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    American Bar

    4.5 (93 reviews)
    PriceyCocktail Bars
    Closed 11:30 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)

    American Bar Photos

    AMERICAN BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Live music
    Moderate noise
    Classy
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - American Bar

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    Reviews With Photos

    The service was great, but I found the drinks to be overpriced. I have had better, for less. That said, the service was exceptional. The ambience was nice and relaxed, and the olives and pretzels given to us were delicious.

    Kellie D.

    The American Bar is so iconic and I had the pleasure of having drinks twice during my stay at The Savoy. The first night we sat at the bar and met a wonderful bartender who recommended the Hanky Panky and The Pink lady - delicious! These were perfect pre-dinner drinks and they provided some light nibbles (olives and nuts). The ambiance was amazing and sophisticated - I felt like I was transported back to a more elegant time between the art deco decor and top niche service. I could have sat there all night listening to the piano.

    Concrete Jungle
    Greg T.

    Really lived up to its reputation as one of the best bars in the world. We walked over from the Waldorf on the Saturday night we were in town and the hostess informed us the only two seats were left were at the tiny 4 seat bar in the back which was totally fine with both of us as we wanted to interact with the bar staff and get some recommendations. The bar itself is compact but well-stocked with every standard spirit and liqueur out there in addition to some vintage and hard to get products. We settled in to our seats and perused the 'song book' cocktail menu which was assembled with inspiration taken from famous guest and or songs. As we were deciding an offering of mixed spicy nuts, pepper crackers and olives came out. I started with a Concrete Jungle which was a mix of Woodford rye, calvados, aperitif de Normandie, red wine and robois, lemon and honey. It was garnished with drunken grapes and served in a flute with a large ice cube. It was like a fizzy Manhattan with a good deal of extra depth. I then went with the She Knows which was Monkey Shoulder and Smokey Monkey whiskey, peach liqueur, masitha, lemon verbena, procrastination liqueur and rosemary honey. This one was like a riff on an Old Fashioned and had very sublte flavor infusions from the Greek masitha and procrastination liqueur. It was a bit sweet on its own but you are given 'electric daisies' to accompany the drink which, when bitten into, give your mouth a tingly, citrusy feeling. I asked for extra. My third drink was the Radio Hurricane which was prepared with Woodford Double Oak, Pedro Ximenez, salted chestnut liqueur and Cocchi Dry. Similar to a Brooklyn but elevated with the slat tang from the chestnut liqueur and more of a mouthfeel from the sherry. Prior to ordering another drink we split a charcuterie plate which came with speck, prosciutto, coppa and finocchio along with caper berries and toasted raisin/nut bread. My final drink was Ghost King which was with Jack Daniels Single Barrel, visciolata wine, Branca Menta and Martini Ambrato. The light coating of absinthe-like visciolata on the glass reminded my of a Remember the Main as it was boozy, flavorful and strong. This may have been my favorite cocktail. The wife also enjoyed the three she selected with her favorite being a perfectly sky-blue Aviation which came with an absinthe cherry (that ended up in my glass). We spent a good deal of time speaking with the principal bartender on drinks, bars, and cocktail culture in general. Everyone working was very engaging, helpful and friendly. When I purchased an updated Savoy Cocktail book as a Christmas gift for a friend the bartender took it around to the entire team to sign and wish him a Merry Christmas which I thought was a great touch. We ended the night with a few photos and vowed to return. Truly, and deservedly, one of the best bars in the world.

    Coaster
    Corissa L.

    I love this bar! First of all, I love live music, and this place has a piano man in the middle of the room. He plays music from Frank to Billy Joel, and it's all very classy. The menu for cocktails is a book, and each drink is inspired by a song and has a story. I was already a bit tipsy from the champagne at tea, but reading it was a bit of an emotional experience, especially if you have connections to the songs. The cocktails are delicious! And they better be for the price, but you do get a tray of nuts and olives, which are in itself a treat. I sampled two gin drinks, and I do have to admit the selection definitely was made based on the song that inspired the drink. I highly recommend this place to anyone who loves a good piano bar and excellent cocktails. This is by far the best place for drinks that I've been to in London.

    Pretty cocktail
    Peonia E.

    Damn I didn't get any pictures but definitely a delightful bar with a fantastic singer/pianist, amazing voice that was a smooth as a cocktails we enjoyed. They all had interesting names and while I didn't have too many I can't for the life of me remember what I did drink but it was quite delightful with diplomatical rum as its base and the top note of pomegranate and delicious something or others in between:-)

    Menu
    Yen D.

