The best bars in London are the ones who know how to change with the times but still remain true to their roots. The Coburg Bar located in the Connaught Hotel (pictured) is a good example of a place that has managed to do just that.

The recent renovations have transformed the bar from a comfortable but rather dated hotel bar into a comfortable cosmopolitan drinking den. Gone is the gentleman’s club look and feel, replaced with a modern vibe that is still welcoming and unassuming. The wing back chairs are still there, just reupholstered in rich velvets. Tables are shiny chrome disks that look surprisingly at home with the white painted wood panelling. It is still a great place to sit by the fire and have a drink with friends.

The drinks menu at The Coburg Bar is traditional but quite comprehensive. Their selection of champagnes is vast; they carry more than 100 different vintages from houses like Krug, Pol-Roget, and Ruinard. The list of whiskey and scotch whiskey in particular that is available at The Coburg Bar is sure to please aficionados, as well.

The Coburg Bar’s “Bacchanology” menu is quite a treat all by itself, giving readers an overview of the history of champagne and cognac, as well as provenance for many well known cocktails.

Did you know that Pimm’s Cup No. 1 has been around since the 1840s when James Pimm began serving them up at his oyster house? You might also be surprised to hear that the Tom Collins was first on the menu at a St. Louis hotel way back in the 1850s, and that the recent craze for Mojitos came about 80 years after they had first appeared in Havana clubs.

Drinks are excellent, and service is prompt and friendly. There is nothing pretentious about this place, it is a 5 star hotel bar without the attitude.

Often the best bars in London can give you the sense of a special occasion without a lot of fuss and drama, and this is something which The Coburg Bar does excellently.

Visiting The Coburg Bar

Address: Connaught Hotel, Carlos Place, Mayfair, W1K 2AL

Telephone: 020 7499 7070

Opening Times

12:00 - Sunset

Photo courtesy: soham_pablo

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