The American Bar at London's Savoy Hotel not only remains one of the most important cocktail destinations open today, it has also – for the first time – been voted The World’s Best Bar, sponsored by Tanqueray.
At the forefront of the cocktail world for more than 125 years, the American Bar has been home to legendary bartenders Ada Coleman, Harry Craddock and Peter Dorelli. But this is no cocktail museum of well-worn classics peddled to tourists – the current stewards led by drinks wizard Erik Lorincz (pictured) and host-with-the-most, Declan McGurk, are only looking forward.
Although they will happily throw out a rendition from the famous Savoy Cocktail Book – a cocktail canon with few equals – the latest innovations are also worth the visit. Coast to Coast follows up last’s year’s London landmark-themed menu, exploring the UK through drinks, taking inspiration from the Garden of England (Kent), Art Deco London, Sherwood Forest, the Pennines and Edinburgh, where guests find Scotch-based cocktails such as Arthur’s Seat.
At the awards, London saw four bars in the top ten, with a further four in the top 50. Dandelyan took the number two spot, and the Connaught Bar came in fourth. Other notables include Soho's Bar Termini and Hoxton's Happiness Forgets coming in at number nine and twelve respectively.