Isabel

One of the original purveyors of ‘Mayfair glam’, Isabel hangs its hat on looking good. The entrance does a lot of the talking: two suited-up doormen check our reservation, then we’re in, through shiny brass doors into a polished foyer with a huge, mirrored wall that’s practically screaming at you to take a selfie. Looks matter at Isabel, that much is made clear, and it's hard not to get swept off your feet by the seductiveness of it all. 

Steer to the right and you’ll find yourself in its glittering restaurant. The room’s jewel is a radiant central bar, half of which hangs from the ceiling by shiny gold rods, with an enviable selection of top shelf spirits on show. These are backlit for maximum impact and look beautiful against the Macassar wood-clad counter below. The theme continues: a futuristic gold mirrored ceiling, rich fabric-lined walls, more gold finishes, more dark wooden textures. The cumulative impact of these things is quite mesmerising. 

As expected, the Mediterranean-inspired menu goes heavy on luxurious ingredients - Champagne risotto, lobster linguine, and wagyu toasties which come with optional caviar for an extra £20. Prices are reflective of its location, but you're paying for the vibe just as much as the food at a place like this.  

We enjoyed little pockets of freshly made ravioli filled with meaty, slow-cooked venison, and a flaky piece of seabass served with a buttery pine nut ‘tartare’. If we had one note, it would be that the seasoning was a little inconsistent, which left certain dishes a tad one-dimensional. Still, dessert was anything but. A delicious tiramisu was held together by a cylindrical mold which, when pulled away, collapsed into a pool of sweet mascarpone.  

Naturally, cocktails are worthy of the bar they’re served from, with playful garnishes (think jelly-filled lime segments) and house-infused syrups, while non-alcoholics are just as special.  

Isabel’s star-studded appeal caters to a specific audience, but if you’re in town and have cash to spare, you’ll have plenty of fun spending it here.  

Elegant Isabel is one of Mayfair’s most recognisable destination restaurants, sitting at the top of Albemarle Street. The location, right on the edge of London’s glamorous fashion district, is a big part of the charm, but Isabel backs it up with jaw-dropping, glamorous Art Deco interiors.

Inside, Isabel feels special, from walls and surfaces panelled in macassar wood, to draped silk tapestries, and an intoxicating mirrored gold ceiling. No wonder it has attracted celebrities galore, including the likes of Noel Gallagher, Sienna Miller, Alicia Vikander, Michael Fassbender and Robert Pattinson. Isabel is a restaurant where the interior design is as striking as the designer clothes modelled by its customers.

The menu has a distinct Mediterranean feel to it, leaning towards high-end luxury dishes like a whole lobster with hollandaise gratin, a 1kg T-bone steak to share, and Champagne risotto with gold leaf. You’ll also see little hints of South American flair on Isabel’s menu as well, hidden away in dishes like the john dory with mojo verde, and hand-dived scallop with aguachile, samphire, blackberry and radish.

As well as the a la carte, Isabel also offers a well-priced express lunch, where guests can order a set menu of one, two or three courses.

You’re also very welcome to stop in for drinks and sit up at the stunning bar with a cocktail or glass of wine and some ‘para picar’ nibbles. Isabel’s cocktail menu celebrates agave with a curated collection of tequila and mezcal-based cocktails, ranging from the smokey, refreshing Isabel Paloma to the Galatina - a delicate mix of strawberry yoghurt-washed tequila blanco, Grand Marnier and Supasawa.