at whatever view you like at any time.  The entire room feels a little other-wordly as you see the sky through the triangular latticework of the building’s frame, and the pattern is repeated in the reflections on the floor.  Also, whereas you are used to being surrounded by tall buildings in the City, here there is nothing above you or even on your level, except Tower 42 and of course the aeroplanes on final approach to London City Airport.

 

Gherkin Canary Wharf view © J Horak-Druiff 2006

 

The wine list was short – I must admit that I wasn’t paying too much attention  because I was gawping at the view of Tower Bridge and trying to see our house somewhere in the direction of Canary Wharf.  We ended up with a Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc which was not too badly priced at about £18, although I did covet the Pimms Royale (Pimms and champagne) – a mere snip at £9.50.  There were tapas-style bar snacks which looked good but we didn’t try any.  The restaurant downstairs is run by the Searcy’s group (which is part-owned by Richard Corrigan) and is somewhere I’d love to try.  But Friday night was all about the view.  Seeing as we have had the most sweltering week imagineable in London it seemed entirely appropriate to be able to sit and watch the sun sink as a fiery ball to the right of Tower 42, and then to watch how the purples in the sky changed the mood of the room while nursing a glass of chilled wine.  It’s close to heaven. Literally.

 

Gherkin dusk © J Horak-Druiff 2006

 

The Iris Bar
30 St Mary Axe
London
EC3A 8BF

Telephone: +44 (0) 330 107 0816
Email: [email protected] 

More deliciousness for you!

  • Beer and cheese bread for lazy bakersBeer and cheese bread for lazy bakers
  • Vivat Bacchus, London BridgeVivat Bacchus, London Bridge
  • Saturday Snapshots #79Saturday Snapshots #79
  • Emergency tomato pesto & olive crostini, and some housekeepingEmergency tomato pesto & olive crostini, and some housekeeping

Never miss a Cooksister post

If you enjoyed this post, enter your e-mail address here to receive a FREE e-mail update when a new post appears on Cooksister

I love comments almost as much as I love cheese - so if you can't leave me any cheese, please leave me a comment instead!

« UK Foodblogger picnic at the 2006 Henley Regatta
Spinach, bacon & feta quiche »

Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. panasianbiz says

    July 24, 2006 at 9:32 pm

    I stumbled across your blog while I was doing some online research. What a fascinating lesson about these buildings. All your fun facts really contributed to my enjoyment reading this.

    Reply
  2. St.Claire Adriaan says

    July 25, 2006 at 3:18 pm

    Jean, your descriptions make visualizing these buildings so real. I feel as if I was there with you. Your amazing writing style also facinates me. Keep up the good work.

    Reply
  3. Jeanne says

    July 26, 2006 at 11:27 am

    Hi St. Claire
    Aww, thanks for the compliment! *blush* Come back to enjoy my writing style anytime! And I’m really enjoying reading all your news on your brand new blog -l ong live the blog!

    Reply
  4. St. Claire Adriaan says

    July 28, 2006 at 6:47 am

    You bet. Bloggers of the world unite! So when are you guys heading back to SA for Christmas?

    Reply
  5. keiko says

    August 7, 2006 at 2:20 pm

    Oh Jeanne, you’re so lucky to go up there – I’ve tried finding someone to let me in but wihtout success… thank you for the excellent write up, as always!

    Reply
  6. Noodle says

    August 14, 2006 at 1:49 pm

    Loved the info on the Gherkin Bar, talk about living the high life! Cool blog too…

    Reply
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Never miss a Cooksister post!

Get my latest recipes delivered by e-mail!

Search over 500 recipes

Recently on Cooksister

  • Perfect broccoli and Stilton soup [keto, low carb, GF]
  • Masalchi by Atul Kochhar – Indian street food in Wembley
  • Barbecued salmon with blood oranges and capers
  • Roasted Brussels sprouts with feta, pomegranate and pine nuts [GF, V]
  • Love Yourself healthy meal delivery [Review]
  • Antillean
  • Festive roast lamb with pomegranate glaze
  • Rustic blood orange and pistachio galettes

Archives by month

Archives by category

Popular posts

Peppermint Crisp fridge tart - a South African treat
Oxtail and red wine potjie
Nigella's Bakewell slices & the Big Bakewell Taste-off
Gem squash 101: how to find them, how to grow them, how to eat them!
My big, fat South African potato bake
Things to do in Kitzbühel if you don't ski

Featured on

Also available on

Do you enjoy free art installations? Then you need Do you enjoy free art installations? Then you need to get down to @canarywharflondon between now and Saturday 28 Jan to catch the free Winter Lights 2023 event, back for the seventh year.

My favourites include @lukejerramartist ‘s Floating Earth; Tom Lambert’s Out of the Dark; Fluorescent Firs; Toroid by This is Loop; and the surreal and mesmerising Anima by MEATS - a tunnel filled with hundreds of thin optical fibre lights that change colour and move in the breeze 😍 

Have you been to Winter Lights? What was your favourite?
“When we look down at the Earth from space, we s “When we look down at the Earth from space, we see this amazing, indescribably beautiful planet. It looks like a living, breathing organism. But it also, at the same time, looks extremely fragile.” - International Space Station astronaut Ron Garamond

To experience the “overview effect” (a phenomenon experienced by astronauts viewing the earth from space), head down to Canary Wharf in the London docklands this week where you can see @lukejerramartist ‘s beautiful Floating Earth installation as part of the Winter Lights event. 

This giant 10m diameter installation is created using high resolution NASA images to create a floating scale model of the Earth, lit from within so that it glows from its current home on the Middle Dock, surrounded by the headquarters of international banking and finance corporations.

The artist hopes that viewed in this context, the installation will make visitors and the bankers working in surrounding buildings question how their money in savings and pensions is invested, and whether investments can be greener.

