Best restaurants in Mayfair: our editors' picks

Here are our favourite Mayfair restaurants, from tapas in Heddon Street to afternoon tea just off Piccadilly and date night bistros in Shepherd Market. Now discover new restaurants in London, the best restaurants in Fitzrovia, the best restaurants in Marylebone and the best restaurants in Notting Hill.

Our expert's personal recommendations

"On the cusp of Mayfair, Sabor is still one of my favourite restaurants – Nieves Barragán and José Etura are perfect hosts, the Spanish vibes take me back to my heart's home and the suckling pig is one of my death row meals.

In Mayfair proper, Noble Rot delivers time and again (go when it's your birthday for the baked-to-order madeleines)." Alex Crossley

Trèsind, Hanover Street

Tasting menus aren’t usually my thing – too many dainty plates, not enough of what I crave – but Trèsind Mayfair gets the balance right. The sleek, modernist room near Oxford Circus is the London debut from the team behind Dubai’s three-Michelin-starred Trèsind Studio.

The food is inspired by the whole subcontinent. Two classic tasting menus are offered: veg and non-veg (there’s also a chef’s signature taster), which made the decision easy: we had both.

Seven courses had the rhythm of a rollercoaster – some just a couple of bites, others sharing sized. My standouts were mushroom chai, smoky with a crisp za'atar cannolo for dunking; and tandoori morels, blistered from the clay oven in rich chilli gravy.

My partner swooned over the chaat, creamy with yogurt, surprising with strawberry, avocado and pomelo; and dramatically presented tandoori tiger prawn, upright and begging to be admired. Curries balanced portion size and variety: silky butter chicken and Bengali kosha mangsho (mutton), soft enough to eat with a spoon. Optional khichdi – head chef Amit Bagyal’s personal favourite – is a theatrical must: a nutty dhal finished tableside with 20 ingredients.

Dessert reworked payesh into a delicate structure of yogurt, ice cream and milk crisp. Neither of us had tried Indian wine before, but Fratelli Vineyards' chardonnay-sauvignon blanc was crisp and cool, cutting cleanly through the spice. tresind.co.uk

MIKO Mei Fair, Curzon Street

This new Thai dining room in a Georgian townhouse in Mayfair comes with expectations: restaurateur Samyukta Nair is behind Jamavar, Bombay Bustle and MiMi Mei Fair, the kind of pedigree that sets the bar high. We weren't disappointed.

The kitchen is led by chef Soonthorn Apaipat, previously head chef at KOYN Thai, whose ingredient-first instincts of balance, depth and freshness shape a sharing menu. The setting screams special occasion – teal and timber panelling, red leather banquettes and gold-leaf lotus motifs split the space into salon-style rooms – but the food whispers from the streets of Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Tableside larb set the theatrical tone: herbs, spices and rice pounded, mixed and stirred through chicken mince.

Want it hotter? It's yours.

Sharper with lime juice? Or an extra splash of fish sauce?

Your larb, your choice. Black pepper squid followed, crispy yet chewy; chicken satay came loose-sauced and tender, nothing like sad supermarket versions; tiger prawn pla-ra arrived as impressive as a small lobster, meaty as monkfish.

Then two dishes competed for stardom: apple wood-fired Panang duck curry, sliced on the bias, soaking in aromatic coconut sauce; and crab fried rice, the finest we've had, every grain separate, the crab running through it as seasoning rather than sitting in chunks. Both exceptional. mikomeifair.com

Sabor, Heddon Street – for authentic tapas vibes

With a friendly service style and nods to Andalucían tapas bars (colourful tiles, high tables), Nieves Barragán Mohacho and José Etura have nailed the authentic feel of bars found all over Spain. Wait in the lively brick-walled bar area and whet your appetite with mushroom croquetas and cured presa Iberica.

Charismatic José will then seat you at a counter overlooking the open kitchen, where conversation with the Spanish chefs is encouraged. Sabor means ‘flavour’ in Spanish, and there’s plenty of that in the restaurant’s small plates – tiny deep-fried shrimp served with a crispy, paprika-dusted fried egg, golden croquetas and chubby mussels ‘a la Bilbaina’ slurped up a light sauce of tomatoes, sherry, sherry vinegar and herbs. Sobrasada, the soft paprika sausage from Menorca, come in a rusty rubble on top of lightly crushed new potatoes, bobbing in a garlic cream.

Desserts tick every box – chocolatey bombas, sharp and creamy rhubarb and mascarpone tartlets, and an inspired goat’s cheese ice cream with a liquorice sauce rounded off a perfect meal. The all-Spanish wine list begins with txakoli, the lightly effervescent Basque wine that’s poured from a dramatic height.

Or try fresh and zingy rosé with a touch of red fruit, along with a couple of saline fino sherries. There’s vermouth on tap, too! saborrestaurants.co.uk

Ambassadors Clubhouse – for Michelin-Starred Indian

Luxurious Punjabi cuisine is the heart of the offering at Ambassadors Clubhouse, a venture from the team behind Michelin-starred Gymkhana. Taking inspiration from the party mansions and palaces of northern India, its menus are ideal for get togethers, set in a sultry, darkly opulent setting.

Menu highlights include its famous BBQ butter chicken chops, achari duck chaat with masala mathai and decadent tawa masala crab cheela. For vegetarians, try the smoky dunghar paneer tikka with kaju masala and creamy malai morel mattar.

Round the evening off with the indulgent gur malai toast with saunfiyan apples and burnt ghee ice cream. The attentive staff are on hand to guide you through every dish with expert precision, and there’s an after-hours party bar called Ambassy downstairs too. ambassadorsclubhouse.com

MAZA – for retro Greek glam

There’s a retro Athenian house party feel at this vibrant restaurant from the owners of Mazi and Suzi Tros. Homely tavern-style touches include framed handwritten recipes from owner Christina’s grandmother and custom-made rugs, plus plenty of disco glitz, from mirrored bathrooms to a DJ spinning uplifting 80’s tunes.

