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

The Mekan Bar was a distinctive cocktail and lounge space associated with Rüya London in Mayfair, bringing Turkish and Anatolian influences into an elegant London setting. Located on Upper Grosvenor Street, the bar was designed as part of the wider Rüya dining experience rather than simply functioning as a conventional standalone drinking venue. Its cocktail programme, Turkish-inspired atmosphere, small plates and sophisticated interior helped give it a distinctive identity in London’s luxury dining scene.

What Was The Mekan Bar?

The Mekan Bar was the lounge bar within Rüya London, a contemporary Anatolian restaurant near Park Lane. The name “Mekan” has Turkish associations with a place, venue or setting, making it particularly appropriate for a space designed around hospitality, food and drinks. The bar sat between the entrance lounge and the main restaurant, allowing guests to visit for cocktails before dinner or spend time there as part of an evening at Rüya.

Rather than relying solely on traditional cocktails, the concept connected drinks with Anatolian history and culture. The bar’s cocktail menu was reportedly inspired by several major Anatolian empires, including the Hittite, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman periods. This historical theme gave the drinks programme a narrative element and helped distinguish the bar from more conventional Mayfair cocktail venues.

The Connection With Rüya London

Understanding The Mekan Bar requires looking at Rüya itself. Rüya was an upscale London restaurant built around contemporary Anatolian cuisine and the idea of sharing food in the style of a Turkish family table. The venue was designed as one connected space, incorporating the bar, restaurant, open kitchen and other private dining areas.

The design reportedly included brass sunburst chandeliers, turquoise tables, geometric details, copper stills and tall Georgian windows. The Mekan lounge was positioned as a more relaxed part of this overall environment, featuring lounge seating, cocktail tables and a DJ booth for evening entertainment.

This relationship between restaurant and bar was central to the experience. Guests could begin with cocktails and then move into dinner, while others could focus primarily on drinks and bar food. The concept therefore combined dining, hospitality and nightlife within one Mayfair address.

Cocktail Menu and Anatolian Inspiration

One of the most notable aspects of The Mekan Bar was its cocktail programme. A review of the venue described a menu inspired by five historical Anatolian empires. Each section offered cocktails connected conceptually to a particular period, creating a journey through history rather than presenting a standard list of drinks.

Among the drinks mentioned in the review was the Whirling Dervish, a tequila-based cocktail associated with the Seljuk section of the menu. Another was Mediterranean Love, connected with the Roman Empire selection, while an Ottoman Old Fashioned represented the Ottoman-inspired part of the programme.

The bar also had its own approach to familiar classics. One review highlighted a martini made using Rüya Gin, which was infused behind the bar. This type of preparation demonstrated how the venue attempted to add a Turkish or house-specific character to established cocktail styles.

Food at The Mekan Bar

The Mekan experience was not limited to drinks. Guests could also order dishes from the bar menu, allowing cocktails to be paired with Turkish and Anatolian-inspired food. A published review described tarhana crisps with olive oil and red pepper dip, oven-baked cheese pide, borek with dill and feta, and fried calamari among the dishes served during the experience.

This combination was particularly important because the food was designed around sharing and complementing the drinks. Instead of treating bar food as an afterthought, the concept presented small plates with ingredients and flavours associated with the wider Rüya menu.

The oven-baked cheese pide, for example, provided a more substantial option, while borek offered crisp pastry and savoury filling. Together with dips and seafood, these dishes created a menu that could work for a relaxed drink as well as a longer evening.

Interior and Atmosphere

The atmosphere of The Mekan Bar was closely connected to the visual identity of Rüya London. The venue used contemporary design elements while incorporating references to Anatolian culture. One review noted a painting of a traditional whirling dervish in the entrance area, immediately establishing the cultural theme of the venue.

The lounge bar itself was described as having velvet tub chairs and turquoise cocktail tables, while a resident DJ booth supported evening entertainment. The combination of lounge seating, decorative elements, cocktails and music was intended to make the bar suitable for both pre-dinner drinks and later-night occasions.

