Restaurant in London, United Kingdom
Humo
1,155Pearl PointsPrecision fire cooking. Book counter seats first.

About Humo
Humo is Mayfair's most technically serious live-fire restaurant: no gas, no electricity, every heat source a deliberate choice. Chef Robbie Jameson's Japanese-inflected British menu — Orkney scallops, Hampshire trout, Cornish lamb — earns a 4.7 Google rating and a White Star from Star Wine List. Book the counter seats overlooking the four-metre wood grill, and reserve at least three weeks out.
Pearl Verdict
Humo is the strongest argument for live-fire cooking in London's Mayfair right now. If you want technically precise, wood-fired cooking that draws on Japanese flavour logic while using British prime ingredients, book it. If you want a conventional high-end dining room with white tablecloths and French-accented service, look elsewhere. The counter seats overlooking the four-metre wood grill are the reason to come — reserve those specifically, or reconsider.
About Humo
The most common mistake people make about Humo is assuming that live-fire cooking here means something rustic or casual. It does not. This is a ££££ restaurant on St George Street, Mayfair, backed by Creative Restaurant Group (the same team behind Endo at the Rotunda), and the interior signals that immediately. The former Wild Honey space has been transformed into something considerably more striking, with the long counter and the four-metre grill as the room's centrepiece. No gas, no electricity: every element of heat — flame, smoke, or embers , is a deliberate choice made for each ingredient.
What that means on the plate is a style that reads as Japanese in instinct but British in sourcing. Orkney scallops, Hampshire trout, 32-day aged Cornish lamb , the ingredient provenance is as considered as the technique. The trout, smoked over applewood and finished with roe marinated in yuzu, with compressed apple and myoga, sits on a horseradish, pineapple, mango and lime sauce. That combination , East Asian citrus brightness, British smoked fish, tropical acidity , is the clearest expression of what chef Robbie Jameson is doing here: a menu where Japanese flavour architecture meets British prime produce, all filtered through serious fire technique.
The scallop course, roasted over wood from aged whisky barrels, is probably the most cited dish: the barrel wood gives a sweet, subtle smokiness, and the whisky-brown butter-verjus sabayon underneath it reinforces that without overshadowing the shellfish. Slices of nectarine provide a counterpoint that keeps it from being heavy. This is the kind of precision that puts Humo in a different category from most wood-fire concepts in London, where smoke is often more aesthetic than functional.
In Mayfair terms, Humo has become the go-to for diners who want something technically credible but less format-rigid than a full tasting-menu commitment. The set lunch is particularly worth noting as an entry point: it introduces Jameson's cooking at a lower price point than dinner, with optional wine pairings available. For those who want the full experience, Abajo , the chef's counter downstairs , runs a tasting menu of Colombian dishes, which is a separate booking and a different proposition entirely.
The wine list is serious and priced accordingly. Star Wine List recognised the programme with a White Star in April 2024, which puts Humo's cellar in meaningful company. For a wine-forward evening, this matters. For those less focused on the list, the set lunch with pairings remains the most efficient route in.
Mayfair already carries several ££££ restaurants, but Humo fills a gap that the neighbourhood's more classical French and Modern British rooms do not. CORE by Clare Smyth and The Ledbury operate in European fine-dining registers that Humo deliberately steps outside. The live-fire format, the Japanese-British flavour axis, and the counter-dining energy make it the address in the area for a specific kind of exploratory dinner , one where the kitchen's method is part of the experience rather than background infrastructure.
Google reviews sit at 4.7 across 540 ratings, which at this price point and booking difficulty reflects genuine repeat enthusiasm rather than novelty traffic. That number has held as the restaurant has matured past its opening period, which is the more meaningful signal.
Sunday is the one day Humo is closed. Monday through Saturday lunch runs 12 PM to 2:30 PM; dinner runs 6 PM to 10 PM. The hours are consistent across the week, which makes scheduling direct for visitors building a London itinerary. For broader context on where Humo sits in the London dining picture, see our full London restaurants guide.
Practical Details
Reservations: Book at least 3–4 weeks ahead for dinner; counter seats overlooking the grill book faster than table seats, so specify when reserving. Budget: ££££ , expect a full dinner with wine to reflect Mayfair pricing. The set lunch is the most accessible price point and a genuine introduction to the kitchen's range. Hours: Monday–Saturday, lunch 12 PM–2:30 PM, dinner 6 PM–10 PM; closed Sunday. Location: 12 St George Street, London W1S 2FB , central Mayfair, walkable from Bond Street and Oxford Circus stations. Abajo: The downstairs chef's counter (Colombian tasting menu) is a separate booking and fills independently , if that format interests you, book it as its own experience rather than an add-on decision on the night.
How It Compares
More from Pearl
- Our full London restaurants guide
- Our full London hotels guide
- Our full London bars guide
- Our full London wineries guide
- Our full London experiences guide
Fire-led and grill-forward restaurants worth knowing
Other UK restaurants for the explorer
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I wear to Humo?
