The fashion-conscious and wealthy come together at this state of the art club, making Mayfair’s Luxx the new place to be.

The Venue
If you’re talking about exteriors, understatement is the imperative of many luxurious nightclubs. Luxx is no exception since it is hidden in a basement without any logo signalling its presence. However, the inside is all about stunning visuals and Luxx truly hits all the right spots with its decor. The venue spreads over a long room, developing over several different levels like a slow-rising platform with a few indented steps. The space is minimal in taste and the only pieces of furniture are the small, shiny, box-shape black tables, with a large built-in rectangular bucket for ice. The floor and walls are black, and so are the large padded wall benches, making the place quite dark.

The lighting is where it all comes together in an amazing (and amusing) game. The floor is crossed by a large strip lit from beneath; blue spotlights turn themselves on and off in time to the music while all the colours of the rainbow mix to create stripes of purple melting into blue and red, before merging into green. The walls have undergone a similar treatment. The shiny black walls are crossed with thin horizontal lines which can be lit and change colour to alter the mood of the moment and light the space with greens, blues, purples and reds. It is all reminiscent of a Daft Punk concert with more tact and style infused into it.

The Atmosphere
Glamorous and cool, you could imagine Luxx being the type of place where celebrities go. Yet, the club prefers to be discreet when it comes to its patronage. And, in actual fact, Luxx aims to be a cosy, fashionable nest where flocks of trendy and wealthy locals to Mayfair (and their posh friends) can retreat for a late drink.

The crowd is undeniably hip. Rock T-shirts worn with sequin jackets, platform sandals and studded clutches are popular between the girls, while the boys split between the casual-chic uniform - jeans, shirt and jacket worn with smart shoes - and sporty outfits mixing low-cut trainers and tennis shirts.

When it’s not closed to the public because of a fashion party, the club does not charge entrance fees but expect to be screened at the entrance. The capacity is rather limited (approximately 70 seated and 150 in total) and Luxx relies on good old word of mouth to spread the word. At the minute, you are better being a friend of someone who knows the drill if you want to get in.

This strict door policy translates to the atmosphere. Luxx feels a late hang-out spot for those in-the-know and is almost a large family of trendsetters in their late twenties and early thirties. It tends to get busy between 12am and 1am and it remains packed nearly till closing time, at 4 am.

The Music
House is Luxx’s choice and there is a no RnB policy. Regardless of your musical taste, you will definitely enjoy the music since the DJs are excellent and build up to a perfect climax during the night. It all starts - fashionably late - with chill out tunes and minimal beats with just a few people sipping the first drinks of the night. As groups flow-in and the night progresses, the music morphs into sexy house, with the lights in full swing and some dancing. There is no real dance floor to speak of. The large light strip on the floor acts a magnet and people just casually take over whichever nook is available, helping to create a feeling of relaxed informality. Given Luxx’s high profile, the plan is to organize superstar DJ sets a couple of times a year, with the like of Groove Armada and Basement Jaxx.

The Drink
Rivers of Champagne and plenty of cocktails are the visible sign of the opulence of Luxx. If fizz is what you are after, you can choose between twenty bottles. Prices start at £250 for the good Krug Grande Cuvee and escalate to £35,000 for the sublime Louis Roederer Cristal Mathusalem. For something in between, you can opt for Ruinart Rose Magnum NV (£350), Dom Perignon Magnum ‘99 (£700) or Louis Roeder Cristal Rose ‘99 (£800).

The cocktail list is still in the making but historical cocktails like the Negroni (late 1920s), Pegu Club (1930s) and Bellini (1948) should be a fixture. The Pisco Sour (pisco, lemon juice, sugar, bitters and egg white) may contain raw egg white but don't let that deter you, it is one of their most successful creations. The Brandy Crusta (cognac, Curacao, lemon juice, bitters) is sweet and sour thanks to the sugar crust and lemon, and comes served in a tulip glass, while Mint Julep is served in a metal tumbler just like it was in the 19th century. The Hemingway Daiquiri (rum, maraschino, grapefruit and lime juice, sugar) is powerful and sultry, with a preserved cherry sitting at the bottom of a Martini glass. The common denominator of them all is the mix of generous quantities of quality spirits and the carefully preparation.

Bottles of spirits are popular between groups and the selection is a perfect balance between plenty of choice but non-overpowering length. You have a good number of gins (£180-£240), rums (£200-£240), tequilas (£180-£500) and cognacs (£420-£900), as well as twenty vodkas (£200-£1600) and plenty of whiskies from America, Ireland, Scotland and single malt (£180-£460). If you are trying to invest your hard-earned cash into something special, pick from Snow Queen Jeroboam vodka (£800), Patron Platinum tequila (£500) or 25-year-old Bowmore single malt whisky (£500).

The Last Word
Just open and already undeniably on the rise, Luxx promises to establish itself as one of the leading high-end nightclubs in London. It is no surprise since it has got it all: excellent music, premium drinks and a sultry, exclusive atmosphere which will be the source of much envy amongst those unable to get in.

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