The design also fitted the Mayfair location. Rather than presenting a casual pub atmosphere, The Mekan Bar formed part of a luxury dining environment where presentation and service were important components of the overall experience.

Location in Mayfair

The Mekan Bar was associated with Rüya at 30 Upper Grosvenor Street, London W1K 7PH, in the Mayfair area. Search listings have also described The Mekan Bar as a cocktail bar at this address.

Its Mayfair location placed it close to some of London’s well-known luxury hotels, restaurants and shopping areas. This made the venue particularly suited to visitors already spending time around Park Lane, Grosvenor Street and central Mayfair.

For tourists researching the venue today, however, it is important to distinguish historical listings from current availability. Recent venue information identifies Rüya London as permanently closed, meaning older pages describing The Mekan Bar’s menu, events or opening hours should not automatically be interpreted as evidence that the venue is currently operating.

Events and Evening Entertainment

The Mekan Bar was also designed to accommodate private events and evening entertainment. Venue information describes a DJ booth, sound system, cocktail programme and private bar among its facilities. The wider venue could also be hired for celebrations, corporate occasions and private dining.

Past event listings show that the venue was used for special occasions, including New Year’s Eve programming with drinks packages and late-night entertainment. Such events reflected the bar’s positioning as more than a quiet cocktail lounge.

The flexible layout also meant that the bar could work as part of a larger private event. Guests could combine dining, cocktails and music without having to move between multiple venues.

What Made The Mekan Bar Different?

The Mekan Bar’s main point of distinction was the way it combined several elements: Anatolian culture, modern mixology, luxury dining and London nightlife. The cocktail menu provided a historical narrative, while the food connected the drinks experience to Rüya’s broader culinary identity.

Its setting also contributed to the concept. Mayfair is home to many high-end bars and restaurants, so a venue needed a clear identity to stand apart. The Mekan approach used Turkish design, Anatolian flavours and themed cocktails to create something more specific than a generic luxury cocktail bar.

The available review evidence also highlights attentive service and knowledgeable bartending as important parts of the experience. One reviewer described the bartender as attentive and well informed while explaining the cocktail menu.

Is The Mekan Bar Still Open?

This is an important question for anyone searching for The Mekan Bar today. Historical listings and reviews may still appear online, including information about its address, cocktails and opening hours. However, current venue information identifies Rüya London as permanently closed.

Therefore, older references to The Mekan Bar should be understood primarily as records of a former Mayfair bar experience. Information such as historic menus, event listings and reviews remains useful for understanding the venue’s concept, but it should not be taken as confirmation that visitors can currently book a table there.

The Legacy of The Mekan Bar

Although The Mekan Bar is no longer operating as part of Rüya London, its concept remains interesting because it demonstrated how a cocktail bar could be integrated into a broader cultural and culinary experience. Instead of separating drinks from food, the venue connected both with Anatolian history and Turkish hospitality.

Its themed cocktail menu, distinctive interior, sharing dishes and entertainment programme created a concept that was closely tied to Rüya’s identity. For people researching Mayfair’s former restaurants and cocktail venues, The Mekan Bar provides an example of London’s increasingly diverse luxury dining scene and the way international culinary traditions can influence modern hospitality.

Final Thoughts

The Mekan Bar was an Anatolian-inspired cocktail lounge connected with Rüya London in Mayfair. Its identity was built around creative cocktails, Turkish-inspired food, elegant interiors and a historical approach to mixology. The drinks programme drew inspiration from different Anatolian empires, while the bar environment incorporated lounge seating and evening entertainment.

For current visitors, the most important fact is that Rüya London is now listed as permanently closed. Nevertheless, historical reviews and venue records preserve details about The Mekan Bar’s concept and its role within the Mayfair dining scene. Its combination of Anatolian flavours, storytelling and contemporary cocktail culture made it a distinctive part of London’s former luxury hospitality landscape.