The Barbary Next Door: ‘Little sister’ restaurant and wine bar to open in October

Lockdown wasn’t all bad news — one home delivery kit has inspired a new opening in Covent Garden

Moreish Moorish: the new spot will serve food inspired by the cuisines of Spain and North Africa

Georgia Rudd

Jochan Embley7 September 2021

The Barbary’s “little sister”, a new all-day restaurant and wine bar, will open in Covent Garden this October.

The Barbary Next Door will sit adjacent to its sibling restaurant in Neal’s Yard, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, with menus inspired by the cuisine of Moorish Spain and North Africa.

The venture, which has grown out of the Barbary’s lockdown, neighbourhood delivery service, is the latest project from Layo and Zoe Paskin.

“The Barbary Next Door will certainly reference some of the food and design elements that The Barbary has become known for but it will be a new experience,” said Layo. “It’s a relaxed spot where you can pop by for a coffee, chilled beer or glass of wine, perch at the bar for a quick bite or settle in for the evening with friends.”

Early arrivals will be served an assortment of sweet North African pastries, “roadside eggs” (minced lamb kefta simmered with eggs in a spiced tomato sauce), pumpkin bread, and more. Cortado coffees, pomegranate juice, almond milkshakes and cocktails will also be on offer.

Bread will be a focal point of the lunch and dinner menus

Georgia Rudd

For lunch and dinner, bread will be at the centre of each meal, from frena, a fluffy pita-style bread topped with anchovies to a new-recipe Barbary bread with dips and salads. A choice of tagines — oxtail, vegetable or chicken — are among the larger dishes, as is chicken pastilla, a filo pie topped with cinnamon and icing sugar.

Sfenj, a Maghrebi doughnut, marzipan cigars, and hashpot, a pistachio creme diplomat, will populate the dessert menu.

Oxtail, vegetable and chicken tagines will be among the larger dishes

Georgia Rudd

Daniel Alt, the Barbary’s head chef, is set to helm the new kitchen, while wine director and sommelier Honey Spencer will oversee a collection of bottles focused on Spanish, French and Moroccan offerings. A bar will seat 10 guests.

The venue’s previous incumbent, coffee house Jacob the Angel, will be moving to another location, with further details set to follow.

The Barbary Next Door will open in October at 16A Neal’s Yard, WC2. For more information, visit thebarbarynextdoor.co.uk