Words by Jess Henley
Located within the heart of regal Mayfair in Burberry’s Regent Street flagship, lies the unsung hero of the store: Thomas’s Café – the quintessentially British all-day dining destination that offers diners a luxurious, yet relaxed spot for brunch, lunch or dinner. When shopping in W1, the choice of retail spaces that also offer a soothing sanctuary to refuel after batting the crowds are hugely limited – so you can imagine my joy upon discovering Thomas’s Café, which officially opened in 2015 and was a long-awaited addition for Regent Street.
As soon as we entered on a Thursday evening following work, I knew we were in excellent hands. Arriving on the hidden entrance on Vigo street, the staff were incredibly warm and hospitable, directing us up the winding staircase to the restaurant. At every turn en route to the restaurant there was an array of luxurious craftsmanship, which elevated the already-sleek restaurant into elegant new heights. A mixture of Burberry gifts created for the store – teddy bears, scarfs, throws, stationary and travel accessories – all complimented Thomas’s Café perfectly, immediately making you feel at home in such lavish surroundings.
Upon being seated at our table, I was immediately hit by the stunning interiors of the restaurant – sleek, spacious and sophisticated, with each table dressed with a stunning little violet plant. The perfect space to people-watch, the dining area was very private, meaning you could peer down to the street from the expansive windows which also let in a lovely cool breeze.
Meandering onto the menu, the choice of British dishes did not disappoint. The design of the menu was well-thought out and replicated the interiors, with fresh, seasonal dishes playing a large part of the offering. With so many incredible dishes to choose from such as Sutton Hoo chicken salad, Bembridge lobster benedict and truffle crisps – we had to ask our amazing waiter for his recommendations. He quickly advised on a mixture of bites to start, which we quickly agreed was an excellent idea of course – we enjoyed a spread of Cumberland baby sausages with damson jam, cropwell Bishop cheese sesame biscuits, devilled quail’s eggs and one of the top dishes – truffle chips!
With thoughts leading to the main event, it seemed rude not to try one of their house classics: The Lobster. Already fairly full from the eclectic, mouth-watering starters, we were drawn towards one of the favourites: Bembridge lobster benedict, which came dressed in an English muffin and spinach, with chips. Obviously, all of the lobster meant we needed some cocktails to compliment – so we both went for a classic mojito, which washed down the delightfully delicious courses a little too well. With happy, satisfied tummies, we rounded up the experience with a hit of sugar – enter the quintessential British dessert – Oakchurch strawberries and cream with shortbread. Just sublime!
Open daily from 8am-9pm, with a slightly later opening on Sunday from 11.30am – 6pm, you can also pop in for tea, coffee, cake or brunch – highlights from the brunch menu include Scotch buttermilk pancakes, honeycomb, Brown Cow yogurt & seasonal fruits and Brixham crab cakes, pink grapefruit and bitter-leaf salad.
The perfect spot for a central meeting for work or a leisurely dinner with friends, St Thomas’ café really is the hidden gem of Mayfair – with service that’s second to none, iconic interiors and a British menu that makes you weak at the knees, Burberry really do always do things better.
Address: 5 Vigo St, Mayfair, London W1S 3HA, 020 3159 1410, uk.burberry.com/stores/thomass-cafe/