As well as classic retro cocktails, there's a seven-strong martini list featuring savoury mastiha-laced ‘tzatziki’ and a clarified take on the bloody mary, ‘Santorini’. Plus, the largest all-Greek wine list in the country. Kick off with hunks of griddled brioche-like leek bread to scoop up thick, creamy tzatziki and a zippy tuna carpaccio dressed in Mediterranean-style ponzu.

Georgian-influenced chatsapouri, a truffle-topped baked dough filled with melting cheeses and aubergine marmalade is an indulgent must-order. Balance with the Greek salad, a riot of fresh, crunchy classics blanketed in crumbly, herb-flecked feta. For sharing mains, sliced octopus is as tender as you’d expect from hours cooked low and slow then charred on the grill, while the juiciest chicken souvlaki is finished with pots of paprika and honey mustard sauce.

Mazi’s much-loved baklava ice cream sandwich has made the dessert menu, with high-quality pistachios offering a deep, nutty flavour to the semifreddo-style ice cream blocks and crisp wafer edges. mazamayfair.com

Mount St. Restaurant, Mount Street — for London classics

On the first floor of The Audley, the Mayfair landmark pub transformed by Artfarm, Mount St Restaurant has bold, timeless style in its light-flooded dining room. There’s art on every surface, from the floor to laden walls, including feature pieces such as Still Life with White Carbs by Keith Tyson.

Chef Jamie Shears’s menu of London classics includes lobster pie, and lamb and beef are sourced from Durslade, its farm in Somerset. mountstrestaurant.com

Temaki, Maddox Street – for hand rolls

Having visited Temaki's original Brixton site, I was thrilled to see the hand roll bar return in chic new Mayfair surroundings. The intimate 15-seat counter keeps the focus firmly on the chefs, who deftly assemble each order in front of you, creating a relaxed, lively atmosphere.

As the name suggests, hand rolls are the main event, with a selection of small plates on the menu. We started with crispy rice topped with akami tuna before moving on to a line-up of temaki filled with spicy trout, salmon and avocado, and miso aubergine.

Our favourite was the day's special: seabass with crispy chilli, balancing delicate slices of fish with just the right amount of heat and crunch. Clever pippette-topped bottles of soy sauce allow you to season each roll without softening the crisp nori.

To drink we tried the waiter-recommended Soñadora macabeo, whose fresh acidity was a great match for the seafood. If cocktails are more your thing, the Japanese-inspired offering includes Hojicha & Black Sesame Manhattan, Yuki Nori Margarita and Yuzu & Sakura Sour – reason enough for a return visit. Keep an eye on the handwritten chalkboard for the day's hand roll specials, which are well worth trying before they sell out. temaki.co.uk

Jamavar, Mount Street – for upscale Indian dining

Jamavar brings a sense of regal opulence to Mayfair, with its rainforest and emperador marble, dark timber panelling and striking artworks by Jayasri Burman.

Executive chef Surender Mohan’s menu weaves together the grandeur of northern Indian royal kitchens and the vibrant coastal flavours of the south, all underpinned by seasonal British produce. Standout dishes include the soft shell crab, lightly battered and peppered, and the dakshini jhinga – charred wild prawns from the tandoor served with a punchy roasted peanut and curry leaf chutney.

Mains are equally impressive: the Old Delhi butter chicken, made with Suffolk corn-fed chicken, is a reminder of why the classic became iconic, while the laal maas – Hampshire lamb shank slow-cooked in Rajasthani chilli – offers deep, lingering spice. Bread is essential for mopping up the rich sauces, but don’t miss the dum tarkari biryani or the velvety 24-hour cooked dal Jamavar. This is destination dining for anyone seeking Indian cuisine with finesse and a sense of occasion. jamavarrestaurants.com

Labombe by Trivet, Old Park Lane – for Michelin-starred à la carte dining Labombe sits in the corner of the COMO Metropolitan London with its own street entrance, so it feels like a standalone Mayfair wine bar rather than a hotel restaurant. The room is pared-back but plush – warm woods, soft lighting and an open kitchen that keeps the atmosphere lively – and the cooking is modern European with the occasional wink to nose-to-tail.

It’s just earned a Michelin star. The menu is à la carte and built for grazing, snacks, starters, grills and a few generous mains.

We started with the signature hot tongue bun – thinly sliced tongue stacked in toasted brioche with sharp pickles – essentially a very posh hot dog. Duck heart and cherry skewers were the bolder follow-up, the hearts wrapped in melting lardo and lifted by lightly pickled fruit.

Hand-rolled pici pasta came glossed in a rich madeira and mushroom sauce, while seabass crudo was brightened with orange ponzu and a pleasing, fermented anchovy funk. Mains were more comforting, a plate-sized veal schnitzel and meaty chunks of monkfish with coco beans in glossy chicken sauce.

We were too full for pudding but our neighbouring table’s rhubarb frangipane tart had us plotting a return. labombe.co.uk

Chargal, Berkeley Street – for classic Turkish flavours

Situated on Berkeley Street, just steps away from Green Park, Chargal is bringing an elevated Mediterranean-Turkish experience to the heart of London. This three-storey establishment offers a lively ground floor bar, fine dining and a late-night lounge experience under one roof.

Whatever vibe you’re there for, expect exceptional service from the team. Open-fire cooking is the lifeblood of the menu.

Pure-bred wagyu is a staple of the menu, as well as lamb dishes cooked with classic Turkish flavours. The menu is perfect for sharing, so start with some hot and cold meze dishes. We recommend the wagyu kofte piyaz, chargrilled halloumi with cherry, hot honey and sesame, and of course the mixed meze which includes cacık, muhammara and hummus with seasonal crudites.

When it comes to larger plates, the mangal section of the menu has some fabulous options but don’t dismiss the fish market plates too quickly. The Greek wild seabass with smoked bay leaf, honey lemon dressing and samphire is excellent, packed with flavours that elevate the fish.

