Whether you’re looking for a decadent journey through haute cuisine or you’re simply after a hearty meal at the end of a long day of exploring London, look no further than Mayfair village. Few districts offer more choice and variation than our historic neighbourhood. Here we present some of our favourite picks for every palate and appetite.
European, ££££
Promising a warm welcome, an expertly curated wine list and mouth-watering dishes, Murano is an easy inclusion on this list. Inspired by chef Angela Hartnett’s upbringing cooking genuine Italian cuisine alongside her grandmother and aunts, the restaurant serves seasonal, modern dishes made with the best British and European produce.
Within 4 month of opening, in 2008, Murano had been awarded a Michelin Star followed by 4AA Rosettes. Murano’s success is no surprise – promoting a ‘fun’ rather than ‘fine’ dining experience, the food is as delicious as it is beautiful. Diners can enjoy an array of fresh fish, locally sourced meats and an abundance of vegetarian and vegan options, all paired with wines from small, sustainable producers.
Indian, £££
Ever since opening in 2021 Bibi London has attracted admiring reviews and satisfied diners. Its vibrant, healthy food earns it our recommendation as one of the best restaurants in Mayfair. Chef-patron Chet Sharma’s philosophy is to create dishes that combine classic “Indian soul” with an innovative endgame. “We want people to look at Indian food in the same way they look at a Japanese meal,” he says. “You don’t need to roll out of an Indian restaurant. You can feel light and refreshed.”
Moving away from calorie-heavy breads and curries, the menu is filled with small-plate grills, including khatti meethi cod and okra salan. The ambition is fitting of the chef who – with a PhD in physics from Oxford and a score of Michelin-starred restaurants on his CV – always delivers food of an impeccably high quality.
Modern gourmet, £££
Acclaimed Irish chef Richard Corrigan opened Corrigan’s in 2008, quickly becoming one of the best restaurants in Mayfair. This foodie favourite has been awarded restaurant of the year by the Evening Standard and AA, earning three AA Rosettes within the first three months of opening.
We love it for its celebration of the best native ingredients from across the UK, from wild game and seafood to heritage vegetables and farmhouse cheeses. The menu includes hand-dived Orkney scallops and salt-aged Hereford beef, Scottish lobster ravioli and Clarence Court duck eggs.
“Game is not just what you hunt and shoot,” says Corrigan, “game is what you catch, what you pick and forage. For me, game is a wild blackberry you pick, mackerel you catch and a native oyster you shuck. This is game reflective of the seasons.”
Amazonian, ££££
Amazónico was founded in Madrid in 2010 by renowned husband and wife restaurateurs Marta Seco and Sandro Silva. Their vision for a fusion menu reflecting the diversity of the Amazon basin was inspired, and Amazónico took Madrid by storm. It was so successful that the team opened a London branch on Mayfair’s famous Berkeley Square in 2018.
If you are looking for a joyful, sensory experience, Amazónico is our pick of the best restaurants in Mayfair. Open from lunch till late, you will be taken on a journey through the culture and gastronomic heritage of the Amazon region, accompanied by Latin-inspired jazz, Bossa nova and Cuban sounds from the house band. Visitors can enjoy selections such as ceviche de Camaron or wagyu beef empanadas from the à la carte menu, or sample lighter bites including yellowtail tuna akami and grilled freshwater eel unagi maki from the sushi menu.
“The Amazon is more than a river, it connects people, cultures and traditions”, says Silva. “This, together with an homage to nature, is at the core of our concept.”
Modern British, £££
Tucked away in the basement of Flemings Hotel and guided by the experienced hand of executive chef Sofian Msetfi, Ormer offers a unique, intimate dining experience.
If you view breakfast as the most important meal of the day, then Ormer will not disappoint. Choose from an extensive menu including brioche French toast served with maple syrup and lemon crème fraîche, organic egg omelettes, British and Continental cured meats and of course the Flemings English breakfast. At dinner, we always gravitate towards Ormer’s tasting menus – caramelia and malt gateaux anyone? – with prestige wine pairings. The vegetarian and vegan tasting menus are equally delicious but make sure you let the restaurant have 48 hours notice to prepare for vegans (only the freshest produce and preparation at Ormer). It’s the reason it’s one of our best restaurants in Mayfair.
Ormer has four AA Rosettes, is featured in the Michelin Guide 2023 and was voted one of London’s top five restaurants by the Hardens Restaurant Guide.
Indian, ££££
Inspired by the elite clubs of India where high society meet to socialise, eat and drink, Gymkhana is split across two remarkable floors. Established in 2014, the Michelin-star accredited restaurant went on to win the 2014 National Restaurant of the Year for its contemporary Indian cuisine.
