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Slideshow
Top 10 hotel cocktail bars: London
London is unquestionably home to some of the world’s best bars – many of which are housed within the walls of some its most iconic hotels.
The Fumoir at Claridges
In perpetual competition with New York for the title of the world’s cocktail capital, London boasts a mind boggling number of bars at the cutting edge of cocktail culture, with bartenders continually pushing the boundaries of creativity to come up with ever-elaborate garnishes, blends, backstories to their serves and containers in which to present them.
London is, happily, awash with new and innovative bars. However many of the capital’s classic bars, a reputation earned over decades of service, can be found within the walls of hotels that have been standing for well over a century.
If you are looking for some old-fashioned glamour with your Martini, these are the bars for you. The Savoy and Claridges are obvious examples of classic hotel bars, with The American Bar and Fumoir, respectively, iconic of London’s cocktail scene.
Others, located within hotels that opened post 2000 and are already making a name for themselves, could just become the classics of the future. Here, we roundup some of London’s best cocktail bars, which just happen to be housed within a hotel.
The American Bar (and Beaufort Bar) at The Savoy
The iconic American Bar, housed within The Savoy, has been serving up Martinis for more than a century. The inspiration behind Harry Craddock’s 1930 Savoy Cocktail Book, which remains a well-respected tome within the drinks world, The American Bar is an institution.
As transatlantic travel became more popular in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries, many American bars opened throughout London, serving up mixed or “American-style” drinks, more commonly known as cocktails. The bar’s first notable bartender was Ada ‘Coley’ Coleman, who took the helm in 1903, and was succeeded by Harry Craddock.
Most recently, the bar was named the best in Europe, and second best in the world after New York’s Dead Rabbit, in the World’s 50 Best Bars awards.
Signature sip: Pickering Place is a two-drink sharing cocktail named after the last known London site for a duel, and comes served on a wooden box that opens to show a short silent film, starring head bartender Erik Lorincz. Another highlight is Lorincz’s twist on the White Lady cocktail, the vivid pea-green Green Park, made with Jensen’s Old Tom Gin, lemon juice, sugar syrup, celery bitters, egg white and basil.
Who to know: Eric Lorincz is the bar’s 11th head bartender in its history, and is responsible for manning the ship. Lorincz was named the Best International Bartender in 2011 at Tales of The Cocktail in New Orleans.
The Savoy, Strand, London, WC2R 0EU
Artesian at The Langham
Once the undisputed hub of London’s cocktail scene, The Artesian at The Langham took a hit last year after its dynamic cocktail-making duo, Alex Kratena and Simone Caporale, handed in their notices to work on other projects having led the bar to four consecutive wins of the World’s Best Bar title. This year, the bar didn’t even make the top 50, however it remains one of London’s most vibrant and enjoyable cocktail experiences.
Signature serve: Playing on Dali’s obsession with ants, Join the Colony is a quirky cocktail is served in a giant copper ant, conceived by Kratena and Caporale and still served at The Artesian. Starting with a granola base combining fruity, savoury and sweet flavours, guests are asked to pour a white, milk-like liquid made from Absolut Elyx, wheat, almond, juniper and bergamot onto the granola in a twist on breakfast cereal. The Langham Martini, made with Tanqueray No. Ten gin and dry vermouth, is a classic to be savoured.
Who to know: The Artesian is now led by head bartender Gabor Fodor, who has 10 years of experience as a mixologist, having previously worked at the Royal Exchange and Gordon Ramsay’s Maze.
1C Portland Place, London, W1B 1JA
The Connaught Bar at The Connaught
One of London’s best known bars, The Connaught was this year named the world’s best bar in the at the 10th annual Spirited Awards at the Tales of the Cocktail festival in New Orleans. Designed by David Collins, the bar is inspired by English Cubist and Irish 1920s art, with textured walls shimmering in platinum silver leaf overlaid with dusty pink, pistachio and lilac hues.
