Steeped in history, the Cadogan Bar is probably what you’d expect – an old fashioned bar with distinguished principles. It may not be the kind of place you visit for a big night out, but if it’s refined drinking you’re after this is for you.

The Venue
Located in the extremely old school luxury hotel – The Cadogan – in swanky Knightsbridge, this bar is everything you might expect. The decor is pretty outdated, but fits in with the principles of this hotel.

The colour scheme is a mix of reds with black and white vases, old fashioned lamps, and diamond-patterned carpets in red and beige. The red-squared leather seats are a little uncomfortable and there are original features of the olde day hotel including the intricate ceiling patterns. Mirrors give the small room a sense of space and there’s a small bar without much in the way of drinks decorating it (although this is a little misleading and their selection is greater than first impressions may have you believe). All in all, it’s a real old school place, where the feeling is one of a traditional old boys clubs – not a bad thing in itself, if that’s what you’re after.

The Atmosphere
The general air of the Cadogan Bar is a bit on the stuffy side and is very well to do. That said, service is impeccable and friendly and, as long as you’re presentable and not raucous, you’ll be treated well. Don’t be surprised to see the occasional celebrity in this bar, anxious to escape the limelight of some of the more showy hotels of the surrounding areas. Liam Neeson has been known to head along for a couple, sitting quietly in the corner, not wishing to be disturbed. With the refined nature of this bar, troubling such a star is unheard of as everyone is very respectful of the privacy of each of the guests – a definite plus to such an upmarket venue.

The Drink
There’s not a particularly large cocktail menu here; however, the more than competent bar staff will mix you any high quality cocktail you fancy from a long list of classics. If you are ordering from the menu, the emphasis is definitely on the martinis. Priced at £11 they aren’t cheap, but they don’t rival some of the more expensive hotel bars in London. Particularly good is the Mocha Martini consisting of Jack Daniels, creme cocoa, Baileys and an expresso with a strong coffee taste and none of the overpowering sweetness you sometimes get with such drinks. If you want to blow your head off then the Casino Royale is the way to go, made up of Absolut, Hendricks and the unusual Kina Lillet (how very James Bond). This is a strong drink that is strictly only for those who enjoy the alcohol taste of the more powerful cocktails.

Staying in the theme of being old school, the drinks menu instead concentrates on the classics. There’s a decent wine selection including a nice Malbec for £8 a glass or £30 a bottle, or a Chablis Saint Martin 2005 for £9 a glass or £36 a bottle – very reasonable. Alternatively, you can splash out on the Champagne and order a Perrier Jouet Belle Epique for £115. There’s also a strong skew towards premium spirits, blended whiskeys and cognacs. The cognacs range from a very reasonable £7 for a shot of Courvoisier to a whopping £40 a shot for the Hennesey Paradise. If you wish to keep it simple, they even offer bottled beers, including Kronenberg, Budvar, St Bernardus, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, and Fullers.

The Last Word
If you like hotel bars to be kept properly old school then the Cadogan Bar is for you. It could perhaps be accused of being a little stuffy – but if you happen to spy a Hollywood A-Lister then that will soon fade into the darkness!

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