The American Bar at The Savoy
The ne plus ultra of classic cocktail bars, if you fancy wetting your whistle with a King’s Cobbler or a Dandy Beau, the American Bar at The Savoy Hotel lives up to expectations. It opened in 1893 and is still going strong over 130 years later, making it the longest-surviving cocktail bar in London, thanks in part to a timelessly glamorous Art Deco interior and a roster of devoted bartenders. An alchemic ability to gently update the recipes in its Savoy Cocktail Book – originally written by bartender Harry Craddock in 1930 – has no doubt played a part, too. thesavoylondon.com
Bar Américain
Bar Américain is part of Brasserie Zédel, a vast French-inspired brasserie in what was once Europe’s largest hotel. Launched in 1915 as the Regent Palace Hotel, this Beaux Arts treasure, just off Piccadilly Circus, was originally part of the Lyons tea shops empire and known as ‘the people’s palace’ for its democratic pricing. After the Second World War, its fortunes changed, though luckily the (by then) Art Deco surroundings didn’t. After a long decline, the building was restored in the early 2000s, and what was once the hotel’s Dick’s Bar now serves winning cocktails once more as Bar Américain. brasseriezedel.com
Dukes Bar
The magic at Dukes Bar is not in its (whisper it) slightly corporate decor, but in the understated pizzazz of legendary bartender Alessandro Palazzi. Known pre-eminently for Martinis, here they are custom-made to order from a little trolley that can be wheeled from table to table. It’s no surprise to discover that Ian Fleming was once a regular here, a fact acknowledged by the many Bond character references in the cocktail menu. Despite this, Palazzi’s Martinis tend not to be shaken, nor stirred, but made with spirits fresh from the freezer, negating the need for any such vigorous mixing. dukeshotel.com
The Fumoir at Claridge's
With a choice of three different bars, plus an afternoon tea lounge that also serves classic cocktails, there’s little chance of going thirsty at Claridge’s. For low-lit historic charm, however, the Fumoir bar is the one to head for at this legendary Mayfair hotel. Open since 1929, this revamped Art Deco space takes its inspiration from the Bright Young Things, with a wide-ranging cocktail list that excels at old-school classics. Try a signature Negroni, laced with just a hint of coffee and chamomile, or plump for a Martinetti, a lively mix of gin, vermouth, white port and bitters. Bottoms up! claridges.co.uk
The Winter Garden
Serving tourists and regulars since 1798, this iconic Covent Garden restaurant discovered its formula early on and stuck to it. As London’s oldest restaurant, both the decor and the menu steer comfortingly towards tradition, with elegant versions of venison bourguignon and jugged hare served amid gilt-framed paintings and rich red velvet upholstery. Upstairs, Rules opened a dedicated cocktail lounge, The Winter Garden, a few years ago. Perch on a softly lit red leather armchair in the palm-fronded conservatory, and start with the house cocktail – a peppy mix of gin, Dubonnet and crémant. rules.co.uk
The American Bar at The Stafford
That The Stafford hotel is also home to an American bar is no coincidence. These establishments were part of a tradition of US-style cocktail bars that took root in London and Paris in the 1920s and 30s, when wealthy transatlantic travellers sought out places to drink the jazzier tipples they preferred over the beers, fortified wines and spirits that were then the staples of British pubs and bars. Today, The Stafford’s American Bar retains its clubby vibe, serving both classic and contemporary concoctions alongside a menu of US-inspired dishes, from sliders and cobb salads to a fancy mac ’n’ cheese. thestaffordlondon.com
