Dog-friendly Mercato Mayfair | The Food Market In A Gorgeous Church

We’ve been eagerly waiting for the opening of the new dog-friendly Mercato Mayfair food market in a gorgeous Mayfair church, so we stopped by last week to check it out. Being a long term fan of the London legend that is Mercato Metropolitano (as featured in our Guide to the Best Dog-friendly Street Food Markets and Halls in London), we had high expectations. Here’s what we found…

You can find Mercato Mayfair on North Audley Street, just a stone’s throw from Oxford Street (at the Selfridges end). Just a couple of minutes away, Grosvenor Square offers some green space so pups can stretch their legs before or after a visit or Hyde Park is just a ten-minute walk away.  

Blending in perfectly to its esteemed Mayfair surroundings, the new Mercato has its home in St Mark’s Church, a Grade I listed church and a local institution. From the outside, if you didn’t know it was there, you could easily walk by thinking this was still a Church, but for those in the know, a stunning surprise awaits.

Dog-friendly Mercato Mayfair’s ‘wow’ factor is its church setting. As you walk in, you find the market place we have come to expect from Mercato where you can stock up on delicious Italian delicacies. Continue through the double doors, and the impressive stained glass windows will be the first thing that catches your eye. At first glance, the food hall stalls blend seamlessly into the surroundings so well, it’s hard to see how many there are. 

Set over four floors (including a roof terrace that unfortunately wasn’t open when we visited), Mercato Mayfair is surprisingly deceptive in terms of space and capacity. The main food outlets are on the first two levels, and you will recognise some favourites from Mercato Metropolitano such as the Neapolitan Pizza from Fresco and Gelato from Badiani.

Downstairs, in the vaulted crypt basement level, there’s a wine cellar with a cheese tasting area and Charcuterie as well as a micro-brewery; all with a distinctively European feel.

We heard that there are food and drink workshops and events planned for the basement space, intending to make Mercato Mayfair a cultural hub in the area. As mentioned, the roof terrace wasn’t yet open so we couldn’t check that out, but we can’t wait to in the future. 

Mercato spent £5 million on renovating the church over two years, and they have done an excellent job, blending new with old seamlessly. Even the tables and chairs in coloured gloss were chosen to match and reflect the colours of the stained glass windows.

So where are dogs allowed in Mercato Mayfair? The answer is everywhere as long as they are on a lead. We found the ground floor had the most space for dogs to stretch out, with the upstairs level being narrower. Although navigating around the upstairs area wasn’t a problem on the day we visited as it wasn’t that busy, that will no doubt change on certain days and times of the week. So bear that in mind when visiting with your dog.

We didn’t spot any water bowls for dogs (but we didn’t at Mercato Metropolitano either). So it’s maybe wise to bring your travel water bowl if you think your dog will need it.

Was it a paws up for dog-friendly Mercato Mayfair? Yes, it was. I loved the church setting; however, my partner said he preferred the raw charm of Mercato Metropolitano and the additional choice of food stalls there as there are only 12 or so at Mercato Mayfair compared to 40 or so at Mercato Metropolitano.

I think Mercato Mayfair has done a fabulous job creating a food market in keeping with its central London surroundings. Just as Mercato Metropolitano fits in perfectly to the edgier surroundings of Elephant & Castle. And let’s face it the dogs don’t care, they’re just glad to be able to go with their humans wherever they go.

Find the dog-friendly Mercato Mayfair food market at St. Mark’s Church, North Audley St, Mayfair, London W1K 6ZA – the location gives London dog owners a great option close to Oxford Street.

• Getting there: Closest tubes – Marble Arch and Bond Street, both 5 minutes walk away.
• Opening times: Daily from 08:00 until 23:00 Monday to Thursday, 00:00 Friday & Saturday and until 22:00 on Sundays. 
• Dog-friendly policy: Dogs welcome on leads.