On the drinks menu the signature cocktails are a great opportunity to try some new flavours and the mocktails give a nice refreshment to enjoy with dinner – we recommend the Passiflora mocktail, combining the flavours of passion fruit, ginger and honey. chargal.com Daka Daka, Heddon Street – for modern Georgian and natural wine

Georgia is the world’s oldest wine-producing country, with 8,000 years of viticulture woven into its culture – and DakaDaka on Heddon Street puts that heritage front and centre. This modern Georgian restaurant and natural wine bar comes from Giorgi Mindiashvili and chef-patron Mitz Vora, with a list of more than 100 bottles curated by Honey Spencer, one of the UK’s most influential sommeliers and a leading voice in natural wine. We started, naturally, with an amber wine fermented on skins in the Georgian tradition: textured, savoury and a perfect match for the food.

The kitchen, led by head chef Adrian Hernandez Farina, cooks over charcoal and a wood-fired hearth, and the menu leans into Georgia’s most defining dishes. We began with lobio – a kidney bean hummus slicked with ajika chilli crisp – earthy and smoky, made for scooping.

Then came the khinkali, hand-folded soup dumplings served steaming hot. The iberico pork pluma and aged beef versions arrived with cracked black pepper and a burst of slurpable broth inside, the kind of dish that makes you slow down.

From the grill, kababi skewers brought smoke and spice, while penovani (flaky, cheese-filled pastry) was rich and moreish. We moved on to shkmeruli, roast chicken in a confit garlic sauce, glossy and deeply savoury. Dessert kept things Georgian too.

Napoleon, the regional mille-feuille, came layered with dulce de leche cream and caramel – delicately crisp and not overly sweet. instagram.com/dakadaka.london The Audley Public House, Mount Street – for a buzzy pub

The dark polished wood and interior of The Audley scream traditional Victorian pub (and this one has been on the site since 1888) but look closer and you’ll see quirky artworks and pops of vibrant modern colour from the recent refurb, including a specially commissioned mosaic artwork from Phyllida Barlow which covers the ceiling in a riot of hot pink, orange and turquoise. It’s walk-in only here which gives the place a buzzy atmosphere, even in this quite fancy bit of Mayfair. The casual vibe extends to the ordering (no table service) – just order your food at the bar alongside drinks.

All the usual pub favourites (fish and chips, sausage and mash, chicken pie) are present and correct but elevated with meat sourced from the owners’ farm in Somerset and Cornish day boat fish. There are also some fun surprises like the London Dip – a hearty sandwich of slow roasted, thinly sliced beef served with a pot of gravy for dipping – and bowls of cheesy chips with curry mayo sauce and jalapeños.

The wide beer selection includes brewers like Deya, alongside more traditional cask offerings from Battersea brewer Sambrook’s. theaudleypublichouse.com

Corrigan’s Mayfair

Richard Corrigan's namesake restaurant is a prime example of classic, well-polished dining you can rely on time and again. It's Irish leaning, though produce comes from across the UK, with a focus on seafood and game.

Arrive early for a martini, pear 75 or perfectly poured Guinness at Dickie's Bar before sweeping through a contemporary forest-like partition to the restaurant proper. Here, teal banquettes and chairs are arranged around tables topped with crisp white cloths and brass lamps, and staff stationed at the central bar swiftly attend to every need. A trio of bites kick things off – pig head croquettes, sea trout blinis and cheese gougères, while Lincolnshire poacher hand patted butter to slather on Bentleys soda bread is a real highlight.

Sommeliers pair dishes with the likes of zippy alvarinho or floral, fruity Hunter Valley semillon, both with plenty of minerality to balance the seafood dishes. This might be a huge Orkney scallop, roe intact, topped with bacon jam, followed by grilled Cornish red mullet arranged alongside a huge langoustine and squiggles of torched squid in shellfish bisque.

For dessert, the iconic shaved bergamot-topped chocolate fondant melts into earl grey ice cream, while a surprising highlight is passion fruit soufflé, a caramelised white chocolate poured inside with buttermilk and lemon sorbet balanced on top. corrigansmayfair.co.uk

TOKii, Great Cumberland Place – for authentic Japanese

From its shabu-shabu hotpot, in which diners gently cook ingredients, to the yellowtail fish carpaccio, this modish Japanese restaurant at the Prince Akatoki hotel serves many beautiful, engaging dishes. For up-close insight into its chefs’ work, take a seat for the omakase menu (£100pp), an 11-course exploration of exquisite ingredients led by sushi chef Kazuyo Okuda. tokii.co.uk

The Guinea Grill, Bruton Place – for quality cuts in historic pub Meaty mains beg to be experienced at this characterful pub-restaurant, so we plumped for beef, Guinness and oyster Pie (to share) to kick off proceedings (though the devilled kidneys on toast, and seared scallops on the table next to us, looked very appetising). Topped with a crispy oyster and melted cheese, it set the tone for the next grand entrance – a magnificent côte de boeuf, presented at the table before being flamed on the grill and served with brandy peppercorn sauce, crispy layered pancetta confit potatoes and parmesan-creamed sweetcorn.

For pudding, the crème brûlée crackled satisfyingly under the spoon, while the bread and butter pudding was surprisingly light and fluffy. Olive tip: If you’re visiting in the evening, try to skip lunch to take full advantage of the meaty fare.

As well as starters, salads and mains, add-ons include lamb cutlet, calf's liver, lamb kidneys, black pudding and haggis. theguinea.co.uk

Tendril, Princes St – for veg-first small plates

Chef Rishim Sachdeva’s largely vegan menu brims with considered, delicate veg cooking.

Dishes are vegan unless otherwise specified (dairy occasionally features) and sing with incredible balance. Highlights include a crispy beetroot bao and roast squash tostada, and a must order vegan tiramisu. tendrilkitchen.co.uk

Silva, Bruton Place – for varied all-day dining

Silva, the Latin word for forest, carries this theme in its interiors with woodland friezes and natural tones in the airy dining room and snug bar.

A compact, seasonal menu takes inspiration from the Med and Japan with a raw section designed to wake up the palate – wild sea bass crudo, jalapeño, yuzu and ginger dressing has delicate tang. Classic steak tartare is made hearty by topping a chunky potato waffle and a signature dish of crispy egg with girolle and parmesan sauce is also a generous starter.

