Things to Do in Mayfair
Mayfair is one of central London's most rewarding neighbourhoods to explore. It’s a district where world-class shopping, fine dining, historic pubs, art galleries, and peaceful garden squares sit side by side. The area stretches from Hyde Park in the west to Regent Street in the east, with Oxford Street to the north and Piccadilly to the south.
Start on Bond Street for designer shopping, then head to Savile Row for bespoke tailoring. Browse the boutiques of Burlington Arcade and Royal Arcade before walking through to Shepherd Market for lunch in a quieter setting. In the afternoon, visit the Royal Academy of Arts or the galleries on Cork Street, then stroll through Berkeley Square or take a quiet moment at the Brown Hart Gardens terrace. In the evening, Mayfair has some of London's best restaurants. From Sketch and Bacchanalia to neighbourhood favourites like 34 Mayfair and the Guinea Grill. There are also a number of historic pubs and cocktail bars. Many of Mayfair's famous hotels, including The Ritz, Claridge's, and The Connaught, also have restaurants and bars that welcome non-guests.
History of Mayfair
The name Mayfair derives from the May Fair market held each May near today's Shepherd Market from the late 17th century. Although the fair was banned in the 18th century for its rowdiness, the name stuck. The transformation of the district began when the Grosvenor family, especially Sir Richard Grosvenor, started systematically developing their lands in the 1700s. The Grosvenor estates provided the foundation for Mayfair's urban plan, a grid of wide streets, harmonious squares, and stately Georgian townhouses designed to attract the wealthy elite. That character has endured for over 300 years.
Shopping in Mayfair — Bond Street, Savile Row, and the Arcades
Bond Street, divided into Old and New Bond Street, is one of the world's most famous shopping streets. Iconic fashion houses line the street, including Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Hermès, Cartier, Bvlgari, and Dior, alongside art galleries.
Mount Street combines refined stone townhouses with international designer boutiques such as Lanvin, Christian Louboutin, Toteme, and Goyard. The street also has several restaurants and cafes.
Savile Row is the global home of bespoke men's tailoring. Henry Poole & Co., credited with inventing the modern dinner jacket, has been based here for over 200 years. King Charles III has long patronised Anderson & Sheppard, while Prince William prefers Thom Sweeney and Richard James. In recent years, women's tailoring has grown on the Row. Kathryn Sargent was the first female head cutter at Gieves & Hawkes and opened her own atelier on nearby Brook Street, while Knatchbull (formerly The Deck) was Savile Row's first tailor exclusively for women. Ruby Slevin's Banshee of Savile Row and tailors Caroline Andrew and Alexandra Wood also offer bespoke services for both men and women.
Burlington Arcade and Royal Arcade in Mayfair
Burlington Arcade, opened in 1819, is one of London's oldest and most prestigious covered shopping arcades. Built to shield wealthy shoppers from the noise of Piccadilly, it still houses luxury boutiques including several watch stores, including David Duggan, Bell & Ross and the Vintage Watch Company, glove specialist Sermoneta Gloves, Manolo Blahnik shoes and Borsalino hats. Recently, new cafés have opened in the arcade, including Le Café by Nicolas Rouzaud and Ladurée, known for its famous macarons. Traditional beadles in uniform patrol the arcade.
Royal Arcade, opened in 1879 between Old Bond Street and Albemarle Street, is noted for its Gothic arches, glass roof, and intimate collection of boutiques. Crockett & Jones shoes, Charbonnel et Walker chocolates, and the Ormonde Jayne perfume house are among its tenants.
Shepherd Market in Mayfair
Shepherd Market is a village-within-a-village. It is a small, pedestrianised square of pubs, restaurants, and independent shops tucked away behind Piccadilly. Today, Shepherd Market has a distinctly different character from the rest of Mayfair. It is quieter and more intimate, with outdoor café tables and a relaxed European atmosphere. It is home to several well-regarded restaurants and traditional pubs, making it a popular lunch or early-evening destination.
Restaurants in Mayfair
Mayfair has one of the highest concentrations of acclaimed restaurants in London, from Michelin-starred dining rooms to neighbourhood favourites.
Sketch on Conduit Street is one of London's most visually striking restaurants. The Lecture Room & Library holds three Michelin stars and serves French fine dining. The Gallery, covered in David Shrigley artworks, serves afternoon tea and evening meals. The Glade dining room features moss-green wallpaper and Art Nouveau-inspired design, while The Parlour offers lighter fare and patisserie. The building also includes the famous egg-shaped pods in its bathrooms.
