There is a reason that Scarfes Bar is listed as one of the top 50 bars in the world. Actually, there are a few reasons: 1. The cocktails and mocktails are flawless. I don't drink alcohol, so I've had my share of afterthoughts; here the mocktails are given just as much care as their alcohol laden counterparts. 2. The ambiance is just so. The vibe is cosy drawing room cum old-fashioned, members-only club complete with comfy chairs, marble topped tables, and a fireplace. The featured artwork by Gerald Scarfes is delightful. 3. The service is top-notch: Friendly without being intrusive, extremely knowledgeable, confident. 4. Great live music. read more

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Scarfes Bar is one of my favorite bars in the world. The ambiance is unmatched, and the cocktails are top notch. The menu includes creative takes on classic cocktails, and there's something for everyone. They don't specialize in any one spirit, so there are many options. I can't get over how cool the vibe is in here. There's soft plush chairs, dim lights, fire places, and bookshelves throughout the bar. The servers are friendly and knowledgeable. They made great cocktail recommendations based on what I told them I normally drink. The drinks were absolutely fantastic. This is truly an amazing bar. read more

Scarfes Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - London, XGL

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Great live music in an intimate yet flowing setting. Buzz of people all around. On-point live music in a classic but un-stuffy setting. Stopped in for a beverage. The "new" menu Oui Madame did not disappoint. I didn't care for the Mezcal smokiness of the Bandito, which they graciously comped. The Old Fashioned was a solid one. Would recommend for small groups for a cool but not overcrowded setting. The prices don't support loads of street drinking. The music and ambiance are tasteful and lively. Will be back! read more

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A very chic and beautiful bar with very creative wall paintings and great ambiance. Being the 37 of the top 50 bars of the world the cocktails are amazing and the selection of food is delicious. The service is excellent. read more

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Incredible bar with live music and a cool vibe. The service was outstanding and the drinks were perfection. Food was delicious too! read more

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Loved this bar! The vibe, drippy candles, silver cups for water, even the waiters plaid pants were awesome. Such a refined feel with the dark moody wood and ambience and live music, loved this place! Had amazing drinks and service. Such a gem at the Rosewood. read more

Scarfes Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - London, XGL

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This bar was lit in a good way. However, the drinks were basic and not great at all. They didn't have anything exciting on their menu. Def not worlds top 50 bars! The service was decent. read more

Such a cool bar! I loved the design and the service was great. They even brought in live music which we enjoyed.

Yes the cocktails are 20+. But you get incredible upscale, talkable volume, comfortable atmosphere with great live music and drink snacks. But those drinks are incredibly long in flavor and balanced. I particularly recommend their whiskey based cocktails. Carbonation in the Bandito Mezcal cocktail is also neat. read more

Scarfes Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - London, XGL

While staying at the Rosewood on our most recent trip to London, we found ourselves at Scarfes Bar daily, be it for gut-busting brunches or elevated cocktails come nightfall. In a perfect world, a daily visit to Scarfes Bar would extend beyond the time trap that is vacation, as this simply has to be one of the best hotel bars on the planet. The first thing one notices here is the striking, stately, downright gorgeous mahogany-meets-marble decor, complete with secret library vibes and a roaring fireplace, juxtaposed by the namesake artist's gallery of distinctive caricatures and political satire. Gerald Scarfes, his style most recognizable from his work with Pink Floyd's The Wall, has been skewering pop culture figures and heads of state relentlessly ever since, with not-so-flattering portrayals of the likes of Trump and Theresa May, next to exaggerated homages to the Beatles, Stones, and so on. It's all a bit tongue-in-cheek, as Scarfes Bar mocks rock gods and the ruling class, while serving pricey tipples to its well-to-do patrons. But it's those tipples that are worth every pence. The cheeky cocktail book assigns noteworthy British personas from a given year to specialty drinks, such as 2004's Simon Cowell-inspired High Waisted, 2011's Amy Winehouse-inspired Back 2 Black, or 2018's Prince Harry-inspired Off the Market. Each page, of course, features iconic caricatures from Scarfes himself. I was personally drawn to 2003's Booyakasha!, having remembered those early days discovering Ali G overseas via stateside DVDs. A blend of tequila, vermouth, mango, habanero, and grapefruit, the drink was ironically ostentatious enough to represent its paired persona, and yet refreshing and zippy enough to be a delightful, upscale cocktail all its own. In fact, all of the drinks we tasted here seemed to have mastered that balance between sharp and fruity. As for brunch, we're dealing with a decadent buffet affair, thankfully packed with more French toast, fresh juices, breakfast sausages, and avocado toasts than, well, blood pudding and the traditional British morning cuisine. Truly, a savory and sweet feast for a king (with an American palate... and appetite.) And with Scarfes Bar sitting some 3500 miles / 5500 kilometers away from me, my initial wish of having a place like this to unwind any given day or night remains a fantasy. However, it certainly gives me something to look forward to on my next trip across the pond, and the next trip after that, as years pass, and more superb signature drinks get added to the cocktail book, one mocking caricature at a time. read more