Dress as you would for a ££££ Mayfair restaurant: polished but not black-tie. The interior is described as glitzy, and the counter seats put you front-row at an active four-metre grill, so avoid anything you would not want near heat or smoke. Think smart eveningwear rather than formal suits.
Is Humo good for solo dining?
Yes, and arguably the best way to experience it. The long counter overlooking the wood grill is designed for the kind of engaged, front-row dining that suits solo guests. For an even more focused solo visit, the Abajo chef's counter in the basement offers a tasting menu of Colombian dishes.
How far ahead should I book Humo?
Book 3–4 weeks ahead for dinner at minimum. Counter seats overlooking the grill go faster than table seats, so specify your preference when reserving. Lunch tends to be more accessible, but Humo operates Tuesday through Saturday only for both services, with no Sunday opening.
Is lunch or dinner better at Humo?
Lunch is the lower-risk entry point: a set lunch option with optional wine pairings gives you a structured introduction to chef Robbie Jameson's cooking at a lower spend than a full dinner. Dinner allows for the full menu range and the counter experience at its most theatrical, but the ££££ price tag and serious wine list make it a heavier commitment.
Is the tasting menu worth it at Humo?
The Abajo chef's counter tasting menu of Colombian dishes is a distinct offering from the main à la carte, and worth booking separately if you want a structured progression through Jameson's cooking. The main dining room operates more as a menu-driven experience built around the grill rather than a traditional tasting menu format, so clarify which format you are booking when you reserve.
Is Humo worth the price?
At ££££ in Mayfair, Humo charges in line with its postcode, but it earns it through technical precision rather than prestige branding. The live-fire approach uses no gas or electricity, and the use of different woods for different ingredients is a deliberate system, not a gimmick. The wine list prices reflect the W1 address, so factor that in. For the cooking itself, the price is justified.
What should a first-timer know about Humo?
The muted exterior at 12 St George Street gives nothing away about the interior, which has real impact. Request counter seats when booking: the four-metre wood grill is the centrepiece, and watching the kitchen work is part of the experience. The menu draws heavily on Japanese technique applied to British produce, with seafood particularly well represented, so come with an appetite for that combination.
Location
12 St George St, London W1S 2FB, United Kingdom
London, United Kingdom
Compare Humo
| Venue | Awards | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Humo | ££££ | |
| CORE by Clare Smyth | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | ££££ |
| Restaurant Gordon Ramsay | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | ££££ |
| Sketch, The Lecture Room and Library | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | ££££ |
| The Ledbury | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | ££££ |
| Dinner by Heston Blumenthal | Michelin 2 Star, World's 50 Best | ££££ |
What to weigh when choosing between Humo and alternatives.
Also Consider
- CORE by Clare Smyth, Modern British, ££££
- Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, Contemporary European, French, ££££
- Sketch, The Lecture Room and Library, Modern French, ££££
- The Ledbury, Modern European, Modern Cuisine, ££££
- Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, Modern British, Traditional British, ££££
Against London's ££££ peer group, Humo occupies a distinct position: it is the only option in this set built entirely around live-fire technique with a Japanese-British flavour axis. CORE by Clare Smyth and The Ledbury are the stronger choices if Modern European or Modern British cooking is what you want, both operate at the top of that register with more formal tasting-menu structures. Restaurant Gordon Ramsay and Sketch, The Lecture Room and Library deliver more ceremony and a more classically French-rooted experience if occasion dining with traditional service is the priority.
For value within the ££££ tier, Humo's set lunch gives you genuine access to the kitchen's range without a full dinner commitment, that option does not exist at most of its peers. Dinner by Heston Blumenthal is the closest in terms of conceptual ambition (a kitchen organised around a central idea rather than classical tradition), but Humo is harder to book and more ingredient-driven where Dinner leans toward historical novelty. On booking difficulty, Humo is harder than Dinner by Heston and roughly comparable to CORE, plan three to four weeks out for dinner.
The decision comes down to format preference. If you want counter theatre, fire technique, and a Japanese-influenced menu using British produce, Humo is the clearest choice in London at this price point. If you want a full tasting-menu progression with formal pacing and deep wine service, CORE or The Ledbury will serve you better. If the room and spectacle matter as much as the food, Sketch remains its own category entirely.
Hours
- Monday
- 12 PM-2:30 PM 6 PM-10 PM
- Tuesday
- 12 PM-2:30 PM 6 PM-10 PM
- Wednesday
- 12 PM-2:30 PM 6 PM-10 PM
- Thursday
- 12 PM-2:30 PM 6 PM-10 PM
- Friday
- 12 PM-2:30 PM 6 PM-10 PM
- Saturday
- 12 PM-2:30 PM 6 PM-10 PM
- Sunday
- closed
Recognized By
Explore London
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