The Mekan Bar: London’s Anatolian-Inspired Cocktail Experience

What Was The Mekan Bar?

The Mekan Bar was a cocktail and lounge space associated with Rüya London, an Anatolian-inspired restaurant in Mayfair. Rather than operating as a traditional standalone pub, the bar formed part of the wider Rüya dining experience at 30 Upper Grosvenor Street, London W1K 7PH. Contemporary descriptions of the venue present it as an elegant lounge where guests could enjoy cocktails before dinner, during a meal or as part of an evening event.

The concept reflected Rüya’s broader focus on Turkish and Anatolian culture. The bar combined sophisticated London hospitality with ingredients, flavours and design influences associated with Turkey. This made it different from a conventional cocktail bar because the drinks, interior, food and entertainment were connected to the identity of the restaurant.

The Mekan Bar Location in Mayfair

The Mekan Bar was located at 30 Upper Grosvenor Street in Mayfair, one of London’s best-known luxury districts. Its position near Park Lane placed it among high-end hotels, restaurants, shops and other hospitality venues.

The address was also the home of Rüya London. A 2019 review identified the venue at 30 Upper Grosvenor Street and described the Mekan Bar as the first major lounge area guests encountered when entering the restaurant.

This location helped establish the atmosphere of the venue. Instead of feeling like a casual neighbourhood bar, The Mekan Bar was designed as part of a more polished dining and hospitality environment. Guests could therefore combine drinks with dinner, private dining or an evening celebration.

Connection With Rüya London

Understanding The Mekan Bar requires understanding its connection with Rüya. Rüya was built around contemporary Anatolian cuisine and a sharing-style dining philosophy. The restaurant’s concept was influenced by different regions of Turkey, while its London setting gave the experience an upscale international character.

The Mekan Bar served as an important part of this concept. It provided a place for guests to begin their evening with cocktails before moving into the restaurant. Reviews described the bar and lounge as the entry point to the wider dining experience, with cocktails designed to reflect the Anatolian theme.

This arrangement also allowed Rüya to operate as more than a restaurant. Depending on the occasion, the space could accommodate cocktails, dining, music and private events, giving the venue a broader hospitality identity.

Interior and Atmosphere

One of the most frequently discussed aspects of The Mekan Bar was its interior design. The wider Rüya venue was created with strong visual references to Anatolian culture, while contemporary design kept the space firmly connected to London’s luxury restaurant scene.

The Mekan lounge was described as featuring velvet tub chairs and turquoise cocktail tables, along with a DJ booth for evening entertainment. The combination of lounge furniture, decorative details, cocktails and music created a setting intended for socialising rather than simply ordering a drink and leaving.

A review from The Assistant Room also highlighted the work that went into the venue’s interior and described the bar as a place where visitors could settle in with a cocktail. The review specifically mentioned a Central Anatolia-inspired cocktail called the Tea Garden.

Anatolian-Inspired Cocktails

Cocktails were central to the identity of The Mekan Bar. Instead of relying exclusively on standard drinks, the bar’s approach incorporated ingredients and flavour ideas associated with Turkey and Anatolia.

One contemporary review described an Old Fashioned featuring date syrup and a Negroni influenced by Turkish coffee. These examples demonstrate how the cocktail menu attempted to reinterpret familiar drinks through regional flavours.

Other published descriptions of the menu have mentioned drinks such as the Nazar Sour, Black Sea, Ottoman Old Fashioned, Maze Garden and Susam, while another listing highlighted a cocktail called the Constantinople, which combined gin with ingredients including truffle and saffron.

The important point is that The Mekan Bar’s drinks were part of the venue’s cultural theme. The cocktail programme was designed to complement the Anatolian food and atmosphere rather than operate as an unrelated drinks menu.

Food and Dining Experience

Although The Mekan Bar was primarily associated with drinks and lounge hospitality, it was closely connected to Rüya’s restaurant. That meant visitors could combine cocktails with a full Anatolian dining experience.

Rüya’s menu was developed around dishes influenced by different parts of Turkey, with food designed to encourage sharing and socialising. The restaurant was also known for its contemporary interpretation of Anatolian cuisine rather than simply reproducing traditional dishes in a conventional format.

