Ara, a new, 76 cover (+20 outdoor), all-day dining restaurant from chef patron Murat Kilic, will officially open its doors on 1st May 2025 in the vibrant Aldgate East area, following on from the success of thriving sister restaurant Amber.

In a departure from previous ventures, Murat’s menu at Ara will be a melting pot of global flavours without borders and influenced by his love of travel and experimentation.

Hero dishes will include:

Grilled potato flatbread with homemade cultured butter
Mussels skewers with roasted chicken wings in butter sauce
Blackened leeks with muhammara and XO sauce
Slow-cooked short rib with date demi-glaze.

The self-taught chef grew up in his native Turkey where he loved to cook with his Grandfather. As a teenager, he moved to London to train as an electrical engineer before moving to the food industry and clocking up years of experience in restaurants. A greasy spoon pot washing job led to multiple roles in back and front of house before Murat launched successful café/bistro, Route in Dalston in 2012 (now sold) and then Amber, also near Aldgate East, in 2018.

Credit: Oh Gravy! Media – Burak Can Aksit
Commitment to sustainability at Ara began from the very foundations when Murat brought in Nina Woodcroft (Nina & Co) who also designed Silo. Ara’s interior consciously incorporates materials to minimise waste such as pineapple leather from pineapple farm discards for upholstery, galvanised steel offcuts to create light installations, elm wood from diseased trees for banquette and booth seating and recycled plastic transformed into chic tables tops and bar facade.

Responsible practices will perpetually evolve as the team builds on knowledge and dedication to make even better choices in the future. The team reduces waste creatively by using kitchen by-products for innovative cocktails and works with sustainable drinks producers like Discarded Spirits Co. and 58 and Co. The restaurant’s wine list features organic, biodynamic, and low-intervention wines that each tell their own story of sustainability.

Ara’s wine list has been created by general manager, Wade Mundford who previously won praise from critics when he launched The Melusine in 2019 which he co-owned with Theodore Kyriakou, having met the Greek chef when they worked together at The Greek Larder.

Building on his success with Amber, which continues to flourish seven years after its launch, Murat Kilic hopes to introduce another vibrant destination and local dining spot to Aldgate East.

Ara Restaurant, 1 New Drum St, London E1 7AY