Four fans of travel share their favourite shops, hotels and restaurants in Mayfair, St James's and beyond
Words: Jonathan Whiley and Will Moffitt
What is your favourite hotel in Mayfair/St James's and in the world?Â
My favourite hotel in Mayfair is Claridge's. It's such a magical place on every level. My husband and I travelled across south-east Asia three years ago. The Shinta Mani Siem Reap by Bill Bensley [in Cambodia] is without doubt one of the most incredible hotels I have ever stayed at. Just perfection.
Favourite shop in Mayfair/St James's?
Bond Street in general, and obviously Bond Street leads to Selfridges. Two of the best places to shop you can find.
What is your favourite restaurant in Mayfair?
The Dovetale in Mayfair is a beautiful Sunday spot. The menu and service are flawless. No notes. I also love The Dover on a date night with the husband.
What is your most memorable travel experience?
Me and Stavvy [Stavros Agapiou, Tony's husband] had the opportunity to go to South Africa on safari a couple of years ago and it was eye-opening. As someone who loves animals, being able to wake up in the morning surrounded by wildlife at Kruger National Park was so special. We stayed at the Royal Malewane and it was without doubt a once in a lifetime experience.
What is your first memory of Mayfair/St James's?
Going to the Embassy club when I was 15! It was the first nightclub I ever walked into. And I feel like I never left.Â
Above: The Maine Mayfair Brasserie
Where is next on your travel wish list?
I'm off to Australia again this spring. I really want to explore the other side of Cambodia and do the jungles. To see the other side of this magical place. It's just so sad that the conflict with Thailand has erupted again.
Where is a place you felt was overrated?
Paris. We are led to believe it's the capital of romance. No. Also Egypt, while we're at it. Anywhere you get hassled 24 hours a day is not the one when you're meant to be on holiday escaping the city.
Tell us a hidden gem in Mayfair/St James's?
Soho Mews House, 100 per cent. It's so tucked away and private and yes it's part of Soho House but it has an intimacy you don't get at any other house. I also love The Maine, just because of how hidden from the hustle and bustle it is. They're like an oasis in the middle of chaos.
Leading aesthetics doctor in anti-inflammatory medicine with a spa and boutique in Mount Street
What is your favourite hotel in Mayfair and the rest of the world?Â
The best hotel in Mayfair is The Twenty Two, a chic hotel and members' club created by my dear friends. It's an intimate, beautifully designed space and their incredible staff always make sure we have the best experience.It's hard to choose my favourite hotel in the world as there are so many I consider second homes. If I want to truly disconnect and reset, it must be Eden Rock in St Barth's. Caribbean hospitality is unmatched. It's true luxury, surrounded by crystal blue water. The Sturm products in every room make it feel like home.
What is your favourite shop in Mayfair? Â
My great friend Jessica McCormack's boutique on Mount Street is the perfect place to start a day strolling around Mayfair. It's the best place to treat yourself or loved ones to some amazing, timeless jewellery.
I have so many go-tos in Mayfair. My favourites are Harry's Bar, Scott's and China Tang – and for breakfast I love The Connaught. The best restaurant in the world is Kai Mayfair – I always order the wasabi prawns and roasted Chilean sea bass.
Tell us about your most memorable travel experience? Â
My most memorable travel experience was a sailing trip with my whole family on a beautiful old sailing yacht. Seeing my father in his element – out on the ocean with all of his family – will always be a special memory for me.
Where is next on your travel wish list?
Id love to visit India. I've been meaning to go for such a long time and have had many opportunities to visit but it's never been the right moment. Id also love to visit Africa and go on safari.
Where is your favourite wellness destination?
My daughter Charly and I both love going to Viva Mayr in Austria, which is an amazing wellness spa and retreat. It has such a tremendous focus on education and science.
Above: Eden rocks at st Barths
What is your favourite restaurant in Mayfair and in the world?
I have so many go-tos in Mayfair. My favourites are Harry's Bar, Scott's and China Tang – and for breakfast I love The Connaught. The best restaurant in the world is Kai Mayfair – I always order the wasabi prawns and roasted Chilean sea bass.
Tell us about your most memorable travel experience? Â
My most memorable travel experience was a sailing trip with my whole family on a beautiful old sailing yacht. Seeing my father in his element – out on the ocean with all of his family – will always be a special memory for me.
Where is next on your travel wish list?
Id love to visit India. I've been meaning to go for such a long time and have had many opportunities to visit but it's never been the right moment. Id also love to visit Africa and go on safari.
Where is your favourite wellness destination?
My daughter Charly and I both love going to Viva Mayr in Austria, which is an amazing wellness spa and retreat. It has such a tremendous focus on education and science.
