A number of entertainment operators, including the owners of Mahiki and Whisky Mist, have teamed up to create Dstrkt, a restaurant and late night club that’s seen a staggering £25 million worth of investment lavished in it. The result: a very slick, beautifully designed space that will have you partying into the wee small hours.

The Venue
Dstrkt is on the former site of Rex Cinema and Planet Hollywood, just off bustling Piccadilly Circus. The club’s logo on the side of a wall marks your arrival and, once inside, a sleek grey-toned stairwell leads down into a basement which is then divided up between the restaurant and club.

The restaurant is a luxurious looking space with leather banquettes, lots of dark browns and moody lighting, and a mezzanine level packed with smaller tables and caramel coloured banquettes which overlook the main dining area. There’s a small lounge-y area designed for pre-dinner cocktails and a visible wine room forged out of glass. Hanging from the ceiling are decorative clusters of bespoke glass lights that change colour intermittently and give off a low-lit glow. It’s a design that wouldn’t be out of place in a cool 5 star hotel.

Further in, the club space has what looks like thousands of perspex small rods attached to the ceiling, which continually change colour and add a sort of industrial vibe to the place. A long angular bar takes up one side, and stylish chairs and tables surround a large, exposed DJ booth and dancefloor. Adjacent to this is a generous VIP area comprising of more leather banquettes and tables complete with the ubiquitous ice buckets. A precious stone (read: massively expensive) black bar sits neatly in the middle and discreet black doors lead out to the VIP toilets where another DJ spins tunes in the foyer.

The Atmosphere
The only way to get in is via advance guestlist, by booking a table, or sheer determination. And you’ll need to arrive early; the queues are already snaking down the street. If you arrive later on and manage to get in, expect a full on clubbing experience as laser lighting, strobes and thumping beats get the crowd going. However, the scantily clad dancers who perform on the stage throughout the evening may not be to everyone’s taste.

The Music
A fantastic sound system and prominent DJ booth shows they’re keen to push the club as much as the restaurant, and guest DJs from around the globe are scheduled. The music is pretty standard for a club of this type, with a lot of club classics and dance music keeping the crowd moving.

The Food
The restaurant offers elegant European cuisine under the guidance of head chef George Yaneff, and there are plenty of luxury touches like the gleaming silver cutlery and plates embossed with the club’s name. Reasonably priced dishes such as grilled squid with a creamy polenta and ink sauce (£7), or a rib-eye steak (£15), sit alongside more extravagant options like the sharing plates of caviar with blinis and whipped creme fraiche (from £90 per 30g tin). Charcuterie boards and a selection of cheese (from £10) bring things back down to earth.

The Drink
A punchy selection of champagne cocktails (£13), martinis (£10) and classic cocktails sit next to a list champagnes and premium bottles of spirits. A bottle of Chiroc vodka is £180, with Moet and Chandon Vintage priced at £150, and a rare Methuselah of Louis Roederer Cristal at a ridiculous £24,000! Advance table bookings do not have minimum spends, but the venue does recommend a bottle of spirits or champagne per party of four.

The Last Word
It’s certainly not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, but Dstrkt is a beautifully designed, celebrity-friendly addition to the West End, offering a luxurious place to enjoy dinner and unwind with cocktails before hitting the dancefloor. Just make sure you’ve got your credit card handy, or someone else is picking up the bill if you intend to stay all night.

venue information venue map view london review user reviews (20) image gallery (9) guest lists