Sketch London: The Most Instagrammed Restaurant in the City — Is It Actually Worth Booking?
Note: This article shares personal opinions and independent research. Restaurant menus, prices, opening hours, and interior installations change regularly. Always check directly with Sketch before booking. Details reflect information available at the time of writing.
You have seen it on Instagram a thousand times. The pastel room. The egg-shaped toilets. The quirky artwork on the walls. Sketch is probably the single most photographed restaurant in London, and the question everyone asks before booking is always the same: is it actually worth going, or is it all just aesthetic?
The honest answer is more interesting than you might expect. Because Sketch is not one restaurant — it is five completely different spaces inside an 18th-century Mayfair townhouse, and the experience you have depends entirely on which room you book.
Here is the real guide — what each room is like, what it costs, and whether it lives up to the hype.
What Is Sketch, Exactly?
Sketch opened in 2003 at 9 Conduit Street in Mayfair, created by restaurateur Mourad Mazouz and three-Michelin-starred chef Pierre Gagnaire. It is part restaurant, part art gallery, part cocktail bar, and part theatrical experience.
The building contains five distinct spaces, each with its own menu, its own design concept, and its own atmosphere. You could visit Sketch five times and have five entirely different evenings. That is what makes it unusual — and what makes the one-dimensional Instagram reputation slightly unfair.
The Five Rooms of Sketch
The Gallery
This is the room you have seen online. Originally famous as the “pink room” designed by India Mahdavi with David Shrigley’s witty illustrations covering the walls, The Gallery reinvents itself with major art installations. As of January 2026, the space features Jonathan Baldock’s “The Gathering” — 84 sculptural masks encircling the walls in a luminous yellow interior, with suspended works creating an atmospheric focal point in the central dome.
The Gallery serves afternoon tea by day (from approximately £79–89 per person) and an à la carte brasserie menu in the evening (expect around £95 per person for food, before drinks). The food is good — not extraordinary, but well-executed and beautifully presented. The afternoon tea is where most first-timers start, and it is a genuinely lovely experience.
Book at least two to three weeks ahead for weekends. Weekday afternoons are easier.
The Lecture Room and Library
This is the serious one. Pierre Gagnaire holds three Michelin stars here — the highest accolade in restaurant dining. The tasting menu runs to approximately £225 per person before drinks. The cooking is inventive, technically brilliant, and genuinely world-class.
The room itself is elegant and spacious, with a refined atmosphere that feels appropriately grand for the food being served. If you are celebrating something significant and budget is not a concern, this is one of the finest dining experiences in London. The Library offers semi-private dining for up to 24 guests.
The Glade
An enchanted-forest-themed room serving breakfast and lunch in a more relaxed atmosphere. Think woodland murals, soft lighting, and a menu that leans towards comfort. It is quieter than The Gallery and a lovely option if you want the Sketch experience without the evening crowds.
The Parlour
The patisserie and tearoom at the front of the building. Pop in for a pastry and coffee (around £15–20) and you get the Sketch atmosphere without the full commitment. The Parlour doubles as a live music bar in the evenings — a completely different energy once the sun goes down.
East Bar
The cocktail bar, designed with an avant-garde edge. No food booking required — just walk in for drinks. The cocktails are excellent and the atmosphere is lively, especially later in the evening.
The Famous Toilets
Yes, the toilets are a genuine attraction. Each cubicle is an egg-shaped pod with a disco-style ceiling. They are upstairs, free to use for any Sketch guest, and they are as photogenic as advertised. It is completely normal to queue for the toilets purely for a photograph. Nobody judges.
Is It Worth the Price?
Here is the honest take. Sketch is expensive. Even the most modest option — a coffee and pastry in The Parlour — costs more than most London cafes. Afternoon tea in The Gallery runs to nearly £90 before you add a glass of champagne. A dinner in the Lecture Room can easily reach £350 per person with wine.
But the question is not really whether the food alone justifies the price — it is whether the total experience does. And in my view, for a special occasion or a one-off London visit, it genuinely does. The design, the atmosphere, the service, and the sheer theatrical ambition of the place create something you do not get in a normal restaurant. You are paying for the experience, not just the plate.
If budget matters, The Parlour is the smartest entry point. You get the building, the aesthetic, and the egg toilets for the price of a cake.
Practical Details
Address: 9 Conduit Street, Mayfair, London W1S 2XG
Nearest Tube: Oxford Circus (Victoria, Central, Bakerloo lines) — a five-minute walk down Regent Street.
Booking: Essential for The Gallery and the Lecture Room. Walk-ins are possible at The Parlour and East Bar, but booking is always recommended.
Dress code: Art-smart. There is no strict dress code, but people tend to dress up, especially in the evening. Smart-casual as a minimum. No specific rules about trainers or jeans, but you will feel more comfortable if you make a bit of effort.
Accessibility: The building has step-free access to most areas. Contact Sketch directly if you have specific accessibility needs.
Sketch is one of those London places that is easier to photograph than to explain. It is a restaurant, a gallery, a bar, and a fever dream, all inside one Mayfair townhouse. Whether you come for the three-star tasting menu or a £15 pastry in The Parlour, the building itself is the real star — and it delivers something no ordinary restaurant can.
FAQs
Q: Is Sketch just for Instagram, or is the food actually good?
A: The food is good across all rooms, and genuinely exceptional in the Lecture Room. It is not just a photo opportunity — though the photographs are a bonus.
Q: Which room should I book for a first visit?
A: The Gallery for afternoon tea is the classic first-timer experience. The Parlour for something more casual and affordable.
Q: Is the famous pink room still pink?
A: No. The Gallery changes its art installation periodically. As of early 2026, it features Jonathan Baldock’s “The Gathering” in a luminous yellow palette. The egg toilets remain.
Q: How far in advance should I book?
A: Two to three weeks for weekend afternoon tea. Less for midweek. The Lecture Room can require a month or more for popular dates.
Q: Is it suitable for children?
A: The Parlour and The Glade are family-friendly during the day. The Gallery and Lecture Room are better suited to adults, especially in the evening.
Q: Can I just visit for drinks?
A: Yes. The East Bar and The Parlour both serve drinks without requiring a food booking.
Q: Is there a minimum spend?
A: Not in The Parlour or East Bar. The Gallery and Lecture Room require a booking and carry their menu pricing.
Q: How long should I allow?
A: Afternoon tea takes around 90 minutes. Dinner in The Gallery around two hours. The Lecture Room tasting menu can run to three hours.
Q: Are the egg toilets real?
A: Completely real. Upstairs, available to all Sketch guests. They are worth the detour.
Q: Is Sketch worth the money?
A: For a special occasion or a one-off London experience, yes. For a casual Tuesday dinner, probably not — unless you are eating in the Lecture Room, in which case it is always worth it.
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