When it comes to restaurants in Mayfair, there are really two types on offer: the ones where you’ll scrape your plate, and the ones where you’ll scrape your overdraft.
In this part of London, more than anywhere else, don’t let the pricing on menus fool you – thanks to the rich concentration of, well, rich businessmen and clients to be entertained, there are some ludicrously expensive spots that get away with serving substandard food in glitzy surroundings. So what follows here is a list of really great restaurants in Mayfair – the hidden gems, the award-winners, and the top-tier eateries that genuinely do pull out all the stops.
Humo
Since opening in early 2023, Humo still hasn’t lost its fire – partly because that’s what fuels the kitchen, but also because there’s a passion and ingenuity on display here that’s hard to find elsewhere in Mayfair. Colombian-born chef Miller Prada, protégé of Endo Kazutoshi (more on whom later), has crafted a menu that’s all about maximising flavour using various types of British wood, from birch and oak to cherry and walnut. The dinner journey takes you through the four stages of fire – ignite, smoke, flame and ember – to produce dishes ranging from orkney scallops grilled on wood from old whiskey barrels, to cauliflower cooked under ash with Spanish truffles, and 32-day-aged Cornish lamb chops served with pink radicchio. And it all comes partnered by low-intervention wines from small artisan vineyards, recommended by Humo’s suitably enchanting sommelier, Merlin.
Details: 12 St. George Street, W1S 2FB | Book Humo
Fonda | Mayfair
KOL is pretty cool, but you might just be fonder of Fonda. It’s the sophomore follow-up to Santiago Lastra’s blisteringly inventive, Michelin-starred hype-magnet, taking up a stylish two storeys on Mayfair’s Heddon Street. It still channels all the creativity of its predecessor, but with a tone that’s more casual and refreshingly accessible. And that menu is packed with mouthwatering Mexican dishes like the costra (a slab of aged ribeye blanketed in grilled cheese) and slow-cooked short rib with mole poblano…
Details: 12 Heddon Street, London, W1B 4BZ | Make a reservation at Fonda
BiBi
BiBi comes to you from Chet Sharma, a former chef at The Ledbury who went on to be head of menu development for JKS (the over-achieving restaurant family that includes Lyle’s and Hoppers). After a long wait, he opened his debut spot in 2021 (to rave reviews, we might add), serving a tasting menu of dishes like raw orkney scallops with Indian lemonade and wood-grilled Lahori chicken with cashew and yoghurt whey, all washed down with a fine list of cocktails.
Details: 42 North Audley Street, Mayfair, W1K 6ZR | Book BiBi
Umu
First things first: Umu is eye-wateringly expensive. Luckily, the lighting’s so dim and the sake so persuasive you won’t really notice till later. With a Michelin star to its name, it’s more than worth the price, too. As one of the best Mayfair restaurants Umu serves, without a doubt, some of the finest Japanese food in London, thanks to the indefatigable attention to detail from chef Yoshinori Ishii. He’s taught the Cornish fishermen who supply the restaurant’s sashimi the art of ike jime, a humane way of killing the catch that preserves the utmost level of tenderness in the meat. Beyond that, he also arranges all the flowers in the restaurant, while the tempura chef (yes, they have a chef just for the tempura) grows all her own vegetables using seeds she brings back from Japan. To say they’re diligent here is an understatement…
Details: 14-16 Bruton Place, W1J 6LX | Book Umu
Sael
Tucked away in St James’s Market, Sael is named after an Old English word for ‘season, time or occasion’. And with Jason Atherton at the helm, dining here certainly is an occasion. The menu changes four times a year, in tune with nature’s evolving bounties, with the cocktail menu trailing close behind by showcasing the fermented fruits of the previous season’s harvest. The quality of the cooking is outstanding, and the interiors are highly glamorous – but the à la carte menu, the generous £32 pre-theatre prix fixe, and the warm, relaxed atmosphere ensures Sael is a restaurant for all seasons.
Details: 1 St James’s Market, London SW1Y 4AH | Book Sael
Claridge’s
Step into one of the city’s most iconic institutions and bask in the art deco glamour of it all, from the stained glass ceilings to the polished brass doors and marble details. Claridge’s Restaurant is one of London’s most beautiful settings for a meal, whether you’re popping by for poached eggs on toast or a slap-up feast of grilled turbot and baked alaska. It’s elegant without being austere, grand without being haughty, and the service is second to none.
