LONDON LOVES: Shaken, Stirred and Back in Vogue: London’s Top Martinis Right Now
In stylish bars across London, the martini is making a stylish comeback. Perfectly balanced serves, thoughtfully designed spaces, and a touch of theatrical flair have turned the simple cocktail into a modern showstopper. This resurgence is a reminder that the best drinks aren’t just about what’s in the glass, but how they are served, where they are served, and how they bring a space to life. (And yes, a little Instagram buzz never hurts.)
The martini may be the most economical cocktail in terms of ingredients, but delivering it properly is a different matter entirely. Generous counter space, acres of glassware, perfectly controlled ice, exact temperatures and a service style that looks effortless all require careful planning. It is a classic case of hospitality maths: the fewer the elements in the glass, the more the surrounding space has to do the heavy lifting.
We share our experience visiting four top spots in London that have perfected the art of the serve: The Park, Duke’s, The Connaught, and The Hero of Maida Vale.
The Martini Bar at the Barbican Arts Centre is on our refurbishment list.
THE BARBICAN MARTINI BAR
View of the Barbican Martini Bar from the the Ground floor foyer level.
Greenway Associates was recently appointed to provide cost planning and quantity surveying services for the renewal of the Barbican Centre. The scope includes all of the Centre’s hospitality spaces, including its Martini bar!
Currently located on the first floor, the martini bar at the Barbican has long been a natural meeting point for a pre-performance drink. Created in 2012 to coincide with the Designing 007 exhibition, it quickly developed a following of its own and continues to serve a confident line-up of classic martinis and cocktails by their own mixologist Harvey Macaraig. It is easy to see the appeal: a well-timed drink, a view over the movement of the Centre, and that familiar sense of anticipation before the lights go down.
Set within one of London’s most recognisable Brutalist landmarks, the bar carries all the character of the Grade II listed architecture that surrounds it. The raw concrete, generous volumes and layered foyers give the space a presence that newer venues often try to imitate but rarely achieve. For us, the future evolution of the space is an exercise in balance: safeguarding its architectural integrity while ensuring the hospitality experience meets the expectations of today’s audiences. As part of the wider renewal, the Centre’s hospitality spaces are being carefully reconsidered, and the bar is no exception. The ambition is not simply to serve a good martini, but to create an experience that feels seamless from arrival to interval to post-show encore. Counters that work harder, seating that invites people to stay a little longer, lighting that shifts with the mood of the evening and service that appears effortless.
In a building that can empty into the foyers in a matter of minutes, every metre of counter, every storage decision and every circulation route has to earn its keep. In a city where a martini can comfortably sit north of £15, making sure that each one is served quickly, elegantly and at exactly the right temperature is not just good hospitality, it is good economics. The drink itself may be beautifully simple; the environment that allows it to be delivered consistently is anything but.
THE PARK
Even London’s most celebrated restaurateurs have embraced the martini moment. Jeremy King, widely regarded as one of London’s hospitality heavyweights and the mind behind icons like The Wolseley, recently opened The Park - a grand café-brasserie styled with mid-century and Manhattan influences.
The bar here has become part of its own buzz, with stories circulating of a celebratory clientele and very special martini pricing (rumours have it that their martinis can be nabbed for just £1 on select occasions). We can confirm that on our visit, all the rumours are true! As we sipped our perfectly mixed Belvedere dirty martini’s, Kristin Scott Thomas quietly did the same on the next table.
The tactic is clever hospitality theatre, drawing people in and reminding Londoners that the martini still knows how to make headlines.
While The Park’s martinis aren’t always served at a nominal price, the very notion of such offers (and a little theatre wrapped around a classic drink) speaks to how the capital’s martini culture is evolving. It’s not just about the cocktail itself anymore; it’s about the stories, the social energy, and the way a simple service can be used creatively to bring people through the door.
(Did we mention how well their martini’s pair with their Gotham Shrimp cocktail?)
