1 Michelin Star Chefs: Victor Garvey, Chef Patron, SO|LA

Victor Garvey is the chef patron of Californian soho restaurant, SO|LA. 

Having spent his formative years working in some of Spain's best kitchens, the chef nurtured his craft in Los Angeles before bringing his melting pot of skills to London for us to enjoy.

biography

Victor started cooking at the age of fifteen in a restaurant owned by one of his mother's friends in the Catalan capital of Barcelona. 

A stage at El Bulli fuelled his passion for food: even though it wasn't the internationally-acclaimed institution it later became, it was already well established on the Spanish culinary map.

Then followed a series of stages in two and three Michelin star restaurants in Spain, after which the chef moved to the USA - specifically, to Los Angeles, where his father lived. 

The chef secured work experience in a number of San Francisco's high-flying establishments including Thomas Keller's French Laundry before he was headhunted to work at Picasso, the Michelin-starred restaurant located inside the Bellagio Casino in Las Vegas.

After two years, the chef headed back to Europe, and settled in London.

He took on a position as executive chef for Blakes Hotel group, where he remained for several years before co-founding Bravas Tapas with one of the founding investors in Hakkasan, Yauatcha and Busaba, Bal Thind.

In 2019, Victor relaunched one of the Bravas Tapas establishments, formerly a Catalan restaurant, Rambla, as SO|LA.

The restaurant, though only able to serve guests in person for a year, was very well received.

Tim Hayward of the Financial Times called Victor Garvey's offering at SOLA SOHO "solidly brilliant cooking from someone who turns out to be that most important and rare thing in a chef . . . a total enthusiast." 

SO|LA was awarded a star in the Michelin Guide for Great Britain and Ireland 2021.

SO|LA, food style and wine list

A shift away from its predecessor's Iberian focus, SO|LA is confidently Californian, drawing on international influences and delivering a piece of sun-soaked LA to the streets of Soho - also giving the restaurant its name. 

Inside, light wooden-pannelled walls, surrounded by lush plants and hand-blown light bulbs which aptly conjure up feelings reminiscent of The Golden State. 

The food is as ingredient-led as it gets, with flavours described by Michelin as well-balanced and "characterised by deep, bold flavours and punchy sauces."

The guide adds that "a great deal of thought goes into the eye-catching presentation, and playful touches add an extra element."

The wine list is a showcase of what the mighty innovative state of California has to offer, and the front of house team is well-versed enough to talk guests through it.