There are dog-friendly restaurants… and then there’s Sketch.
Tucked away on Conduit Street in the heart of Mayfair, Sketch has become one of London’s most recognisable dining destinations. Part restaurant, part bar, part art installation, it’s the sort of place where the surroundings are every bit as important as what arrives on your plate.
And, somewhat surprisingly for somewhere quite so glamorous, dogs are welcome too. We visited with Archie to find out just how dog friendly Sketch really is – and whether the experience lives up to its reputation.
What is Sketch?
Calling Sketch a restaurant doesn’t really do it justice. The building is home to a collection of individually designed spaces, each with its own distinctive personality.
In terms of dog friendly spaces, there’s The Glade, a whimsical woodland-inspired dining room; The Gallery, perhaps one of Sketch’s most recognisable spaces and home to its famous afternoon tea, often accompanied by live music; and The Parlour, which has a much more relaxed feel.
Even the staff uniforms change depending on which room you’re in, adding to the feeling that you’re stepping into a completely different world as you move around the building.
And then there are the toilets.
Sketch’s futuristic egg-shaped toilet pods have become an attraction in their own right. Even if you don’t need to go, we’d recommend making the trip while you’re there because you’re unlikely to have seen anything quite like them elsewhere.
We chose to have lunch in The Glade before heading through to The Parlour afterwards, which gave us the chance to experience two very different sides of Sketch.
The Dog Owners Guide Review
Dog Friendliness – 4.5/5
For somewhere quite so glamorous in the middle of Mayfair, Sketch is impressively dog friendly. Dogs are welcome in The Glade, The Gallery and The Parlour, although we found the experience differed considerably between the rooms.
The Glade is definitely the more formal option. Archie was provided with a water bowl, but there weren’t any treats offered and the staff didn’t particularly interact with him. Tables are relatively small and delicate too, so we’d probably reserve this room for calmer dogs who are happy to settle quietly while you eat.
The Parlour was a completely different experience. It felt much more relaxed and dogs seemed to be far more part of the furniture. Archie happily sat beside me on the seat and there’s even a dedicated canine menu featuring doggy wine, biscuits and ice cream.
Overall, Sketch scores highly for dog friendliness because of the sheer fact that dogs can experience so much of the venue with you. But if you’re visiting specifically for the most dog-friendly experience, The Parlour is where we’d head.
Service – 4.5/5
Service at Sketch is incredibly polished. The staff are clearly very well trained, attentive and polite, with lots of little touches that make the experience feel special. Even as we were leaving, the concierge shook our hands and wished us well.
The only thing stopping this from being a five was our waiter in The Glade, who appeared to be relatively new to the team. When I asked for a wine recommendation, he wasn’t sure what to suggest, and when I asked whether Archie was allowed to sit on my lap, he didn’t know the answer to that either. Neither was a major issue and we’d put it down to someone still finding their feet. Across Sketch as a whole, the service was excellent.
Interiors & Atmosphere – 5/5
This is where Sketch really earns its reputation. Every room feels completely different… From the enchanted woodland feel of The Glade to the more casual atmosphere of The Parlour and the statement interiors of The Gallery.
It isn’t just about decorating each room differently either. The uniforms, lighting, music and atmosphere all change as you move through the building. Even the toilets have become one of Sketch’s most recognisable design features, with their futuristic egg-shaped pods beneath a colourful ceiling.
It’s theatrical, eccentric and unlike pretty much anywhere else we’ve eaten in London.
Location – 5/5
It’s difficult to fault the location. Sketch sits on Conduit Street in the heart of Mayfair, just off Oxford Street and a stone’s throw from New Bond Street.
It’s an ideal place to incorporate into a day exploring central London, particularly if you’re planning some shopping or want to combine lunch with a wander around Mayfair.
Food & Drinks – 4/5
We opted for the three-course lunch menu in The Glade and things got off to an excellent start with the bread. I always think you can tell a lot about a restaurant by how good its bread is… and this was really good bread.
I chose the melon and Parma ham to start, followed by the steak with a side of fries for my main. The menu can be a little difficult to decipher, so there was an element of not entirely knowing what was going to arrive, but we were pleasantly surprised when it did. I didn’t expect the steak to be as substantial, but the portions were good.
If I’m being honest though, the desserts were where things fell slightly short. We tried both the strawberry opera and the pâtisserie du jour, which was a raspberry tart. Visually, they were spectacular. Unfortunately, the flavour didn’t quite live up to the presentation. Both were surprisingly lacking in flavour, particularly considering how impressive they looked.
The cocktails, on the other hand, were wonderful. We weren’t quite as convinced by the mocktails. We tried a few different flavours and found them a little artificial tasting, particularly in comparison with how good the cocktails were.
Overall, the savoury food was very good, but we’d return to Sketch as much for the experience as we would for the food itself.
Value – 4.5/5
This is a tricky one because Sketch certainly isn’t somewhere you’d describe as cheap. However, value isn’t simply about price, and when you consider the location, surroundings, service and overall experience, we actually think Sketch offers fairly good value.
We chose the three-course lunch menu in The Glade for £40 per person, which felt surprisingly reasonable for a restaurant of this calibre in the heart of Mayfair. There are plenty of opportunities to spend considerably more at Sketch, of course, but the lunch menu is a good way to experience it without going completely overboard.
Key Takeaways
Best for: A special dog-friendly lunch, cocktails or afternoon tea in Mayfair
Best room with a dog: The Parlour
Dog menu: Yes, including doggy wine, biscuits and ice cream
Price point: £££
Would we return? Absolutely, we want to try every room!
Planning a visit to Sketch?
Find The Glade, The Parlour and The Gallery on Dog Owners Guide for everything you need to plan your visit, including dog-friendly details, facilities, location and more.
