Hakkasan Mayfair

Hakkasan is renowned for its high-end glamour: seductive, nightclub-esque interiors, theatrical Cantonese dishes and immaculate service that doesn't skip a beat. The high-octane exclusivity of it all is like an intoxicating drug, pulling you down beneath the affluent streets of Mayfair into a moody subterranean lair.

The entrance is almost imperceptible, apart from a bit of red rope put in place to contain the queues that undoubtedly start forming late evening. Then you’re through to a dark, spotlit corridor, the air thick with incense; someone takes your coat, and the journey begins.

We descend a flight of stairs into a buzzy, barely lit dining room divided by carved oriental screens and spotlit tables, presumably so that diners can still grab some high-quality footage of their dinner despite being plunged into darkness. We confess: Hakkasan's dishes do look good on camera, and it would be a shame to miss the opportunity.

Nearly everything we order comes with a final flourish at the table, performed confidently by a team of well-trained staff. Colourful dim sum unveiled in plumes of steam are filled with the likes of XO scallop and Dover Sole, then finished with gold leaf and caviar. Elsewhere, a fantastic piece of sea bass drizzled in a sweet soy and five spice sauce, plus crispy chunks of pulled duck tossed with zingy pomelo and pine nuts. There’s plenty of showmanship at play here, but behind the bravado is some really delicious cooking.

This extends to dessert with the restaurant’s signature Jivara Bomb - a twist on a Ferrero Rocher drowned in praline sauce - which silenced us for the few seconds it took to inhale it.

It’s easy to run up a hefty bill, with set menus starting at £80 a head and larger dishes often hovering north of £40. Still, for faultless, ultra-flash Cantonese cooking in one of London’s most affluent post codes, Hakkasan remains a hot ticket booking.

Hakkasan Mayfair is a modern Cantonese restaurant on Bruton Street in one of London’s most prestigious districts. Although Hakkasan is now a renowned global brand, this Mayfair location is the restaurant group’s second site in London, following the closure of its location on Hanway Place at the beginning of 2025.

Designed by Christian Liaigre, the restaurant's opulent decor combines intricate wooden screens with ambient lighting and traditional Chinese motifs across two sprawling floors.

The ground floor is home to a more relaxed dining area and a sophisticated bar where diners can choose from a selection of signature cocktails, including aromatic drinks like a Lychee Martini and its signature The Hakka. While the downstairs dining room, at basement level, offers an immersive and atmospheric dining experience that’s particularly suited to dinner reservations.

Hakkasan Mayfair specialises in contemporary Cantonese cuisine and offers a broad range of menus catering to everything from quick business lunches to luxurious dinners. On the a la carte menu, you’ll find dim sum, small eats, soups, salads and an array of sharing dishes, including a couple of ‘supreme’ options, such as its signature Peking duck, which you can order with or without caviar. Elsewhere, popular orders include the steamed dim sum selection, Wagyu beef Shanghai dumplings, black truffle roasted duck with tea plant mushroom, and slow roasted Iberico pork char siu with black garlic glaze.

Diners can also choose from its dim sum lunch offering, the ‘Taste of Hakkasan’ set menu, an array of signature menus, and a brunch offering on weekends only. All are available at an array of different price points, starting from just £29 per person, ensuring every budget is catered for. For those with dietary requirements, Hakkasan Mayfair also offers a good selection of vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free dishes.