The American Bar at the Savoy Hotel is one of our favorite cocktail bars in the world, and one of the best bars in London. The American Bar is the oldest surviving cocktail bar in England. It opened in 1893 and moved to its current location in 1904. The bar has an extensive collection of rare and vintage spirits, as well as a changing menu of signature cocktails.
When we visited earlier this year, we were enchanted by the “Gardens of England” cocktails. The hardbound menu is a work of art and wealth of information, with detailed bartenders notes facing each page of cocktails. Our favorite cocktail we tried was the St. Lawrence Lime Tree, named after the famed cricket grounds in Canterbury and made of Tanqueray No. 10, Cocchi Americano, coriander, apple verjus, and soda water. The bartenders also made us a few cocktails to preview their new menu, which was set to debut the following week.
Of course, as one of the best cocktail bars in the world, The American Bar excels at classic cocktails, and has an entire section of the menu dedicated to classic cocktails and vintage spirits. As an example of one of their most opulent cocktails, the 5,000 GBP Sazerac is made of 1858 Sazerac de Forge, 1950’s Pernod Absinthe, and vintage Peychaud’s bitters.
If a trip to London isn’t in your immediate plans, The Savoy Cocktail Book is the authoritative collection of classic recipes from The American Bar. You can get a copy here and recreate The American Bar experience at home.
The Savoy Hotel, 100 Strand, London WC2R 0EZ, UK