For the general London nightclub dress code, see our London dress code guide. Planning your full night? Read the complete Mayfair nightlife guide.
The Universal Rules
Every Mayfair club operates on the same basic principle: dress like you belong somewhere premium. The specifics vary by venue but these rules apply everywhere.
Men: What Works
- ✓Tailored blazer or smart jacket
- ✓Well-fitted dark trousers
- ✓Collared shirt: no t-shirts
- ✓Leather shoes: Oxfords, loafers, Chelsea boots
- ✓Quality watch or subtle accessories
- ✓Clean, well-groomed appearance
Men: What Doesn't
- ✗Trainers: any brand, any price
- ✗Sportswear, tracksuits, athleisure
- ✗Shorts or sandals
- ✗Baseball caps or beanies
- ✗Ripped or distressed clothing
- ✗Open-toe shoes or flip-flops
Women: What Works
- ✓Cocktail dress or evening dress
- ✓Smart separates: tailored trousers and a quality top
- ✓Heels, elegant flats, or smart boots
- ✓Statement jewellery and accessories
- ✓Fashion-forward pieces at style-conscious venues
- ✓Classic black dress: works everywhere
Women: What Doesn't
- ✗Trainers or casual sneakers
- ✗Sportswear or gym leggings
- ✗Flip-flops or very casual sandals
- ✗Overly casual daywear
- ✗Heavy coats: use the cloakroom
- ✗Fancy dress or costumes
Club-by-Club Dress Code Breakdown
Every venue has its own personality at the door. Strictness is rated from 1 (relaxed) to 5 (black tie energy). Here is exactly what to expect at each club.
Tape London
What works
- ✓Tailored suit or blazer with smart trousers
- ✓Designer shoes: leather only
- ✓Understated luxury: quality over flash
- ✓For women: cocktail dress, designer heels
What doesn't
- ✗Anything casual: no jeans of any kind
- ✗Trainers regardless of brand
- ✗Open-collar shirts without a jacket
- ✗Loud logos or streetwear brands
Insider Tip
Tape has the strictest door in Mayfair. The crowd dresses like they are going to a private members dinner. Think Savile Row, not Selfridges.
Cirque Le Soir
What works
- ✓Smart shirt and trousers with good shoes
- ✓Creative flair is welcome: Cirque rewards personality
- ✓For women: anything from cocktail dress to fashion-forward
- ✓Bold accessories and statement pieces
What doesn't
- ✗Sportswear or tracksuits
- ✗Trainers or open-toe shoes for men
- ✗Overly casual jeans with t-shirts
- ✗Fancy dress: the performers do that part
Insider Tip
Cirque is more relaxed than most Mayfair venues. The vibe is theatrical and the door appreciates style over formality. A well-fitted dark shirt with good trousers works perfectly.
Reign London
What works
- ✓Blazer and smart trousers: the Reign standard
- ✓Polished shoes: brogues or Chelsea boots
- ✓For women: glamorous cocktail or evening dress
- ✓Smart dark denim with a blazer can work midweek
What doesn't
- ✗Trainers or casual sneakers
- ✗T-shirts without a jacket
- ✗Sportswear or athleisure
- ✗Shorts or sandals of any kind
Insider Tip
Reign is a showclub: the audience dresses for the occasion. Think opening-night energy. Women tend to dress up more here than any other Mayfair venue.
Rumour
What works
- ✓For women: dressed up, with heels
- ✓For men: a considered look, such as a smart shirt or knit with tailored trousers
- ✓Dark, polished outfits that suit a red velvet booth room
- ✓Photo ID: the door is 18+
What doesn't
- ✗Sportswear of any kind
- ✗Fancy dress
- ✗Trainers, unless the door allows them on the night
- ✗A casual, thrown-together look
Insider Tip
Rumour (formerly Tabu) is one intimate room of booths, so dress up rather than down. Leave the phone in your pocket too: there are no photos or video in the main room or on the dance floor.
99 Regent Street
What works
- ✓Black: the safe choice for everyone
- ✓Elegant evening wear: tailored trousers with a smart shirt or knit
- ✓Clean, minimal trainers, at the door's discretion
- ✓Physical photo ID: the door is 19+
What doesn't
- ✗Sportswear
- ✗Running trainers
- ✗Shorts or caps
- ✗Fancy dress
Insider Tip
99 Regent Street (formerly Cuckoo Club) enforces an elegant dress code and a 19+ door, a year older than most London clubs. Bring physical photo ID rather than a picture of it on your phone, and when in doubt, wear black.
Scotch of St James
What works
- ✓Tailored trousers with a quality shirt
- ✓Blazer adds confidence at the door
- ✓For women: elegant cocktail attire
- ✓Understated, classic style over trends
What doesn't
- ✗Anything too casual or youthful
- ✗Trainers or chunky shoes
- ✗Streetwear or logos
- ✗Jeans without a jacket to balance them
Insider Tip
Scotch has a members-club feel and the dress code matches. The crowd is older and more refined. Think Mayfair dinner party rather than nightclub. A well-cut blazer solves most problems.
Dear Darling Mayfair
What works
- ✓Smart cocktail-bar attire: shirt and trousers
- ✓Clean dark denim with a smart top half
- ✓For women: elegant but not necessarily formal
- ✓Loafers, brogues, or Chelsea boots
What doesn't
- ✗Sportswear or very casual streetwear
- ✗Trainers
- ✗Overly casual: remember it is a cocktail bar first
- ✗Shorts or beachwear
Insider Tip
Dear Darling is a cocktail bar that becomes a late-night venue. The dress code reflects that: sophisticated rather than club-ready. You should look like you appreciate good drinks.
