Emerald Hospitality Group, current purveyors of the three London hotspots, El Norte, Zuaya and Como Garden, has announced it will be taking over the iconic Sake no Hana site on St James’s Street with the opening of its fourth restaurant – Riviera.
Riviera will be a Southern French restaurant, and the coveted site will be opening its doors in November, following an extensive refurbishment. Boasting an impressive 170 covers inside, and 35 on the outdoor terrace, Riviera is set to bring French elegance to Mayfair.
Spanish-born Alberto Zandi co-founded Emerald Hospitality Group with twin brother Arian. He shared, “This is a very exciting launch. Arian and I have a deep appreciation for the South of France, a region that celebrates life, honouring friends and family reunions, artisanal fine art, and superb food.
'Riviera is set to represent and embody the luxurious lifestyle found in the South of France, in a unique London location.”
Arian and Alberto launched their first restaurant, Zuaya, which offers a range of Latin American flavours with a prominent focus on Peru.
During the pandemic, they opened a further two restaurants: Como Garden, an Italian restaurant inspired by the glamorous Lake Como, and El Norte, a high-end modern Spanish restaurant.
Coming out of the pandemic, the brothers plan to open two restaurants every year including plans for international expansion in markets with similar synergies to London, such as Dubai, New York and Miami.