Café 22, located within The Twenty Two, reopens its doors at 43 North Audley Street. There is a new menu, a new drinks list and, depending on who you ask, a new lease of life. The cooking is inspired by classic French cuisine, and the drinks are considerably less restrained with the reopening being overseen by Guillaume Glipa.

Glipa’s career has taken him through some of London’s most talked-about hospitality spots, including the openings of Chiltern Firehouse, Louie London and Annabel’s, so he knows a thing or two about making a room people want to spend time in. He has now turned his attention to Café 22, returning the restaurant to a buzzier, neighbourhood café style, echoing the spirit of Parisian inspired dining. Whether this was the obvious next move or simply the most fun one remains to be seen, but if anyone can pull it off, Glipa can.

Guests will now enter via the new entrance on 43 North Audley Street, into Café 22, which runs from north to south. The newly redesigned interiors pair rich, grounded tones with lighter neutrals, balancing classic Mayfair elegance with a little Parisian nonchalance. The walls will also play host to its very own artist in residence, turning the restaurant into something of an intimate gallery, albeit one where you can order another bottle. Quite literally bringing a little culture to the table, Mahi Binebine, the Moroccan painter and sculptor, will be on exhibit, curated by Polly-Anna Monckton of ACA Galleries. Layered from beeswax, natural pigment and textile, his Binebine’s figures give haunting form to exile and memory. Binebine’s work is held in major museum collections, including those of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art in Washington, D.C., Pérez Art Museum Miami, the and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York.

The menu is a testament to The Twenty Two’s Global Culinary Director, Alan Christie’s philosophy: keep things simple and do them properly. With a strong French influence running through a collection of signature European dishes, Café 22 is not trying to reinvent the wheel. Some things are classics for a reason. On the menu, expect the likes of Canard à l’Orange, Poulet rôti à la truffe, Bar entier grillé, pommes de terre croustillantes, sauce vierge and Foie Gras Terrine, agen prune. Dessert takes a similarly nostalgic turn, with Brown Butter Madeleines, Apple Tarte Tatin, Crème Brûlée and Profiteroles. New to the mix is a playful weekend brunch, built around elegant, comforting plates and a few things that probably shouldn’t be eaten before noon, but will be anyway. Think Warm Lobster Roll & French Fries, Croque Monsieur/Croque Madame and Wagyu Côte de Boeuf with Café de Paris butter.

Undoubtably the world’s chicest drink, the Martini now has its own mode of transport. A roaming Martini trolley will make its way around the restaurant floor, serving cocktails tableside and adding a little theatre to proceedings. Alongside it, Café 22 will introduce a new cocktail list available exclusively in the restaurant, taking its cues from French classics. Expect elevated Champagne cocktails, a twist on the French 75 and a selection of refreshing highballs, equally suited to a long brunch, an early aperitif or the increasingly vague period of the evening that comes after both.

Refined without ever feeling fussy, Café 22 sets the stage for all manner of occasions, whether martini-fuelled dinner catch-ups, family Sunday get-togethers or a business power lunch.

Guests can now book a table in the 92-seat restaurant. Café 22 will be open seven days a week, serving lunch on weekdays, brunch on Saturdays and Sundays, and dinner every evening.