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Causing a stir: Five London martini bars on our radar
Planning to bond with clients or journalists over the most sophisticated cocktail on the planet? These are the hostelries to head for.
A martini is not just a drink. It’s an icon. It’s also a perennial debate topic – the connoisseurship of gin versus the clean precision of vodka is just one perennial bar-room debate attached to it – and has, since James Bond ordered one “shaken, not stirred” in Ian Fleming's 1953 novel Casino Royale, been a cultural signifier too.
It’s also a ritual: representative of that point at the when day turns into evening and the more congenial, relaxed side of PR relationships begin. Picking the right venue for such a rite of passage can be trickier than nailing the spirit-to-vermouth ratio: so here are five in the UK’s capital which get the mix just right.
Dukes, St James’s
Nestling in its own storied corner of London since 1908, Dukes famously sees ice as a cheat: instead, expect frozen glasses and well chilled spirits to work their magic in a setting that has undergone a massive spruce up and will welcome guests again in Spring 2026. Given Russell Sage Studio’s aesthetic bravado, expect the quintessentially English opulence to be turned up to 11, post-refurb.
Find out more about Duke’s London
Hawksmoor Martini Bar, St Pancras
The martini ritual here takes place within the super-ornate, high-ceilinged gothic setting of St Pancras Renaissance Hotel – and the grand surrounds are just the start of the appeal. Martini lovers opting for the “house” version (Fords gin, Dolin dry vermouth) can expect a clean, ultra-cold and stunningly concocted liquid to hit the palate. The “ultimate martini” option, meanwhile – Hepple gin, Aperitivo Co dry vermouth, Filicudi lemon oil – is for those who favour a more complex assault on the tastebuds. And if you’re peckish, order the Vietnamese oysters – delicious.
The Connaught Bar, Mayfair
To anyone who knows their spirits, the word “trolley” will always raise expectations. The tableside bar-on-wheels service at this discerning drinker’s nirvana, replete with Cubist-inspired wood panelling by David Collins Studio, more than delivers. Guests are guided through a range of house bitters, distillates and garnishes, the host tailoring each drink to personal preference with precision.
Find out more about Connaught Bar
Kwãnt, Mayfair
A bar having a good story behind it seriously oils the wheels at a casual business meeting: and this one has a belter! It involves Bond producer Barbara Broccoli being served by a bartender Erik Lorincz, resulting in a friendship which saw the latter – Kwãnt’s owner Erik Lorincz – end up as drinks consultant on Skyfall. The subtlety and structure of its Martinis are likely what impressed Broccoli: just as they did us.
Twenty8 Nomad, Covent Garden
This is where to make a beeline for if you and your clients want to go off-piste. The dirty martini here – the signature at this ultra-chic restaurant, which opened in summer 2025 and happily accepts visitors who aren’t eating – comes with blue cheese-stuffed olives. The bar’s sweet-but-citrusy “strawberry vesper martini”, meanwhile, probably won’t be 007’s choice any time soon: but is far more pleasing than it sounds – and very pretty!
Find out more about Twenty8 Nomad
Nick Scott is the editorial director of Robb Report UK. A former editor-in-chief of the Rake, he spent several years as a staffer at UK Esquire and GQ Australia, and is a regular contributor to the FT’s How to Spend It.