Just reading the menus is enough to remind us why Gymkhana is one of our recommendations for best restaurants in Mayfair. Our favourite dishes include achari paneer tikka with corn chaat, gilafi quail seekh kebab or tandoori broccoli with chilli and green mango raita.
We can’t resist a cocktail, and here they are made with the finest Indian ingredients and flavours, including a specialised gin list and Gymkahana’s own tonic water. The saffron gimlet combines gin, homemade Indian lemon cordial and Kashmiri saffron resulting in a delicious and visually-stunning rich red tipple.
French, ££££
Boasting three Michelin stars, Hélène Darroze at The Connaught combines local, seasonal fare with superior craftsmanship skills. Opened in 2009 inside the famous five star London hotel, in 2019 Darroze invited designer Pierre Yovanovitch to give the restaurant a sleek new look, a chef’s table and even an armagnac room. The resulting cocoon-like interiors reflect the warm, personal approach taken by Darroze and her team.
Our favourite expression of this is the menu, on which each dish is named after its central ingredient (Beans; Almond; John Dory; Chocolate). Highlights include lobster from Cornwall seasoned with Tandoori spices, Lake District beef with aubergine, white miso and fermented pepper and a Corsican pear with nasturtium and olive oil. Pair this with an acclaimed wine list and outstanding service, and you’ll see why an afternoon spent here is an afternoon well spent.
Chinese, ££££
Since 2001, Londoners have been lucky enough to count Hakkasan as one of the city’s best Chinese restaurants. The Michelin-starred cuisine created by executive chef Andrew Yeo celebrates authentic Cantonese food with an infusion of contemporary influences for a unique dining experience. This is the place to finally find the ultimate wine to accompany Chinese dishes (Hakkasan Mayfair has over 300 wines on offer) and to enjoy the patisserie chefs’ delightful experimentations. We always leave Hakkasan utterly charmed and convinced of its place in our list of best restaurants in Mayfair.
Asian fusion, ££££
Found on the corner of iconic Berkeley Square, Sexy Fish fires up a Robata grill to serve Japanese-inspired seafood, fish and meat. Whether you’re sampling the selection of ten signature dishes from the Sekushi menu or exploring individual plates such as the grilled sweet potato, coconut and wasabi skewer or the half caramelised lamb rack with red kosho anchovies, Sexy Fish offers its patrons a sensorial extravaganza. In between courses, you can even admire two of the largest live coral reef tanks in the world.
Combined with a world-famous Japanese whisky collection and walls adorned by artworks from Damien Hirst, Frank Gehry and Michael Roberts, mid-century opulence runs throughout. It’s the place to see and be seen at, with a stylish clientele of fashionistas, art collectors and media influencers.
Indian, ££££
Designed by Fabled Studio, Bombay Bustle juxtaposes Art Deco design with the hustle of modern Mumbai, a juxtaposition that embodies its delightful food. Reimagining Indian comfort food rooted in family recipes, co-founder Samyukta Nair and executive chef Surender Mohan plate dishes for every occasion. An all-day Sunday brunch menu fills tables with decadent feasts including Indian spiced potato and masala akuri truffle naan whilst the à la carte menu offers a Bustle tandoor platter featuring rechaedo fish tikka, achari lamb chop, chicken seekh gilafi and paneer tikka.
“Celebration of the dining table as the heart of the house is very dear to me” says Nair, and we certainly feel the love that goes into each and every dish. This is food for the soul, and it’s why Bombay Bustle made it onto our best restaurants in Mayfair list.
We also recommend trying one of the Indian-infused cocktails – you’ll find everything from roasted pecan infused bourbon whiskey to sloe gin on the “Bustlers” menu.
French Mediterranean, ££££
Since its opening in early 2023, Socca has become a firm favourite with Mayfair locals as well as visitors to the neighbourhood. Named after a rustic flatbread, and drawing inspiration from Provençal cuisine, Socca plates dishes that blend the wholesome, full-bodied quality cuisine from the Riviera with a touch of Mayfair’s archetypal sophistication, all conceived by chef Claude Bosi. With light hors d’oeuvres including Cornish crab tarama and aubergine caviar to heartier fare including octopus bolognese and a spatchcock roasted chicken for four, Socca caters for a sun-drenched summer luncheon just as effortlessly as a cosy autumn dinner.
