Benares

Why we recommend Benares in London

Benares sits on the London dining map for a specific reason — West End or Mayfair dining with Michelin, chef or members-club credentials — and it comes up on our concierge calls often enough that it earned a proper page on the site. Outside of Las Vegas, MyRSVP does not hold restaurant inventory; this write-up is meant to give you enough context to reserve confidently with the restaurant directly, then pair the night with a nightclub or pool booking through us if the rest of the trip calls for it. Think of it as a curator’s recommendation rather than a reservation funnel.

What to expect in the room and on the menu

Benares occupies a refined 150-seat dining room at 12A Berkeley Square in Mayfair, where warm woods, soft metallic accents, and ambient lighting evoke a luxurious Indian salon with British restraint. Chef Sameer Taneja has held a Michelin star since the restaurant’s 2005 recognition, anchoring modern Indian cuisine with seasonal British ingredients and precise technique. The space unfolds across four private dining rooms—the Dover accommodates up to 36 guests for secluded gatherings—while the adjacent bar offers pre-dinner cocktails like the signature Benares Martini, cardamom and rose vodka infused for floral depth. Signature dishes anchor the menu: Tandoori Scottish Salmon arrives charred with ginger yogurt and mint; the Kerala-Style Prawn Curry simmers in coconut milk and mustard seeds; Slow-Cooked Lamb Biryani layers basmati with tender shoulder and saffron yogurt raita. A seven-course tasting menu (£135) showcases highlights like oyster with beetroot caviar. Desserts include Gulab Jamun Cheesecake—fried milk dumplings reimagined in New York-style cream—and Cardamom Kulfi with rose falooda. An encyclopedic wine list and cocktail program round out the experience. Linen-draped tables and quiet acoustics suit intimate business lunches, romantic dinners, and group celebrations alike.

Reservations — how to book Benares

What we tell guests about Benares: it is one of the London rooms worth a standalone evening rather than a squeezed-in pre-dinner. The reservation itself is handled directly with the restaurant — through their own site, OpenTable, Resy, SevenRooms, or by phone — depending on how they run their book. If you can get into the chef’s counter, bar seats, or a tasting menu slot, those are often the fastest way into the version of the room regulars are actually there for. For private dining or larger-group enquiries, the restaurant’s events or reservations team is the right first call, not a generic booking channel.

Hours, dress, and planning windows

What to know before you visit Benares. The room operates on these hours: Monday–Saturday 12:00 PM – 2:30 PM and 5:30 PM – 10:30 PM; Sunday 12:00 PM – 2:30 PM and 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM. On the dress side: Smart casual; no shorts, trainers or flip-flops. Peak demand in London falls around year-round, with Wimbledon fortnight, Royal Ascot, and the Nov–Dec Christmas party season as sharpest peaks, sharpest on Wimbledon fortnight, Royal Ascot — those are the dates the reservation book closes furthest out. If the main dining room is full on your target date, ask the restaurant about chef’s counter, bar seats or a tasting-menu slot; those formats often stay open days after the primary book has gone.

How MyRSVP helps with the rest of your London trip

How to reserve Benares. Book the dinner reservation direct with the restaurant on their own channels — site, OpenTable, Resy, SevenRooms, or phone depending on how they run their book. Dinner reservations are direct with Benares. For the nightclub, pool day or beach club you’re planning around the meal, submit the MyRSVP form on the relevant venue page and a concierge assigned to that venue will be in touch with pricing, placement and the best area for your group.