The Wolseley
Cafe · St. James's
160 Piccadilly, London W1J 9EB, United Kingdom
Highlights
The Wolseley is a grand, art deco all-day brasserie in Mayfair serving classic and modern European fare with exquisite breakfast and afternoon tea.
The Wolseley is a grand, art deco all-day brasserie in Mayfair serving classic and modern European fare with exquisite breakfast and afternoon tea.
"The Wolseley can handle anything you throw at it—a fancy breakfast, a business lunch, a late-night dinner, and an afternoon tea. It’s always lively and the space—a converted 1920s car showroom in Mayfair with high ceilings and marble columns—would make even a paperclip convention seem like an exciting event. The best part is that you can also get warm scones and tea for £19.50 if you don’t want to commit to the whole three-hour shebang. It does get extremely busy and a tad touristy, but that’s only because everyone knows The Wolseley is a good idea." - rianne shlebak, eileen twum
"For prospective millionaires who just really need their chandeliers to make the right statement. The Wolseley in St James's was once a car showroom and now it’s the most famous place in London to look beautiful while doing beautiful things, like eating a stack of thick sugar-sprinkled pancakes. If that doesn’t give you faith in your pending plans to convert that decrepit spider hotel you call a shed into a smart home office, nothing will. A proper jaw-dropper of a space, this all-day brasserie is at its best first thing in the morning when your caffeine addiction will be thankful for the doorman’s smile and the patriotic glory of the full English. Of course, if you currently don’t have the funds to invest in vaulted ceilings and wrought iron chandeliers, it’s still a masterclass in ‘20s gold detailing meets monochrome opulence. " - heidi lauth beasley, rianne shlebak
"Eggs benedict Poaching an egg is truly one of the worst tasks a person can ever undertake. Tears are shed, saucepans abandoned, and the phrase ‘actually, I just fancied scrambled anyway’ will be muttered. Leave it to the professionals at this grand, converted 1920s car showroom in Mayfair. At The Wolseley a classic is just that—classic. So don’t expect any funny business, just a soft English muffin, ham, poached eggs, and a spectacularly thick hollandaise that by our estimations must involve at least three sticks of melted butter. We love to see it. " - heidi lauth beasley
"The Verdict: The beautiful room can’t distract from a lot of mediocrity, but breakfast is good. Not too long ago, the ownership of The Wolseley changed hands in what can only be described as slightly icky circumstances. That left a bad taste in some regulars’ mouths but, if they’re honest, the standards at this European restaurant on Piccadilly have been iffy for a while. The spectacular dining room—an art deco, former car showroom—still wows (especially if you’re sitting on the balcony). But the food is just fine. Stick with schnitzel and you’re good or, even better, come by for breakfast. The smoked haddock kedgeree is the move." - sinead cranna, rianne shlebak, jake missing, heidi lauth beasley
"Short of having Olivia Coleman serenade you with God Save The King over your toast, a full English breakfast at The Wolseley is the most British way you can kick things off in London. The Mayfair classic has one of London’s most beautiful dining rooms—a 1920s former car showroom converted into a perma-bustling brasserie. Although the lunch and dinner menu don't always stand up, come for a fry-up, a pile of pancakes, afternoon tea, and a photo shoot by the art deco columns, because few rooms in London are as good-looking as this one." - jake missing, rianne shlebak, sinead cranna, heidi lauth beasley
