American Bar - World's Best Bar 2017
The American Bar is the longest surviving cocktail bar in London and one of the most renowned in the world.
Serving classics with a twist, new and vintage creations and legendary bartender’s signature drinks - like Harry Craddock’s famous White Lady – the American Bar remains at the forefront of the industry, been recently named World’s Best Bar at Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards 2018 and World’s 50 Best Bars 2017.
The bar features a live pianist seven days a week, playing (of course) American Jazz.
American Bar gift vouchers
Click here to purchase a cocktail gift voucher for the American Bar.
Every Moment Tells A Story, new drinks menu
‘Every Moment Tells A Story’ draws inspiration from twenty iconic black and white portraits by British photographer Terry O'Neill that have adorned the American Bar walls since the 1980s.
O'Neill's style of photography resulted in candid and often unconventional depictions of the stars of the 60s and 70s. Featuring the likes of Ava Gardner, Elizabeth Taylor, David Bowie, Judy Garland, Peter Sellers and Dudley Moore, each portrait displayed in the bar reveals a hidden story. The bar team have used the idea of every moment telling a story for the basis of an innovative, yet timeless menu, creating a cocktail around each image, and the story behind it.
The new cocktail menu is mapped out in a unique manner. Rather than grouping drinks in alphabetical or thematic order, the flavour journey is charted on a tasting graph, with length of drink and light vs dark as its indices. At the start of the menu, short and light drinks such as Behind Closed Doors feature, then the menu moves through long cocktails like The Googly before finishing with intense short drinks like The Horror Quartet. All cocktails from the new menu are classically served in beautifully crafted glassware and presented to the table on a bespoke coaster that has been designed to emulate the shutter of a camera.
Watch our 'Every Moment Tells A Story' video
American Bar live entertainment
You can enjoy the best live music and entertainment while you sip some of the best cocktails in the world in the American Bar. Daily from 6.30pm to 11.30pm (10.30pm on Sundays).
View entertainment calendar
An award-wining bar
The American Bar has recently been named World's Best Bar, as well as Best International Hotel Bar and Best International Bar Team at the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards 2018.
Earlier in 2018 The American Bar was named Hotel Bar of the Year at the Class Bar Awards 2018.
In 2017 the American Bar received one of the highest accolades in the bar industry, the title of World's Best Bar, at the World's 50 Best Bars awards.
In 2016 the American Bar was awarded Best International Bar Team at Tales of the Cocktail and Best Bar in Europe (second in the world) at World's 50 Best Bars .
In 2011 the American Bar was awarded World’s Best Hotel Bar at Tales of The Cocktail, where Erik Lorinz himself received was named Best International Bartender. Also in 2011 the American Bar was awarded Best Bar in the Virtuoso Best of the Best Awards.
History of the American Bar
As transatlantic travel became more popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many American Bars opened throughout London. The term ‘American Bar’ refers to a bar serving mixed or ‘American’ style drinks, more commonly known as cocktails The American Bar at The Savoy is the longest surviving of these bars and one of the most iconic cocktail bars in the world.
In 1903 the first truly ‘famous’ bartender arrived at the American Bar, a lady named Ada ‘Coley’ Coleman, whose signature cocktail was the Hanky Panky, still a popular choice today. Ada’s successor was the inspirational Harry Craddock, who not only created a number of classic cocktails but who notoriously compiled these recipes into the legendary Savoy Cocktail book, still regarded today as the bartender’s bible.
Following The Savoy’s restoration, the American Bar appointed the world-renowned Erik Lorinz as its eleventh head bartender, and recently appointed Philippa Guy as senior bartender, the first female in this role for 100 years.
Hours of Operation
Monday - Saturday: 11.30am - 12.00am
Sundays: 12.00pm - 12.00am
Over 18's only.
Dress Code
Smart casual. No sportswear
Reservations
The American Bar operates a no reservations policy.