MR PORTER London: A Steakhouse Reinvented Through Design and Atmosphere
Hidden beneath the bustle of Park Lane in London’s prestigious Mayfair, MR PORTER offers a masterclass in how design can redefine a dining experience. This is not your typical steakhouse, far from it. Instead, it’s a bold reinterpretation of a classic concept, merging refined minimalism with the charged energy of a modern lounge. Created by Yossi Eliyahoo of The Entourage Group, the Amsterdam-born restaurant brings its distinctive blend of dining and design to the UK capital, striking a rare balance between sophistication and edge.
Descending the monochrome marble staircase feels like slipping into another world. The entrance, a discreet copper door at street level, gives little away, yet the moment you arrive below ground, you’re enveloped by a space that feels at once sultry and serene; an aesthetic contradiction that sets the tone for everything MR PORTER stands for.
A Design Language of Restraint and Refinement
Designed by the acclaimed studio Baranowitz + Kronenberg, MR PORTER London channels the architectural precision and material warmth that have defined the group’s projects across Europe. Here, the design team set out to subvert the expectations of what a steakhouse should be. Gone are the heavy, wood-clad walls, the overbearing masculine palette, and the cigar-lounge clichés. In their place is a restrained yet emotive composition of copper, travertine, velvet, and glass.
The limited colour palette is deliberate; a choice that enhances the sense of calm and elegance throughout the 700-square-metre space. Earthy travertine stone grounds the interior, while soft blushes of pink and copper reflect a subtler take on luxury. Every surface feels intentional, every line measured. The visual clarity allows light, texture, and reflection to take the lead, creating an atmosphere that feels both elevated and effortless.
Mirrored ceilings, a standout feature of the design, manipulate scale and perspective, amplifying the room’s depth and creating a play of reflections that blur the boundaries between ceiling and floor. It’s a clever architectural device that transforms the underground setting into an immersive, expansive space.
Meanwhile, fabric curtain walls introduce a tactile softness rarely seen in steakhouses. The gentle folds of velvet and linen diffuse the sound and light, balancing the space’s strong materiality with moments of quiet intimacy. These curtains also act as subtle dividers, creating zones that shift from social and lively to cocooned and private as the evening unfolds.
A Space Between Worlds
What makes MR PORTER particularly compelling from a design perspective is its ability to blend contrasting worlds. It’s a steakhouse, yes, but one that feels design-conscious and contemporary, more akin to a modern members’ club than a traditional grill. It carries the energy of a young nightclub without ever sacrificing refinement.
The “Dinner to Sinner” concept captures this duality perfectly. Early in the evening, the space operates as an elegant restaurant, softly lit, quietly confident, and defined by its minimalist aesthetic. As night progresses, the tone subtly shifts. The lighting deepens, the music builds, funk and soul rhythms fill the air, and the space evolves into a spirited social lounge. The mirrored surfaces and copper details come alive under the changing light, enhancing that sense of transformation.
It’s a fluid approach to hospitality that mirrors the evolving ways people dine today, where dinner often blends seamlessly into drinks, and design plays a key role in orchestrating that progression. The restaurant becomes less a static space and more a living environment, adapting in mood and tempo to the people within it.
Material Narratives
The choice of materials tells a story of contrasts. Natural stone meets polished metal, hard lines meet soft curves, and matte finishes sit comfortably beside reflective planes. This dialogue of opposites is what gives the interior its rhythm and balance.
Brushed copper, used throughout the space, catches and softens the light; a material that feels both industrial and glamorous. Velvet upholstery introduces comfort and tactility, ensuring the minimalism never feels cold. The design avoids unnecessary ornamentation, instead allowing the inherent qualities of each material to do the talking.
Every surface contributes to a sensory narrative; the smoothness of marble underfoot, the glimmer of light across copper panels, the whisper of fabric as a curtain shifts. The effect is immersive yet understated, a reminder that true luxury often lies in restraint.
Rethinking the Steakhouse
Traditionally, steakhouses have carried a particular image; one that leans heavily into masculinity, boldness, and excess. MR PORTER deliberately dismantles that stereotype. Yossi Eliyahoo has spoken about the importance of evolving this genre, of reflecting the changing attitudes toward dining, gender, and inclusivity.
Here, the power of simplicity takes centre stage. The open kitchen, sleekly integrated into the layout, showcases craftsmanship and transparency rather than spectacle. Every element, from the lighting to the spatial arrangement, is designed to celebrate connection, between diner and dish, between guest and atmosphere.
The mirrored ceiling, in particular, encapsulates the restaurant’s design ethos. It creates a sense of infinity, a visual illusion that draws guests into an abstract interplay of space and reflection. It’s architectural theatre at its most subtle; never overpowering, but always present.
The Mood and the Movement
Lighting plays a critical role in defining the atmosphere. The space is bathed in low, warm tones that accentuate texture and silhouette, reinforcing the intimate mood. Shadows and reflections are used almost as materials in their own right, sculpting the environment and guiding the eye through the room.
Spatially, MR PORTER flows rather than divides. Guests are encouraged to move seamlessly between zones; from the bar to the dining area, to the lounge; a design approach that favours fluidity over formality. It’s a gesture that aligns perfectly with the restaurant’s philosophy: inclusivity over hierarchy, experience over expectation.
As you take in the interior, you begin to realise that MR PORTER is not designed to impress in the conventional sense. It’s designed to engage. Every reflection, every textural contrast, every shift in light invites you to look again, to discover something new.
Culinary Simplicity Meets Visual Clarity
The design of MR PORTER is beautifully mirrored in its cuisine. Just as the interiors celebrate minimalism and precision, the menu champions simplicity done well. Dishes are composed with clarity and restraint, allowing the quality of ingredients to take the spotlight.
Signature offerings like the roast beef carpaccio or Japanese wagyu ribeye echo the design’s emphasis on refinement without excess. Each plate arrives like a continuation of the interior language: clean, balanced, and textural. Even the choice of serveware complements the space: understated, tactile, and sculptural.
This harmony between visual and culinary design is no accident. It’s what allows the restaurant to transcend the label of “steakhouse” and position itself as a complete sensory experience, where flavour, form, and feeling are in perfect alignment.
Photography: MR PORTER Steakhouse, Bar & Lounge, Stevie Campbell
Beyond the Surface
What stands out most about MR PORTER London is the way it uses design to tell a story, not of opulence, but of evolution. It takes a familiar concept and reshapes it for a modern audience: one that values authenticity, inclusivity, and atmosphere as much as taste.
In a city brimming with restaurants that compete for attention through extravagance, MR PORTER succeeds by doing the opposite. Its elegance lies in its control, in its understanding of how light, material, and emotion work together to create something truly memorable.
The result is a restaurant that feels distinctly London: sophisticated, cosmopolitan, and confident in its restraint, yet also carries the DNA of its Amsterdam roots: bold, youthful, and quietly rebellious.
MR PORTER is not simply a place to eat; it’s a place to experience. To be enveloped, to observe, to savour; visually, sonically, and gastronomically. It’s a reminder that great design doesn’t shout; it whispers with intent.
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