Travel back in time
Order a martini at Dukes and you might just enjoy the pleasure of long-time bar manager Alessandro Palazzi serving you with a theatrical flourish from his table-side trolley. Sitting in a handsome red-brick building in the middle of Mayfair, this intimate bar consists of a few cosy living rooms overseen by friendly bartenders in white jackets and bow ties. Classic cocktails are mixed while you watch and have a reputation for being super-strong. Settle in among the oil paintings and antiques, and soak up this charming slice of old-school England.
Nearby, close to the high-end fashion labels that line New Bond Street, Claridges is another hotel that has been welcoming guests – from royalty and heads of state to A-list celebrities – for decades. The art deco-inspired interior is the backdrop to a selection of Prohibition-era whiskies sourced from America. However, if you like your cocktails more contemporary, the ever-professional bartenders are happy to oblige. Hidden next to the main bar, The Fumoir’s marble horseshoe bar and twinkling mirror and gilt decor is an intimate spot for a signature Julep (served in luxury Lalique glasses, naturally).
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