The American Bar

I thought that I would like the American Bar, or maybe even feel at home, but I can’t really put my finger on what went wrong. The walls of the place are covered in pictures, in the way you would find a local diner in the States, and otherwise the décor isn’t that upscale and comes off as rather contrived. My most recent hotel bar memory is of the Connaught, which was fancy in that American speakeasy way, and very tastefully done. On the other hand, the American Bar was bright with quite glaring light and service that was only mediocre. Unfortunately, the prices are still upscale as the cheapest bottle of white wine set us £40 back. The drinks came with tasty barbecue crisps, olives, and a mixed rice cracker type of snack, of which I only liked the crisps. And we ordered thin fries and stem broccoli, which were £4 each and the mayonnaise that came with the fries was just all wrong… lumpy and couldn’t mix with ketchup, and how do you mess up mayonnaise?! I was disappointed but then again the standards for hotel bars in Mayfair are quite high.

Love this place! It’s a great hidden gem amongst the hustle and bustle of Piccadilly. It’s a small bar, very classic and cosy. Great atmosphere and décor, walls filled with pictures and memorabilia which really gives the cosy and comforting vibe.
Quite pricey, but great selection of drinks. Love the glasses too. It’s not loud or overbearing. Just a nice little spot to go for a drink before dinner, or spend the whole evening, but not a place for a loud or big group to start a big night.

Expensive but a terrific bar, tucked away off St. James street. The décor is filled with American memorabilia, mostly from World War II. Part of the Stafford Hotel, the service is outstanding. Wonderful wine list. The bartenders make excellent cocktails and have an outstanding selection of gin, including Blackwood – which is hard to find outside a specialty shop. The food is excellent but a somewhat limited menu. They have a great selection of cigars at a reasonable mark up. Best of all, the patio is a great place to have a smoke.

This place has all the makings of my ideal drinks venue:
— outdoor seating in a cozy courtyard with vines and cobblestones
— no Abercrombie+Fitch type ambient music that sounds like you’re on a spaceship to another dimension
— strong yet well-​proportioned drinks, their current summer cocktail is an amazingly refreshing cucumber concoction that is a must try though their old fashioned was not as good as that other American Bar
— savory nibbles beyond just nuts
Like the neighboring Duke’s Bar (also very good!), this place isn’t exactly «affordable» and the other patrons are likely going to be people you want to punch in the face. We were next to a table of older men smoking cigars and complaining about how young bankers were too unsympathetic to the needs of investors looking to be more active shareholders. Life so hard. Oh well. When was the last time you went to an old school hotel bar and everyone was just quoting Arrested Development and making Star Wars jokes? I suppose I wouldn’t go to a burger restaurant and then make a big stink about how they only served burgers.

I’ve been here for several meals now but have never stayed in the Hotel itself. The food really is exceptional and I’ve never been able to find fault with it. Good classic French and British food and an extensive wine menu that you can’t go wrong with. The downstairs cellar also hosts great parties that I’ve caught a glimpse of once or twice and they look fantastic.

The Stafford is wonderful hotel, very good rooms, kind and pleasant staff, and very central. It’s elegant and classy, and my stay there was truly enjoyable.

This is a nice enough hotel, with lovely memories of one night in particular for me, but, despite the room being well furnished, it was very small. The breakfast was lovely, but I’m not mad on a hotel with an unstocked fridge in their rooms (!). It’s nice enough and central nonetheless.

Classic place to say you’ve been in London; everyone else apparently has, the walls are covered with signed celebrity photos and their hats, ties, etc.
I met a friend for lunch on a weekday and we had the place and the attentive staff almost to ourselves. Since we were sitting in the front bar area where there are just low tables and armchairs, they served our meals on comfy pillowed lap-​trays (beverages stayed on the little table.) We had a Caesar salad and the Beet salad; both large and nicely presented, but the Caesar and its two huge accompanying chicken breasts were mediocre in taste. Nice nibbles were served while we awaited our salads (tasty olives, sweet potato chips, etc.)
Altogether we felt pampered and privileged, but paid for it: over $ 100 for 2 salads, nonalcoholic beverages, and coffee.
In summary: good spot for feeling pampered and posh for a price; probably a more interesting scene and better value just for drinks later in the day.

We went here several times while staying at the Stafford. The bar is decorated in sports memorabilia. I didn’t spend much time outside, as you could not eat there. It did seem like a place where the well to do came to socialize and have a drink. The drinks are not reasonable. 14 pounds for a cocktail certainly adds up, but I’m not sure what the average is in the UK.
The food was delicious. I recommend the soups and burger. It was the only good burger I’ve ever had in the UK. I would definitely return to the American Bar even if I wasn’t staying at the Stafford.

This bar is located in a small courtyard at the rear of the Stafford Hotel. If, like myself, you aren’t a member of the elite who are staying at the Stafford, the best way of entering is by slinking through the back entrance at Blue Ball Yard. It was quite a neat feeling turning a corner in one of London’s most expensive districts and coming across this secluded courtyard bar.
I’m a little conflicted as to my feelings on this bar. On the one hand there’s a lot of history here. This is the kind of place the British transported to the colonies, where the waiters are formal and the G&Ts are cold and strong. My perception of this was possibly strengthened by one of the group I was with, who was an ex-​British ambassador to Africa who is now an up-​and-​coming Nollywood star (that’s the Nigerian bollywood). You heard it here first folks.
On the other hand, the place was American businessman central. It’s clear everyone used to be the quarterback on their high school team, dated the head cheerleader, went to some ivy league college, and drifted into a primo position at one of the big banks. Everyone had the same expensive suit, the same buzz cut, and the same platinum amex. I’m sure they’re all very nice people when they aren’t ruthlessly plundering third world countries for slave labor and resources, but it’s not really my cup of tea.
I really like the location and feel, but this just isn’t the kind of bar someone in my social circle would frequent too often. However they do provide great complimentary nibblies so perhaps I need to change social circles.

Have been a couple of times dining as part of a party in The Stafford Cellars, the extensive old wine cellars under the hotel. The food comes from the same kitchen as their restaurant and is of the same standard, and it is excellent. The staff are always pleasant and helpful and the venue unique. So a good place for a big gathering, as you can get over 40 at table which is not easy to find in london. There is a reception area and you walk through the wine storage to the seating area,