This connection between food and cocktails was one of the defining characteristics of the venue. A guest could start with a drink in the Mekan lounge, continue into the restaurant for dinner and then return to the lounge area for more drinks and evening entertainment.

Music, DJs and Evening Events

The Mekan Bar was not designed only for quiet drinks. Music and evening entertainment formed part of its identity, with venue information describing a resident DJ booth, sound system and late licence. The bar could also be used for private celebrations, corporate occasions and other events.

Rüya’s events programme included themed evenings, and a 2023 review discussed its DJ-led Nazar cocktail night. The review described the Mekan as a bar and lounge where cocktails received an Anatolian twist while music became increasingly prominent as the evening progressed.

For private events, the venue was capable of offering cocktail service, private bar facilities, bespoke menus and entertainment. This made the Mekan space suitable for occasions where guests wanted a combination of dining, drinks and music.

The Mekan Bar Reviews and Guest Experience

Historical reviews generally focused on three major elements: the design, cocktails and overall Rüya experience. The Assistant Room’s 2019 review was particularly positive about the restaurant and cocktail programme, highlighting the setting and a Central Anatolia-inspired drink.

The Arbuturian’s later review offered a more mixed description of the atmosphere. It praised the cocktail menu and service but noted that the increasing volume of music eventually became less suited to the reviewer’s mood.

These accounts are useful because they show that the Mekan experience depended partly on what visitors wanted from the venue. Someone looking for cocktails, socialising and music could have a different experience from someone expecting a quiet dining environment.

It is also important to distinguish reviews of the Mekan Bar in Mayfair from businesses with similar names. Search results include other establishments called The Mekan or Mekan Bar in London and Istanbul, so location is essential when researching the venue.

Is The Mekan Bar Still Open?

This is one of the most important points for anyone searching for The Mekan Bar today.

The Mayfair venue was associated with Rüya London at 30 Upper Grosvenor Street. Current venue information identifies Rüya London as permanently closed, and the Mekan Bar is consequently best understood as a historical venue rather than a currently operating Mayfair cocktail bar.

Some online listings still display old opening hours and business information for The Mekan Bar. For example, search and directory pages may continue to show the former address, telephone number and historical opening schedule. These listings should not automatically be interpreted as evidence that the venue is currently open.

For this reason, people researching the bar should pay close attention to the publication date of reviews and venue pages. Older information can describe what The Mekan Bar offered while it was operating, but it does not necessarily describe London’s current bar scene.

Final Thoughts

The Mekan Bar became notable as the cocktail and lounge element of Rüya London’s Anatolian dining concept in Mayfair. Its identity was built around Turkish-inspired cocktails, contemporary Anatolian design, lounge seating, music and a connection with the restaurant’s food.

The bar’s location at 30 Upper Grosvenor Street placed it in one of London’s most prestigious hospitality areas, while its cocktail programme attempted to bring ingredients such as Turkish coffee, date syrup and regional flavour influences into familiar drinks. Historical reviews also show that the atmosphere could shift from relaxed cocktails to a more energetic DJ-led evening.

Today, however, the key distinction is between historical information and current availability. Available venue records identify Rüya London as permanently closed, meaning The Mekan Bar should not be presented as an operating Mayfair venue without further evidence.

For people researching the name online, the most useful context is therefore its history as part of Rüya London and its role in combining Anatolian culture with London’s modern cocktail and dining scene.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where was The Mekan Bar located?

The Mekan Bar was associated with Rüya London at 30 Upper Grosvenor Street, Mayfair, London W1K 7PH.

What type of bar was The Mekan Bar?

It was a cocktail and lounge bar connected to Rüya London’s contemporary Anatolian restaurant concept.

What made The Mekan Bar different?

Its identity combined Anatolian-inspired cocktails, Turkish cultural influences, upscale interior design, food and evening entertainment.

Did The Mekan Bar have live entertainment?

Historical venue information describes a resident DJ booth, sound system and late licence, making music an important part of its evening atmosphere.

Is The Mekan Bar still open?

Available current venue information identifies Rüya London as permanently closed, so the former Mekan Bar should be treated as a historical venue rather than a confirmed operating bar today.