D&D London has announced that Haugen, a new Alpine-inspired venue comprising a casual all-day dining café, first floor restaurant, grab and go deli, and a rooftop bar overlooking the Olympic Park, will open to the public on Wednesday 15th September.
Housed in a Bauhaus inspired wood and glass building by architects ACME, Haugen is named in tribute to Anders Haugen, an unsung hero of the first Winter Olympics in 1924. The new space will bring classic Alpine dishes, chalet chic interiors, and a playful presence to East London. Haugen will command stunning views over the Olympic Park, Aquatic Centre and the Orbit.
Haugen was created to have something for everyone with each of the three floors providing a different taste of the Alps. Guests will be taken seamlessly from breakfast at the ground floor deli, starting at 8am for earlyrisers, to a leisurely lunch in the café or a takeaway from the grab and go counter, ideal for timestarved professionals and local businesses in the Queen Elizabeth Park area. As the lights are dimmed and the music is turned up, diners will be able to ascend the staircase for an all-out celebratory or romantic dinner in Haugen’s first-floor restaurant or meet friends for drinks in the rooftop bar.
Bringing a sense of Alpine heartiness and generosity to the all-day dining experience in the ground floor café, highlights from the menu include sharing plates of Mountain Fondue served with sourdough, new potatoes & pickles and Tartiflette with reblochon, bacon and potato. Elsewhere on the menu, guests will be able to tuck into Raclette, Vienna Schnitzel with warm potato salad & lingonberries, Chickpea and Lentil Burger in a Brezel bun or Haugen’s Caesar Salad with white anchovies. To finish, desserts will include Haugen’s signature Chocolate Fondue, with marshmallow, fresh strawberries, and honeycomb for dipping, alongside Apple Strudel, Sacher Torte and a decadent ‘Schwarzwälder’ cherry vinegar sorbet with Kirsch cream & chocolate mousse, topped with chocolate crunch, cherry gel and an almond cinnamon tuile.
Replete with faux fur throws, blankets and heaters, the café boasts a 150-cover terrace dotted with pine trees and foliage, A great place to cosy up with friends for the evening as we move into Autumn and Winter. The café interiors feature exposed wood, plush leather banquettes and velvet chairs, with a roaring, encapsulated fireplace for chilly nights.
Accessed by the internal lift or staircases that snake their way around the exterior of the undulating building, the rooftop bar will be popular with revellers keen to take in the panoramic views and sunset with a schnapps or Haugen cocktail. Inspired by the après ski atmosphere of bars in the Alps, Haugen’s rooftop bar will aim to transport guests to its famed resorts, with bespoke cocktails, glühwein, Schnapps, craft beers and light bites.
The first floor restaurant and terrace will be a more luxurious venue and will open in October.
Designed by ACME, the Pavilion is conceived as a folded public space, a ‘vertical piazza’. Stairs, balconies and amphitheatres invite exploration; a place to gather, relax and enjoy views of the East Bank and the Olympic Park from the rooftop. restaurant and deli; and a new visitor centre for the Olympic Park.
The Pavilion has achieved BREEAM Outstanding and an EPC A rating, demonstrating the highest sustainability achievements and impressively low energy in use. On the rooftop terrace native wildflower planting and nesting boxes offer essential urban infrastructure for local wildlife.
“I hope Haugen will be something unique and special in the London restaurant scene,” said Des Gunewardena, Chairman and CEO of D&D London. “When you see Haugen coming out of Stratford Station on the way to the Olympic Park, it will certainly grab your attention. The Pavilion is a remarkable building. Our restaurant and food concepts have been inspired by its architecture and location. For those Londoners who love their Alpine rostis and tartiflettes this will be a must go restaurant. But for those who prefer to maintain their Olympian bodyshapes there will be plenty of tasty options too!”
“Creating Haugen for D&D has been a fun project,” commented Afroditi Krasssa. “Afroditi’s projects are inspired by their landmark locations around the globe and Haugen is no exception. The Pavilion in Stratford acts as a brilliant background to our light, airy, vibrant and natural interior scheme. We delivered a distinct vision across each of the three floors, retaining an elegant yet approachable feel throughout. Materiality, fabrics and colour palettes celebrate the alpine theme of the food programme and subtly features in the bespoke artwork and light-hearted wallpaper of the washrooms.”
Located at The Pavilion at International Quarter London (IQL), 9 Endeavour Square, Stratford, London, E20 1JN, Haugen Café and Rooftop Bar open on Wednesday 15th September, while the Deli and Restaurant opens in October.
For more information, head over to the restaurant’s official website.
