London has some of the best bars in the world. London has some of the best five star hotels in the world. Now, combine the two and what do you get? Connaught Bar.

The Venue
The Connaught Hotel is special. Very special. It epitomises classic British design and what makes London great when it comes to the high-end luxury sector. And the grand white marble, flags displaying the hotel’s emblem outside and doormen in crisp uniforms all make your visit to the Connaught Bar – one of the hotel’s two bars – all the more special.

The bar itself has been designed by legendary interior design specialist David Collins – who has designed a few of London’s best five star hotel bars – and the space spans three main areas. And it is immaculate. The seating is made from a black leather that’s as comfortable as it is stylish, with matching black tables complete with silver studding detail. White panelled walls, marble touches and a gleaming bar all match the gleaming marble flooring. But what really stands the bar apart is the attention to detail. You could visit this bar several times and notice new design accents each time – all subtle, all beautiful. The silver leaf artwork that covers the surfaces is worth taking a moment to admire.

The Atmosphere
Pure glamour dahling. The Connaught Bar exudes an understated sophistication and elegance that has an effect on the ambience here. The people are a mix of young trustafarians, hotel guests and businessmen and women out to schmooze and impress. It could be an obnoxious mix if it weren’t for the staff acting as a buffer against the other guests. And that’s because the service here is absolutely world class. Your every need is catered for and nothing is too much trouble. But most impressive is the staff’s almost encyclopaedic knowledge of the cocktail menu and their spirits. Ask any question, query any combination and even request off-menu cocktails and you’ll be met with the answer of a passionate industry specialist.

The Drink
The bar staff at the Connaught Bar boast a huge array of top mixology awards and the cocktail menu is a mix of traditional concepts and innovative techniques that utilise exclusive vintages and limited edition champagnes, spirits and liqueurs. But yes, you will pay a premium price to experience drinks here. Prices cost from £15 and above and you can easily pay more than £20 for a cocktail if you request a premium spirit to be included. And with some shots coming in at over £1000, that’s an easy thing to do. Yes, really.

The cocktail list is divided into different sections, which include classics, fusions, seasonal cocktails, signature drinks, champagne cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks. They also have ice cubes that promise to melt more slowly than traditional ice – seriously. That is the attention to detail that they pay to crafting the perfect cocktail-drinking experience. Their signature is a Gin Collins, which is so expertly crafted and mixed that the clarity of the alcohol is retained even when combined with a tart lemon juice, sugar and soda water. Although that’s just speculation as the ingredients are a closely guarded secret here. However, if you really want to test the skills of the bar staff then order a martini exactly how you want it: with a twist, with an olive or a silver skin onion (making your martini a Gibson), or you can have a vodka martini or a gin martini and even select the specific spirit brand used. And yes, it is worth the shockingly high price tag.

The Last Word
For a little taste of luxury, the Connaught Bar hits the nail firmly on the head.

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