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Superb hotel bar experience. Bartenders are expert, from classics to some of their inventive and delicious house specialty cocktails. Huge bar room, but it is warm and inviting, with a long bar and cocktail tables spread throughout, including coveted ones by the fireplace. Pricey, but worth it for the experience. read more

Classic settings, great cocktails. Plates to share are 'very' light, so focus on drinks. Super nice service. read more

I've tried their food in previous visits and was so delicious. Perfect lounge food in terms of selection and portion. Didn't try their food in my last visit. I'm not sure if the menu was changed. The service is not optimal since the place was packed when I was last there. The ambiance and the music is what I really love about Scarfes. They are amazing. The drinks menu is big, and they have a good selection. read more

This place is crowded on all nights of the week. Getting a table during the evening hours is painfully difficult, even if you're a hotel guest. It's a chic hotel bar, with older and monied clientele. That's all you see: businessmen and businesswomen. It has the look of an old school gentlemens club. Cocktails are excellent and comes with the price, about 20usd. At the end of the night, the bill came to about £300 between 5 people. We each had about 2 drinks read more

Scarfes Bar - Whiskey cabinet - Cocktail Bars Near Me - London, XGL

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High brow. Classy. Upscale. Old world glamour. You get the drift. The presentation is impeccable and the cocktails...well, they definitely make an effort. I don't like sweet drinks but the one they made about Prince Harry was quite on point. If memory serves, their cocktails are about $25 USD each... but you're really paying for the atmosphere. read more

This is a classy, romantic cocktail lounge. You sense luxury when you walk in and the drinks stack up. Lush seating areas where you can tuck yourself away for a cozy meeting. The drinks are standout and the mixologists push the boundary on flavors. Each sip made me smile. The maccaiato cocktail with the velvety foam on top of a java washed scotch libation was wondrous. Then the cocktail with pear, scotch and balsamic was just down right splendid. Wow. I mean, I can't wait to come back and dive back into this menu. So much greatness happening. There is live music, but it can get a bit too loud...I would give them five stars if they could nail that volume level for a really perfect ambiance where you don't feel like you're raising your voice...and only raising your glass. read more

Located in the Rosewood Hotel, Scarfes Bar is a stately watering hole with an energy and warmth that ensures you are in store for a lovely time. Though the decor is more classic British, it is far from staid or dull. Between the live jazz (which was excellent), cozy seating, and enchanting lighting, Scarfes Bar has an awesome vibe. Though the atmosphere is reason enough to visit, the cocktail menu is a superb collection of intriguing concoctions, each with a caricature of a famous Brit. We sampled: - Orbis Non Sufficit (Ford's Gin, Roots Mastiha, Pistacchio Aged Vermouth Blend, Pink Grapefruit and Pickled Walnut - £17) - Highgrove (Bombay Sapphire Gin, Highgrove Gardens Scent, Citrus, Chamomile, Elderflower and R de Ruinart Brut Champagne - £20) - Outside the Wall (Bulleit Rye Whiskey, Mancino Red, Lingonberries, Dill Pollen, Pink Grapefruit and Celery - £17) - A Bird In The Hand (Don Julio Tequila, Belsazar Red, Rocket, Rose, Beetroot, Pink Grapefruit Soda and Bird's Nest - £17) All were clearly high quality and inventive cocktails; A Bird In The Hand was perhaps our least favourite, while we really loved the Orbis Non Sufficit and Highgrove. Staff were very attentive and delivered excellent service, with good engagement. Knowledgeable about each drink and ingredient, as well as happy to answer any queries and direct guests toward suitable options. Highly recommend checking out Scarfes Bar if you have the opportunity. We really could have lingered there indefinitely if not jetlagged. read more

