The best restaurants in Mayfair

Traditional Indian cooking is given contemporary flair at the Michelin-starred Benares. Delhi-born Executive Chef Sameer Taneja creates an impressive menu sourcing some of Britain's finest local ingredients, marrying together with spices from the subcontinent.

Dine like the French at this cosy haunt, tucked behind Claridge’s. The likes of snails in garlic butter and French onion tart set the tone, served alongside an exclusively Gallic wine list and fine Champagnes.

A riot of colour, this is a very Piccadilly take on Peruvian cuisine - think top-notch ingredients and endless Pisco Sours. For the full experience, join Coya’s raucous brunch parties, where table dancing is practically encouraged.

The top floor of this three-pronged concept from Ollie Dabbous offers widely spaced tables and enticing views of Green Park. Expect a tasting menu which intrigues and excites, but is best reserved for ultra-special occasions.

Mayfair isn't short of exceptional Mediterranean restaurants, and this entry inside the new Chancery Rosewood hotel is another belter. Led by chef de cuisine Alex Povall (formerly Berenjak), menus champion Greek and Italian cuisine with a whirlwind of fluffy breads, dips, fresh pasta dishes and grills. 

Boasting an opulence that’s hard to come by these days, China Tang’s art-deco interiors and accomplished dim sum have helped it to become something of an institution; supermodel Kate Moss even hosted her 40th here.

A quietly excellent Mediterranean restaurant tucked away on Bruton Place, SILVA brings its luxurious interiors and flawless cooking to this prestigious corner of Mayfair. Its day-to-night menus are rooted in seasonality, with a brunch offering added to the roster on weekends. 

Make your way up the spiral staircase of Sabor to find El Asador, a relaxed dining room with exposed bricks and long wooden tables overlooking an open kitchen. Dishes are cooked in a traditional wood fired oven and large copper pans to offers guests an authentic Galician experience.

Housed inside a stunning Grade II Listed townhouse in the rather lovely, very secluded Medici Courtyard, The Maine has a variety of rooms, often featuring different themes and menus. Many will gravitate towards the luxurious New England clam chowder and lobster rolls of The Brasserie, but we also love the enormous terrace, where oysters are a speciality.

Samyukta Nair has done it again, bringing a vibrant new Italian to the heart of Mayfair. Blending neighbourhood warmth with understated elegance, Nipotina is all about handcrafted pastas, and refined family recipes, with a few theatrical moments thrown in for good measure - think tableside Negronis and a roaming dessert trolley. 

Not even a disastrous fire could extinguish the glow of celeb favourite Gymkhana, which has reopened with an updated dining room. Everything is excellent, but we highly encourage making a beeline for the celebrated game dishes.

Unashamedly plush and polished, Scott’s is old-school Mayfair at its best. Take your pick of lobsters, oysters and crabs from the ostentatious central seafood bar, and don’t forget to explore the extensive Champagne list either.

Tom Sellers has an immaculate reputation when it comes to restaurants, and his third site Dovetale is no different. Focusing on sustainability and seasonality, this ethos can be seen throughout the food and decor - oh and don’t miss the knickerbocker glory for pud, it’s made on a retro ice cream cart.

Originally opened in 2004 on Bruton Place, this old-school institution is revered for its Franco-Belgian cooking and unrivalled French wine list. Parisian brasserie decor offers an elegant backdrop, while an oyster bar opens for lunch every day, serving oysters, open sandwiches and hearty brasserie classics. 

This four-storey restaurant on Bruton Place is the epitome of luxury fine dining in London. The beauty is in the details, from carefully installed lighting to a temperature-controlled bread cabinet, while head chef Larry Jayasekara's finely-tuned cooking is some of the best in the capital.

Primely placed on Heddon Street, Casa’s Mayfair outpost is the perfect stop off for those looking to enjoy vibrant Algarvian-inspired cooking in a cosy, slightly rustic dining room. Expect sharing plates of salt cod fritters, piri-piri prawns and Iberico croquettes before wood-charcoal grilled piri-piri chicken. Be sure to save room for a couple of pastel de nata.

With the party-centric Berkeley Street outpost signing off, you can still get your Nobu fix in this quieter corner of Mayfair. Expect minimalist interiors, masterful Japanese fare and some rather charming views of Hyde Park.

Assuming you’ve not been living under a rock, you’ve probably already heard of Mount St Restaurant’s signature dish: the lobster pie. Oozing opulence across every element, expect extravagant décor too, from gold rimmed tables to intricate mosaic flooring. 

A reminder of just how good Indian cuisine can be in the right hands, Jamavar impresses with its wood-panelled dining room and line-up of regionally inspired dishes where there’s hardly a dud to be found.

Life-affirming hospitality comes as standard at Richard Corrigan operations and things are no different at Bentley’s. Shuck oysters to your heart’s content in the basement or head to the upstair’s grill for excellent Irish steaks.

Swiping a star within weeks of opening, Row on 5 has quickly become one of those must-visit restaurants. Covering a whopping 15 courses of prime British cooking spearheaded by Jason Atherton and Spencer Metzger, guests travel between two rooms for a parade of precise dishes that showcase premium ingredients, fantastic wine pairings, and some really clever, technical cooking. 

