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    Connaught Bar

    4.5 (104 reviews)
    Ultra High-EndBars
    Closed 4:00 pm - 1:00 am (Next day)

    Connaught Bar Photos

    CONNAUGHT BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Upscale
    Quiet
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - Connaught Bar

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    Reviews With Photos

    Open Roof in the bar
    James K.

    Ranked fairly consistently one of the Top Bars in the world. Okay, VERY misleading. A friend told me so I had just had to check it while I was in London. The Connaught Hotel, while stunning and elegant from the outside, the bar is quite small and honestly, cannot see anything special about it. There were at least two bars that I could tell and the "main" bar is a bit of a wait. When I looked inside, it was easy to see why. It is incredibly small and groups of people come in and dominate the few tables/sitting areas there are. And it seems most of the people who come here are "dressed to impress". I ordered an old fashion with Blanton bourbon. My first clue should have been the servers reaction when I asked for an old fashioned with Bourbon. She gave an expression as if she had never heard this before. When I received the drink, it was in an odd egg shaped glass not in a traditional high ball glass. There were small ice cubes, not even clear ice, unlike the traditional large single clear ice cube. There was no orange slice garnish and no dark cherry garnish. I'm not convinced they used Blanton's as requested and if they did, it was one of the weakest old fashioned drinks I have ever had. My friend had a gin drink which ironically did come in a traditional high ball glass with the single large clear ice cube. For a snack, they provided green olives and some type of pretzel. Apparently they also have food items but when asked, we weren't given any type of menu or offered the ability to order food. The only thing I enjoyed was the other room where we were seated, had an open roof with a nice view when you looked up (providing it is a clear day). I have no idea why this place has this reputation for such a great bar when they cannot even make a decent drink such as an old fashioned. I have traveled all over the world and it's a mystery how this place can hold such a ranking as I know there are better places in London to get a drink. It seems more like a place where no one wants to say what they are thinking since everyone else raves about it. Don't waste your time and money. The drinks are not even "okay" and there is nothing special about the bar. It's quite elegant, but I really don't care how proper the servers are and the look of the interior if the drinks are poor.

    Yum! Chips and olives were great- Nice bar with great lighting and great service Drinks were yum, not necessarily mind blowing but definitely timeless and delicious. Highly recommend if you're stopping into London

    Frank A.

    Among the best cocktail bars in the world, the Connaught Bar is clearly one of London's best bars. More than a spot to see and be seen, the cocktails are terrific.

    Martini
    Shahrouz E.

    Great experience! A must do for at least one drink in the area. The experience and ambiance were amazing! Cheers mate!

    jeff s.

    Short version: Excellent service. Nice ambiance. Some of the most innovative cocktails I've ever had. Wine selection also excellent for a bar. I've now been 2 times. The first time was when they had the world's best bar ranking and 2nd time was recently. Both times I just walked in and after a short wait was shown to a table. I liked how the staff quickly took my jacket and had it checked before I even sat down. I'm usually a whisky drinker. I rarely get cocktails in bars because they are usually too sweet, or cheap ingredients are used or something. This bar is the rare bar where I actually only get cocktails. The cocktails are that good and inventive. They change them up periodically which is good. If you like your cocktail they give you a little card that has all the ingredients for your cocktails. As usual the service is impeccable. I cant wait to go back and see what new cocktails they are making. Highly recommended and a must stop in London.

    Hannah M.

    I got a call that my grandma died in the middle of my visit to this bar and still had a net positive experience. I showed up right when it opened at 4pm and there was already a line building up, so lesson learned - if you want a guaranteed spot especially on a popular day, make sure to show up early. I was seated at a nice table and was immediately brought little crackers and olives, which were refreshed throughout my time even before they were empty. They also gave me a complimentary sip of some wine-based drink that was a nice touch. I ordered the Connaught martini and they warned me there would be a bit of a wait as they only have one martini trolley. A bit unusual for a popular bar that is popular specifically for their martinis, but whatever. The wait didn't end up being that long although I heard the martini speech being delivered to both tables next to me so it lost some lustre by the time the trolley got to me. Nonetheless, it was fun smelling the bitters and choosing one (I picked coriander). It was a phenomenal martini, maybe the best I've had. It was, however, £25. With that said, anytime I've spent that much on a cocktail before I usually feel like I've been robbed, which I didn't feel like here. When you factor in the service, atmosphere, experience, and complimentary treats, it really doesn't feel that insane. The biggest complaint I had, quite frankly, was the bathroom, which had a loooong line as it's shared with the entire Connaught hotel. Three toilets was NOT enough for the space. Overall would I come back? Honestly, yes, which I was not expecting to be able to say.

    Connaught martini and No 11
    Teresa T.

    It's a hotel bar with well made martinis. Situated within the Connaught hotel, the entrance is right behind the giant stairs. Line to get in forms right next to the gents. No reservations, no way to leave a name and if the hostess deigns the line too long, you will not be permitted to wait in line. Also hotel guests get to skip the line. Not a place to come for a last minute drink or just to chill and relax. Currently No 1 in the world but I don't think it is that unique enough to justify its ranking. Been to other bars where it felt like bartending and cocktails were a craft and I don't really get the vibe here. Drinks were pretty standard. They do give a lot of free snacks like whole bowls of crackers and olives. A lot of the traffic here I feel is because of its current title (new rankings out on Oct 4th), so that people can say "I have been to the no 1 bar in the world". They also provide recipe cards for any drinks you order which is a great touch. The vibe is classy and elegant so dress to impress or you won't be getting past the hostess! If you are on vacation and are tight on time, this is NOT a must do. Honestly, it's a high end hotel bar. Update: Dropped to #8. Got to say ranking is pretty fair.