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Upscale cocktail lounge at the Rosewood hotel. My husband and I enjoyed drinks here each night of our stay. The decor is beautiful- candelabras, a burning fire, velvet couches. The nightly live music (this could be because it was over the Holidays?) created even better ambiance. We tried a couple of their signature cocktails and they really were unlike anything we have tried before, but we ended up just ordered our standard drinks the majority of the time. The service was also incredible- they definitely pay attention to detail and remembered us each evening. I would recommend getting there earlier if you are planning to go over the weekend because the place fills up quickly! read more

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The Scarfes Bar belongs to the very popular Rosewood hotel. The interior and decor has resemblance of a typical London Gentlemen's club. It is has a very calm and relaxing atmosphere to it. If you don't want to sit at the tables, go for the bar. You sit directly in front of the rack with hundreds of bottles of different spirits. Service here is impeccable, attentive, knowledgeable and very friendly. As you would expect from such an establishment, the drinks list is extensive. You will find a lot of different innovative and classic cocktails as well as a huge selection of different whisky. If you're looking for a cocktail, not mentioned on the menu, just ask the bartenders. They will be happy to accommodate you. The Scarfes may not be cheap but worth every penny! read more

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Went in on a Saturday night looking for a relaxing cocktail after having read about the bar a few weeks ago while researching the Holborn area. As you walk in you might be tempted to prejudge that it's a snooty, pretentious affair, however within seconds a friendly hostess ushered us to some open seats away form the bar and dispelled that notion for us. Sat down and then she mentioned that there was another table less cramped and closer to the fireplace, which we happily relocated to! The entire place is outfitted with leather and dark woods which give it a kind of cosy, sophisticated vibe. Decor is made out to be a sort of library or private study and there's some some caricatured art pieces (signed by Scarfe which we assumed to be the bar's namesake) that could easily serve as a conversation starter. Likely a weekend night bonus, by the door there was a musician playing the piano and singing jazzified versions of pop songs (classiest place and presentation of a Mylie Cyrus's "Wrecking Ball" that I've ever heard!) which you really had to listen to the lyrics to realize that it wasn't some lounge classic. Acoustics were great as we were seated far away yet could hear the (talented) singer form across the room at a volume not too loud or too soft. Cocktails were a bit pricey at £14.5, however there's a wide selection of about 20 of them with a witty name and high quality ingredients. They offer free dishes of bar snacks with a heavy dusting of bacon salt which were tasty. There's also a proper menu which we didn't investigate. Can't speak to the quality of the food, however the waitstaff were so friendly, helpful/knowledgeable about the cocktails, and the ambiance was a perfect for a relaxed, hand-crafted cocktail. Highly recommend! read more

Scarfes Bar - Cocktail napkin and drink (The Humidor) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - London, XGL

Beautiful spacious drawing room with high quality cocktails and a limited but rich menu. Sitting on the very expensive end of the spectrum, for which you get exceptional service, sumptuously appointed surroundings and a feeling of exclusivity in return. Despite the v lux setting, nothing about it felt pretentious. Got the iron steak, prawns, croquettes and profiteroles - and several rounds of the skeptical lady and money honey. Always a win at the Rosewood! read more

Very nice bar in London. The ambiente is great. Good live music (not too loud) and good drinks. It's a nice place just to sit, and watching people. Nice, easy and relaxing. read more

