Mayfair is getting a new boutique hotel with one of the best back stories in London. The Shepherd Mayfair will open on 1st September 2026 in Shepherd Market, with 82 rooms and suites and a signature restaurant, Fayre, which has just revealed its first menu.
Where Mayfair Began
The hotel stands on the site of Mayfair’s oldest house, known as The Cottage and dating back to 1618, where a shepherd once tended his flock. The surrounding fields later hosted the annual May Fair, the event that gave the area its name, before architect and developer Edward Shepherd turned them into the intimate quarter that still carries his name.
That history runs through the whole project. Designed by Timothy Shepherd of Shepherd&, the hotel spreads across six floors and is conceived as a contemporary take on Mayfair’s historic mansions. It sets out to be a neighbourhood-led alternative to the grand hotels the area is known for.
Fayre: A Dining Room with a Story
On the ground floor, Fayre is a 62-cover restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. The room is all banquette seating, dark timber panelling and rich berry tones of mulberry and blueberry. Wrapping around it are wall coverings by urban artist Adam Ellis, which reimagine the original May Fair with livestock markets, theatres, jugglers and games of chance.
The approach is deliberately unshowy. Rather than chasing trends, Fayre takes its cue from London’s great neighbourhood dining rooms, with seasonal British produce and timeless cooking for regulars and first-time visitors alike.
What’s on the Menu
Snacks include a lobster and prawn brioche roll and a braised beef short rib croquette. Starters run from crispy duck confit salad and citrus-cured trout to scallops, while mains take in a Gloucester Old Spot pork chop, a beef Wellington pithivier, dry-aged steaks and seasonal vegetarian dishes.
The signature touch comes at the end. “Puddings by the Glass” serves classic desserts in a tall glass, a nod to the theatre of the original fair. A new one arrives each week, inspired by recipes from the fair’s era, starting with a strawberry and Champagne trifle. The opening menu also includes Paris-Brest with pistachio mousseline, Baked Alaska with caramelised pear, hazelnut and honey, and blackberry Bakewell tart.
From Morning Coffee to Late-Night Cocktails
Fayre is one of three spaces at the hotel. The Lounge is a relaxed 46-cover café with an outdoor terrace, and Teddy’s is a hidden late-night cocktail bar on the lower ground floor. Together they’re designed to welcome locals as much as hotel guests, part of the hotel’s aim to become part of everyday life in Shepherd Market rather than just another hotel.
Opening Details
Hotel: The Shepherd Mayfair, Shepherd Market, Mayfair, London
Opens: 1st September 2026
Rooms: 82 rooms and suites across six floors
Eat and drink: Fayre restaurant, The Lounge café and terrace, Teddy’s cocktail bar
Food photography: Harry Brereton
