Mandarin Oriental welcomes Esmeralda’s Mayfair
Esmeralda’s, a live music and late-night lounge, will open within London’s Mandarin Oriental Mayfair hotel on Hanover Square in December.
Esmeralda’s is the brainchild of twin brothers Lee and Nicky Caulfield who have joined forces with Mandarin Oriental Mayfair to reimagine late-night London.
Inspired by the golden age of New York’s live lounge, Esmeralda’s will operate a no-photo policy, and promises to be a venue for those who ‘savour the unexpected’, offering elegance ‘with a little chaos’.
Lee explained: “For years, I have worked with people who value privacy as much as they value great hospitality and experiences. The most exclusive places aren’t the ones you show off; they are the ones you don’t have to. Esmeralda’s will be a place for guests to disappear for hours, let their hair down and feel completely themselves. No cameras, no performance – just the best live music, service and a sense of freedom you cannot manufacture.”
The interiors at Esmeralda’s have been designed to feel ‘inviting and quietly dramatic’, with burnt orange velvet curtains, a softly lit bar, comfortable low chairs and the walls detailed with the lounge’s record monogram in a nod to the bar’s ‘musical spirit’.
From Thursday to Saturday, a six-piece band will perform soul, funk and disco, while a DJ will play between and after sets.
Behind the bar, the cocktail list will honour the classics with ‘reimagination and theatre’. Bottles of fine wine, Champagne, and rare spirits will also be on offer.
Meanwhile the food menu has been crafted with ‘playful decadence’, with dishes such as caviar-topped chicken nuggets, Wagyu sliders, lobster rolls, oyster towers, and skinny fries presented on silver platters.
At the presentation of the final bill, a complementary miniature glass of Champagne will arrive.
Mandarin Oriental Mayfair’s general manager, Hemal Jain, said: “Esmeralda’s was born from a desire to create a true sanctuary in the city – a place where the energy of live music meets the intimacy of late-night conversation. It’s a destination for those seeking a sophisticated, sensory experience that feels both immersive and alive. We’re delighted to welcome such an innovative and dynamic concept to Mandarin Oriental Mayfair.”
Nicky added: “Creating Esmeralda’s has been about shaping an experience rather than simply opening a bar. Every detail – from the music, drinks and guests’ experience has been curated to feel deliberate, personal, and alive. We’ve obsessed over sound and space: the band is close, the mix is warm, and the room invites you in. It’s a place where artists can take risks and guests can disappear for hours without a phone in sight.”
Guests of Mandarin Oriental Mayfair will be the first to experience Esmeralda’s when it opens in early December, while public reservations will be available from early 2026.
In other luxury hotel news, The Four Seasons Hotel at Tower Bridge, London, launched an incubation project in October, which spotlights independent drinks brands.
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