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Hera and Figo: Why Stratford in east London is the new place to eat
The foodie scene in London's Olympic park will be boosted by the arrival of the V&A East, Sadler's Wells East and BBC Music Studios.
Stratford Cross, a vibrant new development in east London, is rapidly becoming a cultural and business hub, with new offices, restaurants, and venues springing up. Located a stone’s throw from the ABBA Voyage Arena and directly opposite the much-anticipated V&A East Museum (set to open in spring 2026), it’s home to several standout spots, including the newly opened Everyman Cinema. And among these exciting additions are two exceptional restaurants that should be on your radar for client entertaining: HERA and Figo.
HERA
Opened in November 2024, HERA brings Greece to this little corner of Stratford, amid a modern Mediterranean vibe: an interior decor of aubergine, marble, copper and gold, and gorgeous in-house olive trees. But enough about the fittings – let’s dive straight into the food.
In true Grecian style, these incredible dishes are designed to be shared, making it especially ideal for groups. We particularly recommend the grilled octopus, feta saganaki (feta cheese wrapped in angel’s hair and drizzled with lemon honey – and as frankly mouthwatering as that sounds), Ekmek Kataifi (layers of shredded kataifi, pistachios and velvety custard cream – oh, just ditch the scales for a day) and Feta chips: coated with, well, feta, thyme and truffle oil, it’s possibly the only way you’ll ever want to eat chips in future.
There’s also a cocktail lounge where you can enjoy signature drinks such as ‘Helen of Spice’ – HERA’s take on a Spicy Margarita – or mocktails: try an exotic Virgin Karpouzi (Seedlip spice, watermelon, dill, lime, soda).
So, whether you’re looking for aperitifs before ABBA – or a full-on surf and turf affair, HERA has you covered, with an appropriately divine menu and elegant surroundings. With a newly launched office lunch deal and an updated a la carte menu, it’s the ideal place to impress clients and colleagues alike this year.
Discover the menu at HERA.
Figo
Located just around the corner from HERA in Stratford Cross is the Italian restaurant Figo. A stone's throw from the hustle and bustle of Westfield and on the edge of the pedestrianised boulevard leading to the architectural legacy that is architect's Zaha Hadid's London Aquatic Centre (where local children learn to swim in the pool where the Team GB men's relay team struck gold in the 200m freestyle), the London Stadium and the sprawling Queen Elizabeth II park.
With its ethos of ‘cucina Italia’, Figo has become a firm favourite among locals and visitors alike. Opened in 2019, Figo has thrived since lockdown and expanded further east with new restaurants in Leyton and Brentwood.
The Stratford branch has all to gain from the expected influx of visitors. The Sadler's Wells East theatre opened this week in the adjacent cultural district, with the ribbons set to be cut later this year on the BBC Music Studios and the new V&A East museum in 2026.
Figo is sited on the ground floor of a modern office building. High ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows offer a modern, spacious dining experience but the designers have successfully created a sense of intimacy through low hanging lighting, table lamps and dark tones. An open kitchen, stacked with fresh ingredients and a large pizza oven, affords some diners a view of the chefs at work.
Opposite the kitchen, the mixologists operate with ease from a well-stocked bar, with the Chocolate Negroni - a sumptuous blend of premium gin, premium vermouth and white cacao liquor - and the delightfully sunny Amalfi Coast (premium vodka, peach liquor, peach puree, pineapple juice and egg white) among the signature alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails. Like HERA, a central olive tree brings a calming sense of the Mediterranean to the East End.
The appearance on the restaurant floor of La Gran Romana - spaghetti with Parmigiano Reggiano and pecorino cheese, black pepper, butter, bay leaf served on a commanding pecorino cheese wheel - was met with a perceptible chorus of “oos", “aahs” and phones held aloft, poised to snap the most Instagram-friendly pic of this conspicuous circular carb-fest.
But theatre aside, Figo's menu is a snapshot of the best that Italian regional cuisine can offer.
On our visit, my companion and I, began by sharing a generous serving of polpette. These veal meatballs were served in a full-bodied tomato sauce, topped with grated and shaved Parmesan and a drizzle of basil oil.
Our tender polpo - grilled octopus with burrata cream, steamed celery, taggiasca olives and lemon, chilli and herbs oil - prompted memories of holidaying in Puglia and lamenting why we hadn't been back in the years that had passed.
Moving on and the menu offers a variety of meat, fish and vegetarian options, pizzas and of course pasta and risotto dishes representing Italy's regional delicacies. (The pollo alla Milanese was pan-fried to perfection and the pan-seared sea bass spied on an adjacent table looked delicious.)
The pasta porcini afforded us the opportunity to sample fresh casarecce. The short twists of pasta was served with Sicilian fennel sausage cooked with porcini mushrooms and parmesan shavings that transported us to the Trinacria.
Our bellies told us there was no room for dessert but our taste buds argued otherwise, persuading us that having forgone the extensive wine menu, it was only right to savour the tortino al cioccolato. And right they were. The rich chocolate fondant served with vanilla ice cream rounded off a delightful evening.
And for those not familiar with the word figo, it means ‘cool’ in Italian - as in trendy not cold, though this restaurant certainly provides a chilled, laid-back environment. Start with an Aperol and saunter through the culinary map of Italy. Cin cin!
Discover the menu at Figo restaurant Stratford.