Bacchanalia on Mount Street, opened in 2022, was designed by Martin Brudnizki. Inspired by ancient Greece, the dining hall features monumental statues created in Damien Hirst's studio, depicting Bacchus and Medusa, while frescoes cover the ceilings. The menu focuses on Mediterranean cooking, particularly Greek and Italian dishes, and the shareable Medusa dessert is one of the restaurant's signature plates.
Scott's, also on Mount Street, has been serving top-quality seafood since the 1850s. Its Art Deco-inspired interior and famed oysters make it one of London's classic fine-dining establishments. Lucky Cat, created by Gordon Ramsay, brings modern Asian fine dining to Mayfair with Japanese- and Southeast Asian-inspired dishes in an Art Deco setting.
34 Mayfair on South Audley Street is a stylish grill restaurant known for its steaks, weekend brunch, and elegant Art Deco interior. Sexy Fish on Berkeley Square combines Japanese cuisine with a striking underwater-themed interior featuring Damien Hirst artworks and Frank Gehry crocodile sculptures.
Cecconi's on Burlington Gardens serves classic Italian dishes in a polished, green-and-white tiled dining room, and it has been a Mayfair staple for decades. Gymkhana on Albemarle Street offers refined Indian cuisine inspired by colonial-era gymkhana clubs and holds a Michelin star. Chef Karam Sethi is behind the restaurant, and Gymkhana's dishes are also available at Harrods Food Hall for a quicker takeaway lunch. The Guinea Grill on Bruton Place is one of London's best steak restaurants, hidden down a quiet mews and famous for its pies and grilled meats since 1952.
The Mayfair Chippy on North Audley Street serves traditional fish and chips in a sit-down restaurant setting and is a popular choice for visitors looking for a classic British meal in the area. Lillibeth, also in Mayfair, is a British restaurant named after Queen Elizabeth II's childhood nickname, focusing on seasonal British ingredients and a menu that celebrates classic British cooking.
Mercato Mayfair
Mercato Mayfair, housed in a converted church on North Audley Street, combines historic architecture with a lively street-food atmosphere. The venue offers cuisines from around the world. There is Italian pasta, Korean bao, vegetarian specialities, desserts and more, along with a few bars, a ground-floor market, and a rooftop terrace. The church interior, with its high arched ceilings and stained-glass windows, creates a unique dining setting.
Afternoon Tea in Mayfair
Mayfair is home to some of London's most celebrated afternoon teas. Claridge's afternoon tea, served in the hotel's Art Deco foyer, is one of the most famous in the city. It offers finger sandwiches, scones with Cornish clotted cream, and pastries accompanied by a wide selection of teas. The Ritz London afternoon tea in the Palm Court is equally iconic, served in an opulent gilded dining room overlooking Green Park. Prices are around £75–85 per person, and booking well in advance is essential for both. Brown's Hotel serves a traditional afternoon tea in The Drawing Room with classic pastries and an extensive tea selection.
Pubs in Mayfair
Mayfair's pubs are among London's most characterful. Many of the pubs occupy historic buildings and have stories stretching back centuries.
The Audley on Mount Street is a grand Victorian pub in a restored 1888 building with ornate ceilings, carved woodwork, and original features alongside contemporary art. It recently reopened after a careful restoration by the Mount Street Restaurant Group, and the upstairs Mount St. Restaurant serves refined British dishes. Ye Grapes on Shepherd Market is a traditional local pub dating from 1882. It is small, cosy, and a Shepherd Market landmark. The Guinea on Bruton Place has been a pub since 1423 and houses the Guinea Grill steak restaurant at the rear.
Bars in Mayfair
The Connaught Bar, inside The Connaught hotel on Carlos Place, has been named one of the world's best bars, and it ranked number six on the World's 50 Best Bars list in 2025. Its Art Deco interior sets the scene for classic and inventive cocktails served from a roaming martini trolley. Claridge's Bar in the Claridge's hotel is also known for its Art Deco interior and its refined cocktails. Mr Fogg's Residence on Bruton Lane is a quirky cocktail bar themed around Phileas Fogg's travels, with Victorian curiosities filling every corner.
Squares and Gardens in Mayfair
Berkeley Square is one of Mayfair's most famous landmarks, shaded by 200-year-old London plane trees that create a canopy over the garden. The square has been a prestigious address since the 18th century and inspired the song "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square."
Grosvenor Square, another major Mayfair landmark, was one of London’s largest squares and home to the American Embassy for decades; it has now been converted into the Chancery Rosewood hotel. The square itself is currently being redeveloped and will reopen by summer 2026.