Details: Claridge’s, Brook St, London W1K 4HR | Book Claridge’s
Arlington
In 1981, Corbin & King took over a 34 year-old restaurant in St James’s and turned it into one of the city’s most beloved eateries, frequented by a starry troupe of celebrities, models and royalty. And now, a mere couple of decades later, Jeremy King is back in the saddle at the old Le Caprice site, with the restaurant’s long-serving maître d’, Jesus Adorno, on board as well…
Details: 20 Arlington Street, London SW1A 1RG | Book Arlington
Noble Rot Mayfair
Proving that dining in Mayfair doesn’t have to be stuffy, this is the hat trick from wine connoisseurs Dan Keeling and Mark Andrew. Just like its predecessors in Bloomsbury and Soho, it’s a beautifully polished, yet slightly mischievous feeling wine-drenched rendezvous, with bottles to please both novices and wine buffs. And the indulgent Modern European menu, designed by head chef Adam Wood and The Sportsman’s Stephen Harris, is a real winner too…
Details: 5 Trebeck St, Shepherd Market, W1J 7LT | Book Noble Rot
Kitty Fisher’s
Kitty Fisher’s is named after a prominent 17th century British socialite known for once eating a £1,000 banknote at breakfast. You could say she had expensive taste. This eponymous restaurant set in an old Victorian bakery on Shepherd Market doesn’t give you the option of repeating that famous feat, but you can chomp through confit pork belly with XO sauce, grilled venison loin and Belted Galloway wing rib instead. Be sure to finish things off with the sloe-gin and elderflower-based signature cocktail the Bad Kitty, which, in spite of its name, is actually rather good…
Details: 10 Shepherd Market, W1J 7QF | Book Kitty Fisher’s
Row On 5
Jason Atherton’s been on an absolute roll recently, opening Mary’s, Sael and Three Darlings in rapid succession (and nailing them all). The grand finale in his quintet of 2024 openings was Row On 5, a fine dining spot on Mayfair’s famous Savile Row. It’s less a restaurant and more a ‘culinary voyage’ that sees you moving around the building as you progress through multiple courses. And with just a couple of seats available each night, the whole experience feels immaculately tailored.
Details: 5 Savile Row, London W1S 3PB | Make a reservation at Row On 5
Tendril
After popping up across London since 2019, Tendril has finally put down permanent roots by Bond Street station. Easily one of the city’s best vegetarian restaurants, Tendril owes its success to the ingenuity of chef-founder Rishim Sachdeva, who steers clear of all the stereotypes of meat-free dining. Instead, tuck into flavoursome, varied dishes like ratatouille with ras el hanout, smoked tomatoes and crispy polenta, best enjoyed through the very reasonably priced discovery tasting menu.
Details: 5 Princes Street, Oxford Circus, W1B 2LQ | Book Tendril
Hora
If you fancy dining in a gothically low-lit space with black candles on every table, an intimate, almost ritualistic atmosphere, and some absolutely first-class food, then you should get yourself down to Hora. You’ll find it at the tail end of Dover Street, where it occupies a fairly spacious assemblage of avant garde design. But it’s also marshalled by a terrifically talented chef – John Skotidas brings his interlaced Greek, Japanese, and Filipino heritage to bear on a menu packed with wonderful dishes. The tuna crudo comes bathed in a bracingly sharp jalapeño ponzu; the rich smoked eel comes topped with a traditional Greek (and genuinely lovely) egg-lemon sauce; and the picanha steak is glazed with an umami-rich black garlic. And that’s not to mention the vegetables, which include a clever update on the Greek salad (with a thick feta mousse & carob rusks) and a pot of salt-baked chervil resting on velvety chervil puree.
Details: 28-29 Dover St, W1S 4NA | Book Hora
Gymkhana
Gymkhana reopened its doors after a fire a few years ago, and like a phoenix from the ashes, it came back even more opulent and special than before. Dressed up like a Raj-era gymkhana (a sort of Indian country club where high society folk socialised, drank, dined, and played sport), it’s one of those sleek Mayfair restaurants that oozes style throughout. The menu is equally refined, earning a Michelin star back in 2014 and focussing on dishes to share. Highlights include the impressive conical Chettinad duck dosas; as well as fragrant kid goat methi keema; boozy wild tiger prawns inspired by Keralan toddy shops; a game bird baida roti served with girolle achaar pickle; and a Bombay Gymkhana club vegetable cutlet with masala ketchup.
Details: 42 Albemarle Street, W1S 4JH | Book Gymkhana
NIJŪ
Endo Kazutoshi is a master at spinning plates. Not literally; this isn’t that kind of restaurant. But the third generation sushi maestro has seemingly achieved the impossible: opening a slew of successful restaurants across London which each manage to retain not just a high level of quality, but their own individual charm, too. NIJŪ is an intimate little corner spot that specialises in Japan’s ‘katei ryouri‘. Technically, that translates as home cooking, but this is Mayfair – so instead you can expect jewel-like slivers of sashimi; seared wagyu beef; and native lobster donburi. Don’t forget to nip downstairs to the inventive cocktail bar, Nipperkin, for a nightcap.
