Located on Hanover Square, adjacent to the newly opened Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, Mazarine feels immediately settled in its surroundings. From the moment you step inside, attention is drawn not to arrival, but to what surrounds you, the proportions of the room, the calm of the space, and the way the atmosphere shifts as the evening progresses.
Rooted in French coastal cuisine and shaped by a carefully considered design language, Mazarine reveals itself through detail. The presence of stone, the softness of the lighting, the quiet confidence of the room as it fills, nothing asks to be noticed, yet everything feels intentional. It is a restaurant experienced gradually, where design, service and cuisine come into focus over time rather than all at once.
The interior, designed by New York studio Bolt Builds, avoids any literal reference to the sea. There are no visual cues or thematic gestures. Instead, the space draws on its emotional qualities, depth, movement and reflection, translating them into material, form and light. The ground-floor dining room unfolds slowly. At its centre sits a carved stone bar, substantial and grounding, described by Bolt Builds founder Matthew Dennis as “the emotional centre of the restaurant.” Above it, a sculptural pendant descends with a quiet sense of movement, anchoring the space without dominating it.
This language carries through the room. Metalwork traces the railings with a gentle fluidity, pale timber seating and custom tables soften the geometry, metal-mesh curtains define the private dining room without closing it off. The palette remains restrained, sand, oyster and warm stone tones, with subtle hints of Mediterranean blue appearing across linens, upholstery and florals. The effect is calm and sculptural, never literal.
“We focused on evoking the emotions of the sea rather than illustrating it,”
“Movement, depth, reflection, softness and shadow-play became our design tools.” Dennis explains.
From the outset, the experience is defined by ease. A glass of Charles Heidsieck Champagne is offered on arrival, a natural, unhurried gesture that settles the pace of the evening. Service remains attentive throughout, intuitive rather than formal. There is a sense of flow to the room, where conversation, food and atmosphere coexist without interruption. Hospitality here feels thoughtful and assured, allowing the focus to remain on the table and the time spent around it.
The menu reflects the same sensibility as the space, classical in foundation and modern in expression. Early dishes arrive quietly and with sophistication. Coquille Saint-Jacques Grillée, grilled scallops with roasted hazelnuts, is delicate yet deeply satisfying followed by Crevettes Tièdes, warmed prawns dressed with olive oil and fresh basil, allow the quality of the ingredients to speak clearly. A standout hors d’oeuvres, Croquette d’Anguille Fumée, smoked eel croquette with Comté, lovage and horseradish, delivers depth without heaviness, setting a considered rhythm for what follows.
At the heart of the menu is a respect for classical technique, Sole de Douvres Classique, served grilled or meunière, arrives impeccably cooked, assured, unfussy and exact. It is a dish that relies entirely on precision, and Mazarine delivers it with confidence. Raviole de Crabe, served in a lobster and lemongrass broth, is light yet layered, aromatic without overwhelming. The now-signature Chou Grillé, grilled Savoy cabbage with anchovy sauce, is quietly memorable, simple in concept, exceptional in flavour, and unexpectedly lasting.
The kitchen is led by Thierry Laborde, whose career traces a modern French culinary lineage. Trained under Alain Ducasse at Le Louis XV, Laborde later helped shape London’s early bistronomy movement before earning his own Michelin star. At Mazarine, his approach is disciplined and assured, allowing technique and produce to lead without embellishment.
Mazarine is the latest project from the team behind Sparrow Italia, and its intentions are clearly articulated. As co-founder Khaled Dandachi notes, “Mazarine, in all things, aims to epitomise the virtues of timeless refinement, technical perfection and peerless hospitality in every gesture.”
Another sentiment, displayed within the restaurant, captures the ethos succinctly:
“At Mazarine, we believe in dining over eating, elegance over opulence, ritual over routine, and guests, above all else.”
Mazarine does not seek attention or momentum. Instead, it offers something increasingly rare in London’s dining landscape, a restaurant where design, service and cuisine are considered with equal care, and where the experience unfolds naturally over time. Calm, assured and quietly confident, Mazarine is shaped not by excess, but by feeling, a place to return to, rather than simply arrive at.
22 Hanover Square London W1S 1JA
The Luxe Resident 