A bastion of Britishness in modern multicultural London, Knights Bar on the Strand serves old-fashioned Champagne cocktails at aristocratic prices.

The Venue
Part of the Savoy group, Knights Bar is on the first floor of Simpsons in the Strand, a well-to-do English dining establishment offering carved meat and crystal chandeliers. It’s a narrow, boxy space, broadly Art Deco in style, with room to seat about 40 people comfortably. The decor is on the shabby side of smart and overdue a refurbishment; a bit like a stately home whose strapped owners can’t quite afford the upkeep.

The Atmosphere
Knights Bar has many of the same shortcomings as a hotel bar: it’s overpriced, a shade too brightly lit, and it doesn’t really belong in its space, spilling out as it does onto the first floor corridor. However, it still manages to exude an air of timeworn elegance, helped by the charming and professional staff, effortlessly tending to the needs of blazer-wearing bankers and well-to-do theatregoers. Yes, prices are high, but regulars would point out that for your money you get to sip and converse in a stress-free, civilised setting, a world away from the hubbub of the Strand below.

The Food
The serious dining takes place in the main restaurant downstairs, as is evident by the whiff of beef gravy that greets you at the entrance. But to cash in on the lucrative pre-theatre crowd, the bar itself offers a selection of bistro dishes like burgers, salads and club sandwiches.

The Drink
Alongside classic and Champagne cocktails, Knights Bar mixes a number of its own creations on a chess theme, including Czech Mate (a blend of Absolut Mandrin and Cherry Liquor poured through Absinthe Ice) and Captured Queen (Hennessey Cognac shaken with raspberry and pear). The Laurent Perrier Champagne cocktail is well balanced with a robust kick but, when served on the warm side, is disappointing at £12. Standard cocktails and martinis range from £9, and bottles of wine start at £24.

The Last Word
With its outmoded decor and pricey drinks, Knights Bar feels like the sort of upper-crust establishment more typical of London thirty years ago. However, for all its stubborn refusal to move with the times, don’t be surprised if it's still satisfying followers long after the current crop of cocktail bars have had their day.

venue information venue map view london review user reviews (1) book a table