On Mayfair’s Mount Street, a new dining room has recently opened behind an unexpected threshold. Automat, now open at number 127, introduces a contemporary American dining concept that looks back to early and mid-century Americana while remaining rooted in its London setting.
Accessed through the doors of heritage leather goods maker Tanner Krolle, the discreet entrance references Automat’s transatlantic backstory, which traces to Frederick Krolle, founder of Tanner Krolle in 1856, and his family’s long-standing interest in London’s social life. As the business later expanded to New York, subsequent generations encountered the city’s automats, spaces that combined efficiency and a particular kind of urban glamour. That cultural exchange forms the foundation of the revived concept.
Automat originally gained recognition on Dover Street as an upscale American diner and late-night meeting point, drawing in London’s creative crowd. Reopened in late 2025 under new ownership by One Luxury Group, the restaurant returns with a more considered approach, tweaking familiar references rather than reproducing them.
The menu focuses on American comfort dishes, presented with a restrained sense of polish. A house burger arrives with homemade fries, while the lobster roll is dressed simply with brown butter and lemon and served over crisp cos lettuce. Elsewhere, chicken pie is paired with sweet potato mash, and steak tartare comes with Dijon mustard and thin, homemade crisps.
Behind the bar, the cocktail list revisits American standards alongside house creations. The Dirty Martini and Old Fashioned sit next to drinks such as the Velvet Hour, combining vodka, cranberry juice, crème de pêche and lemon, and the Green Mezcalita, blending mezcal with parsley, cucumber and jalapeño cordial. The wine list moves between Burgundy, Tuscany, and a curated selection of American producers.
Interiors by London-based Tomèf Studio establish a fine-diner atmosphere, with low lighting, classic tableware, and a palette that nods to old-world charm without feeling nostalgic. With just 58 covers, the room remains calm and intimate, while service follows the familiar cadence of American hospitality; attentive, relaxed, and precise. Music is curated by Chloe Caillet.
Looking ahead, Automat plans to open a lower-ground Sporting Club in 2026. Designed as a concealed dining space with vintage sporting memorabilia and a central viewing screen, the room will host 24 guests and operate as a private setting for shared cultural and sporting moments.
Automat Mayfair Photography, Antonia Mayer.
