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Restaurants

May Fair Bar
May Fair Bar at The May Fair Hotel
May Fair Bar Aurora The Library The Bar The Long Bar Refuel

Which hotel bar gets your vote?

Alice Lascelles, London Lite
23 May 2007


London's buzzing nightlife is famous the world over. And the coolest new trend to hit the city is drinking in glamorous hotel bars. Whether your preference is a fabulous cocktail or a glass of champagne, the bar of one of the city's smartest hotels is where you want to be drinking it.

You will be in gorgeous surroundings, your drink prepared from quality ingredients and served by attentive, well-dressed staff. So it is fitting that London Lite readers have been asked to vote for their favourite bar for a prestigious award.

We've highlighted six of the most happening hotel bars. Now it's up to you to decide which one gets the London Lite Best Hotel Bar Award. Pick your favourite by voting online below or by sending us a text. The winner will be announced on 5 June at the Brahma London Club and Bar Awards - organised by Mark Armstrong, who has arranged parties for Madonna and the Rolling Stones. Once the competition has been decided we will pick one of the voters at random who backed the winner and treat them to a £500 tab at the victorious hotel bar.

MAY FAIR BAR
The May Fair Hotel

At the end of last year, this West End hotel kissed goodbye to its Twenties origins with a £75million revamp. The new bar is all glass, bronze and slate, mixed with a few more forgiving features such as a cluster of soft, purple sofas around an open fireplace.
Who goes there A cool, post-work crowd. Jude Law, David Furnish.
The drinks Every Sex And The City fan's favourite, the Cosmopolitan (£9) is also available as a Rude Cosmo (£9), made with tequila instead of lemon vodka. House creations include the fabulously refreshing Black Thai (£8.50), made with Smirnoff Black vodka, Thai basil, lime, orange and lemonade.
70 Stratton Street, W1 (020 7629 7777)
To vote for the May Fair Bar click here!, or text AWARDS then a space then your POSTCODE then a space then MAYFAIR to 81800

AURORA
The Great Eastern Hotel

This beautiful bar by Liverpool Street station is best visited at night when the suits on expenses have left for the day. Loosely styled to have a Thirties feel, it is dominated by a spectacular stained glass dome and a 15ft pewter bar, which turns out some really topclass drinks.
Who goes there Cashflashers from the City, fashion and art fillies from Shoreditch. Tracey Emin and Alexander McQueen.
The drinks Sparkling bellini cocktails and drinks using fresh herbs are particular specialities - try the Lemon and Thyme Martini made with its own lemon and thyme-infused gin, stirred with chartreuse (£9). Other great details include unusual, Italian-style nibbles served in elegant silverware.
Liverpool Street, EC2 (020 7618 7000, great-eastern-hotel.co.uk)
To vote for Aurora click here!, or text AWARDS then a space then your POSTCODE then a space then AURORA to 81800

THE LIBRARY
The Lanesborough

Mahogany panelling, vases of fresh flowers and an open fire lend The Library the feel of a luxurious gentlemen's club.
Who goes there Classy couples looking to meet on the hushhush and the super-rich sampling some of the most expensive drinks in the world. Bill Gates and Robbie Williams.
The drinks If someone else is paying, have a £3,000 snifter of the 1777 Cognac from its Liquid History collection, or find a reason to celebrate over a bottle of Krug champagne (from £220). Cocktails include some great classics such as the Bronx (gin, sweet and dry vermouth and orange juice for £11.50). There are also free hot and cold canapés served in the evening.
Lanesborough Hotel, Hyde Park Corner, W1 (020 7259 5599, lanesborough.com)
To vote for The Library click here!, or text AWARDS then a space then your POSTCODE then a space then LIBRARY to 81800

