The story
In 2001, a restaurant opened in London that would go on to define modern Chinese dining across the globe. Hakkasan Mayfair, the original location, remains the cornerstone of a brand that now spans 11 cities, from Dubai to Shanghai. Its cuisine is a celebration of Cantonese flavours, taking inspiration from both contemporary and ancient China.
The kitchen team works with traditional techniques and the finest ingredients to create dishes that are rooted in authenticity yet expressed with modern flair. The Michelin Guide inspector has noted the “exquisite Cantonese dishes prepared with care and consistency,” and highlighted lunch dim sum as a particular draw. This commitment to quality has earned Hakkasan Mayfair a place in the Michelin Guide Recommended list.
The restaurant’s wine philosophy is singular: “The food chooses the wine.” With over 400 wines from around the world, the list is curated through weekly tastings, ensuring every bottle complements the menu. The bar programme is equally considered, built around six signature character cocktails and a rotating “Only At” collection that showcases the team’s creativity.
Designer Christian Liaigre conceived the original interiors, fusing dark wood screens, rich materials, and subtle lighting to create a space that is both opulent and intimate. Every detail—from the scent to the curated playlists—is crafted to enhance the experience, making Hakkasan Mayfair a destination for those who appreciate refined Chinese cuisine in London.
Recognition
Ambience
Details
History
There had been high-end Chinese eateries in London before visionary restaurateur Alan Yau launched Hakkasan in 2001 but none that had made the concept approachably aspirational rather than simply offering dining rooms for the rich. This 2010 sequel keeps all that was ground-breaking about the Tottenham Court Road original but in a Mayfair location that seems a better fit for the high-octane glamour of it all. A mirror hanging above the staircase to the basement dining room emphasises that this is a restaurant where appearances are at a premium and, from the carved oriental screens and spot-lit tables to the scarily good-looking staff, Hakkasan Mayfair is not somewhere to slum it. Then again, this is food to dress up for. The Anglo-Chinese favourites can be pimped up with luxury produce – the Peking duck comes with the optional addition of beluga caviar – but all the ingredients here are top-notch (as indeed they should be at these prices) and the quality of cooking is unfailingly high. The pork ribs are smoked with jasmine tea, the Singapore noodles adorned with jumbo-sized prawns (rather than the usual sad specimens), soft-shell crab, squid and Dover sole are gently encased in the lightest of batters, while perfectly timed pak choi zings with fresh ginger. Balance is a hallmark of the Hakkasan kitchen, whether the genuinely sweet-and-sour Duke of Berkshire pork (a best-in-class rendition of the clichéd dish), the hot-and-sour crispy freshwater prawns with chillies and cashews (an update of the classic kung po), or the sharp and rich slow-roasted ibérico pork char siu coated with black garlic glaze, mustard dressing and pickled daikon. Wines from the style-led list will at least double the bill, while other drawbacks to dining here include tightly packed tables that allow easy eavesdropping and a throbbing soundtrack that would not be out of place in a nightclub. Natural light makes the ground-floor dining room-cum-lounge bar feel less claustrophobic, not least for daytime dim sum that is some of the best in London. But for special occasions – or any time you just want to feel special – Hakkasan Mayfair fits the sizeable bill.
Location
Facebook
Instagram
X