Details: 20 Berkeley St, Mayfair, W1J 8EE | Book NIJŪ
Sabor
Sabor really has added a little flavour to Mayfair. Amidst the polished dining rooms and white tablecloths, Sabor offers something a little more immediate, where chefs serve dishes directly to diners who can feel the salt and fat hang tantalisingly in the air around them. Head chef and founder is Nieves Barragan Mohacho, a former Barrafina chef who’s earnt herself a star in the blink of an eye. That’s down to the delicate regional Spanish dishes on offer – some served tapas style, some scorched in the asador – and the handpicked selection of Galician beers, sherries, and Basque sparkling wines…
Details: 35-37 Heddon Street, W1B 4BR | Book Sabor
Sketch London
This Sketch is stunningly rendered. Housed in a grandiose townhouse just off Regent Street, it’s a quirky palace of design, fine dining and good drink. There are multiple dining areas – a more casual Parlour for breakfast and light lunches; the stunning Glade with its cocktails and fairytale-esque découpage walls; the famously beautiful Gallery dining room for one of afternoon tea (that’s one of our top picks for best afternoon tea in London) and dinner; and the upstairs Library, one of London’s most beautiful Michelin-starred restaurants, serving stunning Modern European dishes.
Details: 9 Conduit Street, W1S 2XG | Book Sketch
HIDE
Despite all its best attempts to keep a low profile, HIDE was awarded a Michelin star within a year of opening. It was never going to stay hidden for long, considering wunderchef Ollie Dabbous is behind it. The dishes here are curious and inventive, ranging from croissants made with birch sap in the mornings, to nine-course tasting menus and burnt liquorice root with gold leaf in the evenings. In the basement is HIDE Below, a suave, low-lit bar run by Dabbous’ longtime mixology partner, Oskar Kinberg. That birch sap reappears in place of ice to keep drinks cool, while the cellar houses one of the world’s largest wine selections.
Details: 85 Piccadilly, W1J 7NB | Book HIDE
The Cocochine
Justin De Souza
Heads up: The Cocochine is not a casual, wallet-friendly, quick in-n-out affair. But then, you’re reading a guide to the best restaurants in Mayfair, so you know what you’re getting into here. This fine dining spot is the first solo restaurant for Larry Jayasekara, formerly of The Waterside Inn (three Michelin Stars), Michel Bras (three Michelin Stars), and Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons (two Michelin Stars). Needless to say, it’s excellent – though with only a handful of tables, you’ll need to be quick to secure a booking.
Details: 27 Bruton Place, W1J 6NQ | Book The Cocochine
Apricity
Tucked away on a tranquil corner of Mayfair, Apricity isn’t a restaurant to put up with any garbage… Mainly because its complete dedication to zero-waste means nothing ever meets the dreaded landfill. Owner and multi award-winning chef Chantelle Nicholson has unmatched green cred (she’s a won a Green Michelin Star) and, with the help of Eve Seemann, sees to a constantly-changing menu of dishes. The cocktails too are made with the environment in mind – the vodka collins, for instance, is made from the remnants of a rhubarb dessert and wilted herbs from the kitchen.
Details: 68 Duke Street, W1K 6JU | Book Apricity
The Wolseley
Unparalleled in grandeur, style and value, The Wolseley is a true London classic, housed in a monochromatic, marble-clad 1920s car showroom a stone’s throw from The Ritz. It’s an elegant all-day restaurant styled after the European grand café tradition, where you can feast on Viennese pastries and cakes, excellent Sunday roasts, and unfussy brasserie dishes long into the night.
Details: 160 Piccadilly, W1J 9EB | Book The Wolseley
Maru
Third-generation sushi chef Taiji Maruyama works miracles behind the blond wood counter of this eight-seater Mayfair restaurant. Maru is his first solo London venture (after stints at Nobu, and the triple Michelin starred Ginza Koju, in Tokyo’s most upmarket dining district). And he’s wasting no time in blowing everyone away, with a 20 course omakase tasting menu that changes every night…
Details: 18 Shepherd Market, W1J 7QH | Book Maru
Bentley’s Oyster Bar & Grill
Reliable and refined, Bentley’s is one of the older restaurants in Mayfair, having shucked oysters and other shellfish for over 100 years. For the last 17 of them, it’s been in the capable hands of Richard Corrigan, who gives the place an unstuffy atmosphere, despite the postcode. They’re just as happy for you to bed in and order platters of seafood and the fanciest wine on the menu, or drop in after a little shopping or before a show, grab a stool at the bar and neck half a dozen oysters and a bottle of Breton cidre.
Details: 11-15 Swallow Street, W1B 4DG | Book Bentley’s
Bombay Bustle
Bombay Bustle is a cinematically-styled Indian spot designed to resemble a vintage train carriage – and the food here is just the ticket. Coming to you from the co-founder and chef of Michelin-starred Jamavar, it’s easily one of the best Indian restaurants in London: gorge on koliwada squid, tandoori lamb chops and Kerala fish curry while exploring the suitably globe-trotting wine list.
Details: 29 Maddox Street, W1S 2PA | Book Bombay Bustle
SILVA
With high-end restaurants like Umu and The Cocochine in its midst, Bruton Place is already one of the most impressive dining streets in Mayfair – and now it’s got a Silva lining. This elegant all-day restaurant boasts a globe-trotting menu headed up by an ex-Galvin La Chapelle chef, a wine list promoting young and new winemakers from a Pachamama sommelier, and, most importantly, a truffled beef tartare with potato waffle.
Details: 26-28 Bruton Place, W1J 6NG | Book SILVA
Like dining out in the area? Then you’ll be needing a tour of the best Mayfair bars, too…