    This was ranked the #1 bar in the world, so I had to check it out. What's nice is that they don't have a strict dress code. I came in with hiking boots, yoga pants and a t-shirt (minimal packing due to Ryanair). I ordered Queen Mary's cathedral drink which came on a two tiered platform with the bottom tier of cocoa nibs. It was to heighten the floral scent of my drink. I loved the drink and the cocoa nibs even more (those things are pricey in Seattle). Oddly, I was the only one in the room that realized cocoa nibs were edible. Our waiter was very pleasant and came in a white blazer and pants. Their drinks all have a theme which correlates to the platform the drinks are served on. My friend had a non alcoholic drink that was served on a two tiered gear platform with a mirror platform. They also bring out a tray with pitted green olives, spicy peanuts and crackers for free! Ambiance was dim and classy.

    Ryen B.

    Pretty much what I expected. Classy place with fantastic service, but overpriced drinks. The menu book is lovely, but cocktails didn't live up to it. We tried Burning Bright and Playing in the Stars. Both way too sweet for me. Nice little snacks and beautiful live piano. Worth it for the history, but wouldn't return with so many other fab places in London.

    Drink description
    Jen L.

    I was expecting the height of all Fanciness and really it's a lovely hotel bar and according to news reports was renovated fall 2015. But it wasn't the fanciest barroom that I've ever been in. But the prices were certainly fancy. I stopped in after a day of sight seeing and got a seat at the bar, where I enjoyed 2 lovely punkrock cocktails. The bit of isometric sugar made it difficult to actually drink my beverage but it was lovely to look at. I felt like I needed a saucer to lay it in while I sipped. I did return it to my glass when I wasn't drinking because it was very pretty. The barmen was engaging but not too chatty but he was hustling to make all the drinks for the folks seated at tables. I noticed their awards from NOLA's Tales of the Cocktail and congratulated them on their win. I'm glad I stopped in for a delicious cocktail and to enjoy this iconic bar. Next time I need to drink on someone else's dime.

    Melissa M.

    This place was definitely voted 2018's "Best Bar in the World" with good reason. Service was impeccable complete with all the servers dressed in tuxedos. My boyfriend has summed it up as "like having drinks in a James Bond movie". Of course, the pricetags for the drinks will remind you of that too ranging from £18 to well over £100! (Made even more expensive by the currency conversion from USD to GBP.) But each drink was expertly crafted and beautifully presented. We were woefully underdressed in jeans and t-shirts. But the staff did not bat an eye (yes, our money spends too) so don't be too worried about a dress code.

    Dan C.

    Every city has iconic bars with loads of history, such as Harry's Bar in Venice. Perhaps, not as much of a big deal as Harry's, but American Bar definitely has a spot in that pantheon. American Bar is located in the historic Savoy Hotel on the Strand. It has been in operation since the late 1890's and in its current location in the hotel since 1904. According to the write up in the menu, the name "American Bar" arose because it served cocktails, which were considered "American" styled drinks at the time. History aside, it is not stuffy at all with dusty wood panelling and 90 year old waiters. The room is tucked away in a corner of the hotel at the end of a hallway, with relatively low ceilings and curvy, off-white colored walls and navy blue club chairs. All of this creates a very cozy, relaxing environment that is "away from it all". In the middle of the main room, there is a grand piano with... imagine this.... an American pianist who performed songs by request from anyone from Frank Sinatra to Van Morrison while I was there. I visited on a busy Saturday night and had to wait for about 15 minutes for a table, no big deal. The hostess was gracious and warmly greeted every person that came to the entrance. I got a nice table near the piano and ordered a Plymouth gin and tonic. It was tasty of course. The service was excellent, and not hurried at all. This place is like going to a spa, very relaxing. When it was time to go, I was hesitant to leave as I was really enjoying my time there. I highly recommend this bar for an upscale night out or for a romantic evening with someone special.

    First Impressions (Sidecar in background)

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    1 year ago

    Excellent service, cocktails and small plates. We had a fantastic time on our recent trip to London.

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    3 years ago

    Beautiful room with piano and singing music. Classy and beautiful room. Good vibe with food clientele's.

