July Newsletter

Dear Fellow Foodie,

As we dive into the peak UK holiday season, this newsletter features an al fresco dining special, alongside our usual news and gossip.

A Quick Round-Up of My Month

I’ve added two new reviews this month. First, I visited Josephine Marylebone, Claude and Lucy Bosi’s venture, which opened in April. It showcases classics from Parisian brasseries. I went in with high expectations and left delighted.

Read Review

Next, I returned to Novikov, this time to their iconic Asian restaurant. The feast was fantastic, with many highlights including the spicy prawn money bags—truly exceptional.

Read Review

I also attended the opening night party at Piccolino’s in the Tower Bridge Hilton which was great fun. The new restaurant looked stunning and although attached to the hotel had its own identity. Located ina busy part of town I think the third Piccolino’s in London is going to do very well.

Planning a visit to Mayfair? Check out my article, “10 Hidden Gems of Mayfair”, for some inspiration.

Special Lunch Deals

Our search for the best quality meal deals in town continues, and this month we’ve found some gems:

• Sael, St James
  Jason Atherton’s Sael offers a new Prix Fixe Menu: £19.50 for 2 courses or £22.50 for 3. Available Monday–Saturday, 5:00–6:30 PM.

• Fazenda, Bishopsgate
  In the City of London, Fazenda’s Single Cut Churrasco is £39 (lunch or dinner). Choose your favourite cut—Picanha, Rump, Pork Collar, Lamb Picanha, or Roasted Chicken—served with the Market Table.

• Brasserie Zédel, Soho
  This timeless French brasserie offers a Prix Fixe Menu: £16.95 for 2 courses or £19.95 for 3. Their daily Plats du Jour is £21.50.

• Hawksmoor
  Enjoy Steak & Chips for £19, with options for two courses (£23) or three (£26), including the Big Matt. Happy Hour drinks are £6. Available Monday–Saturday at lunchtime.

• Elystan Street
  A summer lunch set menu for £25 (3 courses):

  • Starter: Pea hummus with new potatoes, courgettes, lemon zest, mint, and olive oil—fresh, green, and gloriously simple.

  • Main: Fillet of sea bream with rocket gnocchi, tomato, crushed aubergine, and pesto.

  • Dessert: Raspberry and lemon pavlova.

• Starling, Esher
  In Surrey, Nick Beardshaw’s Michelin-starred restaurant offers a 3-course lunch menu for £30 (Wednesday–Thursday only).

• The Mayfair Chippy, Knightsbridge
  Not a lunch deal, but an early evening bargain: ‘7 Before 7’, launched on 1st July, offers 7 drinks for £7 from 4:00–7:00 PM, including Yorkshire Rhubarb Gin Sour, The Mayfair Margarita, house wine, and Frontier Lager. Plus, enjoy £1 oysters, £5 oysters with caviar, or a £10 caviar bump.

Al Fresco Dining in London

If you’re staying in the UK this August, enjoy the summer with a relaxing al fresco meal. Here are some top options in central London:

Mayfair

• Novikov

  Novikov’s beautiful terrace is a sophisticated open-air retreat in the heart of Mayfair. Overlooking bustling Berkeley Street yet feeling serene, it’s perfect for leisurely afternoons, business lunches, or relaxed celebrations, savouring Novikov’s signature flavours.

• Piccolino
  Piccolino boasts one of London’s best terraces for al fresco dining. Enjoy the calm of Heddon Street, just a minute from Regent Street, with Italian classics and signature cocktails.

• Silva
  The exceptional Silva only has a couple of tables outside, however what can be better than people watching in Bruton Place whilst eating sublime Mediterranean fare.

• Mercato Mayfair
  A hidden gem, Mercato Mayfair’s roof terrace on North Audley Street you can enjoy 12 different cuisines, a brewery, distillery—an ideal spot to enjoy good weather with a cocktail, something I experienced on my way home from lunch at Josephine’s, highly recommended.

St James

• Franco’s
  Franco’s stylish terrace on Jermyn Street offers a refined yet laid-back atmosphere, ideal for elegant lunches or evening dinners amidst the area’s buzz.

Soho

• Yasmin
  On the sixth floor of Maslow’s 1 Warwick, Yasmin brings a slice of Istanbul to Soho’s skyline. Its wrap-around terrace offers breathtaking views of central London.