Elevating traditional Indian flavours with modern cooking techniques, the menu at this swish Mayfair restaurant features a selection of tasty chaat dishes and grills perfect for sharing. Book here for contemporary, approachable food that pushes boundaries and uses the best seasonal ingredients. 

Since Adam Byatt took the reigns at this storied Mayfair hotel, the restaurant has gone from strength to strength. Come here for conscientious, classic British cooking in a staunchly old-school wood-panelled dining room. 

Championing sustainability and low waste cooking, Apricity uses produce from small-scale farmers, locally foraged ingredients and low intervention wines to continue its mission towards sustainable dining. As for the décor? Rustic walls and a natural feel gel perfectly with the general ethos of this restaurant.

Samyukta Nair who is behind both Mayfair’s Jamavar and Bombay Bustle has opened MiMi Mei Fair, a fine dining Chinese restaurant that's up there with the likes of Hakkasan and Park Chinois. 

Riffing on the nostalgia of 1930s Shanghai, just with a more modern playful twist, you'll find Shanghai Me perched above London, serving up authentic Pan-Asian dishes rooted in simplicity and always made with quality ingredients. From business lunches to dim sum discovery, leisurely dinners, and spectacular cocktails, this is the spot for those in the know.

Angela Hartnett's flagship restaurant, Murano offers Mayfair dining at its very best. The Brit-Italian menu and extensive wine list continues to thrill diners, while the set lunch is something of a steal in this postcode.

One of London's finest omakase experiences, come to Taku with hours to spare and plenty of space for ultra-lux Japanese ingredients. The atmosphere here in this gastro-temple is one of hushed reverence - one for serious foodies. 

One of Mayfair's most recognisable destination restaurants, Isabel dazzles with its draped silk tapestries, mirrored ceilings and lavishly-decorated loos. Prices are high, but dishes are tuned with precision, and span indulgent Mediterranean sharing plates and grills. 

Formal, but never fussy, Corrigan’s has made a name for itself with its unwaveringly polished service and some of the best game dishes you can find. It’s no surprise the restaurant has endured so long.

This opulent take on a 1930s Shanghai speakeasy is built for big-ticket, special occasion dining - perfect for the Mayfair crowd, then. From the menu of decadent dim sum, try Wagyu beef gyoza and truffle dumplings.

Not all the best restaurants in Mayfair are fancy! This welcoming pub and Mayfair institution has been serving up British classics (including grass-fed beef cooked over a grill) and local ales to punters since 1952.

The pinnacle of old-fashioned luxury, Michelin-starred Ormer Mayfair is a culinary icon, nestled inside Fleming's Hotel. Sofian Msetfi's tasting menus walk a tightrope between classic and contemporary, served alongside a wine list longer than your arm, and service that never falters. 

The revamped dining room has swapped out dark wood for pastel pinks, but you can still expect haute cuisine at Helene Darroze's London flagship. For an extra special treat, reserve the pink marble chef’s table.

Yannick Alleno, the holder of 17 Michelin stars across 17 international restaurants, brings his exemplary cooking to the Four Seasons hotel in Mayfair. Grab a seat at the counter to watch the team of talented chefs prepare the likes of langoustine tart with caviar in front of you.

A short blip in 2020 when it had to close its doors due to the pandemic hasn't made Langan's any less fabulous. Many an A-lister has partied at this iconic restaurant and bar over the years, and its legendary status is still very much intact. 

Forget all of the cliches of Spanish food and embrace Sabor’s authentic brand of tapas that you won’t find anywhere else in the UK. Counter dining overlooking an open chef’s kitchen adds to the fun.

A second restaurant from KOL chef Santiago Lastra, which delves further into some more traditional Mexican techniques, albeit whilst sticking to his rule of using exclusively British ingredients. Fonda is home to the finest Baja fish taco in London, and an impressive cocktail programme centred around tequila and mezcal. 

Three Michelin stars means expectations are high at this Dorchester haunt, but they are always met. The dining room’s serene atmosphere is matched by a menu that's deeply thoughtful, but free of fuss or gimmicks.

Montcalm Mayfair’s signature restaurant, Lilli comes to us from the eponymous Korean chef of Michelin star fame. Here, inside the boutique hotel, Back offers a distinctive take on British cuisine, blending in varied global influences. Expect to see his signature wagyu pizza, alongside beef Wellington and wasabi celeriac.

Stylish and seductive, Hakkasan continues to win over diners with its intoxicating brand of moody interiors, best-in-class dim sum and premium sakes. Impress your beau on date night by ordering the signature Peking duck.

Boasting three Michelin stars, this corner of pleasure palace Sketch is a love letter to gastronomic excess, with the highly-stylised menu of indulgent fare matched only by the plush jewel tones of the dining room.

A bizarre concept hailing from Stockholm, this immersive tasting menu experience takes diners on a 20-course (ish) journey that's unique every time. There's no menu online, but the brand have become known for their caviar bumps and sweet wine syringes. You've been warned...