Lighter mains like roasted cauliflower with butter beans and caponata or steamed halibut are balanced by the more robust Creedy Carver duck with coco beans and addictive rosemary and garlic roasties. Silva’s busy kitchen team, headed up by Slawomir Sawicki, can be seen through the street-facing windows below a pretty striped awning on the increasingly restaurant-focussed Bruton Place.

Open all day from breakfast to dinner. silvarestaurant.co.uk

Sparrow Italia, Avery Row – for luxe modern Italian

Set in a townhouse in the heart of Mayfair, Sparrow Italia offers up classic Italian and Mediterranean dishes, and those with a more contemporary twist.

Its main menu showcases a selection of hot and cold starters, and pasta designed for sharing – expect classic like cacio e pepe and puttanesca alongside an indulgent lobster acqua pazza – before moving on to fine cuts of steak and some exquisite seafood dishes. Seasonally inspired menus also provide a reason to go back. To celebrate autumn there is a truffle-inspired menu in addition to an à la carte section designed to showcase this luxury ingredient.

You can even quench your thirst with a truffle martini. The ground floor’s centrepiece is the floor-to-ceiling bar, perfect for a few drinks before heading up to the main restaurant.

On the third floor you’ll find an intimate lounge where guests can enjoy a curated selection of the world’s best cigars. sparrowitalia.com Vesper Bar at The Dorchester, Park Lane – for luxe cocktails

Vesper Bar is a thirties-inspired golden, glimmering confection, with polished wood and shimmering surfaces, plump blue armchairs, racing green bar stools and a beautiful 1930s palladium leaf ceiling. It’s plush, luxe and comfortable, with seamless service.

The new menu, Eterna, explores the golden ratio, a mathematical ratio seen throughout nature and art, and expressed in the menu through different flavour profiles – from savoury to herbaceous, floral and smoky. The Venus Observed, with coconut pisco, Seatrus gin, Italicus, tomato and caperberry, is a savoury delight, while Thunderball’s combination of Enemigo blanco tequila, pineapple and sage sauvignon blanc is a smoky, spicy winner.

The Green Knight deploys diverse ingredients including vodka, mastiha, feta, gentian and watermelon in a balanced, gluggable drink, full of herbaceous character. It would be remiss to miss out on drinking an actual vesper, made with Stolichnaya vodka, the hotel’s own old tom gin, forbidden fruit liqueur and dry sherry.

It’s icy, boozy perfection. dorchestercollection.com Farm Shop Wine Bar, South Audley Street – for a hidden wine bar

True hidden gems are hard to come by in London but Farm Shop’s underground wine bar truly feels like one. By day it’s a fancy Mayfair deli on South Audley Street, supplied by the company farm in Bruton, among other artisan producers. There are piles of fresh fruit and veg, stacks of chutneys and jams, and loaves of sourdough and pastries laid out in the window.

From the afternoon, the basement space comes into its own. There’s no signage from outside, so it’s just the arrows inside the deli that guide you downstairs to a warm, cosy room, speckled by candlelight with a relaxed, welcoming vibe where you can sit along the windows to people-watch.

The menu includes classic treats like rotisserie chicken and cheese toasties, alongside sharing boards of charcuterie and cheese from Somerset, near the company farm, as well as a selection of Swiss offerings. Most importantly, the wine list is 150-strong with some varieties from the company’s vineyard.

Prices for a glass of house of red start at just £4.50, so it’s a surprisingly reasonable option for such a high-end area. A particular highlight is the Maid of Bruton sparkling rosé, which is ideal for a celebratory drink. farmshop.co.uk/london/wine-bar/

Nipotina, South Audley Street – for welcoming Italian cooking

Chef Somaia Hammad was brought up in Turin and brings Italian warmth to her unfussy, family-style cooking. The room is welcoming and cosy with banquette seating and a warm orangey glow.

Start with a Nipotina claypot negroni, premixed and poured table-side from a large earthenware jug, with Amaro Santoni and earl grey bringing herbal notes. The menu is split classic style into cicchetti, antipasti, primi, secondi and pizza. A basket of rustly courgette fritti arrived with a tempura-style light crunch and a rich aïoli dip – deliciously moreish.

From the antipasti, a tricolore tuna, sea bream and salmon carpaccio was spankingly fresh, and a fennel and aged pecorino salad came with a crunch from caramelised walnuts and a kick from Calabrian chillies. The pasta is house-made – try the mafalde, a rich creamy tomato, beef and veal ragu, or from the special seasonal truffle menu, tagliolini in a creamy parmesan sauce with a shaving of fresh Umbrian truffle added by the waiter.

Standout puddings include a light and airy tiramisu enriched with gianduja (chocolate and hazelnut) and a rich almond-infused cheesecake with sour cherry, which had all the flavours of a bakewell tart and was quite ingenious. Wines are exclusively Italian and sourced from small regional independent producers. nipotinaristorante.com

Encore, Maddox Street – for a stylish listening bar and cocktails Downstairs from Lebanese rotisserie joint Toum, Encore successfully ticks off two cocktail bar buzzwords in one fell swoop: listening bar and speakeasy.

Just steps away from Regent Street, this stylish subterranean bar unites a heady mix of Lebanese and French influences across the polished cocktail and snack menus. Twelve signature cocktails showcase inventive twists on classics – a sumac-spiced negroni with tequila is balanced by pomegranate, while the refined mezcal spritz brings in zingy and refreshing yuzu, lime and coconut water.

Those sweet-inclined will enjoy the unique yet familiar taste of the tarte tatin: oak aged brandy, vanilla liqueur, coconut water and honey give a balanced sweetness that is never saccharine. The Encore batanga is a stand-out with added depth from sherry and spidery strands of red chilli scattered on top.

Unctuous and warm comté madeleines were particularly irresistible from the elevated bar snack menu. Habibi funk and Arabic disco deep cuts can be heard spinning on vinyl, thanks to the sound-diffusing ceiling and speakers dotted around the intimate space.

