Mayfair is the land of indulgence and long nights, with extreme amounts of food and a copious number of drinks. The following is an outline for the perfect night out in Mayfair aka ‘the Gatsby fantasy’.
Langan’s Brassiere: “A tablecloth of starters”
Starting the night off by exiting Green Park Tube Station and crossing the road to the welcoming neon sign of Langan’s. I would recommend booking the table for 9:30pm and immediately sitting down to a classic martini or tequila lime soda. A restaurant that has seen the likes of Mick Jagger, Elton John, Princess Grace of Monaco and guestlist alike. Founded by Peter Langans and Michael Caine, this establishment has a long-standing reputation for intoxicating opulence and a rambunctious attitude. Re-opening its doors in 2021 under new ownership, that atmosphere endures today. With a French and British classics menu, this is a venue known for welcoming portion sizes and mouth-watering meals. Time to decorate the table with starters: Scottish smoked salmon, tuna nicoise salad, Hereford beef tartare, gratinated French onion soup, a half-dozen snails and my personal two favourites the bone marrow and brioche and chicken liver parfait. By now you should be happily hydrated and hunger satisfied. It is time to head to your next drinks spot.
Upstairs at Langan’s: “Back to the 80’s”
Up the grand staircase and entering the glamorous members club that operates only to familiar faces and friends, the bar exudes the naughtiness and rowdy feel that once was. Draped in a sensual atmosphere of red, as if one stepped into Moulon Rouge, red crushed velvet walls encapsulating the red bulbous bar, the entire room is ruby there is no further way to explain part from the adjacent room that is completely decked out in yellow, from ceiling to floor. A night of groovy music supplied by Langan’s best DJs and euphoria by the fabulous bartenders. Cocktails flowing and laughter going, the attitude is set for the night, dancing and swaying away. Langan’s really does have a pre-existing reputation for an exhilarating night which is exactly what it supplies stepping back into an era that emulates Mayfair’s attitude of indulgence. One could end the night here. However, if your night continues it’s time for one last espresso martini and to order some cabs.
Green Room Maddox: “Bring out the Casamigos and Belvs!”
Down the stairs and into a large club filled with people. It’s around 2am, so remember to hold on to your friends as hard as you can as this part of the night is where it gets confusing. Through a secret door, a corridor will take you to the kitchen. Surprising, however, Green Room (private members club of Maddox) awaits through one last secret door and so does your table. Through trial and error, our group has created the perfect recipe for almost any club; a magnum of Belvedere a bottle of Casamigos and maybe a bottle of champagne or two. However, Green Room is a club like no other, pumping with afro-house/house music, as if you just stepped into a scene from The Great Gatsby, with champagne flowing everywhere you look and smiles to follow. The atmosphere emulates that outrageous time of lawless drinking and clamorous behaviour, with your personal bottle service catering for you the entire night. Occasionally nipping out to the indoor-outdoor smoking area that really does look like Jay Gatsby’s Long Island home with a fountain and statues surrounding the seating areas.
VQ Bloomsbury: “Are you sure this is a 24-hour diner?”
If you have made it this far, congratulations are in order, by now it’s probably 6am or later However, VQ caters to what some would call “the best mac cheese I’ve ever had”, although that could be the drinks talking and lack of sleep. My personal go-to is the delicious burrata salad and fries chased down by a large bottle of water and a Diet Coke to try and scare away the inevitable hangover.