Signature serve: No visit to The Connaught Bar would be complete without a trip to its famous Martini trolley. Connaught Martinis are only “quietly stirred”, never shaken, and served with a unique twist tailored to your taste with handmade bitters. Vermouth used is the crispy Gancia Dry from Italy, only available at the Connaught Bar, with flavour twists including lavender, coriander, cardamom, ginger, grapefruit, vanilla and liquorice.
Who to know: Italian mixologist Ago Perrone, head bartender at The Connaught Bar.
The Connaught, Carlos Pl, London W1K 2AL
Dukes Bar at Dukes Hotel
Another contender for the best Martini in town, Dukes Bar is the famous drinking haunt of James Bond author Ian Flemming, and is rumoured to be the inspiration behind the spy’s classic line, “shaken not stirred”. Based in St James the hotel also boasts a Cognac and Cigar Garden where guests can choose from a selection of fine and Cuban cigars, alongside a range of Cognacs.
Signature serve: A Martini, naturally. Alessandro Palazzi has created Fleming 89, a new martini which celebrates the link between Dukes Bar and James Bond. Created in partnership with London-based perfumery Floris, whose “89” Eau de Cologne was famously worn by James Bond, its flavour profile is intended to complement to the aroma of this quintessentially English gentleman’s fragrance.
Who to know: ‘Martini Master’ Alessandro Palazzi, long-serving head bartender of Dukes who has tended some of the most illustrious bars in the world, including the Paris Ritz.
Dukes Hotel, 35 St James’s Pl, London SW1A 1NY
Peg + Patriot at The Town Hall Hotel
Presided over by head mixologist Matt Whiley, aka the Talented Mr Fox, The Peg + Patriot is housed inside the Town Hall Hotel in Bethnal Green. Mr Fox is known for his creative and innovative serves, devising menus in the past to capture the spirit of sumer festivals.
The Glastonbury for example was served in a beer tankard and features Bourbon infused with clotted cream and apple cider, while the the oil-black Burning Man features Tequila, lime acid, agave and a mysterious Death Valley tincture. Madcap cocktails appearing on its menu in the past have been garnishes like Monster Munch and salt beef bagels.
Signature serve: Just one of its many creative serves, Pho Money Pho Problems is named after the 1997 hip hop track Mo Money Mo Problems by Notorious B.I.G., which was released four months after the rapper was shot dead. It’s made using a pho distillate, pak choi, lime leaf and lime juice and is topped with a leaf from the Bo, or Bodhi tree, which is part of the fig family.
Who to know: The Fantasic Mr Fox himself, Matt Wiley, who before sidestepping into drinks served a seven-year stint as a professional cricketer.
Patriot Square, London, E2 9NF
The Zetter Townhouse Cocktail Lounge at the Zetter Townhouse
Part of The Zetter Group, which counts two boutique hotels and bars among its portfolio, The Zetter Townhouse Cocktail Lounge is the original venue, attached to its Zetter Townhouse Hotel – a 13-bedroom Georgian townhouse – in Clerkenwell.
Its Cocktail Lounge was born from a partnership between chef Bruno Loubet and drinks maestro Tony Conigliaro, serving a range of supper bowls and bespoke cocktails. The bar itself is deliberately homey and styled on the private residence of the fictions character great aunt Wilhelmina, and is therefore filled with curiosities.
Signature serve: db is particularly fond of the Priory Sour – a blend of beurre noisette, rye whiskey, malted barley and lemon juice.
Who to know: Tony Conigliaro is also responsible for the bar’s carefully curated cocktail menu, both here and at the group’s sister cocktail bar – Seymour’s Parlour – at its Marylebone hotel. Conigliaro is also responsible for Negroni hotspot Bar Termini in Soho.
49-50 St John’s Square, London EC1V 4JJ
The Punch Room at the London Edition
The winner of Time Out’s best bar award this year, The Punch Room is a hidden gem tucked away within the grand surroundings of the London Edition Hotel (which is incidentally also home to Jason Atherton’s Berner’s Tavern). This 19th century-inspired oak-panelled craft cocktail den is by reservation only, with a soundtrack of vintage soul, Ragtime, Doo-wop, Ska and Blues setting the atmosphere.
