Embassy London wraps together a restaurant and a members’ club with opulent class. All the Mayfair classic traits are present: table reservation at the club, expensive drinks and luxurious cars parked outside. And yet the atmosphere remains pretty friendly and welcoming.

The Venue
Tucked out of sight to avoid unwanted attention and yet conspicuously located on Old Burlington Street, the first glimpse of Embassy London is its sizeable patio and ground floor, a space that functions as the main bar and restaurant. The decor is minimal but opulent nevertheless: marbled mirrors, baroque lamps and a embossed ceiling all add a luxurious feel. The basement club is no less glitzy: the patterned black and silver wallpaper matches the brushed metal of the staircase and the fact that there are two VIP areas speaks volumes. The first is around the dance floor, visible to everyone, while the second one is perched on a mezzanine, separated from the rest of the club via a glass wall from where you can catch a glimpse of those very important people.

The Atmosphere
If the restaurant, with its large windows and natural light, speaks of openness, the club is a members’ only affair. Dining is popular with well dressed girls in their 20s and wealthy 30-somethings. At about 10pm, lights are dimmed and the volume of the music is turned up. People are ready to work off their dinner on the dance floor and the club is ready to go downstairs.

The basement is tightly guarded and the only way to get in is to appear on the guest list. Alternatively, you can reserve a table in advance, which is subject to a minimum spent. On the up-side, this means that only a certain amount of people are allowed in, keeping the space from being overcrowded. You will see fashionably attired members of both sexes, although not everyone is crazily thin or designer-clad celebrity offspring. Things are a bit more relaxed than other venues nearby but, predictably, there a lot of WAG wannabes populating the dance floor.

The Music
There are well structured club nights happening throughout the week and you can expect the unexpected: classic rock is played alongside a more predictable mix of funky house, electro beats, commercial RnB and club classics. At weekends dancers’ appear in extravagant outfits just beside the VIP area.

The Food
The menu accommodates all appetites, from those on a diet to the truly ravenous. The light bites (£2-£4.50) are a good section to pick from. The green Nocellara Sicilian olives are unpickled, plump and fresh, while the bruschetta – rich in pesto, sun-dried tomatoes and mozzarella, the latter not mentioned on the menu but featuring on your plate - is tasty, albeit slightly salty.

Small plates (£5.50-£12.50) include the well dressed fresh salad, which is made more interesting by the inclusion of pine nuts, sun-dried tomatoes and avocado. For hearty appetites, pick from the Embassy focaccia selection (£10-£14), a big spongy bread with a crispy bottom quite akin to pizza. Topped with calamari, squid and mussels, the dish is rich even if the mussels and squid are slightly vinegary. The large plates (£11-£27.50) offer the likes of lobster thermidor but also the more common lemon sole with samphire and nut brown butter. The fish is excellent quality, the greens perfectly crunchy and a little salty.

The desserts (£6-£7) are quite impeccable: the Knickerbocker Glory mixes fruit with chocolate ice cream and whipped cream successfully but the real highlight is the Baked Alaska with crème Anglaise and strawberries. This indulgent ball of ice cream is coated in meringue and cooked long enough to brown, without melting the inside, leaving it rich and simply delicious.

The Drink
Most of the wines are sold by the bottle (£18.50-£95), although you can sample a few glasses (£5-£6). The Chardonnay de L’Ardeche has hints of honey and melon and the tartness of lemon, making it ideal for fish. Coffee liquors provide a perfect closure to your meal (£7.50). Special occasions, always plentiful in Mayfair, warrant a bottle of champagne (£95-£750 with magnums at £180-£800). There are also plenty of cocktails (£11-£12) and the list contains classics, martinis, champagne and signature cocktails, plus shooters (£8.50). A long list of spirits, beer (£5), mocktails (£6.50) and soft drinks pad out the list.

The Last Word
The restaurant is a good introduction to the Embassy London experience, but the nightclub is the real place to be and, if footballers are your thing, you may well have the chance to get up close and personal with a Premier League star or two.

venue information venue map view london review user reviews (111) image gallery (5)