Rich red carpets, mid-century wood panelling and stylish contemporary artwork make the bar the perfect spot for a date night or cosy catch-up with a friend. toumrotisserie.com Cut at 45 Park Lane – for cuts from the world's finest steaks Cut at 45 Park Lane – culinary heavyweight Wolfgang Puck’s fine dining steakhouse – wants you to experience the best cuts from the world’s best steaks.

To make the most of an experience in this polished dining room, pick The Taste of Cut: a trio of British grass-fed sirloin, Australian wagyu and Japanese A5 wagyu, each carefully cooked and clearly unique. The sirloin is bold and beefy; the Australian richly marbled; while the A5, almost white with silky fat, barely needs a knife. It’s an impressive way to understand what top-grade beef really tastes like.

Small bites include miso cones of spicy tuna tartare, bite-sized, meltingly soft wagyu sliders, and sweet and fluffy crab and lobster rolls. If you have room for dessert, share a burnt Basque cheesecake with Hugh Lowe Farm strawberries, the freshness of the fruit a perfect foil for the delicately creamy pudding. dorchestercollection.com

Nipperkin, Berkeley Street – for a hideaway cocktail bar

Situated in the depths of NIJŪ Japanese grill and sushi bar, Nipperkin is inspired by 1950s Japanese listening bars.

Step through ornate curtains into an intimate, mid-century space with plush seating and marvel as expert mixologists fan perfectly cuboid ice, behind them an impressive record collection and vinyl set-up. Centred around micro-seasonality, the drinks menu from award-winning mixologist Angelos Bafas is split into four harvest seasons.

Hyper-seasonal British ingredients such as wild garlic, spring flowers and blackberries expertly coalesce with the classic Japanese such as yuzu, shiso and matcha. The highball pickled cucumber was seriously refreshing, as was the Granny Smith and yuzu with Exmoor raw wildflower honey.

Macerated blackberries and sloes make a pleasantly herbaceous and bitter sip with Axia extra dry mastiha and Cambridge red bitters, while there’s umami savouriness on offer from the likes of Nipperkin’s aged mushroom spirit, Cambridge truffle gin and tomato liqueur. Dunk crunchy bar snacks from NIJŪ of seasonal vegetables and lotus chips into creamy tofu with shiso oil and buttery grilled aubergine – and you can even peep into NIJŪ’s kitchen when paying a visit to the adorned bathrooms. nijulondon.com

Goodman, Maddox Street – for a polished steakhouse

The Mayfair dining room, opened in 2008 (the first of three), hums with a clubby but not stuffy confidence – all dark leather, low lighting and cosy corners.

Along one wall, regulars' engraved steak knives sit in a glass-fronted cabinet like prized trophies. The highlight is a 75-day-aged Angus Pure Breed from the Lake District: deep, gamey and minerally, with intense beefiness.

Diners get to choose not only the cut but the size of their steak – whether you’re in the mood for a modest 250g or a mighty kilo. Each one is cooked to your liking over red-hot 400C coals that leave a toffee-like crust and juicy centre. Starters feature crispy, fist-sized prawn tempura, and sweet and briny crab on warm brioche toast.

From the side, truffled mac and cheese is luxurious, spinach sings with garlic, Josper-roasted onions are sticky and dark, and triple-cooked chips are made to dredge through the creamy béarnaise. Get to know the sommelier – they’ll match your palate and your steak, possibly with a lush American pinot noir or a more classic French Bordeaux. goodmanrestaurants.com

Hide, 85 Piccadilly – for an extra special brunch

Modern European Hide in Mayfair offers a decadent brunch perfect for special occasions. With a menu featuring the likes of truffle-smothered scrambled eggs, a scorched banana and pecan croissant, blueberry and crème crue French toast and an oozing croque Madame, find out what we thought below when we popped in for breakfast. hide.co.uk

Fonda, Heddon Street – for regional Mexican dishes

Santiago Lastra, chef-owner of Mexican fine dining restaurant Kol, brings a more informal option to Heddon Street.

A fonda is a Mexican family-run inn, to which there are nods in the décor (earthy tones, handwoven fabrics and Mexican crafts), regional Mexican menu and homely touches, including a trio of salsas – smoky salsa macha, lively gooseberry salsa verde and fiery salsa roja – brought to the table for customers to apply to dishes as they wish. Kick off with Yucatan ground pumpkin seed speciality sikil pak topped with vibrant green pine oil and deep-fried totopos. The traditional clay comal is the kitchen’s focal point and the dedicated comal list includes Marmite beer-battered baja fish dressed with chipotle mayo, Hispi cabbage and pistachio guacamole.

Costra is an elevated tribute to CDMX post-clubbing snacks – 30-day aged rib-eye topped with grilled spenwood and manchego infused with macha sauce. Moving on to sharing mains – black sesame, short rib stock and chocolate paste take centre stage in the rich, 60-ingredient short rib mole.

Charred adobo-laced monkfish comes on soft Ratte potatoes doused in Arbol chilli infused butter. For dessert, Santi's American cheesecake topped with blackcurrant compote is a popular choice; steamed corn tamales are doused in butterscotch cream and silky chocolate sorbet laced with Oaxacan oak-smoked pasilla chilli oil is a surprising highlight.

Santiago’s commitment to sourcing British ingredients continues through to cocktails – think fresh gooseberry juice and rhubarb liqueur to add zing to margaritas; and rhubarb palomas rimmed with gooseberry salt. fondalondon.com The Cocochine, Bruton Place – art gallery and upscale restaurant combined The partnership of chef Larry Jayasekara and gallerist Tim Jefferies is surprisingly under the radar for cooking of this standard.

Three courses only (with a regularly changing set lunch menu) are offered on the ground floor restaurant, starting with a presentation of seasonal veg grown on the restaurant’s Rowler Estate. Ingredients and dishes reflect chef Larry’s travels and connections with artisan suppliers including his native Sri Lanka, regional England and the shores of Scotland’s Inner Hebrides.

