Quaglino's is a glamorous Mayfair brasserie where vintage vibes, live jazz, and stunning decor make for an unforgettable night of decadent dining and cocktails.
"Quaglino’s is Disneyland for people with Fitzgerald complexes who wish to trade the days of ‘untz untz’ for good old-fashioned razzle dazzle. The European classics are serviceable, but you don’t visit for the £40 prawn cocktail. You come this glitzy, underground St. James’s spot for the finger-clicking singers belting out Rat Pack tunes. That, and the chance to wear sequins without fear of side-eye." - jake missing, daisy meager, sinead cranna, rianne shlebak, heidi lauth beasley
"What To Get: A prawn cocktail, the beef fillet, and a seat as close to the stage as humanly possible. Time Capsule Factor: It’s all razzle dazzle, jazz hands, baby. Owners and members of the royal family have come and gone, but this glamorous St James’s basement has live music every night and the swinging feel of a secret prohibition-era party. Also, Judy Garland held her all-important fifth wedding reception here. That’s chic." - jake missing, sinead cranna, heidi lauth beasley, rianne shlebak
"Quaglino’s is one of the few remaining London restaurants where you can wear sequins without getting any stink eye. Only, it isn’t really a restaurant. It’s Disneyland for people with Fitzgerald complexes who wish to trade the days of ‘untz untz’ for good old-fashioned razzle dazzle. Between the mostly serviceable European classics to the finger-clicking singers on stage, this underground St. James’s spot is a cruise ship experience for anyone who prefers to stay firmly planted on dry land. The glitzy jaw-dropper space will hit you full force from the moment you enter. There’s a grand, sweeping amber staircase, a massive oval bar, and a stage with actual dolled-up humans performing an assortment of Norah Jones and Rat Pack tunes. The menu is mostly vintage brasserie classics, with the odd toe-dip into East Asian flavours, like a miso-glazed monkfish or a one-note ponzu tuna tataki. Frankly, few things will thrill. Pommes frites are pomme frites and the steak is a steak, albeit a well-cooked one. The good news is, you’ll be having so much fun toe-tapping in time with the band and contemplating life as a sensual cigar smoker, that you’ll barely notice that the £40 prawn cocktail predominantly tastes of overly sweet marie rose sauce. video credit: Heidi Lauth Beasley video credit: Heidi Lauth Beasley The pricing has what we like to call an ‘experience tax’ built in and there’s an additional fiver-a-pop music fee per person. But, it is worth it. Make like the suited 50-something legend we saw here treating his missus to a glass of fizz in front of the stage for a dressy date night. Or make a booking for any occasion that can be classed as SUR—sequins urgently required. Food Rundown video credit: Heidi Lauth Beasley Quaglino’s Cocktail No dish is more in keeping with the HMS Jazz Hands mentality quite like this OTT take on a prawn cocktail. Turns out, de-shelling prawns can be glamorous but a lot of that salty ocean flair is lost to the very sweet marie rose sauce. photo credit: Heidi Lauth Beasley Yellowfin Tuna Tataki Fun fact: Quaglino’s played the role of a glam ‘90s restaurant in the Netflix adaptation of One Day. This plating ought to convince you that it was exceptional casting. Beyond the arty avocado emulsion squiggles, the ponzu dressing is more sweet than citric but the tuna has a great glossy, firm texture. video credit: Heidi Lauth Beasley Hereford Beef Fillet If you have ever eaten a decent fillet, you already know exactly what this tastes like. No funny business, no surprises, just some quality tender meat cooked to the acquired medium rare." - Heidi Lauth Beasley
"A grand jaw-dropper of a hall hidden beneath Bury Street, Quaglino's has been serving stylish debauchery and cocktails since 1929. It has a truly inspiring history of getting Very Important People pissed—Queen Lizzie popped by for dinner in 1956 and made history as the first reigning British monarch to eat at a public restaurant. These days it’s still host to a live band, slick cocktails, and lots of outfits you definitely can’t put anywhere near a washing machine. It’s perfect for a night of lobster dishes and Sinatra singalongs with friends, or a romantic late-night drink after a particularly schmoozy date." - heidi lauth beasley, jake missing, rianne shlebak
"This colourful, glamorous restaurant manages to be cavernous and cosy at the same time, with live music and a late night bar adding a certain sultriness to proceedings. The kitchen specialises in contemporary brasserie-style food." - Michelin Inspector