Maddox
What works
- ✓Restaurant-smart: blazer and tailored trousers
- ✓Smart shoes are essential: brogues or Oxfords
- ✓For women: dinner-to-dance outfits that work for both
- ✓Sophisticated, European-influenced style
What doesn't
- ✗Anything you would not wear to a good restaurant
- ✗Trainers or casual footwear
- ✗T-shirts even under a blazer
- ✗Denim without smart counterbalance
Insider Tip
Most people arrive via the restaurant so the standard is high. Dress as though you are going for dinner at a top Italian restaurant, because you probably should be.
The Box
What works
- ✓Creative, fashion-forward outfits encouraged
- ✓Dark, stylish looks: all black works well
- ✓For women: bold, artistic, fashion-conscious choices
- ✓Statement pieces and unique accessories
What doesn't
- ✗Generic smart casual: The Box wants personality
- ✗Corporate or conservative looks
- ✗Trainers or casual sportswear
- ✗Anything bland: the door rewards effort
Insider Tip
The Box curates its crowd visually. Dress like you belong in Soho, not the City. Creative, edgy, and confident wins over expensive and safe. The door staff notice effort over labels.
Selene London
What works
- ✓Refined smart casual: quality fabrics and good fit
- ✓Dark tones and elegant silhouettes
- ✓For women: sophisticated cocktail looks
- ✓Polished shoes: loafers or smart boots
What doesn't
- ✗Overly casual or unkempt looks
- ✗Trainers or chunky sneakers
- ✗Loud streetwear brands
- ✗Anything that looks rushed
Insider Tip
Selene, just north of Oxford Circus, is building a reputation for refined elegance. The crowd dresses well because they want to, not because they have to. Match the energy: think quality cocktail bar with a late-night edge.
BEAT London
What works
- ✓Stylish smart casual: shirt and good trousers
- ✓Fashion-forward pieces are welcome
- ✓For women: smart going-out outfits
- ✓Clean, well-fitted looks that show effort
What doesn't
- ✗Sportswear or tracksuits
- ✗Trainers that are not clean and smart
- ✗Baggy or ill-fitting clothing
- ✗Basic t-shirts without layers
Insider Tip
BEAT, on Margaret Street in Fitzrovia, a short walk from Mayfair, is smart casual with no sportswear. Trainers only if clean and smart, and that is at the door's discretion.
What Gets You Turned Away
Door staff in Mayfair see the same mistakes every weekend. Avoid these and your chances of getting in go up dramatically.
Expensive trainers
The number one cause of rejection. It does not matter if they cost 800 pounds. Trainers are trainers, and most Mayfair doors will turn you away. Where trainers are left to the door's discretion, as at 99 Regent Street and Rumour, running trainers still never pass.
Ill-fitting clothes
An expensive outfit that does not fit properly looks worse than a cheaper outfit that fits perfectly. Mayfair door staff assess how you look, not what labels you wear. Tailoring matters more than brands.
Looking like you came from the gym
Athleisure, joggers, hoodies, and gym bags are instant refusals. Even if you have changed your top, trainers and jogger-style trousers will give you away. Plan your outfit before you leave.
Loud logos and branding
Large visible logos scream effort in the wrong direction. Understated quality always beats loud branding in Mayfair. A plain well-cut blazer will outperform a logo-covered designer piece at every door.
Seasonal Dress Code Tips
Summer
Lighter fabrics are fine but the same standards apply. Linen trousers with a smart shirt work well. No shorts, no sandals, no exceptions. Women can wear lighter dresses but keep it smart. Clubs are air-conditioned so you will not overheat.
Winter
Every venue has a cloakroom. Wear your best outfit underneath a warm coat and check the coat at the door. Do not let the weather downgrade your outfit. Smart boots are a strong winter choice for both men and women.
Festive Season
December in Mayfair runs at peak glamour. Dress a level above your normal effort. Sequins and sparkle work for women during the Christmas party season. Men should lean towards their best blazer and a quality shirt.
Midweek vs Weekend
Thursday is slightly more relaxed than Saturday at most venues. Dark jeans become more acceptable midweek. Smart shoes remain non-negotiable every night. Friday and Saturday demand your best effort across the board.
More Mayfair Guides
London Dress Code Guide
General London nightclub dress code rules
All Mayfair Nightclubs
Complete guide to every club in Mayfair
Entry Rules Guide
ID, age policy, and door rules for every venue
Where to Go Out
Decision guide: match your vibe to a venue
Guestlist Guide
How to get on the list at every Mayfair club
Night Out Itinerary
Plan your entire Mayfair evening step by step
Mayfair Dress Code FAQs
Can I wear trainers to a Mayfair club?+
Can I wear jeans to a Mayfair nightclub?+
What should women wear to Mayfair clubs?+
Do Mayfair clubs have a strict dress code on Thursday?+
What is the best outfit for a man going to a Mayfair club?+
Will I get turned away for wearing a polo shirt?+
Not Sure What to Wear?
Message us on WhatsApp with the venue you are heading to and we will give you specific advice. Or book a VIP table: table guests always get priority at the door.
Book Tonight