Say what you will about Mayfair, but the well-heeled borough is loosening up. Sure, there are still the lap dogs, hedge funds and Bentleys, but, amongst the blue bloods, a new wave of young bloods are giving Mayfair a piece of the post-hipster pie. Cool restaurants, neo bistros and quirky bars: welcome to W1.
We first noticed a change in Mayfair with the opening of Kitty Fisher’s, the sexy, louche dining spot helmed by YBF winner Tomos Parry and former Pitt Cue Co sous chef Chris Leach. The wood-fired menu (salt cod croquettes, braised ox cheeks and pork chops) washed down with Bad Kitty cocktails in a Dickensian atmosphere (candelabras, deep charcoal hues, burgundy velvet banquettes and antique cast iron fittings) is a little bit naughty, a little bit nice… just as Kitty would have wanted.
Down the road, the wallpaper has gone up at Chez Chow, a quirky cocktail den inspired by the owner’s pet chow chow, Teddy. And because Teddy comes from China, the vibe here follows suit – a bamboo dresser here, bonsai trees there, with bric-a-brac and vintage furniture along the way. Pork belly sliders and sticky pork ribs are available for a nosh and we like the sound of the popcorn sazeracs.
That said, we’re most excited about the team from Le Chateaubriand crossing over to our side of the Channel in March. Their new Mayfair digs, Le Chabanais (named after a 19th century brothel) will be, we assume, like its Paris parent – a neo bistro for those who love good food but hate white linen and waistcoats. Clément Blanchet, who designed the 2006 Serpentine Summer Pavilion, is in charge of the interior while the Basque-inspired menu is courtesy of Paul Boudier, Le Chateaubriand’s (now former) head chef.
And just like that, Mayfair’s back!
