The Cocktail menu reflects the wonderful history of this iconic location, now with an outside terrace to make best use of warm evenings in the heart of London
Ah the Café Royal! For anyone like myself who loves the novels of the inter war years and indeed the years before that, it conjures up images of Oscar Wilde, Evelyn Waugh, Anthony Powell “It’s pronounced Pole” he would sternly say in his delightful Welsh accent, and the whole of fashionable London as it was once was.
Well sadly those days have gone but this chic hangout remains in the shape of The Hotel Café Royal.
The original Café Royal closed in December 2008, but as a Grade II listed building it was preserved in many of its grander parts when turned into the luxury hotel it is today.
You can get to The Green Bar via its own entrance on Glasshouse Street, but we went in via the hotel entrance on Regent Street to marvel at the immense grandeur of the hotel lobby first.
The Green Bar is, as you might expect, very green or, as the hotel would say, ‘Emerald’. It is a gorgeous space, cosseting and suggestive of all kinds of naughty night time adventures. The green itself is a nod to the drink Absinthe, once demonised as the source of all Bohemian evil. They serve it here, of course.
It also has a terrace opened up for the summer, an outside space on the pedestrianised side street, and on a warm evening it’s a great place to lay back and lap up cocktails, while bathed in the glances of passers by equally green with envy. Also, as J was wearing very short shorts, it seemed more appropriate to be in the fresh air.
To go with the terrace’s opening, there’s a new cocktail menu from Director of Beverages, Matteo Carretta. Divided into Unique Experiences, Seasonal Pairings, and Signature Classics, the collection showcases everything from high-end and rare spirits, to classic recipes revived from the 1937 Café Royal Cocktail Book.
Under the expert guidance of Roberto Pappalepore, the charming and welcoming Manager of the Green Bar, we cheerfully worked our way through the Unique Experiences selection with: D’Azur Aperitivo – Gin D’Azur, Amaro Santoni, Bottega Cinzano Rosso and Suave Mirror Margarita – Suave Blanco Tequila, Mirror Cordial.
And then from the Seasonal Pairings it was Bourbon and Green Apple – Wild Turkey 101, Cadello 88 Liqueur, Green Apple Juice, Honey, Lemon, Egg White, and Rum and Piña – Appleton Estate 12 Year Rum, Campari, Amaretto, Pineapple Juice, Coconut Syrup
Finally from the Signature Classics a Metexa – Código Rosa Tequila, Khoosh Liqueur, Lillet Blanc, Agave, Lime and Hotel Café Royal Special – Hendrick’s Gin, Boatyard Sloe Gin, Honey, Crème de Mûre, Lemon.
Honestly these were some of the best cocktails we’ve had for a very long time. The precision and care choosing the ingredients and then creating each serve, eevn down to monogrammed ice cubes, was obvious and outstanding. Roberto and his team are mixology geniuses and deliver the elevated experience one expects from a hotel of this grandeur, but with a friendliness that is too often lacking,
Of course one cannot live on cocktails alone and The Green Bar delivers quality food to go with the drinks. We had Mini Angus Beef Burgers, Tuna Tacos, Buttermilk Chicken Bites, and Courgette Fries and they were excellent. The burgers had the smack of smoke, the chicken bites were tender and moist and served with a siracha dip, the courgette fries crispy with not a hint of oiliness, and the tuna tacos with Soya ponzu, yuzu mayo delicious.
In fact we felt no need to go on to eat a full meal afterwards, only the warm glow that comes from spending time in the very heart of the heart of London, immersed in history and floating on a lake of fine alcohol and superb service.
15 Glasshouse Street, London W1B 4DY
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