Mayfair’s that part of London where even the air feels expensive. You can’t walk two steps without bumping into some private member’s club or a restaurant that probably has three Michelin stars just for existing. But here’s the thing — not all the fancy spots are worth it. Some of them are just shiny plates and small portions with no soul. So if you’re gonna drop real money, it better be somewhere that actually delivers. Here’s where to go when you want to do fine dining without feeling like you got scammed.
Sketch (The Lecture Room & Library)
Sketch is like walking into the fever dream of someone who’s very rich and very bored. It’s ridiculous. Giant pink rooms, waiters who look like they wandered out of an art gallery, and food that actually lives up to the hype. The Lecture Room & Library is the serious bit — not the Instagrammable tea room everyone posts. Three Michelin stars, and somehow still not stuck up. You’ll leave full, a little drunk, and wondering if that was the best meal of your life or just the weirdest.
Gymkhana
If you want Indian food that makes you rethink everything you thought you knew about Indian food, Gymkhana’s the move. Dark wood, hunting lodge vibes, leather booths, and food that actually brings heat without showing off about it. Get the wild muntjac biryani. Don’t think about it, just do it. It’s fancy but still warm. Like they want you to stay for hours, not just turnover the table. Plus, it’s Mayfair, but it doesn’t feel like you have to whisper your order and pretend you know what half the menu means.
Scott’s
You know that restaurant that’s in every movie when rich people go out to eat? Scott’s is that place. Oysters at the bar, martinis that could knock out a horse, white tablecloths, and staff who somehow manage to be both perfectly professional and totally chill. Go for seafood, obviously. Sit outside if it’s nice — watch the parade of suits, tiny dogs, and confused tourists who accidentally wandered into the wrong postcode. It’s old-school posh without being boring.
Hide
Hide feels like someone took a spaceship and made it really, really good at serving food. The building’s nuts — spiraling wooden staircases, massive windows, everything bathed in this weird natural light. You can go for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, but dinner’s where they really flex. Tasting menus that actually make sense, not just ten versions of the same foam on a plate. It’s fine dining for people who hate fine dining. Also, the wine list is stupid good — like, book-a-somm-stupid.
Sexy Fish
Yeah, it’s called Sexy Fish. Get over it. This place is pure chaos in the best way. Neon lights, giant bronze mermaids, people in dresses worth more than your rent. But — the food slaps. Asian fusion, heavy on the seafood, and it’s actually legit. It’s loud, it’s ridiculous, and you will spend too much money. But if you want a night that feels like a scene out of a movie where everyone’s slightly too good-looking and slightly too drunk, this is the move. Bonus points if you follow your dinner with a visit to London Reign for the ultimate night plan.
Benares
If Gymkhana’s where you go for the rich hunting lodge vibe, Benares is where you go for polished modern Indian fine dining. Dark interiors, soft lighting, plates that look like little pieces of art but actually taste even better. It’s not “heavy curry night” — it’s elegant, layered stuff that makes you kinda emotional halfway through the main course. They take the service seriously too, but not in that cold, robotic way. You’ll leave feeling properly looked after.
Hakkasan Mayfair
Hakkasan’s basically a nightclub that happens to serve insanely good Chinese food. Dark, moody, smells like incense, sounds like someone’s DJing in the corner even if they’re not. You’re coming here for the crispy duck salad, the dim sum, and the black pepper beef that makes you reconsider everything you thought you knew about beef. It’s expensive and it knows it. But it’s also genuinely excellent. Bonus points for it somehow making a room full of people dressed like fashion week models feel kinda normal after a couple cocktails.
34 Mayfair
Steakhouse energy but with Mayfair money behind it. Big booths, chandeliers, and a grill that knows what it’s doing. 34 Mayfair’s where you go if you want something a bit less fussy but still very much in the “I paid way too much but don’t care” category. They do proper seafood too, and sometimes they have jazz nights, which sounds cringe but actually kinda slaps when you’re a few glasses of red in. Go hungry, leave heavier, don’t even try to feel guilty about it.
Claridge’s Restaurant
Claridge’s is the definition of Mayfair luxury — the hotel itself looks like a museum for rich people — but the restaurant’s not stuck in the past. It’s sleek. Properly modern. Real grown-up food that actually feels exciting. Nothing’s trying too hard here. The staff are mind-readers. You’ll start off feeling like you need to sit up straight and use the right fork, but about halfway through you’ll relax into it. Order dessert even if you’re full. It’s Mayfair. That’s the rule.
Novikov
Technically Russian-owned. Technically two restaurants in one — Asian and Italian — but if you’re here, you’re probably just here to be seen. And honestly? That’s part of the fun. The Asian side’s got crazy good sushi, tempura, stuff you’ll dream about later. The Italian side is fine, but less exciting. The people-watching’s next level. Footballers, influencers, someone who looks like they own an oil company. Everyone’s pretending not to stare, but we’re all staring. Lean into it.
Central London’s got a million places where you can drop £200 and walk away wondering why you even bothered. Mayfair’s different. If you’re gonna spend, spend properly. Go somewhere that feels alive — not just another place ticking boxes for the Michelin Guide. Somewhere you actually want to stay longer. Somewhere that makes you forget how much you spent halfway through dessert because you’re too busy having a good time.
Anyway. That’s Mayfair for you. Bring your wallet, bring your appetite, and maybe bring a good story to tell after, too.
