Okay, so check it out, I finally made it to the American Bar at the Savoy. You know, the American Bar. Been wanting to go for ages, and let me tell you, it was an experience.
First off, getting there was a mission. London’s always a bit of a trek, but the Savoy’s easy enough to find. Walked in, felt a little underdressed ’cause everyone looked super fancy. I was rocking my usual jeans and a decent shirt, but you know, some people were in full-on cocktail attire. No biggie.
We got seated pretty quickly, which was a win. The place is buzzing, even on a weekday. Dark wood, low lighting, proper old-school vibes. There’s a piano player tickling the ivories, which adds to the whole atmosphere. Right, so the menu. It’s basically a novel. Page after page of cocktails, each one sounding more ridiculous than the last. Honestly, I was a bit overwhelmed.
I started with their signature, the “Hanky Panky.” Heard so much about it. Ordered it, watched the bartender do his thing. Loads of fancy pouring, stirring, the whole shebang. It was good, really good. Bit bitter, bit sweet, definitely packs a punch. I could taste the Fernet-Branca in there, which I dig.
Next up, I went a bit rogue and tried something called the “Green Park.” Gin-based, I think, with some other herby stuff going on. It was… interesting. Not my favorite, to be honest. A little too floral for my liking. But hey, gotta try new things, right?
My mate had some fancy rum concoction, can’t remember the name, but he was raving about it. We also ordered some nibbles – olives, nuts, the usual. They were decent, nothing groundbreaking, but they did the job.
The service was top-notch. Our waiter was super attentive, always checking if we needed anything. And the bartenders, they’re like cocktail wizards. Watching them work is almost as entertaining as drinking the drinks.
Paid the bill, and yeah, it wasn’t cheap. But you’re paying for the experience, the history, the atmosphere. It’s a bucket-list kind of place.
Would I go back? Probably. Maybe not every week, my wallet couldn’t handle it. But for a special occasion, or just a really good night out, it’s definitely worth a visit.
Just remember to dress a bit smarter than I did! And maybe do some cocktail research beforehand, so you don’t spend half an hour staring at the menu like a confused tourist.
