There is something unique about a hotel bar. Depending on where you are, it's a crossroads between travelers and locals, a place where deals are made, or rare encounters between two strangers. During our last trip to New York City, we had the opportunity to experience the bar at
The London Bar, the bar of
The Hotel London NYC and the
Maze Restaurant of Gordon Ramsay. Here's our experience.
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| The Red Carpet at The London Bar NYC |
The atmosphere: Contrary to many hotel bars, The London Bar is tucked into the Maze Restaurant. I enjoyed the intimate feel of it contrary to some hotel bars that are exposed at the lobby. We arrived on a late afternoon at 5:30pm; perfect time to have a post shopping cocktail (located in midtown west close to the 5th Ave shopping) or pre-dinner cocktail (we went on a Chinatown eating spree). The bar has limited bar seating but there are bar tables as well if you want a more intimate experience. I've always been fascinated by proper mixology therefore took a front row seat to see Jean Carlos, The London Bar head mixologist in action.
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| Jean Carlos, the Mixologist at The London Bar |
The drinks: I began my cocktail hour with a drink called The Red Carpet. The cocktail brought together vodka, freshly muddled raspberries, lime, topped with a chili infused olive oil. You can taste the tartness of the freshly muddled raspberry which I really liked. I wasn't a huge fan of the olive oil on top as you taste most of it at the end of the drink. I can see how this can appeal to a certain palate but I was too focused on the raspberries. I followed with a traditional pisco sour which was perfectly made with the egg white foam topped with angostura. The Dutchman, in his fondness for all things English, decided for the London Bloom. The drink was our favorite of the offerings, it was a great alternative to the traditional gin and tonic with St Germain, muddled cucumbers, basil, and ginger. The flavors went very well together and the ginger gave it that unique touch. Lastly, I had the chance to sample the Seasonal Cider from the holiday menu. The taste transported me back to wintertime in Europe with the perfect mix for cognac, apple cider and spices such as star anise, cinnamon, cloves, and juniper berries.
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| Caviar Topped Deviled Eggs from Maze |
The Food: Although we were invited by The London Bar to experience the cocktail menu, we decided to order appetizers to hold us over for dinner (excuse: never a good idea to drink on an empty stomach). At the recommendation of the bar staff, we ordered the caviar deviled eggs and the seared scallops. Both were exceptional but our favorite were the deviled eggs. The caviar melted perfectly in my mouths, a lovely treat.
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| Experts at the Craft at The London Bar |
The Experience: If you want a perfectly crafted drink by skilled mixologists, this is the place for you. It is on the expensive side but it is the perfect way to treat yourself after a long day of meetings, sightseeing, or shopping.
What we liked the most: the quality of the mixologists. There are not college kids or wannabe models trying to mix drinks. We had the wannabe model/bartender experience in another hotel bar in the city and it was awful. These gentlemen know their spirits and ingredients to deliver a quality product. You are certainly getting what you paid for.
Tip: If you're a cocktail enthusiast, go early to be able to interact with the staff.
*Disclaimer: The drinks were provided by The London Bar NYC and we purchased the food. Again, I only share experiences I love and am objective in my reviews
CONVERSATION