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The Park - 2 Queensway, London W2 3RX (For drinks only, we recommend booking a banquette table in advance.)
DUKE’S BAR
Duke’s, tucked away in the St. James side of Mayfair, has been serving arguably London’s most iconic martinis for decades. St. James’s is world-famous for its high concentration of Italian bartenders, particularly in luxury hotel bars, because of a 40-year legacy started by legendary Italian mixologist Salvatore Calabrese at none other than, Duke’s Bar. Calabrese created the theatrical "direct Martini" trolley method. It was later perfected by current maestro Alessandro Palazzi, famous for using frozen spirits and Amalfi lemon peel. Mr. Palazzi is a legend of sorts in the luxury hospitality world, as he has professionally bartending for over 50 years. He has a service style that makes an aperitivo feel like a James Bond moment.
It is this intimate serving style that makes Duke’s truly stand out. What is lacks in floor space, it makes up for in its’ theatrical table side service. Every martini is delivered on a trolley, where the bartender (usually dressed in a 3-piece suit) takes note of your preferences, then pours and garnishes with the utmost confidence. The famous Duke’s Martini is a dry, ice-cold, almost undiluted version of the cocktail, made with gin or vodka pulled straight from the freezer and finished with only the lightest touch of vermouth. In fact, they’re known for coating the glass with a few drops of vermouth, and flinging any remainder onto the carpet! The Duke’s martini is both simple and generous, which is why any visitor may only order a maximum of 2.
When we last went, Prince William was sat behind us with his security detail in tow, enjoying a perfect martini with those at his table.
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Duke’s Bar - 35 St James's Pl, London SW1A 1NY (No reservations taken, but we recommend arriving around 3-4pm for the best chance at securing a table. Be prepared to wait in the foyer otherwise.)
Mr. Alessandro Palazzi - head bartender at Duke’s Bar.
THE CONNAUGHT
The Connaught Bar in Mayfair is synonymous with luxury. Under the guidance of Italian mixologist Agostino Perrone, visitors can choose to enjoy ‘The Martini Experience’ which involves not one, but two bartenders crafting a drink table side, and tailored to your preference of bitters. Guests are provided with a card on which to sample their 6 styles of bitters which range from earthy, citrus, floral, herbal, sweet and spiced! Bartender no. 1 explains the process and mixes the vermouth and spirit over ice. Bartender no. 2 coats the frozen glass with the selected bitters, then garnishes the pour. Every martini is supported by a layout that allows the team to work together, whilst providing a consistent excellency.
Workflow, refrigeration, glass storage and lighting all contribute to the experience. It is a masterclass in how design, planning and operations combine into a memorable guest experience.
THE LIBRARY AT THE HERO
A newer addition to London’s martini scene can be found at The Hero in Maida Vale, where a more intimate cocktail space known as The Library, offers a chilled contrast to the lively pub below.
Located on the second floor, the Library space with its private island bar and state of the art sound system, can accommodate 30 guests for a seated gathering or 45 guests for a standing party with drinks and bar snacks. The venue is part of The Public House Group, a relatively new hospitality collective focused on pairing historic London pubs with contemporary design and dining concepts.
Their approach combines old and new, preserving the character of traditional buildings while introducing thoughtfully modern spaces. Their take on a Dirty Martini is particularly memorable, with a clear fondness for pickles and brine that gives the drink a distinctive edge (a detail that becomes apparent the moment you notice the walls in the bar downstairs).
From the Barbican’s Martini Bar to The Park, Duke’s, The Connaught and The Library at The Hero, the perfect martini is never just what’s in the glass. It’s the space, the service, and the planning behind it that make the experience feel effortless. At the Barbican, our work ensures that as this Brutalist landmark evolves, its hospitality spaces continue to delight guests before, during, and after performances. Because while cocktail trends come and go, a well-designed bar, a perfectly measured martini and a carefully considered plan never go out of style.