What could sound more Christmassy than lunch in a igloo? Well, as my brother is a December baby, I decided to book just this at Coppa Club for a birthday treat.
We had dined here before with other relatives, so I knew what to expect. However, the thrill of eating somewhere unexpected never really goes away! Coppa Club plays homage to the material in it’s name and the restaurant itself is set around a central brass bar that is open on all sides – making it a great place for a buzzing family meal. There’s always a great, cosy atmosphere which I find you can sometimes struggle to get. Plus, there’s a fireplace, booths for extra privacy and an all important terrace for the warmer months.
Outside though is where the magic happens as each Winter, they place cosy round domed igloos on their terrace overlooking the Thames, and once you enter one I guarantee you’ll never want to leave.
When we arrived, we were led to our igloo for the duration of our meal. Igloo’s are bookable to up to eight people, and as there was only four of us, we had to share with other diners. The igloos are quite small, so you have to be ok with small spaces – and eating with strangers if there’s less than eight of you! It was go lovely to be welcomed in from the cold to a warm dining space, and refreshing to see sheepskin blankets on the chairs for extra comfort.
The menu is small but I guarantee there’s something for everyone, and the food unfussy and traditional with a modern twist. Think sourdough pizza’s, healthy salads, homemade pastas and rich chocolate tortes. For my main I had the Penne Carbonara which was amazing, When it initially arrived it looked quite small, although I quickly came to realise is was quite rich and I didn’t get to finish it all in the end, but it was delicious. My brother had Spinach, Beetroot, Ricotta Rotolo and my other brother had a Mushroom, Mozzarella, Parmesan and Pesto Pizza. My mum got stuck into the Coppa Club Burger. For dessert I had a Apple and Rhubarb crumble tart, and my mum and brother had warm Pecan Pies with honeycomb ice cream.
Dinner was followed by a walk along the Thames to burn off those calories and we managed to stumble upon a Christmas market on the opposite side of the water. Christmas by the River runs until January 3rd and showcases 68 independent traders offering homemade gifts and food from wooden German-styled chalets. It’s completely free to wander around and the traders also feed into the beautiful Hays Galleria, which has been decorated festively for the season, complete with humongous Christmas Tree. All in all, a very festive way to celebrate a birthday!