Creating a laid-back, authentic bistro atmosphere, restauranter Samyukta Nair recruited Fabled Studio to fill the Grade II-listed building with decor rooted in French aesthetics. Take in the raw marble Grand Salon bar and admire the artwork inspired by Jean Cocteau whilst unwinding with a glass of Château Minuty Prestige rosé.
British, ££
There’s nothing more quintessentially British than good old-fashioned fish and chips, and there’s nowhere better to enjoy this national staple than the 1AA Rosette-accredited Mayfair Chippy. But this is not “just” a chippy — how about kicking things off on a sunny day with a glass of rosé and some fresh oysters? For our main meal we like to tuck into a succulent Cornish fish coated with crispy batter, or the soft shell crab burger with homemade accompaniments. Not a fish fan? The menu also includes a vegan jackfruit fillet and fried West Sussex halloumi for plant-based patrons.
Frankly, the Mayfair Chippy made it onto our best restaurants in Mayfair recommendations for its food, but as a bonus, we adore the black-and-white tiled floor and Victorian period features that pay homage to the authentic chip shop. It’s the real deal.
Modern Filipino, ££
Because we’re always looking for our next mouth tingling culinary experience, we have included Sarap as (fingers crossed) one of our favourite best restaurants in Mayfair. Sarap’s success in 2022 as a pop-up in the area was so great that they’re currently closed and in the process of opening a new space for summer 2023.
Bringing Filipino soul to the heart of London, Sarap pays homage to its country of origin with “authentic flavours delivered proudly inauthentically”. Conceived as part of chef Ferdinand Montoya’s ongoing exploration of the food of his native Philippines, the restaurant’s signature dish is roast piglet with impossibly crispy skin and tender meat.
Though perhaps not a natural choice for the meat-averse, Sarap’s story typifies the ambition found in this restaurant’s dishes. Starting out as a supper club in south London, Montoya developed his menu by running pop-ups and informal sittings in Brixton market, listening to diners’ feedback and ideas. Sarap’s pop-up menu offered a variety of inventive, authentically named dishes including rellenong crispy aata (fried pork trotter), spring munggo (mung beans, wild garlic, asparagus and peas) and burnt cassava cheese cake with macapuno cream to finish. Simply delicious and well worth a spot on our best restaurants in Mayfair list. Watch this space.
Modern British, ££££
Trained under the auspicious eye of Gordan Ramsay, chef Jason Atherton opened Pollen Street Social to rave reviews in 2011 and it’s remained a firm favourite with locals and visiting foodies alike. Self-described as “a contemporary bistro” Pollen Street Social pairs Michelin-starred food with a laidback, casual atmosphere, plating up an array of dishes and cocktails. Diners can sample from different menus including the chef’s counter experience and a vegetarian and vegan tasting menu.
The chef’s experience starts with an afternoon tea followed by Yorkshire pudding choux and Golden Oscietra caviar and finishes with 65-day aged beef fillet, duck liver, Kohlrabi roasted in beef fat, parsnip cream and morels stuffed with veal sweetbread. Vegans can enjoy dishes including an Arlington white egg yolk raviolo, baked potato velouté and preserved Perigord truffle, before cleansing their palate with 70% dark chocolate tofu ganache served with raspberry and mango sorbet. A focus on provenance runs throughout Pollen Street Social, meaning every single ingredient is picked with quality and locality in mind.
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Indian, ££££
Benares is renowned for its transformative effect. Changing the way people perceive and experience Indian cuisine, the restaurant brings a modern flare to its Berkeley Square home.
Visitors should expect a lively atmosphere, head-spinningly delicious smells and tables groaning with innumerable dishes. Rooted in the traditions of Indian food, diners are encouraged to eat with their hands.
A la carte options meld renowned executive chef Sameer Taneja’s expertise with British ingredients (tandoori lamb served alongside Scottish lobster). Other delights include street snacks, described by Taneja as “a tribute to all the roadside street vendors in India, who work hard to make a living selling street food”. Delicious creations such as a baked Malabar-style scallop with crispy bread podi or an English broad bean and fig dumpling nut korma work in concert with jaunty, modern appendages such as a chutney pipette. Put simply, Benares ranks as one of the UK’s leading, Michelin-starred establishments at the forefront of innovative Indian cuisine.
