The new bar has been designed by Conrad Alexander Design and is positioned at the entrance to the restaurant. It will serve from morning through to evening.
Head chef Stefano Turconi has created a menu of Italian small plates for the bar, alongside new additions to Franco’s à la carte menu.
New dishes include a lobster roll with pickled fennel and basil mayonnaise; sea urchin on toast with avocado and lime; Cornish tuna tartare with burrata cream, tomato and Tropea onion; potato gnocchi with porcini mushrooms, Tuscan cabbage and truffled pecorino; and roasted venison loin with celeriac purée, Scottish girolles, blackberry and juniper jus.
The bar will also introduce a new cocktail menu, alongside Franco’s Italian-led wine list curated by head sommelier Paolo Pellegrino.
Cocktails include Zest, made with limoncello, citrus vodka, lemon and mint; Tarts and Flowers, combining vodka, amaretto, maraschino cherry and roasted almond; and an Apple Sour Spritz with apple whiskey, lemon and Prosecco.
The redesigned space features light oak flooring, bespoke illustrated wallpaper inspired by classical Italian art, antique mirror panels and a suspended chrome and glass gantry.
The project follows the refurbishment of the main restaurant in 2019 and the private dining room in 2023, completing the next phase of Franco’s long-term investment in its historic Jermyn Street home.
“The reopening has given us the opportunity to introduce a menu designed specifically for the new bar, celebrating seasonal Italian ingredients in dishes that are perfect for sharing,” says Turconi.
“One of my favourite additions is the sea urchin on toast with avocado and lime – a simple dish that celebrates exceptional produce with bold, fresh flavours.
“Whether guests join us for a leisurely lunch, an aperitivo or dinner, the new menu has been created to complement every occasion throughout the day.”
Pellegrino adds: “The new bar allows us to showcase an exciting cocktail programme alongside our Italian-focused wine list.
“Every drink has been carefully created to reflect the quality and hospitality our guests expect from Franco’s, while celebrating the spirit of Italian aperitivo culture.”
Franco’s has been operating on Jermyn Street since 1945 and describes itself as one of London’s oldest Italian restaurants.