Cassette is a modern French bistrot from the team behind Peckham neighbourhood restaurant Levan, bringing Parisian energy to Covent Garden. Inspired by the bistrots, bars à vin and countryside auberges that have shaped founders Mark Gurney and Matt Bushnell’s relationship with France, the restaurant combines French classical technique with a contemporary London perspective. Head Chef Essa Fakhry, formerly of Note in Dublin and Planque in London, leads a menu that celebrates exceptional produce, traditional methods and familiar French flavours with an inventive, lighter touch.

Cassette occupies a restored nineteenth-century Victorian Gothic workshop on Maiden Lane, where soaring double-height ceilings, intricate original windows and abundant natural light create a dramatic setting for relaxed French dining. Customers can visit throughout the day: lunch runs from 12pm to 2:30pm, followed by a bar menu until 5:30pm, when dinner service begins. The bar menu draws on à la carte snacks and adds charcuterie and bowls of frites. Music is central to Cassette’s identity, with founder and record-label owner Mark Gurney curating playlists played through rare 1970s Grundig Audiorama 8000 speakers. The result is intended to pair exceptional food with generosity, warmth and local hospitality, bringing the spirit of a Parisian neighbourhood bistrot to Covent Garden. Bookings are live, and the team aims for an elegant experience that never feels precious. setting.

• Lunch 12pm–2:30pm

• Bar menu 2:30pm–5:30pm

• Dinner 5:30pm–9:30pm.

• On Sundays, diners can book all day for moules or steak frites.