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    Flight Club - Salt and Pepper Squid

    Flight Club

    4.4(33 reviews)
    1.7 miLiverpool Street / Broadgate
    ££

    Flight Club is such a fun way to spend time, have dart tournaments and try a variety of delicious…read moreappetizers. FRIES WITH TRUFFLE CHEESE The fries weren't as crispy as I would've liked, but the soft bite similar to mashed potatoes was pretty good. The cheese itself really carried the rich flavors of the truffle without overwhelming your tastebuds. Such a decadent cheese. SALT AND PEPPER SQUID The squid meat itself wasn't over cooked which is easy to do and makes it feel like you're chewing on a tire. Not the case here. The squid was fried perfectly, nice and crispy first bite. The garlic aioli complimented the batter they used to fry the squid in, very tasty. PEKING DUCK LETTUCE WRAPS These lettuce wraps were the perfect two bites sized appetizers. Such a flavorful and well cooked duck. The cucumber salad and lettuce helped bring the intensity of flavors down so that you could enjoy every bite. There's a full bar, but service is a little slow and congested. Staff are really nice and friendly. The dart games are so involved where each player can have their selfie taken and name displayed on the board. You can compete as teams or against each other depending on your chosen game. At the end, there is a final game stats to show who won and a group photo to conclude all the fun. A fantastic way to test out your dart skills and have fun with your loved ones!

    Came for a quick drink and a bite to cap off what was already a terrific evening. Maybe it was…read morebecause it was kind of (not really) late and there weren't many other places open (aside from the first place we tried across the street who told us the kitchen was closed even though they were open for another 3 hours) but the place was packed! And it was loud. I guess technically it was a darts place and so there was a lot of excitement near the dartboard area. The bar staff were all buzzing about shaking their shakers and pouring drinks. It was a great vibe - apropos for a Friday night. Ok we got the little bit lychee drink (subbed vodka for gin) which was excellent with what looked like a dark dahlia floating on top. I wanted to try a British beer and got the magic rock saucery session pale ale (saying its name is like a built in sobriety test). The ale was definitely IPA but with a really clean finish. And because I'm a pig, ordered the fries with truffle cheese. Wow that was so so good! Shoestring fries with a heavy drizzle of truffle melted cheese. I can't really complain about the super loud music since it probably suited the main clientele and was really good (club versions of many 80s songs). So it looks like a really fun joint for the young locals with some older folks who maybe stumbled in like we did. Really nice bartenders and front staff. Thanks for not giving us a BS line to keep us out like the other place.

    Photos
    Flight Club - Fries with Truffle Cheese

    Fries with Truffle Cheese

    Flight Club - Peking Duck Lettuce Wraps

    Peking Duck Lettuce Wraps

    Flight Club - The really tasty Little Bit Lychee drink

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    The really tasty Little Bit Lychee drink

    The Alchemist - Truffle, tater tots and prawn popsicles or maybe it was lollipops

    The Alchemist

    4.3(100 reviews)
    0.3 miCovent Garden, Strand
    ££

    food: dint grab food only drinks but the were yum and barely tasted like alcohol. also they were…read moreobviously presented super uniquely service: the staff was nice but kinda slow getting to us at a table and there was a lot of chaos like a bartender dropping glasses the whole time ambiance: really cool lighting and interior, gets very busy though

    Between a 3 and 4, but going with four because the food was above average pub grub and the drinks…read morewere good even if they were better looking than tasting. Came here for pre-theater anniversary dinner with my wife. The ambiance was somewhere between that of a trendy club and nice bar. There was a mad scientist vibe with the lights being industrial vibe and some metal decor. The music was thumpy and loud enough to remind you it was there. It made me feel a bit out-of-place as somebody well past my 20s, but also a bit cool or being there. You really come here for the drinks. We got the pipe dream, smokey old fashioned, honeypot picante, and one other I can't remember the name of, but which came in a flower pot. The pipe dream and smokey old fashioned were likely the best. Overall the drinks were more visually appealing than traditionally good and the visually appealing ones tended to have ingredients that weren't as top shelf and/or they were just too sweet. Not bad, but disappointing for what we'd hope. The food was the opposite. I had low expectations and the food wasn't amazing, but was better than average. We got the bao buns, crispy duck pancakes, panko halloumi, katsu curry, and hot honey pork tacos. They arranged for it all to come out in time for us to make our theater show, which was nice. The bao buns and pork tacos were probably the best. Neither blew me away, but both were solid. The katsu curry and halloumi were standard of what you might expect. The crispy duck pancakes was maybe as advertised, but it would have been nice to have some moistness or substance to the dug vs. it basically being crunchy salty bits of something. Overall, this wasn't a bad meal, but it wasn't quite what I was hoping for either. We may be back, but we'll probably try other things first.

    Photos
    The Alchemist
    The Alchemist - Cookie dessert

    Cookie dessert

    The Alchemist - Presentation drink

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    Presentation drink

    American Bar - cocktailbars - Updated May 2026

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