Unusual combinations are both playful and seriously cheffy: roasted onion soup, truffle cheese toastie and agnolotti is a rich, umami broth poured at the table; chicken, sourced from chefs’ favourite Arnaud Tauzin in south-west France, is offered with Scottish langoustine and maitake mushroom; and a spoonful of gorgonzola adds extra punch to quince and vinegar tart. Around the counter on the first floor, watch the chefs at work in one of those rare working kitchens with natural light.

Throughout the restaurant photography by Irving Penn and Richard Avedon add extra interest, and in the top-floor private dining space there are original prints by Andy Warhol. thecocochine.com

Milos, Regent Street – for luxurious Mediterranean seafood

Milos’s concept is gloriously unique. Entered by imposing wooden doors the formal room is dominated by Grecian urns and grand marble features, and is lively at lunchtimes with business execs from Mayfair and St James, and a glamorous international set at dinner.

Each table is guided by a ‘Captain’ through its signature market display of colourful, just-caught fish from the Med and more local shores. While British turbot and sole might be familiar, varieties such as balada, fagri and barbouni are less so, and each one is described in term of texture, intensity of flavour and cooking technique.

This includes a raw bar of oysters, carabinero shrimp and jumbo Madagascan prawns, and sashimi-grade tuna. You might start with a tartare of magiatiko with chilli, lime and micro herbs, and signature tower of courgette and aubergine served with kefalograviera cheese and tzatziki; move onto a mid-course of Greek salad before whole grilled snapper with steamed wild greens, lemon and olive oil. estiatoriomilos.com/location/london/ NIJŪ, Berkeley Street – Japanese steak and sushi with a contemporary edge

Endo Kazutoshi, arguably London’s most esteemed sushi master, is behind this new Mayfair Japanese grill, with exec chef Chris Golding overseeing the menu day to day. Careful sourcing, luxe ingredients and well-honed kitchen skills create a unique menu inspired by ‘Katei Ryōri’: homecooked, seasonal dishes, some – like dover sole, asparagus and nori butter – served tableside.

Wagyu, that most highly-prized beef, is sourced from Japan and England, cooked simply over Japanese charcoal and offered with fresh wasabi and yuzu salsa verde. Sashimi includes indulgent cuts like otoro (fatty tuna) served classic style or with a contemporary NIJŪ twist – ‘aburi’ (seared) with caviar.

Vegetables are treated with equal care, from grilled aubergine with white sesame dressing to spicy spinach with sobacha (buckwheat tea). A sushi counter and glass panel revealing all the kitchen action add to the buzzy atmosphere.

The basement Nipperkin bar uses British ingredients, some grown and distilled on site in its hyper-seasonal cocktail list. nijulondon.com

UMU, Bruton Place – Michelin-starred Kyoto cuisine

Opening in 2004 and thriving 20 years later is testament to UMU’s unique offering – inspired by Kyoto cuisine, using British ingredients such as fish sourced from Cornwall and Welsh lamb.

Behind a discreet doorway in Mayfair’s Bruton Place, the dark wood-panelled room is lit to emphasise the sushi masters at work at the counter, carving, chopping and grating fresh wasabi. There is more theatre on the plate with premium ingredients like high-grade wagyu served à la minute, which arrives smoking at the table; the salty-sweet and glistening eel kabayaki, and a cute dessert: Charamisu Mayfair garden Japanese seasonal tiramisu, with a mini watering can to sprinkle over sake.

Select a wine or sake pairing for the full experience. umurestaurant.com

Murano, Queen Street – for elegant Italian

After a short closure and 15th anniversary celebration redesign, Angela Hartnett’s Michelin-starred contemporary Italian restaurant has reopened.

George Ormond has taken the reigns as head chef and worked with Angela to create a selection of new regional Italian dishes. Fold out the green and pink menus to build your own three-to-six course menu (or go at lunchtime for the great-value set lunch, £55 for three courses).

Chef’s appetisers from the kitchen (gorgonzola and pickled walnut choux bun, spindly grissini, sun-dried tomato-studded focaccia) make an extra treat best enjoyed with a classic negroni. Menu highlights include agnolotti parcels filled with provolone and puréed smoked potato, chicken tortellini scooped up from a clear, nourishing broth and a unique play on the classic tonnata using fried monkfish slices on a fennel salad lifted with veal jus.

For dessert, try the chocolate marquise’s elegant layers topped with a PX sherry reduction or the signature silky Amalfi lemon tart in a delicate puff pastry casing. Supreme Italian wine pairings, unpretentious yet informed service and a hushed living room atmosphere make this a truly elegant Italian dining experience. muranolondon.com The Connaught Patisserie by Nicolas Rouzaud, Carlos Place – for perfect patisserie

French pastry chef Nicolas Rouzaud’s patisserie is a chic cocoon of blush pink, crystal and marble in the heart of Mayfair. Level up on your morning pain au chocolat with Camille Kenny-Ryder’s inventive trio au chocolat, a stunning striped pastry encasing three batons of dark, white and gianduja milk Swiss chocolate. Dip a warm lime madeleine into a coffee for elevenses or pair perfectly formed patisserie with a glass of Billecart-Salmon champagne come afternoon – we love the pistachio-studded éclair, bright apricot cheesecake and crisp, frilly hazelnut paris-brest. the-connaught.co.uk

Sushi Amamoto, Albemarle Street – for omakase dining

The capital is currently enthralled by the intimacy and theatre of omakase dining; where, in sleekly designed counter-dining cocoons, highly skilled chefs prepare seasonal tasting menus for attentive diners.

Chef Takuya Watanabe bagged a Michelin star within four months of opening this Mayfair 16-seater. Using mainly British produce, he is creating some of the city’s most elegant, flavourful hot seafood dishes and sushi.

Tasting menu from £160pp; takumayfair.com

Isabel, Albemarle Street – for impressing your date

From its luxe grill dishes, including a Galician ex-dairy côte de boeuf or a sharing Cornish dover sole with creamed spinach, preserved lemon and brown butter, to its silk jacquard wall coverings, golden ceiling and bar, this glamorous Mayfair restaurant is guaranteed to wow any date. After dinner, the beats purr, as DJs take guests through until 3am, both in the restaurant and the Dragon Room bar, downstairs.

