If you think all hotel bars are stuffy, think again. Although attached to the traditional Westbury Hotel, The Polo Bar is an entity in its own right – and an upbeat, funky one at that.

The Venue
The Polo Bar is centrally located in Mayfair – along Conduit Street, towards the Oxford Circus end of Regent Street. However, it’s tucked far enough back off the main shopping highway to lend it a feeling of seclusion from the hustle and bustle of the West End. Hard to miss, the large glass front and obvious Polo branding are what greets you, and you’d hardly know it was a part of the Westbury Hotel thanks to its separate entrance and standalone decor.

Upon entering, you’re met with an array of dark woods, retro design and delicate little touches. Modern art intermingles with more classic pieces on the walls, two large smoked-orange glass designs behind the bar add an artistic touch with row upon row of bottles sat in front, creating a silhouette affect that’s rather enchanting. The carpet is a rather dull pattern, but fits in with the rest of the colours. There’s little standing room, with the bulk of the venue being made up of tables for four. Small lights screwed into the ceiling utilises the light that comes in through the large floor-to-ceiling windows covering the front of the bar. In front of these windows are attractive hanging crystals. The large space is broken up with central pillars, giving the bar more structure and shaking off what could have been an overly airy hall-like feel.

The Atmosphere
The atmosphere at The Polo Bar reflects the decor, in that it’s far more chilled out than you may expect. People dress to impress, although the dress code is smart-casual, the clientele err on the side of smart. Couples enjoying a romantic drink, hotel guests and businesspeople schmoozing clients or chilling out are the main bulk of the people here. Mostly well-to-do, the refined nature of the clientele is counterbalanced by the smiles evident on everyone’s faces and the pleasant nature of the staff. The staff are welcoming, friendly and scarily efficient. Even when taking their time to prepare an elaborate cocktail, you won’t be left waiting for too long, and with table service you’ll never be left standing at the bar for hours on end. Willing to engage in friendly banter, they help to shake the illusion that hotel bars are stuffy and out of touch, whilst the 5 star service reminds you you’re somewhere special.

The Food
There’s an excellent, albeit pricey, bar menu available at The Polo Bar, offering a large array of dishes. Including light bites and tapas, the highlight is the tiger prawns in Japanese breadcrumbs with a sweet chilli dip. The prawns are perfectly cooked with no hint of rubberiness, retaining the full spectrum of seafood flavours. The breadcrumbs are light and not overly heavy in greasy textures and the chilli dip is as sweet as it is hot. At £12.50 it's not cheap, but it’s fitting to the area. Alternatively, you can opt for a platter, such as the Italian platter. From artichokes and shallots with sun-dried tomatoes to brioche with a delicious tomato-based salsa and mini olive and mozzarella calzones, delicately balancing different flavours.

If you prefer something lighter then the sushi selection is a good bet – light, fresh and healthy for those watching the waistline. Alternatively, there’s a full menu of starters (all for over £10), mains (£14-£22) and desserts (£6.50) for those looking to indulge. However, with an adjoining restaurant, it’s a nicer idea to opt for a couple of small, tapas dishes more suited to drinking.

The Drink
This is where The Polo Bar really excels. The cocktail menu is eclectic and not overly expensive by 5 star hotel standards – especially in its Mayfair locale – at an average price of £11 a cocktail (rising to around £18 for the deluxe cocktails).

Highlights on the cocktail menu include the chilli raspberry martini made up of chilli-infused snow leopard vodka (their house vodka, with 15% of the money from every one sold going to a snow leopard conservation charity) shaken with framboise liqueur, raspberry and sugar. The sweetness of the raspberries are gently counteracted with a kick given by the chilli, creating an unusual mix that isn’t overpowering and is actually enjoyable. With every martini you’ll receive a small shot glass containing the same drink so you can share with friends – a gimmick that is proving very popular. However, the real jewel in the cocktail menu’s crown has to go to the black cherry and lavender martini (ultimat cherry vodka with fresh lavender syrup), which is a true delight. Light and fresh with a hand-picked lavender garnish, the drink is made via a filtering technique to gently mix the flavours, and it works to create a delicately balanced cocktail with a perfumed flavour that is in no way overpowering and works with the gentle sweetness of the cherries. Other highlights include the apricot martini, kumquat and raspberry caipiroska, De Vigne, and the hazelnut martini - all excellent.

If cocktails aren’t your thing then they also infuse their own spirits at The Polo Bar, including chilli vodka and an apricot infused gin. With each taking two weeks to process, the result is incredible with the subtle flavours coming together with the spirits to give a strong twist on the usual shots. There’s also a fine selection of whiskeys, cognacs, tequilas, vodkas, rum, gin – everything you can imagine – including expensive premium brands for if you have a spare £600 for a shot. However, the majority are well-priced and in keeping with the competition. Alternatively, there’s a nice wine list with around ten bottles of white offerings (£29-£110) and ten reds (£29-£120), also handily available by the glass. Of course, Champagne is also present, including a Louis Roederer Cristal Rose 1999 for £580.

The Last Word
The Polo Bar excels in every category with quality cocktails served to you with aplomb courtesy of the friendly and efficient staff, all wrapped up inside a beautifully presented package. You may need to run up some serious dough on the credit card, but it’s worth it.

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