Posh but not pretentious. Cosy but not small. Comfortable but not your local boozer. I love Scarfes for the atmosphere, fireplace, patrons & prices that keep it that way. The food is fine - nothing earth shattering but it's the drinks that are the show stopper. Actual mixologists (thought we were a dead breed) so just bring your tastebuds & they will satisfy you with a lovely libation. We only planned to stay for a light lunch but ended up in here for a few hours as we cosily settled in for a chat 'n chew session. It feels like a library, gentleman's club and art space all at the same time but in the right measures and always oh, so cosy. I do recommend an afternoon/early evening session of your own. The bathrooms are impeccable. Always a great sign. Service was good albeit a bit slow bringing our Port (20mins, hmm) so, a star removed for that. Otherwise, this is a great winter warmer spot. read more

I feel kind of bad giving Scarfes such a poor rating, but unfortunately our experience merited it. First, I will say - the decor and atmosphere in this place is really cool, and drink presentation is very well done. Scarfes clearly knows how to put on a good show and make you feel fancy! That said, I felt the prices were way too high (~$20 per cocktail) for what we got, which was basically...no service at all. The bar was by no means empty, but it was a Monday night, so it wasn't all that busy. But our server somehow still managed to disappear and leave us hanging almost the entire time we were there, and the two others we tried to flag down in her absence weren't much better. I'm not attributing this to a personal failure of the servers - it could've been just a short-staffed night or something. And at any other more casual dive bar or pub, I wouldn't really have minded. But given that we paid nearly $100 for four drinks, I was really disappointed with the lack of accompanying service. I'm not in the country anymore, so unfortunately I can't give Scarfes another chance, but I'm not sure I would even if I were still in London. read more

Although I did a previous review that was very negative I couldn't resist the Fine and Rare whisky that this establishment had. I am so pleased that I did because this time the experience was as it should be. The manager gave me a cordial greeting and I sat at the end of the bar but the large whisky cabinet. The bar staff was spot on, helpful with selecting a few of the range of whisky. Great conversation showing their depth of knowledge. This experience definitely turned around my previous experience to the point that next time I'm in London I will look forward to returning to taste another Fine and Rare whisky. read more

Very cosy ambience, perfect for the winter months. Drinks are a little pricey but in line with other 5* hotels in London. The bartenders are very knowledgable and will help to create bespoke cocktails if the extensive menu isn't inspiring enough. read more

I popped into Scarfes Bar with a friend to have a drink on my birthday, after being told that the Mirror Room was too full to accommodate us. I have heard good things about Scarfes Bar, and it definitely was as classy as others have described to me. We ordered some small dishes to share - the momos were pretty tasty, and the sandwich big enough to share between the two of us. I ordered the Bubble & Shrubs cocktail, as I do love champagne based cocktails. We also ordered a little dessert sharing platter - I especially liked the 'cigarettes'. I really do like the interior and would be interested to check it out again during one of their jazz/cabaret nights. Conveniently located just round the corner from Holborn station, and a great place to relax and have a drink. read more

Live music, great decor. It was such an awesome night here. Servers were very pretty, but wished they knew more about drinks or were able to better convey more adventurous drinks to the bartenders. read more

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The place has a nice atmosphere and well made drinks. They are packed out even on a Tuesday so will have to wait for a table. Table service is extremely slow. read more

Scarfes Bar - Art at Scarfed Bar. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - London, XGL

Stayed here for two nights and used all the facilities. The staff is wonderful. Service is excellent. It's extremely cozy. The decor is incredible. Both the bar and restaurant are top end. They have both a weight room and cardio room which are small but very well equipped. The spa for this kind of high end palace is a little small but also well equipped. The beds are simply amazing. read more

If in need of a craft cocktail in the area no need to look further. Grab a seat at the bar and look at the extensive cocktail list. Say hi to Oscar if he is there behind the bar, sit back, relax and listen to the live standards and jazz played most nights. Outstanding cocktails done by professionals. They do take their time but it's worth every sip. And, oh yea, take a walk around the bar to look at the art of Scarfes' namesake. Cheers! read more