    The famous Connaught martini
    Chris S.

    We walked in on a Monday night early November around 8pm. We were initially offered standing room only spaces at the bar which we were happy to take. We were offered a couple of mini refreshing drinks served in small coupe glasses which were tasty. After ordering a couple of cocktails at the bar we were offered seats which was great. The highlight of the experience was the tableside martinis. You are initially offered a card with the scents of five bitters to choose from. After that sit back and enjoy the expert bartender do magic creating your martini. We were here on our honeymoon and were offered some congratulatory chocolates which was much appreciated. Overall a very memorable experience!

    Burger and tuna tartar
    Craig H.

    It deserves its reputation as one of the best bars in the world. It's popular so go early or be prepared to wait.

    Welcome drink and snacks when you are seated
    Lauren V.

    I had never heard of this spot until my sister came to visit and mentioned it was on her list. When I looked it up and saw Mayfair I admittedly rolled my eyes but the pictures of the beautiful bar itself and the awards seemed worth a stop in We must have lucked out by going on a Monday right at 4pm when it opens. Sat right away at a corner low booth, and promptly served a welcome drink (vermouth and fresh pineapple juice) and two bowls of snacks. I almost fell over when the first drink I looked at came with a price tag of £150, but realized it was the vintage section (a handful of cocktails with vintage gin, mostly). Most cocktails were about $25-35, with unique and quality ingredients. They also have some food items, as pricey as you would expect and ranging from normal to fancy: £40 for a pizza, $35 for a sandwich and some caviar for $80 or so This is a gin focused bar and majority of drinks feature it and they have their own gin as well. We saw at least two tables order the famous martini cart (they come over and tell you the history of the drink while they make it in Front of your table). It was nice to see it in action with out paying that price tag. I was unlucky in my drink orders - they sounded delicious but neither to my taste, first was too sweet and none of the tumeric, kombucha or Chili flavour. The second, one of their "classics" No 11 was just too strong and again couldn't taste the floral notes it was meant to have. My sister however had two delicious drinks so like I said mine was more a preference issue than quality issue (her choices hovered closer to £40 though!). Four drinks and a bottle of water was over £150 so this is certainly a special ocassion place. But worth it for the beautiful decor, good service and extensive cocktail menu

    Aaron B.

    Excellent service. Was sat promptly in primary room (wait and try to sit in the front of the house). Great wine and cocktail selection. All drinks served with olives and crisps. We were treated like royalty by attentive an attentive server. If it had not been for the £25-30 a drink price, we would have stayed all night. Remember these are smaller sized portions too in the UK, given hard alcohol pour limitations.

    Albert K.

    Great service - thanks Faron at the front desk. She kept the venue very well regulated and was able to provide us a table when available. Professional and courteous! Overall excellent cocktails. I enjoyed just the simple straight vodka martini over the Number 11. Drinks were decently strong and very unique mixes. Comfortable seating, kind staff, and great selection. Premium pricing!

    Bloody Mary

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    Top quality drinks, good service, but VERY crowded. Everyone wants to experience it. Best to visit during off hours.

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    3 years ago

    Excellent service, excellent cocktails! Not cheap, but you get what you pay for. Will be back!

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    Great service. Got a crash course on Gin & Tonic. Highly recommended. Bartender was very helpful

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    The Yard Bar - Bar

    The Yard Bar

    3.8(40 reviews)
    0.7 miSoho
    ££

    After downing a Carrie Bradshaw-style cocktail at the chill subterranean Friendly Society (review:…read morehttps://yelp.to/4zJuovAN4J), Jamie W. and I were way too intimidated to face the manly crowd in front of Compton's. We went in the opposite direction on Rupert Street and found this inviting courtyard bar. It's marketed as a gay bar but... The clientele was more mixed than gay. Hey, it wasn't a big deal to us. Especially as we sauntered to the bar bathed in pink and royal blue dayglow. Boys bellying up to the bar. Oh yeah, we home. The print was really small in their comprehensive cocktail menu, but that didn't stop us from ordering more libations. Stop judging us. Jamie went for the £12.50 Margarita, and I continued my Cosmopolitan streak with their £12 one (photo: https://yelp.to/RsyQWeRD5R). We went back into the courtyard to find a table. The leafy terrace and strings of white light were quite inviting, and we ended up hanging out in this sanctuary until they closed at 11PM. Cool. DRINKS - 4 stars...they did the trick AMBIANCE - 5 stars...the courtyard was loverly SERVICE - 4 stars...efficient bartender TOTAL - 4 stars...a nice way to end our first night in London RELATED - Exploring London? Here's my collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/3zFACrx

    I had a drink here before going out with some friends. They played some great music and the…read morebartenders were really friendly. It gets dull quickly especially right before they close so be prepared to watch for open seats or stand, which is not the worse so you can dance a bit to the great playlist.

    Photos
    The Yard Bar - Margarita and Cosmopolitan

    Margarita and Cosmopolitan

    The Yard Bar - Passage to the bar

    Passage to the bar

    The Yard Bar - View of terrace from the bar

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    View of terrace from the bar

    Connaught Bar - bars - Updated May 2026

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