Jean George at the Connaught

Verdict: A reliable address for Modern French in Mayfair, with lunch offering better value than dinner

If you have been to Jean George at the Connaught once and are weighing a return visit, the honest answer is: the restaurant remains a solid choice within the Connaught's understated Mayfair setting, but the case for coming back depends heavily on when you book. Lunch is where the value proposition holds up most clearly; dinner at a hotel dining room of this calibre carries price expectations that require either a special occasion or a willingness to spend at the upper end of London's fine dining tier. The Opinionated About Dining rankings tell a useful story here: listed at #200 in Classical Europe in 2024 and moving to #219 in 2025, this is a restaurant that sits comfortably in the recognised tier without commanding the very leading spots. For a returning visitor, that positioning matters: expect consistency and craft, not revelation.

Portrait

Jean George at the Connaught operates under chef Anshu Anghotra, a shift from the restaurant's earlier identity that signals an evolution rather than a reinvention. The kitchen produces Modern French cooking within the formal surrounds of one of London's most carefully maintained hotel dining rooms. The Connaught's address on Carlos Place in Mayfair means the room itself carries a particular weight — the kind of space where the pace slows and the service register is formal without being stiff.

For a returning guest, the practical question is lunch versus dinner. Both are available across a seven-day week, running from midday to 9:45 pm daily. Lunch at a hotel of the Connaught's standing typically offers the same kitchen, the same room, a shorter menu at a lower entry point — making it the better choice if your priority is the experience over a full tasting commitment. Dinner suits a celebration or an occasion where the extended format earns its place. If you came for dinner on your first visit, lunch is the obvious next step: same address, different pace, likely a more favourable price-to-experience ratio.

The Connaught itself is one of the more architecturally consistent luxury hotels in London, which means the dining room benefits from a built environment that has not been modernised into anonymity. For a second visit, this context works in the restaurant's favour: the room is part of the proposition, it holds up on repeat.

As Modern French cooking in London goes, Jean George at the Connaught sits in a competitive field. Sketch, The Lecture Room and Library covers similar French fine dining territory with a more theatrical visual environment. Alex Dilling at Hotel Café Royal operates with two Michelin stars and a more focused tasting menu format. Gauthier Soho offers French fine dining at a lower price point and with a plant-forward option. The Cocochine and July are worth considering if you want Modern French cooking in a less formal register. None of these replace the specific offer here, the Connaught address and its associated atmosphere are part of what you are paying for, but knowing the alternatives sharpens the decision.

Beyond London, if Modern French cooking is your focus, the broader European context is worth noting. Waterside Inn in Bray, L'Enclume in Cartmel, and Moor Hall in Aughton each represent different expressions of high-end cooking in the UK. On the continent, Schanz in Piesport and Colonnade in Lucerne sit in the same OAD Classical Europe reference set. For those planning around the Connaught visit, our full London restaurants guide, London hotels guide, London bars guide, London wineries guide, and London experiences guide cover the full picture. Gidleigh Park in Chagford, Hand and Flowers in Marlow, and hide and fox in Saltwood round out the UK fine dining options worth knowing if your travels extend beyond the capital.

Know Before You Go

• Address: The Connaught, Carlos Place, London W1K 2AL
• Cuisine: Modern French
• Chef: Anshu Anghotra
• Hours: Monday to Sunday, 12:00 pm – 9:45 pm
• Booking difficulty: Easy
• Awards: Opinionated About Dining Classical in Europe, Recommended (2023), #200 (2024), #219 (2025)
• Leading for: Lunch visits, hotel dining occasions, Modern French in Mayfair
• Nearest comparison: Sketch, The Lecture Room and Library for Modern French at a similar tier

How It Compares

See the comparison section below.