One of the posh-est bars of London! It is named after renowned British artist Gerald Scarfe. Inspired by a drawing room, cosy armchairs, shelves stacked with antique books and Scarfe's paintings highlighting his best works. I was very happy to be here as I had longed to visit a bar like this for a long time. The live jazz music was a cherry on the cake. The cocktails here are to die for. I ordered the 'Bubble and Shrubs' which included gin, elderflower and champagne. We ordered a kebab platter which was delicious. I will definitely come here again. read more

A very nice space to kick back and order a cocktail. We bagged a lovely corner table which was really nicely set back from the hustle of the bar and good spot to people watch in. Consumed a delicious peach bellini. The service was a little forgetful, however the relaxed but sophisticated vibe made it all gravy. Scarfes is recommended if you are in the mood for a fancy drink or an intimate catch up. read more

Literally the best bar I've ever been to in my life. Do yourself a favor and grab a cocktail from here.

This place is super classy. With dim lighting, high ceilings, couches and books everywhere, it is cozy yet posh at the same time. On a Saturday night, there is also a live jazz band, adding to the ambience. The drinks are quite pricey, but are very well made. The service unfortunately was very slow, but I like to assume that that is because the drinks are made with care. There are free nuts to snack on, though I didn't try those. read more

Been staying at the rosewood for the past week. The service here is amazing! They remembered who I was after walking in the following evening and even remembered what I was drinking. Oscar and Slavo were amazing to my friends and myself every evening. This is a top notch place and will definitely recommend this place and stay here in the future. read more

I went to Scarfes Bar before my dinner at Rosewood. This bar is amazing! The decor is really quirky. There is so much detail and thought put into this place. Even the napkins have been branded. There are old books everywhere. The bill is put into an old book and given to you. These small details make all the difference. It is such a cozy place. Amazing atmosphere! Also, they had live music! The staff was really friendly and attentive! I have a mocktail which was really tasty. Nuts are complimentary. I did find the drinks a bit pricey but not unexpected. I definitely recommend this place. read more

Scarfe bar is an excellent addition to an already vibrant speak-easy, cocktail bar scene. This place oozes class without being in any way pretentious. The bar staff are incredibly friendly and knowledgable in their mixology - my tried and trusted whiskey sour was crisp and refreshing. Set in an elegant but relaxed atmosphere this bar caters to all types in search of a good cocktail. The night I visited we were a party of six and although reservations are not available the assistant manager tried his hardest to get us seated. I have yet to try the appetisers but if the free bar snacks are anything to go by (moorish to the max) I shouldn't be disappointed. I am looking forward to making this bar a regular haunt, whether it be for business meetings, a quick tipple after a west-end trip or post-work drinks, Scarfe bar is a must try for all serious cocktail lovers! read more

Very posh place that is placed in one of the most beautiful hotels in London. Good cocktails, Indian (very) spicy food and snacks. And of course, wonderful live Jazz music performed by very charismatic bands. read more

I want to start with this could have been a 5 star review, but it loses a star due to the rude nature of the doorman on Saturday evening. We visited this bar because it was a friends birthday but a friend wanted to get some cash out from an ATM, so we left and walked to the nearby Metro Bank. When we returned we found a friend outside having a cigarette and we headed back to the bar, but we were met by a rude doorman who stated the club was full. We politely explained that we had been in earlier and our friends were having a birthday party inside, the doorman said club was full. It was obvious he didn't want us in the venue and said he had been there all night but didn't remember us, I explained when we left he was too busy chatting up a group of girls instead of doing his job, I showed him a photo I took earlier that night inside which he responded that could have been taken anytime, I had to then show him the time stamp. It wasn't until he acknowledged the time stamp that he let us back inside. The venue is somewhat a bit stuffy and pints of beer cost £10, a cranberry juice is £6.75 and a glass of wine is £15. They have a decent amount of staff so you usually have 2-3 staff floating around refilling bowls of nuts or serving you more drinks. When we were there they had a live jazz band which was interesting, so this place is probably a good spot for a date but it's a bit too pretentious for my liking... read more