Signature serve: The Punch Bowl, available for a single person or a group, comes in ten different variations on a classic punch. The Edition Punch comprises gin, jasmine tea and oak moss.
5 Berners St, London W1T 3LF
The Blue Bar at The Berkeley
Originally designed by David Collins, the man also behind The Connaught’s famed bar, the Berkeley’s Blue Bar is, as you might expect, a beautiful blue-hued room featuring original Edwin Lutyens lighting and paneling lacquered with “Lutyen’s blue” – one of fifty shades of blue found within the bar. Based within The Berkeley in Knightsbridge, its cocktails are categorised by colours – green, yellow, red and blue – each one denoting a different mood, which sit alongside 50 different whiskies, Champagnes and an extensive list of spirits.
Signature serve: It’s blue cocktail list comprises its signature serves, including Smoke and Mirrors, described as “indulgent with a sensory explosion of bitter, floral and oaky flavours Michter’s rye barrel strength whiskey, benedictine, toasted cinnamon, sacred rosehip, herbal drops, madeira, sherry blend”, which is a snip at £21
The Berkeley, Wilton Place, London SW1X 7RL
Dandelyan at The Mondrian
Number three in this year’s World’s 50 Best Bars list, Dandelyan has been making a name for itself on the international bar scene since it opened in 2014. Its menu is rooted in a sense of the exotic and botanical, serving cocktails inspired by far-flung locations, nature and foraged ingredients.
The third chapter of its bar menu is entitled ‘Hunter, Gatherer, Shaman and Explorer’ and is based on human interaction with plants and takes inspiration from the botanical wilds of the British countryside and around the world. The bar, located on the banks of the River Thames inside the Mondrian Hotel on the Southbank, was recently awarded World’s Best Cocktail Menu at the 2016 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards and Best Bar Team in London at the 2016 Time Out Bar Awards.
Signature serve: Currently, its menu is divided into four themes; hunter, gatherer, shaman and explorer. Under the gatherer category is Night Watchman – a blend of Plantain Plantation rum, Mr Lyan Rum, pistachio shell orgeat, coffee distillate and Ancho Reyes Chiles.
Who to know: Dandelyan was created by Ryan Chetiwardana, the brains behind London’s game changing cocktail bar White Lyan, which is due to close next year. Launched in 2013, the bar attracted attention for its policy of “closed loop” cocktails where no ingredients go to waste and spawned a bottled cocktail range in retail, a book and a plethora of awards. Once the bar closes, Chetiyawardana will use it as a creative development space where he will collaborate with leading international chefs and food labs on new multi-sensory concepts.
Mondrian at Sea Containers, 20 Upper Ground, London, SE1 9PD
The Fumoir Bar at Claridges
An iconic London bar, The tiny Fumoir bar has been serving cocktails for the duration of Claridge’s two-century-long history. Formerly a cigar and cocktail bar, hence its name, The Fumoir dropped smoking from its repertoire following the UK’s 2007 ban on smoking in enclosed spaces, choosing instead of focus exclusively on its drinks offer.
The three-stool art deco bar operates a no reservation policy, with its offer including “era-defining cocktails”, often with a twist, forgotten classics are new innovations. The bar’s rich aubergine decor, plush velvet seating and crystal lighting was designed by Thierry Despont.
Signature serve: Exclusive to The Fumoir, its Saffron sidecar is a blend of Martell Cordon Blue Cognac, saffron infused Cointreau, lemon juice and fresh pear.
Who to know: Denis Broci, bar manager at Claridges, including The Fumoir. Previous to taking on this role, Broci worked at Michel Roux Jr’s Roux Fine Dining, Restaurant Brian Turner and Gordon Ramsay’s Maze.
Brook St, Mayfair, London, W1K 4HR