Aside from being a thought provoking piece, it is also mesmerising and surreally beautiful, so make sure you visit the free Winter Lights event before ends on Saturday 28 Jan.
Happy lunar new year! [Invited] To celebrate the Happy lunar new year! 

[Invited] To celebrate the arrival of the Year of the Rabbit, why not head over to @mamachensdumplings currently doing a residence at the @thegantrylondon in #stratford where you can feast on prawn & chive dumplings; pork, Chinese cabbage and shiitake mushroom dumplings; pork & prawn wontons with Mama Chen’s chilli oil; vegetable dumplings; smacked cucumber salad; and spicy noodles coated in garlic and Szechuan pepper oil.

And afterwards, make sure you head up to the @unionsocialoc bar for a cocktail - I loved the Moreish Fashion with bourbon, PX sherry, chestnuts and mandarin orange bitters!
Got leftover Stilton (or any blue cheese) from Chr Got leftover Stilton (or any blue cheese) from Christmas? Turn it into this super simple and super indulgent broccoli and Stilton soup! So easy to make and soooo delicious to eat - and it is low carb and GF. What more could you want?! Click the link in my bio for the full recipe. What’s your favourite soup?
CELEBRATE. So the fireworks are over, the champag CELEBRATE.

So the fireworks are over, the champagne is finished and the leftovers are all eaten. We are one week into 2023 and I have had some time to think about what my intent is for the year. 

In 2022 my brother had a life saving kidney transplant. Since the operation, he has had a Peanuts cartoon as his WhatsApp profile pic, where Charlie Brown and Snoopy are sitting on a pier talking. Charlie says “Some day, we all die Snoopy.” And Snoopy replies: “Yes - but every other day, we will live.”

Waking up in the morning is a gift, every day, and it is so easy to forget this. The last few years have been difficult for so many people and the coming year promises its own challenges. But every day that we don’t die is a day to live, to celebrate life in some small way.

So my intention in 2023 is to celebrate. Celebrate our achievements however small. Celebrate our friends and family. Celebrate small things. Celebrate life.

Did you make any resolutions or goals for 2023? I would love to hear them in the comments! Wishing you all the very best for 2023 🥂
Happy new year, everyone! Here are some scenes fro Happy new year, everyone! Here are some scenes from last night with friends in Deptford. My deconstructed avocado ritz; @twinkleparkstephen ‘s bobitie; Giles’ Ottolenghi tomato salad; and Jean’s clementine trifle - and the London night sky ablaze with fireworks!  How did you spend your evening? 🥂🎇🎆
Merry Christmas to all those celebrating - I hope Merry Christmas to all those celebrating - I hope your day was merry and bright, filled with family, friends and love 🎄🥂. Mine was spent alone at home - my choice and the result of a combination of Covid (not mine!) and rail strikes 🤦‍♀️ but very relaxing and indulgent!
Looking for a stylish and easy Christmas starter y Looking for a stylish and easy Christmas starter you can make ahead? Look no further than my individual smoked salmon terrine! Hot smoked salmon, cream cheese and chives wrapped in cold smoked salmon in a ramekin. Still one of the most popular Christmas recipes in my blog, it looks cheffy but is soooo simple to make - and will save you time and effort on the day! Get the recipe by clicking on the link in my bio.

How is your Christmas meal prep going? Are you entertaining at home or going to friends or family? 🎄🥂🎄🥂🎄
Looking for a brilliant biryani near Marble Arch? Looking for a brilliant biryani near Marble Arch? I recently enjoyed a feast at Biryani Kebab Chai @bkc.restaurant on Edgeware Road, including wonderful sweet, spicy and crunchy papri chaat; smoky burrah lamb kebab; galouti lamb patties; juicy chaap chicken thigh kebab; spicy chapli chicken patties; and the surprising vegetarian dahi ke patties made of yoghurt! We also tried the chicken and soya biryanis, both with incredibly fluffy and delicately spiced rice. You can get their biryanis as a 1kg takeaway, served in a beautiful branded clay pot that serves 3-4 people, for about £30. Bargain! We also took home a sample of their desserts, including a fragrant and delicious kheer rice pudding. If you are in the Marble Arch area, get yourself to BKC!  #invited #bkcrestaurants
Load More... Follow me on Instagram

Follow Jeanne Horak-Druiff's board Recipes by Cooksister on Pinterest.

Cooksister

The South African Food and Wine Blog Directory

The South African Food and Wine Blog Directory

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Jeanne Horak is a freelance food and travel writer; recipe developer and photographer. South African by birth and Londoner by choice, Jeanne has been writing about food and travel on Cooksister since 2004. She is a popular speaker on food photography and writing has also contributed articles, recipes and photos to a number of online and print publications. Jeanne has also worked with a number of destination marketers to promote their city or region. Please get in touch to work with her Read More…

Latest Recipes

Bowls of broccoli and Stilton soup
Salmon with blood oranges dill and capers
Brussels sprouts with feta and pomegranate
Roast lamb with pomegranate glaze
Blood orange & pistachio galettes
Cauliflower topped steak with melted cheese
Plate of potted smoked salmon with slaw and a glass of champagne
bowls of pistachio pomegranate bircher muesli

SITEMAP

Home

Contact

About me

Recipe Index

Restaurant Index

Copyright & Disclaimer

Cookies & privacy policy




blog counter

© 2004 - 2023 · Jeanne Horak unless otherwise stated - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. You may not reproduce any text, excerpts or images without my prior permission. Site by RTW Labs

Copyright © 2023 · Cooksister on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Cooksister cookie consent
We use cookies to ensure you receive the best experience on our site. If you continue to use this site, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions. Accept
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT