Umu

Kyoto-style kaiseki restaurant at 14-16 Bruton Place, Mayfair, open since 2004 behind a discreet door. Umu has held a MICHELIN star since that first year. Executive chef Ryo Kamatsu, who trained at two-star Ichimonji in Tokyo and joined Yoshinori Ishii’s kitchen in 2014, has led the room since December 2020. Official hours: lunch Tuesday to Saturday 12:00 to 14:00, dinner Monday to Saturday 18:00 to 22:00, closed Sunday. Last order on the kaiseki menu is 13:30 at lunch and 21:30 at dinner. Book through umurestaurant.com; phone +44 20 7499 8881. The counter is the meal you came for; a pretty side table is a different, lesser night. Lunch also runs bento and à la carte for a shorter Mayfair pause. Dress is listed as smart casual. Pair with a Bond Street or Mount Street walk rather than a long West End transfer after a multi-course menu. Private dining is available if the table is a family or client lunch rather than a counter night. Recheck current menus, sake pairings, and deposit rules before travel, and leave Fashion Week and December party dates for people who booked first. Bruton Place is easy to miss; save the door note from the confirmation so you are not circling the lane when the first course is already timed. Confirm whether your booking is counter, table, or private room when the confirmation lands.