The Elysée

The Elysée is a historic Greek restaurant and entertainment venue on Percy Street in Fitzrovia, London. Established in 1936 by George Varnava, a former Maître D’ at The Savoy Hotel, the venue began as a French silver-service restaurant and soon developed a reputation that attracted Londoners, international visitors, artists, writers, screen stars and other prominent guests. A new chapter began in 1962 when The Elysée was acquired by Varnava’s nephews, George, Michael and Ulysses Karageorgis. Drawing on their family heritage, the brothers introduced Mediterranean cuisine and traditional live Greek music, transforming the venue into a distinctive Greek dining and entertainment destination in Central London. During the 1960s, The Elysée became closely associated with London’s cultural and late-night scene. Its history includes visits from Prince Philip, members of the 1966 England World Cup-winning team, The Beatles and Muhammad Ali, reflecting the restaurant’s longstanding place within the social history of the capital. The Karageorgis brothers remained at the helm for 48 years before passing the family business to the next generation. Their sons subsequently introduced a new vision for The Elysée, including a major refurbishment in 2010, while continuing the family legacy established decades earlier. Today, The Elysée brings together Greek and Mediterranean dining, entertainment and a heritage stretching back to 1936. Its evolution from a French silver-service restaurant to a