The strip lights dim, gradually transforming from a bright white to a warm yellow. This cue is all you need to know what’s coming next. Take your seat, look to the stage, sit back and relax; the show is about to begin. Just a couple of hours prior, you had only just arrived, utterly oblivious to the feeling of raw vivacity that awaited you within these walls. But, as soon as you ascended the stairs and disappeared within the building’s double doors, you were whisked away to another realm entirely – the hedonistic world of opulent Chinese restaurant and live entertainment venue, Park Chinois.

Situated in Mayfair, this trendy Chinese restaurant is best described as sumptuous, sexy and sophisticated. Park Chinois has secured a favorable reputation among the city’s rich and famous by virtue of its mouth-watering cuisine, inventive cocktails and flamboyant interiors. However, these are among just a few of the reasons as to why it is so difficult to attain a reservation here. The beating heart of Park Chinois that has people dashing back for more is the experience that accompanies fine dining: live entertainment every day of the week in the elegant Salon de Chine, and below ground in the rebellious Club Chinois.

Park Chinois joined fellow fine dining establishments Sexy Fish, Novikov and Nobu on Mayfair’s buzzing Berkeley street in 2015. Founded by revolutionary restauranteur Alan Yau, it doesn’t come as a surprise that the spot is featured as one of London’s best Chinese restaurants. Yau is responsible for the renowned Wagumama chain, as well as Yauatcha and Hakkasan, which are both Michelin-starred. Park Chinois is the latest testimony to Yau’s talent for breathing legendary status into each and every institution he envisions.

Together with French interior designer Jacques Garcia, Yau was able to bring Park Chinois to life. Entering means taking a step into flickers of the worlds that came before it; that inspired its dramatic, opulent design. The influential forces that frame the restaurant include the 1930s Shanghai jazz clubs, Old Hollywood Glamour and Chinoiserie chic. Its origins are promptly honored at the entrance, where an ornate, custom-made Chinese lotus lamp covered in oriental pictograms extends all the way to the roof. Meandering through the remainder of the restaurant’s low-lit interior, a bold and glitzy colour scheme has been followed, with touches of red, white, black and gold embellishing the surrounding furnishings, tasseled lamp shades and pillars. And let’s not forget the decadent restroom – famed for its gold-plated swan faucets.

Guests of Park Chinois have the option to dine in either Salon de Chine, Club Chinois or the three exquisite private dining areas available. Salon de Chine is the restaurant’s upstairs dining room, and is a popular choice for those seeking a serene, intimate evening. Its walls are draped in soft white silk, with thick red velvet drapes tumbling down at either end. Each of the room’s scattered pillars are adorned with numerous reflective tiles and petite chandeliers. The Chinoiserie chic influence is most explicit on this floor, as demonstrated by the rows of arm chairs covered in romantic floral patterns. Right at the centre of the room is an elevated stage, where a soulful songstress stands, her melody echoing within the walls of the Salon. A large chandelier twinkles above, catching the shimmer of the songstress’s gown as she sways to the band’s soothing jazz style sound.

In Club Chinois, the lighting is a little darker, the music is a little louder, and the cocktails are a little stronger. As you make your exit from Salon de Chine and begin to descend the spiral staircase, the mood of the evening has already shifted. There is a sense of wildness down there; of irresistible mystery. At first glance, it appears as if you’ve stepped onto the set of a modern-day Moulin Rouge. A subtle red light illuminates the club, catching the glimmer of its golf-leafed pillars and gilded round tables.

Brought to life by artistic director Diana Pintado Caden, Club Chinois features riveting cabaret shows from Thursday through Saturday. And when we say cabaret, that can mean just about anything. A burlesque dancer in a metallic leotard strutting and bopping on stage to a licentious pop song, an aerial acrobat, perhaps even a fire-eater. The best part is that this happens right before your eyes. In Club Chinois, you’ll find yourself questioning whether you’re unknowingly part of the of the show yourself. After all, you are sitting on the “stage”. Performers weave between tables, further adding to the immersive supper-club experience that Alan Yau had in mind from the start.

The food at Park Chinois is as delectable as the performances are entrancing. Chef Kim Min How serves up an authentic selection of dim sum, which includes four meticulously crafted, vibrant dumplings that make for a great starter portion. We recommend indulging in both the Seafood and the Vegetarian selections, which feature dumplings packed with scampi, scallop, black truffle, mushroom and pumpkin.

Park Chinois’s signature dish is none other than the legendary Duck de Chine. The dish must be pre-ordered, as it takes a ludicrous 72-hours to prepare. The end result, however, exhibits the excellence that can be procured with a little patience. The duck is cooked to perfection, golden brown at its surface and soft and succulent at its core. Duck de Chine is served with a freshly made stack of pancakes, baby cucumber, spring onion and duck sauce. For those who aren’t shy to dig a little deeper into their pockets, there is also a choice of 8 grades of caviar to be served alongside Duck de Chine, with the top-grades on offer being the Osciètre Gold and Beluga Imperial.

Another dish we cannot recommend enough is Park Chinois’s Asian spin on Italian classic Carbonara. Here, it’s called Park Carbonara, and it’s made with Udon noodles, sea urchin, 65˚Egg and pancetta. Finally, it’s only right to end off the culinary journey you’ve been on with Park Chinois in style. The decadent 85% chocolate fondant offers exactly that, served with a silky Remy Martin sauce and topped with a glistening gold leaf.

On top of an extensive 24-page wine list, with an on-hand sommelier available to make recommendations, Park Chinois serves up some impressive, one-of-a-kind cocktails. Apéritifs, signatures, refashioned classics and non-alcoholics; Park Chinois has it all. If you’re dining in Salon de Chine, a pre-dinner drink at the Salon Bar is a must. Take a seat atop a red velvet stool, its backing decorated with a gold scaled dragon, as a mixologist places their creation before you on the bar’s green onyx granite countertop. We recommend kickstarting the evening with a Cabane Choucoune – a zesty concoction of tequila, manzanilla sherry, peach and matcha tea.

Alternatively, you might want an instagrammable drink which combines tastiness and aesthetic appeal. In that case, you can’t go wrong with the floral-garnished Les Trois Garçons – one of Park Chinois’s signature cocktails which combines gin, elderflower, redcurrant jelly, yuzu liqueur, verjus, tonic syrup and soda.

Even if you promise yourself an early night, you will find yourself being magnetically pulled to the depths of Club Chinois’s Wave Bar. Renowned for having one of the largest collections of artisan spirits in London, this bar is worth a visit. Finish the evening strong with the iconic and boozy Umami Old Fashioned, which features black truffle-infused bourbon, mushroom liqueur, nigella, vermouth, black sesame and house bitters. In the unlikely event that none of Park Chinois’s cocktails tickle your fancy, the talented mixologists are also prepared to craft a custom-cocktail on the spot.

Park Chinois is the ultimate experiential dining destination, perfectly positioned in one of London’s most affluent areas. Spanning across two floors, the restaurant innovatively caters to their guests desires. Salon de Chine is a space oozing in elegance and romance, with the echo of soft jazz ideal for a couple on date night. And downstairs, Club Chinois is a fine choice for groups of friends dining together, hoping to kickstart the weekend with an electric, boozy soiree.