Alchemy & Artistry: Hokus Pokus & Voyage with Adam Simmonds at The Megaro

King’s Cross has come a long way since the days of greasy spoon cafés and grey station concourses. Now a hub of art, fashion and glossy regeneration - arguably London’s most frenetically modernised postcode - it’s also home to one of London’s most intriguing boutique hotels: The Megaro.

Formerly a fairly unremarkable property catering to overnight commuters, The Megaro has reinvented itself with bold flair and unmistakable personality! You’ll know you’ve found it the moment you spot the bold mural façade splashed across its Victorian exterior, a technicolour rebellion against the area’s increasingly polished uniformity. This isn’t a hotel that plays it safe - it paints outside the lines, turns up the volume and invites you to revel in the unexpected.

Hokus Pokus – Smoke, Spells & Seriously Good Cocktails

Descending into Hokus Pokus, The Megaro’s subterranean cocktail lounge, is like stepping into a dream conjured by a stylish mad scientist. Part apothecary, part science lab, part Victorian séance, the bar is dimly lit, beautifully eccentric and full of copper coils, dark wood and the gentle hiss of something mysterious being infused behind the bar. 

From the experimental drinks menu (filed under ‘Prescriptions’), I began with the Lavender Sunset - a potion of Black Tot Caribbean Blend, peach-infused rum, Rin Quin Quin (which sounds like either a rare liqueur or a Regency-era poet), Velvet Falernum, house-made orange potion, Cocchi Americano and house-made lavender oil. Yes, house-made, twice. They’re not just mixing; they’re alchemizing. 

The accompanying mint oil jelly - also house-made, of course - infused with Cocchi Americano and served on a porcelain spoon like an eccentric canapé, brought a cooling herbal note that refreshed both palate and imagination. Whimsical, well-crafted, and worth every enchanted penny!

Later, the Coffee & Orange cocktail offered the perfect contrast: a rich, playful indulgence that blurred the line between after-dinner drink and dessert. A silky mix of house-made coffee, orange and white chocolate liqueurs, it delivered a layered experience - bittersweet espresso warmth, citrus brightness and creamy decadence in every sip.

Then comes the twist: a dusting of chocolate popping candy that crackled to life the moment it hits your tongue. It’s unexpected, mischievous and oddly delightful – a cocktail that knows how to have fun while still looking fabulous.

Theatrical without being gimmicky, Hokus Pokus is where serious mixology meets playful imagination. Whether you're into smoky, floral, sharp or sweet, there’s a potion to match your mood - though I’d recommend surrendering to the staff’s intuition at least once. Special mention to Greg Chudzio, the group bar manager, whose uncanny knack for selecting the perfect poison borders on witchcraft.

Voyage - A Global Tasting Experience with Heart (and Venison)

Upstairs, Voyage (the newly launched fine dining restaurant from Michelin-starred chef Adam Simmonds) presents a more restrained, but equally thoughtful, atmosphere. The dining room is sleek and atmospheric, all soft lighting and with a “steampunk-meets-industrial” aesthetic.

Simmonds, known for his refined touch at institutions like Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, Le Gavroche, and The Lanesborough, brings both pedigree and philosophy to Voyage. This isn’t fine dining that shouts. It’s composed, minimalist, but never lacking in impact. As he puts it: “Imperfection is accepted as perfect.”

That ethos comes alive across the seven-course tasting menu, which gently guides you through a spectrum of textures and flavours - beginning light and ethereal, ending in comfort and depth. Each course centres on a lead ingredient, treated with care and introduced with just the right amount of storytelling from our waiter.

We missed the starting ‘Oyster’ course due to allergies and began instead with the Mushroom dish from the vegetarian menu, paired with horseradish, watercress and matcha. Subtle yet complex, it was quietly confident and surprisingly memorable.

Next came ‘Lobster’ with cockles, squid and a clear kelp broth — rich in flavour but never heavy, with a pour-over flourish that added warmth to the dish.

The ‘Celeriac’ followed: earthy, nutty, and slightly smoky, with shiitake, black truffle and walnut — a dish that tasted like the turn of the season.

Then came ‘Sweetbread’, its richness balanced by burnt onion purée, kohlrabi and mustard seed. Clever, composed, and far more nuanced than indulgent.

The standout? The ‘Venison’ — perfectly cooked, paired with smoky beetroot and wild blackberry. Deep, balanced, and quietly showstopping — the kind of dish that makes you pause and savour.

The first dessert , the ‘Sea Buckthorn’ with carrot and clementine, was an electric surprise. Sharp, bright, and cleansing, it swept away the savoury and refreshed the palate with citrusy precision.

And finally, ‘Pearl Barley’ with chocolate ganache, hazelnut and pear. Comforting, familiar, yet polished. The barley brought texture and chew, grounding the silky ganache and hazelnut richness. It was indulgent, but never heavy-handed — a dessert that knew exactly when to stop.

We opted for the wine pairing and, for curiosity’s sake, sampled the non-alcoholic pairing too. Although a few were far too sweet, overall the wine selection was excellent - expressive, well-matched and at times inspired. A smoky red with the venison, a zingy white with the lobster - both lifted the food rather than competing with it.

However, the non-alcoholic pairings weren’t as consistent. There were a few high points (notably the Wild Idol sparkling rosé and white), but the mocktails occasionally felt more like substitutes than true companions. Still, it’s a direction worth refining - and one with potential.

To close the meal, an unexpected tea ceremony unfolded - curated blends offered from a wooden caddy, elegant and unhurried. My friend and I received a gift-wrapped teabag in a handmade envelope, a printed letter from Simmonds himself, and a copy of the evening’s tasting menu, sealed with lilac wax at the table. It’s a quiet, thoughtful gesture that says: “You’ve been on a journey” and on that parting note, we left with a lingering, delicious memory that would continue to unfold long after we’d stepped out the door.

In conclusion, at The Megaro hospitality is more than a service - it’s a story told in two acts. Begin underground at Hokus Pokus, where cocktails arrive like alchemical spells: creative, surprising and executed with flair. 

Upstairs at Voyage, chef Adam Simmonds takes you on a more contemplative journey. Here, luxury is subtle - defined by restraint, precision and a reverence for the ingredients. His tasting menu is a lesson in thoughtful simplicity, where even a teabag becomes a memento, sealed with lilac wax and intent.

Together, these two spaces form a rare harmony: indulgent and intimate, theatrical and sincere. In a city where fine dining can sometimes feel overly scripted, The Megaro dares to be different. It doesn’t chase trends; it crafts experiences. And in doing so, it reminds you that true luxury isn’t always louder - just more lasting.