JD Malat- Mayfair gallerist and art dealer
What is your favourite hotel in Mayfair/St James's and in the world?Â
My favourite hotel in Mayfair is Claridge's, especially since it's right next door to the gallery. Ilove The Fumoir bar – it always gives me that wonderful feeling of London back in time. As for my favourite hotel in the world, that would be HĂ´tel Belles Rives in Antibes.
Favourite shop in Mayfair/St James's?
My favourite shop in Mayfair is the cigar shop on Mount Street [Sautter] – it's one of those places with real character, and I always enjoy stopping in.
Your favourite restaurant in Mayfair and in the world?
My favourite restaurant in Mayfair is Cipriani – especially at lunchtime. The food is always exceptional, and it's such a scene. My favourite restaurant in the world is L'Ami Louis in Paris.
Your most memorable travel experience?
My journey through Iceland last summer. One memory stands out as unforgettable. I drove up a remote mountain road in the Icelandie highlands under endless daylight. With every kilometre the landscape grew more dramatic: black volcanic fields, patches of snow even in July and steaming vents rising in the distance. When the road finally reached the top, the view opened into a wide, silent panorama – a mix of raw earth, bright green moss, glaciers on the horizon and that crisp Icelandic air.
Above: Dukes Martini Bar
First memory of Mayfair/St James's?
When I first started working in an art gallery in Mayfair, I had an unforgettable moment. It was a rainy day in July 2005 when Pierce Brosnan (inset) walked into the gallery. Seeing him there, immaculately dressed in a suit and holding his umbrella, felt like stepping straight into a James Bond movie. He was the definition of a true gentleman, and that memory has stayed with me ever since.
Where is next on your travel wish list?
My next travel wish is Japan. I hope to visit very soon, and I would love to stop by some of my favourite artists' studios while I'm there.
Where is a place you felt was overrated?
I think Mykonos in summer can be a bit overrated. While it's beautiful and lively, the crowds and high prices made it feel less enjoyable than I expected.
Tell us a hidden gem in Mayfair/St James's?
I would say Dukes hotel in St James's. It's one of my favourite bars, with arguably the best martini in the area. I also love their unique approach of not serving more than two martinis per guest – it makes the experience feel really special and intentional.
What is your favourite hotel in Mayfair/St Jamesâs and in the world?Â
Claridge's is my forever favourite in Mayfair. The second those revolving doors sweep you in, everything looks softer, kinder and a little more glamorous. It is not just a hotel; it is a ritual. I've celebrated milestones there and had wonderfully quiet moments. Globally, Nihi Sumba in Indonesia has my heart. It is blissfully off the beaten track, where luxury lets nature lead the way rather than compete with it. Mornings are salty and barefoot, evenings velvety and starlit.
What is your favourite shop locally?
Browns is my Mayfair institution. I love the confidence of its curation; it is thoughtful without being fussy, and it always has a whisper of mischief. You can stroll in with no plan and somehow walk out with the exact piece you did not know you needed.
What is your favourite restaurant in Mayfair and the world?Â
My newest crush in Mayfair is Carbone. I have loved their outposts worldwide, and this one brings the swagger beautifully. The food is indulgent in the most charming way, the lighting is forgiving in all the right places and the music is a mood all of its own. As for the best in the world, Mibu in Tokyo is the experience I will treasure forever. It is invitation-only, members'-only kaiseki, and it feels less like a restaurant and more like joining a secret.
Most memorable travel experience?
I have been lucky enough to tick off more than 70 countries, so choosing is genuinely unfair to all the others. But Peru is etched into my heart. It was one of the first big adventures my husband and I took together, a glorious two weeks that felt like a love letter to curiosity.
First memory of Mayfair/St Jamesâs?
Afternoon tea at Claridge's, with my nose practically pressed to the glass, staring at the Christmas lights. The whole ritual felt like being let in on a marvellous secret.
Where is next on your travel wish list?
Mount Fuji is calling my name. Japan always invites you to look properly, to notice the craft in the small things and the soul in the rituals. After so many big, buzzy trips, I find myself craving that kind of attentive calm, where the days are measured in bowls of noodles, long walks and the precise joy of an early night. I want to wake up, draw the curtains and feel that iconic volcano wink back at me as if to say: “Well then, shall we?”
Your hidden gem in Mayfair/St Jamesâs?
Kitty Fisher's is my little secret that is not really a secret any more, and I adore it. Tucked in and softly lit, it is small, romantic and effortlessly relaxed. There is a sense of being looked after properly, the way restaurants used to do before everything went neon and shouty. Go for the feeling as much as the food.
Below: Carbone London Dining Room
