London Hotel Bars

[Moominho]

Mrs Moominho wants to go and drink cocktails in a swanky London Hotel bar for her birthday. We have been to the American Bar at the Savoy, and the Claridge's Bar.

I wouldn't mind somewhere with a view, or somewhere with really nice decor. Does anyone have any recommendations?

Thanks in advance

[tomsugden]

There's a fancy bar at the top of the Shard.

[Robbidoo]

Can't help with the view, but the Coburg (spelling?), Bar at the Connaught and the Artesian at the Langham are both absolutely wonderful and well worth their reputations. Book ahead though.

[TIGA84]

Kensington Roof Gardens, ME London or Sushisamba?

[22s]

Some good recommendations above - I've been to most of them.

The Connaught is good and probably fits with your style of bar given what you've enjoyed before.

Radio Rooftop Bar at ME London has awful staff and even worse clientele. However it does have one of the best rooftop bars in the whole of London so you just need to decide whether having a good rooftop is worth being surrounded by knobs

Kensington Roof Gardens is a good recommendation and something a little different. You could also have dinner here and make an evening of it.

Sushisamba is okay - overpriced IMO and you have to schlep it over to the City.

My recommendation would be hands down the Ham Yard Hotel bar, which opened last year down in Soho and has superb staff and a great setup. It's 2 minutes from Piccadilly, is a beautiful building, and I honestly can't recommend it enough. The Long Bar at the Sanderson is also good and has a cool contemporary interior, although it does get busy (but where doesn't these days) and in all honesty isn't a patch on the HYH.

I can't comment on the Langham as I've never been, but I have heard good things. Same goes for the Mandarin Bar @ Mandarin Oriental.

[RKi]

I've taken women to the Sanderson before for Cocktails. Really tasty but depressingly expensive.

[Moominho]

Thanks all, really useful. I think we are going to go with the Connaught, however we will be trying the Ham Yard Hotel bar next week as it looks great. Thanks again for all the suggestions.