HIDE

Should You Book HIDE?

If you are weighing up where to spend serious money on a meal in Mayfair, HIDE at 85 Piccadilly makes a stronger case than most at the same price tier; but the decision hinges on what you want from the occasion. For breakfast and brunch, it is arguably the most compelling proposition in this part of London: a Michelin-starred kitchen, a Green Park view, a wine list of 10,000 references available from 7 AM on weekdays. For dinner, it competes directly with CORE by Clare Smyth and Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, but breakfast is where HIDE genuinely separates itself from the field.

The Morning Case for HIDE

Most Michelin-starred kitchens do not open before noon. HIDE opens at 7 AM Monday through Friday, 9 AM on weekends; and the breakfast service is not a scaled-back hotel buffet or a pastry trolley. Regulars describe it as a remarkable experience in its own right, with classic dishes alongside original plates. The French toast is singled out repeatedly by diners as worth the visit alone. For anyone who wants a serious, technically ambitious morning meal in a room with a direct view over Green Park, the option to order from one of the deepest wine lists in the country while doing so, there is no direct equivalent in London at this address type.

The building itself reinforces the experience. The design is inspired by the trees of Green Park opposite: the lightest oak on the upper floor represents branches, the darker ground floor a trunk, the basement bar below echoes the roots. The upper floor window seats, with their panoramic view over the park, are the ones to request. Book early in the day and the room is quieter, more considered, genuinely suited to conversation, a different proposition to the dinner service, which draws a heavier expense-account crowd.

The Wine Situation

HIDE is owned by Hedonism Wines, that connection is the single most distinctive practical fact about the venue. Any bottle from Hedonism's 10,000-strong list can be at your table within 15 minutes of ordering, during any service, including breakfast. The wine programme has been recognised by Star Wine List as a top-tier destination every year from 2021 through 2025, the venue holds a 2-Star Accreditation from the World of Fine Wine Awards. For a food and wine explorer, this is the operational detail that tips the decision: you are not choosing between the wine list and the food. You are getting both at full depth simultaneously.

The Food Programme

The kitchen is led by Josh Angus following Ollie Dabbous's departure in early 2025. Guest ratings for the cuisine have held steady through the transition, with the cooking consistently described as wonderfully presented and meticulously thought-through. The menu options run from à la carte through to a set menu and an eight-course tasting menu priced at £165 per person. The approach is Modern European with Modern British inflections: technically ambitious, imaginatively constructed, with a focus on pure, well-balanced flavours. The Michelin star, held since 2024, remains in place.

The honest caveat: a minority of diners feel the pricing outpaces the execution. At £165 per head for the tasting menu before wine and service, expectations are ceiling-high. If you are comparing to Corrigan's Mayfair or Wild Honey St James at lower price points, the gap in ambition is real but so is the gap in spend. HIDE is the right choice when the wine programme, the view, the occasion itself are part of the calculation.

Booking and Timing

Booking is hard. HIDE is a large, two-floor venue, the capacity is generous by London fine dining standards, but demand is consistent and the combination of breakfast, lunch, dinner, a basement cocktail bar means it operates across a long day with few quiet windows. Book a minimum of three weeks out for dinner. Breakfast and weekend brunch slots move quickly because the value-to-occasion ratio is strong: you are getting Michelin-starred cooking and a world-class wine list at a time when most comparable kitchens are closed. The first-floor corner table above the junction of Clarges Street and Piccadilly is particularly sought after for business meals. For groups, the spacing between tables is noted by regulars as genuinely comfortable for conversation, an asset in a room that could easily feel crowded.

The basement cocktail bar is a separate draw, with regular diners expressing strong enthusiasm for it. If a full dinner reservation is not available, an early evening visit to the bar followed by a later reservation is a workable alternative.

Practical Details

Pearl Picks, Also Worth Considering

If you are exploring the broader fine dining scene in the UK, The Fat Duck in Bray, L'Enclume in Cartmel, and Moor Hall in Aughton represent the strongest alternatives outside London at the same tier. For country house dining, Gidleigh Park in Chagford is the comparison to make. Closer to London, Hand and Flowers in Marlow offers a different register entirely. For Modern European cooking at a similar level outside the capital, alchemilla in Nottingham and The Star Inn The City in York are worth your attention. Closer in name only, hide and fox in Saltwood operates in a different league. For London-specific planning, see our full London restaurants guide, our London bars guide, our London hotels guide, our London wineries guide, and our London experiences guide. For a neighbourhood alternative at a different price point, St. Barts is worth a look.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is HIDE worth the price?

• At £165 per head for the eight-course tasting menu, HIDE is priced at the top of the London single-Michelin-star tier, the question of value depends on what you are paying for.
• If the wine list is central to your evening, the answer is clearly yes: access to 10,000 references with 15-minute delivery from Hedonism is something no other Michelin-starred dining room in London offers.
• If you are benchmarking purely on food, a minority of diners feel the cooking does not quite match the price. The majority report being blown away, particularly at breakfast.
• For the morning service specifically, the price-to-occasion ratio is strong: Michelin-starred cooking and a Green Park view at a time when nearly every comparable kitchen is closed.

What are alternatives to HIDE in London?

• CORE by Clare Smyth is the choice if cooking precision and Michelin weight (three stars) matter more than wine depth or a view. Harder to book, closes more days per week.
• Restaurant Gordon Ramsay is the comparison for classic French-influenced European cooking at the same price tier with more formal service.
• Sketch (Lecture Room and Library) is the alternative if theatrical presentation and a more overtly luxurious room are the priority over wine programme depth.
• Wild Honey St James is the option if you want comparable Modern British ambition at a lower spend.
• For breakfast specifically, HIDE has no strong direct competitor at this tier in central London.

What should I wear to HIDE?

• HIDE operates at the Michelin-starred, Mayfair end of the market. Smart dress is expected at dinner and lunch, jacket for men is the safe default, though there is no published formal dress code.
• For breakfast and weekend brunch, the dress expectation is relaxed slightly, but the room and price point both suggest smart-casual at minimum.
• The basement cocktail bar operates at the same address and the same standard, trainers and casual clothing will feel out of place in the evening.

Can HIDE accommodate groups?

• Yes. The two-floor format gives HIDE more practical capacity than most Mayfair fine dining venues.
• Regulars specifically note the generous space between tables as an asset for business groups and conversation-heavy meals.
• The first-floor corner table above the Clarges Street and Piccadilly junction is a noted choice for business entertaining.
• For large groups, contact the restaurant directly, the venue's scale makes private or semi-private arrangements more feasible than at smaller competitors.

Does HIDE handle dietary restrictions?

• The kitchen operates across à la carte, set menu, an eight-course tasting menu format, which gives more flexibility than a single fixed tasting menu.
• For specific dietary requirements, contact the restaurant in advance of your reservation, this is standard practice at Michelin-starred venues running complex multi-course menus.
• The breadth of the menu formats (breakfast through dinner, à la carte through tasting) suggests a kitchen structured to accommodate varying needs, but confirmation directly from the venue is the only reliable approach.