Central London cocktail bar recommendations please

[Mont Blanc]

Hello

I did not want to gatecrash the other thread about London restaurant recommendations, so started this one.

Can anyone recommend a central London cocktail bar to take my family (parents, sister, sisters husband etc) to before dinner please?

We are all dining in Soho, but I would like to take them all for cocktails/drinks beforehand, preferably somewhere nearby around Soho, Mayfair, Covent Garden, St James, Piccadilly etc.

Somewhere very visually impressive/interesting with a good atmosphere. Preferably not a place with a big queue to get in the bar at 5pm like many of the high end hotel bars such as The Connaught.

Thank you

[jfis89]

Bar Américain below Brasserie Zedel might work

[Mobile Chicane]

Claridge’s

[Mont Blanc]

Thank you.

Been to Claridges previously and it was nice, but will likely try Bar American as not been there before and it looks great

Cheers

[paralla]

Refuel at the Soho Hotel is slightly hidden and off the tourist trail so not rammed like a lot of places. You can reserve a space in the bar and the cocktails are great.

https://www.firmdalehotels.com/hotels/london/the-s...

[HTP99]

Mr. Foggs

https://www.mr-foggs.com/

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Was about to say Trader Vic's, but just seen it's no longer open!

[anonymous-user]

We went to the American Bar at the Savoy when we were down for Wimbledon. Great place.

[Venisonpie]

To add to the already good suggestions, Rules in Covent Garden and a bit further afield the old scotland yard which has a cocktail bar under the hotel.

[lemmingjames]

If you want 'Instagram' cocktails, try Alchemist just behind Leicester Square tube but you'll probably need to reserve

[Mont Blanc]

ajap1979 said:

We went to the American Bar at the Savoy when we were down for Wimbledon. Great place.

Went there a few years ago with my wife. Absolutely superb place. Brilliant.

lemmingjames said:

If you want 'Instagram' cocktails, try Alchemist just behind Leicester Square tube but you'll probably need to reserve

Thank you. I’ll have a look!

[Fitz666]

Alchemist every time

[andyA700]

My wife and I used to like Smollenskys on the Strand.

[spitfire-ian]

lemmingjames said:

If you want 'Instagram' cocktails, try Alchemist just behind Leicester Square tube but you'll probably need to reserve

When we go to London we quite often visit the Alchemist by Liverpool Street Station. If you get there before the offices finish work you can usually find a table or a seat at the bar.


Untitled by Ian, on Flickr

[HotJambalaya]

Opium cocktail bar, chinatown

Isabel Mayfair

The long bar at the sanderson

[tobythekid]

try experimental cocktail club in chinatown. Slightly hidden but worth a visit.

[madcowman]

How about Dukes ? https://www.dukeshotel.com/dukes-bar/

[Ed Moses]

madcowman said:

How about Dukes ? https://www.dukeshotel.com/dukes-bar/

always worth a try - Vesper please….

[Mont Blanc]

madcowman said:

How about Dukes ? https://www.dukeshotel.com/dukes-bar/

Good shout. I know it’s a bit small in there, but it’s very classy.

[Gary Woodland]

I really rate Swift