Isabel’s innovative cocktail list includes the Rosetta, a take on the French 75, garnished with a rose petal and dehydrated lychee. isabelw1.london BiBi's Mayfair, North Audley Street – for contemporary Indian sharing plates

Head chef Chet Sharma’s selection menu is the must-try at his intimate Mayfair restaurant, comprising a dozen sharing plates using produce from the UK and India created with sustainability at its core. Formerly development chef of the JKS group (Gymkhana, Trishna, Brigadiers, etc), Sharma’s BiBi – an affectionate term for a grandmother in parts of India – is the realisation of his dream to open his own restaurant.

To snack on, tangy Wookey Hole cheese papads have a melting yet crunchy texture; creamy Carlingford oyster pachadi is a refreshing segue to sweet, spicy, salty and sour chaats, including nashpati bhel – grains topped with a crunchy frozen pear granita – and Raw Belted Galloway beef pepper fry, hot with lots of black pepper. From the counter, marvel at the theatre of chefs grilling on the sigree: aged Swaledale lamb chops, as soft as butter, with a subtle smokiness.

And our star among many stars, Sharmaji’s Lahori chicken: gorgeously tender chicken breast with a delicate creamy sauce made with whey that has been reduced to the point of caramelisation and then mixed with ground cashews and spices. Then finish with choc-ice-on-a-stick-style kulfis. bibirestaurants.com

Pavyllon, Hamilton Place — for modern French cuisine

No one does comfort like a five-star hotel, and French chef Yannick Alléno has settled into the Four Seasons in London with the full weight of his 15 Michelin stars.

Pavyllon (an outpost of the Paris restaurant of the same name) is run by executive chef Benjamin Ferra Y Castell when Yannick is away. There’s a huge counter overlooking the open kitchen – sit here for the drama. Try the curry man’ouché; the warm potatoes glazed with lovage mayo, with kombu broth, seaweed and cucumber; and the lamb (recipe, right).

Plus, Bar Antoine’s cocktail list by Michele Lombardi can be enjoyed with a bar menu. pavyllonlondon.com

Apricity, Duke Street — for low-waste, seasonal cooking

Unlike so many box-ready restaurants, chef-owner Chantelle Nicholson wanted Apricity to be “not just sustainable but restorative, a closed-loop of use and re-use”.

It’s an aim that requires effort – foraging nettles and hazelnuts in urban London, designing low-waste cocktails, using up-cycled and repurposed furniture – and imaginative flexibility. Day to day, chef Eve Seemann executes dishes such as Cornish mackerel and Shetland mussels with sambal butter and pickled pear, or crispy sprouts with spent-beer vinegar and rosemary. Meanwhile, Chantelle, who first made her name at Tredwells, manages green energy issues, waste-minimal menu planning or gluts of hyper-seasonal produce from suppliers.

Many of these hand-picked small producers practise “regenerative farming”, a buzz-term for traditional techniques that nurture diverse, natural landscapes and improve soil health. apricityrestaurant.com

Bar des Pres, Albemarle Street — for high-class Asian-French hybrid

Leading French chef Cyril Lignac has opened this sleek London outpost of his Parisian Bar des Prés in Mayfair, serving an all-day sharing menu from lunch till late.

Key seats are around the counter where sushi chefs prepare Insta-friendly dishes which deliver on flavour, too, such as the signature crunchy crab and avocado galette Madras curry. Other highlights include crispy sushi salmon with chipotle mayo; satay beef fillet with lime and a silky mash potato with vanilla. Desserts, particularly the generous millefeuille with praline, are equally camera-friendly.

A lemongrass-spiked margarita, made with mezcal and tequila rimmed with black salt, is the star of the cocktail list. More than two of you? Choose a booth or the high table nearer the entrance. bardespres.com

Madhu's of Mayfair, 21 Piccadilly – for Indian dishes with a Kenyan twist in a sumptuous setting ‘Special occasion’ are the first words that spring to mind when you walk into the ornate dining room of Madhu’s of Mayfair, complete with enormous chandeliers, rococo-style architecture and marble tables.

But far from feeling formal, the vibe is fun and friendly, bustling with birthday parties, tourists and after-work businessfolk. The design is the vision of Madhu’s founder Sanjay Anand, who wanted to "create an experience which engages each of the senses – not just taste".

The food comes from creative chef Poonam Ball – Sanjay’s sister. She oversees the menus of the Madhu group’s four restaurants.

It’s Indian, but with a Kenyan twist, including recipes handed down through four generations from her Nairobi-born mother Krishna and her father Jagdish Kumar Anand (nicknamed Madhu). Choose the signature dishes: palak patta chaat, a pile of crunchy marsh samphire and crispy spinach with warming spices and tangy chutneys; nyamah choma, succulent prime cut lamb ribs marinated in chilli and lemon; and Madhu’s machi's – whole seabass in an onion and carom seed marinade – which is ‘special occasion’ luxurious. madhus.co.uk

José Pizarro at Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington Gardens — for daytime tapas in central London gallery Chef José Pizarro’s beautiful new Mayfair outpost is a reflection of the chef’s lifelong love of art. With high ceilings and wood-panelling this light-filled room at Royal Academy of Arts is the ideal daytime spot to enjoy a quick glass of manzanilla and some acorn-fed cinco jotas jamón or a long, lazy lunch.

Among José classics such as croquetas, pan con tomate, chorizo al vino and prawns with garlic and chilli are some new additions, including the must-order truffle and Ermenesada cheese toasted sandwich. On the ground floor he has also opened the walk-in Poster Bar, selling delicious bocadillos (sandwiches) and snacks.

Both are open during the daytime only, closed on Monday. josepizarro.com

Kitty Fisher's, Shepherd Market – for a bistro

Red velvet curtains welcome diners into this intimate bistro. A handful of tables sit snugly beside a bar, behind which jars of home-made rhubarb gin, turmeric syrup and fig leaf vodka nestle in amongst trinkets.

