Guide to the best pubs in Mayfair

The Audley is a traditional pub set inside a classic Victorian building in the heart of Mayfair. Inside, it resembles everything you would expect from a classic British pub; dark-varnished wood and brass draught taps that pour beer and cider from Battersea’s independent Sambrook’s Brewery and other well-known brands. The food is standard pub fare, made using produce sourced from around the UK and the pub’s own farm.

Set inside a Grade II-listed Mayfair building on Duke Street, The Barley Mow is a stylishly renovated pub serving market-fresh seafood and snacks in a casual setting. Enjoy all of the standard pub drinks and a menu crafted by acclaimed chef Ben Tish, featuring dishes like haggis Scotch egg with whisky mayonnaise and brown crab rarebit.

This historic London pub has seen it all, having survived the Blitz completely intact. It’s a perfect example of original Victorian architecture, with commissioned glasswork, distressed carpets and wooden panelling. The bar is well-stocked, serving all of the classic pub drinks, like craft beer, seasonal ale, cider, wines and artisan soft drinks.

The Guinea is a pub and restaurant located on Bruton Place in Mayfair. It’s all about the food here, which focuses on grass-fed British beef and daily caught fish with seasonal greens, all cooked on an open grill. There’s a selection of Young’s ales at the bar to accompany your food, and the pub regularly hosts themed events, like Burns Night celebrations, where you can feast on haggis and neeps and tatties with whisky sauce whilst enjoying the sound of a live kilted piper.

For fancy pub grub in London’s bustling West End, hit up The Iron Duke, a Fuller’s pub and restaurant in Mayfair. This place specialises in delicious beer and cider, tempting wines, and freshly-cooked food made from high-quality ingredients. The pub has a classy navy façade with baskets of brightly-coloured hanging plants. Inside, it’s quintessentially British; there is a classic wooden bar and signature brass draught taps with all of the traditional pub drinks.

You’ll find The Footman pub tucked around the corner from Berkeley Square Gardens, kitted out with classic red leather seating, dark varnished wood and hanging chandeliers sculpted out of antlers. The food is divine; think elevated British dishes, like their famous Footman Game Pie with smoked bacon jam and Jerusalem artichoke.

Stepping into this cosy pub feels like stepping into your wealthy aunt’s living room. It first opened in 1739, which makes it one of the oldest public houses and kitchens in Mayfair, and is kitted out with distressed leather sofas and armchairs centred around a crackling fireplace. There’s a simple bar menu of pub classics and small bites and an unfussy drinks menu featuring everything from wine and cocktails to house spirits.

This classic London watering hole has a menu dedicated entirely to hearty British pies, from steak and kidney and Hampshire venison to Shropshire chicken and Dorset crab. For those who prefer to cut back on the pastry, there are also heaps of other traditional dishes to choose from, like fish and chips, burgers and sausage and mash. Enjoy all the standard pub drinks and take them up to the terrace for some al fresco drinks in the sunshine if the weather is warm.

This classic Mayfair pub stocks a variety of beers and ales accompanied by a delicious menu of bar snacks and a decadent Sunday roast. It’s tucked away between the boutique shops and cafés of London’s Shepherd’s Market in the southern part of Mayfair. Inside it’s cosy with a classic dark wooden bar, framed pictures and brass draught taps.

Back in the day, The British Navy used to drink at The Goat Tavern, a historic British boozer built in 1686 located just off famous Bond Street. They serve everything from traditional Sunday roasts to battered fish and chips, all best enjoyed with a cold, frothy pint. Inside it’s dark with lots of dark wood, hanging light fixtures and funky patterned tiled flooring.