A Mayfair institution, celebrated for live music and a ready-to-party vibe, Dover Street Restaurant and Bar guarantees a great night out if you’re in the spirit.

The Venue
For 30 years, Dover Street has been offering a haven for lovers of jazz, soul and RnB, with impressive live performances in a cheerful restaurant setting. Part restaurant, part cocktail and wine bar and part nightclub, it has something to offer everyone. After-work drinkers come for the cocktails, cosy couples indulge in decadent three-course meals by candlelight and late-night dancers make the most of the 3am licence.

Considering it rubs shoulders with Mahiki and other high-profile Mayfair establishments, the decor that greets you when you enter Dover Street is not overly impressive. Well-dressed staff greet you at an entrance that’s slightly reminiscent of a hotel lobby and direct you downstairs, where old-fashioned tables and chairs are arranged around a central stage and dancefloor. The layout is slightly awkward, with tables tucked away in various nooks and crannies, but you’ve always got easy access to the wine and cocktails with luminescent bars lining almost every wall.

The Atmosphere
The late licence means there’s fun to be had all night here and the party starts once the band comes on after 10pm. Huge tables are ideal for large parties and there are plenty of workers letting their hair down and dancers of all ages, from 20-somethings to 60-plus jazz veterans.

The Food
While the entertainment is the main draw, the food at Dover Street is decent and the French and Med-inspired menu is impressive with some sophisticated offerings. Seared scallops are plump and juicy, doused in a light and completely irresistible champagne sauce (forget decorum and mop it up with some bread), although some might find the price tough to swallow at £10.95 for a starter. The poached filet of smoked haddock (£6.95) is another beautiful dish. A fillet of white flaky fish is topped with a poached egg that oozes lovingly over the fish when broken, mixing in with the creamy white wine sauce to create a delicious combination.

For the ultimate indulgent main, head straight for the fillet steak Rossini (£22.50), an enormous slab of meat topped with rich foie gras and shaved truffle and smothered in an elegant Perigueux sauce. The meat is top quality and cooked perfectly to order although the sauce is a bit overpowering. Another main, sauteed king prawns, scallops and crab (£22.50) is equally indulgent with enormous prawns served in a green pepper and champagne sauce. While the scallops and prawns are tender and lovely, the crab is a little chewy and bland. Although mains average £15 to £16, the hefty prices are arguably justifiable when you consider that your live music is thrown in for a £1.50 cover charge if you get there before 10pm.

The Drink
Dover Street rightly bills itself as a wine bar as the list is huge, with an emphasis on France and tons of options (although few by the glass) and prices that start from £4.75/£17.50. You can’t go wrong with the deep, rich and round Chateau Mont Redon Cotes du Rhone (£6.95/£27.50), a perfect robust match for the steak. If you’re after the finer vintages, there are bottles around £100 to £150 and what has got to be one of the largest champagne menus in London. Cocktails are also plentiful with classics at £8.50.

The Last Word
Ideal for music lovers but not for penny-pinchers, Dover Street will have you working the jazz hands well into the night.

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