A creaky wooden staircase in the back corner takes you down into the intimate basement dining room, where dusty-pink banquettes line walls decorated with antique paintings. Start with a round of cocktails.

A boozy hanky panky is a more delicate and floral twist on the negroni, while the restaurant's signature Bad Kitty has a subtle sparkle and a syrupy sloegin edge. Order all the bite-sized snacks.

A smoky stack of Welsh rarebit is finished on the open grill to make Montgomery's cheddar cheese extra golden; fresh, dill-flecked bream tartare is topped with apple slices and grassy green leaves, and a silky-smooth splodge of chicken liver parfait comes with pieces of quince on a seeded cracker. Mains are cooked on a wood-fired grill so take 20-25 minutes to arrive, but it's worth the wait.

Pork presa is soft and pink with charred edges, accompanied by a pig-cheek sausage, candied heritage carrots and plums, while meaty monkfish comes on a rich bed of aubergines and tomatoes. Get involved with the sides, too – crunchy layers of deep-fried pressed potatoes or wood-fired Hispi cabbage lifted with mustard seeds, described correctly by the owner as “buttery wonderfulness”.

For pudding, try the hazelnut and chocolate ganache with brown butter ice cream, covered in a dome of fluffy hazelnut mousse and dusted in cocoa powder. kittyfishers.com

Kanishka, Maddox Street – for regional Indian

Focussing on the Seven Sister States as well as nods to Nepal and Bangladesh Kanishka is a modern Indian restaurant it serving a series of tasting menus or, as we went, a la carte.

Start with the Gantok momos (steamed Nepalese dumplings), proudly billed as made ‘in-house’ which was telling by the skins being light but still with some bite to them. We also had chef’s Chicken Tikka Pie which wasn’t accredited to a region but still an exemplary piece of proper pie making with well-cooked puff pastry encasing juicy chunks of long marinated chicken.

For mains we went with the lightly spiced and coconut sauced Kanishka Seafood curry and underutilised goat cooked slowly until fork tender in a Roganjosh style. Once we added generous serving of puffy paratha, fresh kachumba and signature black dhal to our order we were too full for dessert but the Dark Chocolate Sphere with orange chocolate cream and spiced caramel sauce seemed to be impressing our neighbours with its table-side server theatrics. kanishkarestaurant.co.uk

Scott’s, Mount Street – for seafood

Celebrity haunt Scott’s has been a resident of Mount Street since 1967 but it actually dates back to 1851 when it was opened as an oyster warehouse, making it one of London’s five oldest restaurants.

This Mayfair establishment has welcomed the great and the good for decades, and it’s where James Bond creator Ian Fleming is said to have discovered his ‘shaken not stirred’ dry martini. Since 2005, Scott’s has been owned by Richard Caring, who has retained the restaurant’s character, right down to the bowler-hatted doormen. Eat in either the oyster and champagne bar or the stylish dining room, where blackened miso salmon and goujons of Cornish sole and tartare sauce are among the signature dishes. scotts-restaurant.com

Dickie’s Bar, Upper Grosvenor Street – for late-night Irish cocktails

Head to Dickie's Bar for an elegant late-night cocktail bar within Corrigan’s Mayfair.

Dickie’s Bar oozes Irish charm and, naturally, Irish whiskies feature heavily in cocktails – Jameson Black Barrel is combined with peach, bergamot, vanilla and lemon to create soft and smooth Stage Door Johnny; while dark and punchy Professional Stalker showcases Powers John’s Lane 12-year-old whiskey along with allspice and fig. Illustrations and anecdotes in the menu showcase ingredients picked and shipped over daily from Richard’s 100-acre Virginia Park Lodge in Ireland. Sit on burnt-orange leather stools at the wood-panelled, marble- topped bar and sniff at the various infusions that the team conjures up. corrigansmayfair.co.uk/dickies

Bentley’s Oyster Bar and Grill, Swallow Street – for oysters

Richard Corrigan (see Dickie’s Bar) is chef-owner of Bentley’s Oyster Bar & Grill, open for more than a century. World-famous for its seafood and shellfish, Bentley’s is also revered for its exceptional service.

The oyster bar at Bentley’s is one of the things Richard is most proud of, and during the native oyster season from September to April, his staff will shuck more than 1,000 oysters a day. “There’s always an element of fun,” says Richard. bentleys.org

The Ritz, Piccadilly – for traditional afternoon tea

The Ritz is as iconic as the Queen, and this institutional British hotel keeps up tradition by serving 350 afternoon teas every day.

It’s only fitting that afternoon tea at The Ritz is a lavish affair; the formal dress code requires men to wear shirt and tie, doors are opened for you by folk in top hats, and the resident pianist, Ian Gomes, who flutters away most days during afternoon tea service, used to play with Frank Sinatra. Afternoon tea at The Ritz is taken in the Palm Court, an area raised up from the rest of the hotel’s lobby like a marble-floored stage.

The Louis XVI-style set is beautifully ornate, with pristine white tablecloths laid out beneath intricate chandeliers, giant palms and gold-gilt mirrors. Choose from the 18-strong tea menu that has been curated and exclusively blended by The Ritz’s tea sommelier, Giandomenico Scanu.

There are black tea blends, fermented Oolongs, herbal fruit teas and even The Ritz’s own Chai. We tried The Ritz Royal English, a classic black tea blend, combining aromatic Ceylon orange pekoe and rich Assam. theritzlondon.com

Cubé, Blenheim Street – for sushi and Japanese 'tapas'

This sleek, intimate restaurant brings sushi and Japanese ‘tapas’ with a fine dining twist to Mayfair.

Butter-soft scallops are a must if you’re a seafood obsessive; perfectly cooked, they came drizzled with an intense sea urchin butter so delicious we nearly drank it directly from the scallop shell it was served in. The soft, tender lamb with a bronzed, crisp ribbon of fat was another hit; the sour, refreshing oroshi a clever spin on a classic mint sauce. cubemayfair.com