Spanish, £££
Sabor means flavour in Spanish, and this Michelin-starred eatery lives up to its name. Having previously worked together at Barrafina, Nieves Barragán-Mohacho and José Etura realised a long-held ambition to open a restaurant that journeys into their homeland. It’s now one of the best restaurants in Mayfair, known for the Anadalucian tapas served in the bar (including soft shell crab molletes, monkfish tempura with chilli jam aioli and huevo relleno), as well as the larger dishes served upstairs in Sabor’s El Asador. Here diners can enjoy flavours from the north and centre of Spain, with whole Segovian suckling pig, Galician ribs of beef and Iranian beluga caviar on the menu. A recently updated cocktail list means visitors can order from a wide selection of Spanish gins, a Fino sherry, a Negroni, or enjoy the classic taste of an authentic Sangría. Whether you want to enjoy the flavours of Castile or share traditional bites in a bustling, authentic atmosphere, Sabor is sure to deliver.
Locally-sourced, conscious cuisine, £££
Charming and obscure, the English word apricity means “The warmth of the sun in winter”. Bringing this feeling into her food, multi-award-winning chef and owner Chantelle Nicholson describes the restaurant’s values as wholesome, nourishing and refreshing. Rooted in sustainable practices, the Mayfair-based eatery is a low-waste operation, championing local growers and British produce – think English wine paired with chalk stream trout tartare.
Light and zesty starters include elderflower tempura, Norfolk tofu purée and smacked cucumber or Isle of Skye hand-dived scallops, marinated red onions, Sussex broad beans and smoked roe. Mains offer something for everyone, with many vegetarian and carnivorous options. Straightforward and nourishing fare built around Suffolk pork, Cornish garfish or miso-roasted cabbage sits alongside quirky takes on well-loved options like mac’n’kimcheese or beetroot and Virunga chocolate tart to finish. For ambitious eaters a seven course tasting menu is very reasonably priced.
Drinks range from soft drinks (pickled blackberry & soda sounds particularly refreshing) to British beers and Sproutinis (a martini made with pickled sprout juice). Visitors to Apricity will leave fully satisfied and content in the knowledge that all suppliers were selected for their ethical business models and conscious produce.
Japanese, ££££
Housed on Grosvenor Street and overseen by acclaimed New Zealand chef Rhys Cattermoul, previously of Nobu Hong Kong, KOYN opened its doors in September 2022. KOYN offers modern Japanese cuisine steeped in traditional influence, with crispy squid served with yuzu koshu aioli, or chutoro (the belly meat of tuna) coated with sudachi soy and kizami wasabi. Diners should consider the signature spicy tuna tartare and for vegetarians the “Midori” selection of vegetable tempura is sure to please.
KOYN is part of a Mayfair restaurant group which includes Chinese eatery Mimi Mei Fair, French-Mediterranean bistro Socca, and renowned Indian establishment Bombay Bustle, and lives up to its family’s reputation for delicious food. Its location seals its place as one of the best restaurants in Mayfair, as you’ll find KOYN in the grandeur of the former American Embassy, transformed with chic interiors inspired by the dual nature of Japan’s Mount Fuji, and enlivened by the pageantry of a Robata grill. The combination of beautiful, delicious food and decadent setting makes a visit to KOYN utterly irresistible.
Chinese, ££££
MiMi Mei Fair takes inspiration from the fictional Empress Mimi’s travels across East Asia, including Hong Kong, Singapore and the Chinese provinces of Guandong, Sichuan and beyond.
Nestled in Curzon Street in a grand Georgian townhouse with interiors designed to evoke the style of a glamorous society hostess, MiMi Mei Fair serves dishes from across China’s rich food heritage. Highlights include crispy golden langoustine with Perigord truffle and an apple wood-fired roasted Peking duck with skin crackling off tender meat. The menu boasts a wide array of steamed and fried fare, expertly dressed to an aesthetic beauty that complements the restaurant’s extravagant interiors.
Modern fine dining, ££££
Born as a result of a friendship between restaurateur Mourad Mazouz and French Master- Chef Pierre Gagnaire, a once neglected 220-year-old, three-storey Georgian townhouse today stands as a testament to design, food and imagination. Sketch presents jaw-dropping aesthetic surroundings for one of London’s best afternoon teas, but the restaurant’s dinner menu is equally impressive.
With three Michelin stars under its belt, dinner-time visitors to Sketch’s lavish Lecture Room & Library can taste plates hallmarked by Gagnaire’s style. Starters featured include langoustine tail roasted with liquorice butter, Loire Valley white asparagus paired with black truffle and a seafood platter encompassing Channel crab, Scottish razor clams and Carlingford oysters.
Never afraid of moving forward, in 2022 Sketch traded in its iconic pink interior for a golden redesign conceived by British-Nigerian artist Yinka Shonibare CBE and architect India Mahdavi. The results are spectacularly gorgeous and keep it in our recommendations for the best restaurants in Mayfair.
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