KOL London marks five years with one-night-only collaboration

London’s Michelin-starred KOL will mark its fifth anniversary with an extraordinary one-night-only celebration.

The event will unite four of the world’s most acclaimed chefs for a creative exploration of Mexico’s most iconic dish - the taco.

On October 26, chef patron Santiago Lastra will host a global line-up at KOL’s Marylebone restaurant. Together they will each present a personal interpretation of the taco, combining their own culinary philosophy with the colour, depth and vibrancy of Mexican food culture.

Joining Santiago for the occasion will be:

Thomas Frebel (Partner and creative director at Noma Projects, Copenhagen)

Rodolfo Guzmán (chef-owner, Boragó in Santiago, ranked No. 23 on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants);

Nicolai Nørregaard (chef-owner, Kadeau in Copenhagen, holder of two Michelin stars and a Michelin Green Star, ranked No. 41 on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants); and

Ana Roš (chef-owner, Hiša Franko in Slovenia, voted World’s Best Female Chef by The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, three Michelin stars and a Michelin Green Star).

A reimagined dining room

For one night only, KOL’s main dining room will be transformed into an immersive event space. Tables and chairs will be cleared to create five interactive stations, each hosting a daring re-interpretation of the taco. Santiago’s own creation will encapsulate the restaurant’s five-year journey - authentic Mexican flavours shaped through the lens of seasonal British ingredients, many sourced from small producers across the UK.

Afterwards, the celebration will continue in Mezcaleria KOL, the restaurant’s intimate downstairs bar inspired by Mexico’s mezcal cantinas. Guests will enjoy signature cocktails, bespoke mezcals and tequilas, and a selection of antojitos, traditional Mexican street-food snacks.

Santiago Lastra on five years of KOL

Reflecting on the milestone, Santiago Lastra said: “KOL represents a connection to the diversity, ancient history and varied tapestry of Mexican food culture, crafted with British produce.

"The experience has continually evolved over the past five years through the discoveries we’ve made in our research. The ever-changing nature of KOL is a testament to the abundance of British produce and its versatility.

“I’m especially excited to celebrate this anniversary with four like-minded friends who have been a great support and constant inspiration throughout our journey.”

From concept to global recognition

Since opening in 2020, KOL has established itself as one of London’s most original and internationally recognised restaurants. Its philosophy - recreating the soul of Mexican cooking using ingredients sourced almost entirely from the British Isles - has challenged preconceptions of what modern Mexican cuisine can be.

Within its first five years, KOL earned a Michelin star and a place on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list, bringing a new sense of terroir to Mexican fine dining in Europe.

Santiago’s work has been widely praised for its delicate balance between authenticity and innovation, transforming ingredients such as British sea buckthorn, scallops and heritage corn into dishes that tell both Mexican and British stories.

Tickets and details

Tickets for the fifth-anniversary celebration are priced at £110 per person, including a welcome drink and five individual dishes.

The tickets will be available exclusively to subscribers of the KOL newsletter from October 5 at 4pm.