JOIA Battersea

Joia translates to ‘jewel’ in Portuguese and this name gives inspiration to the Iberian bar’s interior styling by the Russell Sage Studio, with gem stones and artistic flourishes. JOIA consists of three key spaces, an 85-cover restaurant on the 15th floor, 91-cover bar on the 14th floor; and a 74-cover rooftop bar and restaurant area on the 16th floor, all accessible by lift and located within art’otel London Battersea Power Station, a building designed by Foster & Partners and Dextor Moran.

The ‘skyline destination’ restaurant and bar offers staggering views over Battersea Power Station and London beyond through its floor-to-ceiling windows.

The restaurant itself is the first London restaurant by award-winning two Michelin-starred Portuguese chef Henrique Sá Pessoa and is inspired by Henrique’s culinary heritage and travels across the Portuguese Iberian Peninsula.

A defining aesthetic feature is the bold and elegant use of colour which in blush-pink tones pay homage to the power station’s art deco origins. Jade green seating and salmon banquettes continue the jewel theme, with mid-century elements coming via rich timber flooring, arched openings, ‘porthole’ mirrors and brass accents.

A bespoke work of art in JOIA Bar referred to as the ‘Salmonette’ by Chef Henrique Sa Pessoa’s cousin Mario Belem, a well-known Portuguese artist, is the largest piece and adds a meaningful statement to the bar area with its surrealistic portrayal of a fish. In Portuguese art, fish often symbolise life, fertility, and the connection between humans and nature. Mario Belem uses fish as recurring motifs to blend traditional elements with contemporary styles, creating a visual dialogue between past and present.

The double height space of the bar is viewed from the restaurant which offers intimate tables with spectacular views of London and the power station, rivalling other cities' sky high destinations. A vast L-shaped bar anchors the space, topped by a crisp marble slab. Its ribbed timber front is painted signature pink, recalling the colour scheme of the dining room above.