It’s no surprise London’s one of a kind area is also home to various unique and original cocktails. Here’s a journey through a few of our favourites.
Sake No Hana
We begin where St James’s Street meets Ryder Street. Sake No Hana is mainly known for elegant Japanese cuisine, served within their beautiful contemporary interiors. However, their cocktail selection is so distinctive, they create an experience of their own, without a meal. Take their ‘Geisha Star Martini’ for example; a mix of Absolut Elyx vodka, vanilla passion fruit, essential sakura foam, egg whites, Louis Roederer champagne, and edible Geisha art on rice paper in a coupette glass. That’s quite the Japanese twist on a classic drink.
The American Bar at The Stafford Hotel
Tucked away in the beautiful Blue Ball Yard cul-de-sac, is The American Bar. It was originally known throughout the 1930’s for its American-style drinks. It now however has a variety of intriguing cocktails, each steeped in St James’s history. “The Moriarty” for instance was named after Sherlock Holmes’s greatest nemesis, who in the stories, first tried to kill Sherlock in the heart of St James’s. The drink consists of Don Julio tequila, Vida mezcal, Solerno Blood Orange liqueur, grapefruit juice, agave syrup and lime. How they create such beautiful drinks is a mystery for Holmes himself.
Dukes Bar at Dukes Hotel
No cocktail journey could ever be complete without Dukes Bar. Hidden away in an alley on St James’s Place is the home of Ian Fleming’s classic “Vesper”; one of the two James Bond inspired drinks on offer here. Dukes’ version of the Vesper however, is made with No. 3 London Dry Gin, Lillet Blanc, Angostura bitters, and Potocki vodka, a Polish vodka, in honour of the real-life inspiration for Vesper Lynd’s character, Polish-born Christine Granville who was a wartime spy and reportedly Fleming’s lover.
The St James Bar at The Balcon
On the renowned Pall Mall, just a street north of the Duke of York Column, is The Balcon’s St James Bar. With an interior inspired by Coco Chanel's 1920's Paris apartment, St James Bar is an immaculate place to enjoy original, vintage and signature cocktails. The imitation of the iconic fashion designer’s home, has a collection of unique cocktail of its own. The ‘Who’s Nibbling at My House?’ for instance, is an elegant mix of Talisker 10, amaretto liqueur, chocolate cookie syrup, vanilla bitters and double cream.
The Trafalgar St James
When it comes to drinking crafted cocktails while taking in a breathtaking view of London, few places do it as well as The Trafalgar St James. The hotel sits on Spring Gardens, just west of Trafalgar Square itself. Take in the best view of the city’s skyline from the Rooftop bar, whilst sipping the cocktail perfectly named “Skyline”. The drink is a tasty concoction of Pisco brandy, pink grapefruit, raspberry, lavender bitters and egg whites. A lovely way to soak in a view of the best city on earth.
This is only a fraction of the plethora of enticing cocktails in St James’s. There are many more cocktails to experience in gems such as The Rivoli Bar, Quaglino’s and Avenue. Begin with the one of a kind venues in this journey and you will be far from disappointed.