THE BAR
The Dorchester

Celebs aside, the recently revamped Bar at the Dorchester is distinguished by its exceptionally good range of gins and vermouths, the two key ingredients in any martini. Those after a bit of 007-style skulking will also feel right at home in the low-lit mix of mahogany, mirrors and chocolate-coloured velvet.
Who goes there A huge range, from wealthy businessmen to supermodels - summed up by two of its most recent visitors, Sir Philip Green and Kate Moss.
The drinks Take a tip from James Bond and ask for a Martini Vesper (£15) - a mix of gin, vodka and a white vermouth called Lillet, served ice-cold with a twist of lemon. Or compare and contrast with one of the "flights" of three different gins, vodkas or even three mini-Manhattan cocktails (£16).
The Dorchester, 53 Park Lane, W1 (020 7629 8888)
To vote for The Bar click here!, or text AWARDS then a space then your POSTCODE then a space then BAR to 81800

LONG BAR
Sanderson

When it launched in 1999, the Long Bar almost single-handedly revived London's hotel bar scene. Designed by Philippe Starck, the white bar adjoins the hotel foyer, so it's great for spying on the clientele.
Who goes there Chic power brokers from PR and publishing. Myleene Klass and Gary Lineker.
The drinks Try a vodka cocktail like the Frost Bite (£11), made with herb-infused Bison Grass vodka, crème de cassis, blueberries and champagne, or a Vodka Espresso (£12) with coffee liqueur, espresso and Wyborowa vodka.
Sanderson Hotel, 50 Berners Street, W1 (020 7300 5587)
To vote for the Long Bar click here!, or text AWARDS then a space then your POSTCODE then a space then LONG to 81800

REFUEL
The Soho Hotel

It is hard to believe that this vibrant hotel bar used to be a multi-storey car park. Behind the pewter bar you'll find an enormous spirits selection.
Who goes there Media highflyers and W1 loft-dwellers who use it as their local. Natalie Portman, Rupert Everett, P Diddy.
The drinks Splash out on pink champagne or one of the premium cocktails made using unusual, luxury spirits (all £13.50), such as the pepper margarita, which boasts Herradura Gold tequila, dashes of lime, cranberry and tomato juice, a pepper-edged glass and a strawberry garnish.
4 Richmond Mews, W1 (020 7559 3000, refuelsoho.com)
To vote for Refuel click here!, or text AWARDS then a space then your POSTCODE then a space then REFUEL to 81800

Reader views (11)

 Add your view

Give me the Roebuck at Whittle le Woods near Chorley any time, a place were men still drink pints of bitter at £2.30 a pint, shoot a bit of pool, all talk to each other and whilst only the odd one is from TV or sports fame it gets it fair share of multi millionaires in on a regular basis.

- Were Is London?, Leyland Lancashire, 09/08/2008 10:13
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The Library Bar, a proper hotel bar.

- Andrew, London, 24/05/2007 10:52
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THE MAYFAIR gets my vote!

- Shona Langridge, London, 23/05/2007 16:25
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The Library Bar and The Lanesborough - very warm and so elegant!

- Fulvia, England, 23/05/2007 16:10
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The Mayfair - no competion!

- Dee Friel, London, 21/05/2007 16:22
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The Ice Bar... definitely the coolest place to be this summer!

- Theresa Christie, London, England, 18/05/2007 18:28
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May Fair Bar at the May Fair hotel... it's very comfortable, cosy and manages to blend style with welcoming service which is quote an accomplishment!

- Justin Silver, London, UK, 18/05/2007 11:31
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The May Fair Bar is by far the best! It has a warm, welcoming atmosphree while not disturing its modern, trendy appearance. Everything flows together well and the service and cocktails are exquisite.

- Craig Philander, Cape Town, SA, 16/05/2007 14:30
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It would have to be Aurora. I can go there at 5pm in my black suit to entertain some customers, or with colleagues; and on the weekend I can don my own garish styles and feel even more welcome. What a fantastic mix of people, what a clever location. Definitely my favorite.

- Renate Kriegler Edwards, London, UK, 14/05/2007 13:25
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I would vote for Aurora at The Great Eastern as it is simply the best for atmosphere, service and cocktails.

- Georgina Griffiths, London, UK, 11/05/2007 14:04
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I would nominate the deVigne Bar at The Mandeville Hotel, Mandeville Place - W1U 2BE. The cocktails are amazing (try the passion fruit), the service warm and friendly, and the ambience cool but relaxing. It's usually busy, but rarely crowded.

- Leslie Causton, Ilford, Essex, 10/05/2007 12:23
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