Haya, the neighbourhood Mediterranean restaurant taking influences from Tel Aviv opened its doors in the heart of Notting Hill this Autumn. Inspired by founder Victoria Paltina’s visits to the Israeli city, Haya is born of the lively, spirited culture she found there and will be open all day, with a focus on simple Mediterranean sharing plates and nutritious, seasonal ingredients.
Daytimes at Haya takes their cue from the informality of Mediterranean dining culture while the menu is inspired by Head Chef Oren King’s Tel Aviv background. Guests can drop in for a quick midday snack or take a more relaxed approach with dishes such as burrata, loquat compote, and a drizzle of citrus vinaigrette; quinoa salad, crumbled feta cheese and a sprinkling of pomegranate seeds; and spiced lamb cutlets served with a spoonful of honey yoghurt.
As evening draws in, the lights are dimmed, and warm candlelight give a more intimate feeling to the space. In true Mediterranean style, seasonally-changing small plates will lend themselves to sharing, such as zaatar duck breast, freekeh risotto; crispy prawns, spicy yoghurt and harissa; and seared tuna, dukkah and homemade labneh.
Designed by local based A-nrd studio, Haya is split across two floors and feature floor-to-ceiling timber sash windows, flooding the restaurant with natural light from morning to evening. Featuring warm oak wood flooring, textured concrete walls and a plant-laden green ceiling, the ground floor of the restaurant is dedicated to the dining room, with blush marble topped tables dotting the space, and velvet and terrazzo effect fabric adding splashes of colour against the concrete textured walls.
At the far side, the kitchen is open, allowing guests to see and hear the action unfold. Downstairs takes on the warmth of a Tel Aviv household, from the home-style bar featuring a bespoke stained glass window to the large white marble sharing table and the bold coloured walls lined with mirrors and art work.