The Connaught Bar
Alessandro Scire CalabrisottoShare
In the heart of London’s Mayfair, the Connaught Bar has become a global benchmark for what a cocktail bar can be: impossibly elegant, quietly theatrical, and obsessive about detail. Repeatedly named the best bar in the world, it is a place where a single Martini becomes an event.
History
The Connaught Bar opened in 2008 inside the storied Connaught hotel. Its interior — designed by the late David Collins — draws on 1920s Cubism, with shimmering platinum silver-leaf walls that shift colour as the light moves. From the start, it was conceived not as a hotel afterthought but as a destination in its own right.
What Makes It Special
Under Agostino “Ago” Perrone and his team, the Connaught became famous for its Martini trolley: wheeled to your table, where your drink is mixed in front of you and finished with a choice of five house-made bitters. It is a ritual that turns a simple order into a piece of living theatre — precise, personal and unforgettable.
Signature Serves
The Connaught Martini is the headline act, but the menu rewards exploration, with inventive, design-led creations such as the Mulata Daisy and a rotating cast of seasonal cocktails that balance craft with a sense of fun.
Visiting the Connaught Bar
Tucked inside the hotel on Carlos Place, the bar is intimate, so reservations are strongly recommended. Expect polished service, an elegant dress code, and prices that match the world-class experience.
Curiosity: A Fun Fact About the Connaught Bar
The Connaught Bar was crowned The World’s Best Bar at the World’s 50 Best Bars awards in both 2020 and 2021 — a rare back-to-back reign that cemented its status at the very top of global bartending.