The rooftop at cooler-than-cool One Hundred Shoreditch hotel has gone through its fair share of iterations since opening. The most recent is Kaso, although don’t expect any huge conceptual changes: the shiny pink marbled tiles remain, as do the various cacti, night-time DJ sets and, most importantly, the sweeping views across the city skyline.
What has changed is the menu: spearheaded by Turkish-born chef Ilknur Celik, it’s a Middle Eastern affair split into specials, hot and cold mezzes and sweets. The plates are reasonably pricey for what they are – and you’re not getting anything boundary-pushing here – but everything looks good and tastes great. What you’re really paying for is that big old view. (This is very much an Insta-worthy venue.) There’s a narrow strip of terrace on one side allowing for small tables, mostly seating people on dates or creative agency business meetings, which are ‘first come, first-get-the-view’. That said, even if you don’t get a terrace table, you’re still perfectly poised to wash down your borek with a nice gaze (or glare) over various Shoreditch tower blocks.
Aubergine is scored, charred and charcoaled, with gorgeously soft and golden insides
From the menu ‘specials’, we ordered the half aubergine: scored, charred and charcoaled into a blackened shell with gorgeously soft and golden insides, all on a bed of zhoug-y, tahini sauce. The harissa chicken was somewhat sadly slapped next to some limp-looking gem lettuce and mushy tomato – but the meat itself was tender, flavoursome and moreish. The ribeye was better; cooked close to perfection and served alongside soft, buttery new potatoes. And then for the mezze: the slab of feta cheese borek was a little too dense, and the falafel was on the dry side and would have benefitted from much more sauce. You can’t have it all, it would seem.
Kaso is something of a late night spot, closing on weeknights at midnight and weekends at 1am, all soundtracked by a revolving DJ roster playing classic R&B, hip hop and nineties bangers. Drinks wise, you could do a lot worse than ordering from their small-but-sweet cocktail menu, which offers light, fruity takes incorporating botanicals, honeydew melon and Ouzo. So take yourself to the terrace, sip away and look out over London’s creative quarter: life could definitely be worse.
The vibe Rooftop romance meets after-dusk dancing.
The food Middle Eastern signatures and lots of dips for your flatbread.
The drink Super fresh cocktails and a wine list from the eastern Med.
Time Out tip If you’re looking to stay out even later, head downstairs to Seed Library for top mixology with a speakeasy vibe.
