Following our round-up of the best places for business dining in Mayfair, we asked FT readers in other cities to share their recommendations for this and other areas of the UK capital.
Here are your best tips for places to talk shop in London, from the West End to the City. Whether it is over breakfast, lunch or dinner, a discreet spot is the main consideration, though the food ranges from exquisite Milanese pastries and coffee to Mediterranean dishes with a dash of theatre.
Indian for all tastes
Mayfair power brews
In Mayfair, The Connaught hotel: this is the real power breakfast. Marchesi 1824, on Mount Street, Mayfair for power coffee and pastries direct from Milan, with a discreet back room as well. And Petrocchi Sede unica on nearby Albemarle Street for coffee and lunch — for my money, the best espresso in London and very high-quality lunch. The place is always buzzing and uses exceptional ingredients. — Niki Bawa, investments, London, UK
Sushi to impress
Kiku on Half Moon Street, Mayfair, for Japanese food. I once took a New Yorker there, who said: “You’ve ruined New York for me — this is the best sushi I’ve ever tasted.” Ask the chef to put a selection together for you. — Victoria Preston, author, London, UK
A hidden West End gem
A discreet but central spot in an unfashionable part of the West End, Aquavit London is a gem of a place. Particularly good value for lunch. — Ian Edwards, consultant, Paris, France
A brasserie to bank on
For breakfast — or lunch or dinner — The Brasserie at 1 Lombard Street Brasserie; the breakfast is consistently better than The Wolseley. 1 Lombard is located in the heart of the City in a grand old former banking hall. The service and management are always welcoming and excellent, and when the bill comes you do not feel ripped off. — James Fairburn, solicitor, London, UK
French finesse in the City
Being spirited up a private lift to the entrance to the Coq d’Argent is the first clue that you are about to start a special dining experience. In the heart of the City, the Coq has a packed menu, a world-class wine list and a pulse that will impress your guests. It also offers outside dining. — Paul Summerville, finance, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Booths for quiet deals
Feel of the Establishment
Mark’s Club (in the Red Dining Room) is discreet, private and exclusive, and with no bling — unlike most of the other clubs. [Non-members must be a guest of a member.] You can have a drink before or after in the drawing room upstairs or a cigar on the terrace outside. You can also bring your own wine. The then UK prime minister David Cameron dined here with his wife and chancellor George Osborne after winning the 2015 general election. I must be one of the younger members, but I love the discreet Establishment feel in this room. — Damian Chunilal, investor, Hong Kong
Fired up in Fitzrovia
Shepherd’s delight
For suits and start-ups
In east London, HAZ Finsbury Square. Superb service, delicious Turkish cuisine. Don’t be surprised to see a merchant banker in a suit sitting next to a start-up founder in a hoodie. Acceptable place to have a drink with your meal. You will likely hear conversations mentioning “Hong Kong”, “New York”, “Melbourne”, “Dubai”. Great for a one on one or a sizeable group. — Paul Meier, venture capital, Chicago, US
Pot luck in Belgravia
Speaker’s corner
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