• 10 Greek Street
  The delightful neighbourhood restaurant in Soho, this spot is renowned for its contemporary charm and exceptional wine selection. Its relaxed atmosphere is perfect for enjoying seasonal dishes outdoors.

New Restaurant Openings

• Punk Royale

  Their first restaurant out of Scandinavia, described as a restaurant that combines fine dining with punk rock attitude with playful over the top presentation. This I must experiance, should be interesting.

  6 Sackville St, London W1S 3DD

• Legado by Chef Nieves Barragán
  From the team behind Sabor, Legado will feature lesser-known Spanish dishes, regional traditions, and artisan ingredients. With a dining room for over 60 guests, a counter for 16, and a Taberna bar with an outdoor terrace serving tapas and pintxos, it opens late August at:
  1C Montacute Yards, 185–186 Shoreditch High Street, E1 6HU.

• Brasserie Constance
  Adam Byatt’s new venture at Fulham Pier, inspired by Constance Spry, creator of coronation chicken.
  Level 1, Fulham Pier, Stevenage Road, SW6 6HH.

• Cafe Murano, Marylebone
  Angela Hartnett’s fifth Cafe Murano, offering a casual dining experience compared to her Michelin-starred Murano.

• Fenix
  Manchester’s high-end Mediterranean restaurant moves to Mayfair, on the former Henry’s Bar site.
  80 Piccadilly, London W1J 8HX.

• The Shaston Arms, Soho
  The pub has been taken over by the owners of Watermans Arms, with a likely focus on food. If its as good as the Warermans arms we are in for a treat. Opening planned for October.
  4–6 Ganton St, Carnaby, London W1F 7QN.

• Crisp Pizza Pub, Mayfair
  Rumours suggest the Crisp Pizza tea are looking to open a pub (with pizzas of course) at the Marlborough Head on North Audley Street. Watch this space.

Afternoon Tea Week (12th–18th August 2025)

For afternoon tea week why not enjoy a twist on the classic afternoon tea,

• The Ampersand Hotel, South Kensington
  Honouring its neighbours, the Science Museum and Natural History Museum, with two unique afternoon teas: The Science Afternoon Tea and The Jurassic Afternoon Tea, featuring a dark chocolate, caramel, and raspberry dinosaur egg nest.

• Vintry and Mercer’s Crown Afternoon Tea
  A regal celebration of British tradition, served weekends on the Mercer Roof Terrace with panoramic views from St. Paul’s to The Shard. Choose indoor or al fresco seating.

Retro Dishes Making a Comeback

London’s dining scene is serving up a delicious dose of nostalgia, with retro dishes reimagined for modern palates. At The Parakeet in Kentish Town, Head Chef Ben Allen crafts a decadent chocolate mousse with 70% Valrhona Dark Chocolate, served tableside on a white chocolate crumb and biscuit tuille, blending indulgence with theatrical flair.

In Soho, Nessa’s Tom Cenci elevates the iconic Coronation Chicken, originally created for Queen Elizabeth II’s 1953 coronation. His version features flame-grilled chicken with a saffron and mango-infused curried mayo, paired with pickled golden raisins and toasted almonds for a contemporary twist on a classic.

For a taste of timeless British charm, Wiltons on Jermyn Street, established in 1742, delivers heritage with every bite. Their menu celebrates quintessentially British dishes like Wiltons’ Fish Pie, Lamb Kidneys with Bacon, and a tableside Carving Trolley for traditional roasts. Desserts shine with nostalgic gems like Wiltons Trifle and Bread and Butter Pudding with Madagascan vanilla custard, alongside savouries such as Welsh Rarebit and Anchovies on Toast.

Coming Up Next Month...

Tomorrow, I’m off to Nessa in Soho for classic British fare from exec Chef Tom Cenci. On Friday, I’ll be in Mayfair dining at Mimi Mei Fair, serving a celebration of Chinese culinary arts. Later this month, I’ll visit Marjorie’s in Soho, which opened to rave reviews, and Fazenda in Bishopsgate Tower for South American steaks and City views. I think you will agree an excellent quartet of restaurants planned for August.

Don’t forgot you can catch up with my foodie exploits during the month on instagram @themayfairfoodie.

That’s all for now. If you’re still reading, thank you—I truly appreciate it. Have a fantastic foodie August!

Best,
Martin (The Mayfair Foodie)

[email protected]

www.mayfairfoodie.com

Instagram @themayfairfoodie