Townhouse offers the ultimate in urbane and sophisticated relaxation, with the emphasis placed firmly on the outstanding cocktails.

The Venue
Nestling in an elegant Georgian (you guessed it) townhouse on Beauchamp Place - one of the swankiest thoroughfares in Knightsbridge - this bar is easily reached from South Kensington or Knightsbridge tube stations.

Identified by its beefy doormen and ivy-covered frontage, the flash factor continues inside, with dark wood floors and off-whites dominating the ground floor main bar and the additional first floor bar. There’s also a basement available for private parties. Some nifty design touches complete the experience – there are huge plasma screens adorning the walls, and for an added thrill your low cocktail table can be raised electronically before your very eyes, transforming into a dining table for those who choose to eat here.

The Atmosphere
Townhouse bestows upon its customers a feeling of smug superiority, a certain pleasure that you made it inside and were deemed good looking enough by the surly doormen.

The clientele here consists of the Chelsea trust fund kids, the Knightsbridge jetsetters, and the odd celebrity, and there’s a feeling you’ve arrived in a very exclusive members bar (although there is no members policy here). The vibe created is one of relaxed and understated elegance - this is a venue for chilling out over a chat with friends and a cocktail rather than dancing the night away. The bar staff are friendly and engaging, keen to showcase their cocktail-making prowess.

The Food
There’s nothing to write home about on the menu, which offers up Light Bites (nachos, olives, breads) and Big Bites (fish, burgers, sandwiches). Prices are extremely high - even for the Knightsbridge locale - up to £10 for a sandwich.

The Drink
Townhouse excels in offering a huge range of cocktails (the drink menu is nearly 30 pages long), with the Pornstar Martini being its flagship offering. Made with some unique ingredients, such as Jack Daniels Silver Select and Johnny Walker Blue Label, the quality of the cocktails is matched only by the high prices, which are £7-£13.

Additionally, there’s a choice of eight Champagnes, over 40 whiskies, 20 vodkas and numerous other superior options, all selected for their quality. Given that its sister bar is LAB (London Academy of Bartending) in Soho, there’s no surprise that the attention to detail is unrivalled throughout the capital.

The Last Word
For the last word in refined glamour, you need to visit Townhouse – the cocktails are second to none and the ingenious design touches create a real ‘wow’ factor. You might need to look into a second mortgage before making this a regular stop-off, but it’s worth it.

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