COYA Mayfair — Restaurant in London

Coya Mayfair is what happens when traditional Latin American aesthetic are done with Mayfair money. Do not expect a structured interior with nicely lined up tables; but instead an electric mix of sofas, tables and chairs that give it a relaxed and contemporary feel. The lighting is dim - low-hanging lanterns, giving off more atmosphere than light - adding to the sense of a romantic Bond movie like setting at night. The restaurant also features as outside area with heaters that is mainly used by smokers during the winter. Having visited on a Saturday evening there was a DJ playing some amazing tracks. While this might not be to everyone's taste it is part of the overall theatrical experience Coya tries to deliver. The crowd was a mix of couples, groups and families sharply dressed.

The food is meant to be shared - served like large portions of tapas and brought to the table as they are prepared. So get ready to share and keep in mind the portions are not generous for the exception of the main dishes. The starter section is split into four (skewers or anticuchos, ceviches, tiraditos – like ceviches only with a Japanese influence).

The food menu is a modern adaptation of many Peruvian classics, dominated by ceviches and tiradito, with plates including Arroz Nikkei (Chilean sea bass with rice, lime, chilli) or pez limon (yellowtail with dashi, truffle oil and chives). For the health conscious there is quinoa salads, tuna tacos, wagyu tatami and grilled sirloin steaks with chimichurri and lamb chops for the meat lovers. While I sampled one meat, one fish, one ceviche and two sides the absolute star of the dinner was the Corvina Ceviche. On the other hand the Pumpkin Tacos were average and the ribs had a tasty glaze.

The service was incredibly attentive and knowledgeable but trained to up sell. The waiter was kind enough to give us a take away bag given we had ordered too much food.

While in line with other restaurants in the area, Coya Mayfair is pricey. An order of lamb chops tops GBP £27 while other dishes such as the chicken anticucho goes for GBP £9 and a salmon ceviche GBP £9.

Coya Mayfair is a good option for those looking for a lively weekend or weekday dinner. It falls danger of focusing too much on the experience as opposed to the food itself but it manages to deliver on both. Coya Mayfair also features a Saturday brunch which is a four-hour brunch experience with cocktails, a set brunch menu, DJs...

Visited this bar a few days ago whilst visiting London. We just popped in to get a drink as we’d been walking in the heat for a while. We enjoyed the cocktails and ambience. The Spanish gentleman that saw to us was friendly and accommodating. The food was way overpriced for what it was! We are vegetarian and our son had some allergies, so there wasn’t much to choose from! One of the dishes was incomplete and dry! We left our souvenir bag in the area we were sitting at as it was so damn dark! It was only till we got to our hotel a few miles away that we realised we’d forgot it! The souvenirs are school items for our son! We tried to call the bar but there was no answer! Even though they close late! I sent them a message through the website asking them to check if it was still there?! They didn’t bother replying to my message! The next day we set off home as we live 150 miles away from London! I called the bar the next day 5.9.23 at 3.55pm and spoke with Clara, she said we have your bag but you’ll have to come and get it?! I said we don’t live near London and asked if I were to send a pre-paid envelope, if they could forward it to us! She said she asked management if that’s possible?! She couldn’t speak to them at that moment as they were in a meeting and she’ll ask them to call me?! I didn’t hear back so I call the next day 6.9.23 at 11.17am and spoke with Amelia. She said we have you’re bag and will speak to the manager about sending it to us?! I still haven’t heard anything from this so called manager?! Amazingly terrible customer service!!?? I’m still waiting for a call! So if you see this message Coya Bar, please call me back… have some common human decency to call a paying customer back please… and why does it take so long to get through on your phone line?! You’re not that busy on a weekday?!?!? You’re a bar not a Michelin stared restaurant!? Don’t bother ordering food! You’ll be disappointed when you receive your food and the bill! Way way overpriced! Even the Michelin starred restaurant we went to after the bar wasn’t that expensive per dish!! They start mashing the avocado for guacamole in front of you… like why?! So pretentious! It’s a bit silly really! It’s just...

In the throbbing heart of London, hidden away, is a fantastical dining den by the name of Coya. This underground gem is not just a restaurant; it's a transportive experience, whisking its patrons to a realm of epicurean delight, nestled in the chicest of subterranean settings.

Stepping into Coya is akin to diving into the pages of a fantastical novel. The mood-lit cavernous interior, resounding with live DJ beats, could easily be mistaken for an enchanted grotto, the palpable air of refinement clashing delightfully with our casual attire.

The opening act, the croquette, was a symphony of smoke, softness, and crispness, all harmoniously blended by a spellbinding sauce. The guacamole, a spectacle conjured tableside from a halved avocado, was a visual feast, despite the sturdy corn tortillas challenging the more faint-hearted among us.

Their smoked salmon and sriracha taco swept in like a coastal breeze, fresh and invigorating. The chicken chargrilled skewers, meanwhile, were a comforting and familiar melody, playing the sweet and smoky notes in perfect cadence.

Next, the sea bass ceviches delivered a shocking twist of tangy sweetness, softness, and crunch that left us questioning our culinary reality. Not to be outdone, the stone bass and truffle ceviches broadened our sensory horizon further, fusing the earthy truffle with an invigorating citrus.

The yellowtail green chilli ceviche, with its pristine tuna and herb-infused sauce, provided a well-executed segue to the pièce de résistance—the Chilean sea bass. Swimming in tantalising Amarillo, this dish was a star, twinkling with divine flavours.

The corn-fed baby chicken was a narrative of juicy tenderness, while the grand finale—the Churros and the three types of milk cake—closed the curtain on a stunning performance. Particularly, the milk cake was the chef-d'oeuvre, a crescendo of sublime sweetness.

In all, Coya is a fantasy of flavours and an enchanting subterranean spectacle deserving a perfect score of 5/5. Just remember, punctuality is a virtue in this realm, lest you be announced as "the no...