Mount Street Gardens is a hidden oasis between the Church of the Immaculate Conception and South Audley Street. There are benches, mature trees, and a peaceful atmosphere, which make it a favourite lunch spot.
Brown Hart Gardens is one of Mayfair's best-kept secrets. It is an elevated terrace garden raised above street level between Duke Street and Balderton Street. Built atop a former electricity substation, it offers benches, planting, and a quiet vantage point above the surrounding streets.
Events and Art in Mayfair
Mayfair is a cultural hub with prestigious events throughout the year. London Craft Week in May showcases British craftsmanship and design, with many events held in Mayfair's galleries and workshops. The Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition, running annually since 1769, is the world's largest open-submission art exhibition, taking place each June to August.
Frieze Masters in October highlights historic art, with satellite events and exhibitions across Mayfair's galleries. PAD London in autumn combines art, design, and collectable objects. Cork Street, a short walk from Burlington Arcade, is home to a cluster of galleries specialising in modern and contemporary art.
Christie's on King Street is one of the world's leading auction houses, founded in 1766 and still hosting major sales and exhibitions that are free to attend. Sotheby's, also nearby on New Bond Street, is one of the world's oldest auction houses and holds regular auctions and public exhibitions across fine art, jewellery, and collectables.
Handel Hendrix House in Mayfair
At 25 Brook Street, you'll find Handel Hendrix House. It’s an interesting concept, a museum occupying the adjacent former homes of two very different musicians. George Frideric Handel lived at No. 25 from 1723 until his death in 1759, composing some of his greatest works here. Jimi Hendrix lived next door at No. 23 in 1968–69. The museum tells both stories and has been restored with period furnishings.
Hotels in Mayfair
Mayfair is home to some of London's most celebrated hotels, many with historic settings, acclaimed restaurants, and bars that are destinations in their own right, and open to non-guests as well as those staying overnight.
The Ritz London on Piccadilly is one of the most famous hotels in the world. The interior is decorated in a lavish Louis XVI style with antique furniture and gilded details throughout. The Rivoli Bar serves classic cocktails in an intimate Art Deco setting. Afternoon Tea at The Ritz, served in the Palm Court, is one of London's most iconic dining experiences, with prices around £75–85 per person. The Ritz Restaurant holds a Michelin star and serves French haute cuisine in an opulent dining room overlooking Green Park.
The Connaught on Carlos Place combines a historic hotel with contemporary art, including a Tadao Ando-designed water feature on the forecourt. The hotel has several restaurants and bars spanning different styles. Hélène Darroze at The Connaught holds a Michelin star and focuses on seasonal ingredients. Jean-Georges at The Connaught blends cuisines from around the world, and The Connaught Grill serves classic grill dishes. The Connaught Bar is the hotel's centrepiece and is ranked among the world's best bars year after year.
Claridge's on Brook Street is a legendary hotel with strong royal connections and a striking Art Deco interior visible throughout the lobby and public spaces. The Foyer & Reading Room is known for its afternoon tea. Claridge's Restaurant serves British-focused cuisine. The Painter's Room, Claridge's Bar, and The Fumoir offer different lounge and bar settings throughout the hotel.
The Dorchester on Park Lane overlooks Hyde Park and is one of Mayfair's landmark hotels. The rooms have been renovated in an Art Deco style, blending classic and English design elements. The Promenade serves afternoon tea by day and becomes a cocktail and live jazz venue in the evening. The upper-floor suites have private balconies with park views.
Brown's Hotel on Albemarle Street is one of London's oldest hotels, formed from a row of connected Georgian townhouses. The rooms and suites are individually decorated. The Drawing Room serves a traditional afternoon tea with classic pastries and an extensive selection of teas. Charlie's restaurant focuses on modern British cuisine, and the Donovan Bar is known for its cocktails and photography-themed interior.
The Mayfair Townhouse on Half Moon Street near Green Park consists of a row of connected Georgian townhouses and is part of the Iconic Hotels & Resorts collection. The rooms are individually decorated, and some offer private outdoor spaces or access to the garden. The Dandy Bar serves drinks and lighter dishes as the hotel's central social space.
The Chesterfield Mayfair sits on a quiet side street near Green Park. The hotel is housed in a traditional townhouse and features a classic English interior. The rooms are comfortable and relatively spacious for the area. The hotel has a restaurant, bar, and a well-regarded afternoon tea. The location allows easy walks to Bond Street, Piccadilly, and Hyde Park.
