{"id":8883,"date":"2024-06-02T20:56:05","date_gmt":"2024-06-02T18:56:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.danamladin.com\/?p=8883"},"modified":"2025-08-13T21:10:35","modified_gmt":"2025-08-13T19:10:35","slug":"mercato-mayfair-londra-pofta-buna-in-biserica","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.danamladin.com\/en\/2024\/06\/mercato-mayfair-londra-pofta-buna-in-biserica\/","title":{"rendered":"Mercato Mayfair \u2013 enjoy your meal in church!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I\u2019ve walked this area many times, but only recently discovered this place… out of the ordinary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ST. MARK\u2019S CHURCH<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Once upon\na time, there was a church… <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Built\nbetween 1825-1828. With parishioners, services, the Lord, and all the\ntrimmings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step by step, the\nparishioners disappeared. During World War II, the church became, unofficially,\nthe \u201cAmericans’ church.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the\n’70s, it was abandoned. Since then, the building had various \u201cdestinations\u201d: it\nwas an information center for the elderly, it hosted London Fashion Week, an\nantiques market, and all sorts of other events. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2006,\nthere was a proposal to transform the church into a health center, but the idea\nsparked much criticism, so it fell through. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After lying for 30 years on England’s historic buildings at risk\nregister, the church regained its splendor.\nA two-year restoration costing the Grosvenor family (well, the Grosvenor Group)\na nice sum of \u00a35 million restored the church’s heritage\nfeatures. And, since 2019, it has become Mercato Mayfair \u2013 a place where you\ncome to eat, drink, but above all, socialize. (That\u2019s if you find a free spot, as I found, at the beginning of December, a lot of people!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MERCATO MAYFAIR<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I arrive at the church before noon, so there’s nothing to see\/eat\/drink. The nave and the altar are still closed \ud83d\ude42 I can only take a tea or a flower from the entrance hall… <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have time to read more about it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is open\ndaily from 12:00 PM until 11:00 PM, and on Fridays and Saturdays even until\nmidnight (on Sundays only until 10:30 PM, so the employees can get home quickly to catch a Survivor episode or a Netflix movie)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s just\nstruck 12 o’clock. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m not\namong the first to enter, that means others\nare hungrier than me. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the\nentrance, a lady stops me and asks if I have any bottles in my backpack. I have\na water bottle, from which I\u2019ve drunk. She keeps it at the entrance. I can get it back when I leave. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\nhave a sealed bottle, you can enter with it, but you cannot drink it inside. Well, they want you\nto consume from the location, not from your own bag. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Although it\u2019s my second time here in three months, I\u2019m glad it\u2019s less crowded now, I can move freely, I can gawk at every food stall, but especially at every detail of the church. This combination might intrigue you! I look like a curious child, amused at times, amazed, sometimes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I admire\nthe stained glass windows \u2013 they are the originals! So are the altar and the\norgan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the way\nto the altar, I \u201cscan\u201d the stalls on the ground floor. I’m curious about what\nyou could eat in the church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LUNCH TIME<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Folks, come grab some pasta or dumplings and ramen, Neapolitan pizza or Italian ice cream!!! Let\u2019s fill the plates! And stomachs…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As you head towards the altar, there\u2019s a beautiful, somewhat secluded wine bar. And the altar area is flanked by a small brewery and a \u201cgin cocktails\u201d bar. Come on, who\u2019s buying a round?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I try to take the transparent elevator to go upstairs. Out of\nlaziness, but also because I don’t see any stairs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I find out it\u2019s only for staff use, so I don\u2019t escape the steps.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Upstairs, other offerings make your mouth water: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Seafood, Spanish food, Thai, Malaysian, \u201cmade in England\u201d beef, and another bar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Some restaurants are literally stuck to the stained glass windows, which gives the place a… unique note. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It’s already full! There\u2019s a continuous hustle and bustle, cheerful, relaxed people, I hear English, French, then English again, Spanish, Dutch (I think…). I also hear Romanian. A family looking for a table. Hard now, at lunchtime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

From upstairs, I discover there\u2019s also a small staircase leading to a terrace. I take it, of course \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I reach, practically, a rooftop with access to the bell tower.\nWill your lobster jump off your plate and your wine from your glass when the\nbell rings on the hour?… <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are\na few tables. While I\u2019m wandering around taking pictures, most of them get\noccupied, even though it\u2019s cold outside. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I head for\nthe exit. I retrieve my water bottle, greet the lady, and I am about to leave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instinctively,\nI turn and cross myself. I smile. God bless and bon\napp\u00e9tit! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

PS And I\nmake a video throughout the church, so you can see the uniqueness of the place better:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n