Inside the British bar named one of the 'world's best bars' - home to a £2,210,00 cocktail

The bar was named among the World's 50 Best Bars in 2023 by The World's 50 Best. It was also the highest ranking bar in the UK, making it the best bar in the nation based on the World's 50 Best.

You will find The Connaught Bar in The Connaught Hotel which is located on Carlos Place in Marylebone.

In March 2007, The Connaught underwent a £70 million restoration programme, described as a "contemporary interpretation". Refurbishment and redecoration covered a total of 88 rooms and suite,  as well as the restoration and redecoration of the main staircase, new lifts, concierge and public areas, L'Espelette Restaurant and The Georgian and Regency Rooms.

In 2008, The Connaught Bar opened its doors. 

"If the quintessential hotel bar experience is about fine drinking and elegant hospitality, Connaught Bar is the exemplar," said the World's 50 Best.

"Here, surrounded by the gleaming David Collins-designed cubist decor, every detail is meticulously thought through, from the welcome to the goodbye and everything in between. The smoothness of the operation is driven by the ever-impressive trio of leaders: Agostino Perrone, Maura Milia and Giorgio Bargiani.

"Nothing is left to chance: eight hours of preparations goes into every service."

Tempo menu is the latest cocktail offering from The Connaught Bar, with drinks averaging at £25, including the Adagio made from Ilegal Mezcal, Campari, Marley Cidre lemon verbena berries and galangal cordial.

Tempo is designed to "reflect life’s changing pace, with artful concoctions that are perfect for celebrations and leisurely moments in equal measure."

The judges from the World's 50 Best commended the Dry Martini, "which sees the bar’s own licor stirred down in a bespoke mixing glass and made to measure with a choice of homemade bitters designed by Perrone himself."

The bar’s Masterpieces section, meanwhile, lists the most popular cocktails over 15 years of the bar’s lifespan, including Good Fellas, Vieux Connaught and Fleurissimo.

One of the most exclusive cocktails on the menu is the Silver Jubilee Rob Roy, which will set customers back £2,210,00 (not pictured). 

The drink was crafted during the Platinum Jubilee and uses ingredients created during the Silver Jubilee, including Macallan Silver Jubilee 1977, Martini Rosso Vermouth 1970s and Angostura Bitter 1970s.

The Connaught Bar also serves up a selection of dishes and small plates, including a canapé selection and caviar with plates ranging from £19 to £352.

There is also a sushi selection, pizza and sandwiches on offer. Given the exclusivity of the bar, visitors are advised to make sure they are dressed smartly. Sharing to Tripadvisor, Cocktail Bar Guide described it as the "best bar in London".

"With a very honourable fifth place on The World's 50 Best Bars, the Connaught Bar is the highest ranked of London's bars," they wrote in their review.

"This is a fancy bar in a five-star hotel, with the highest class and service imaginable, so it's recommended not to turn up in jeans and trainers. The menu includes signatures, classics and more experimental cocktails.

"Of course, they have their own gin, created for the 10th anniversary, and it can be served as a Dry Martini. The decor and atmosphere is straight out of a James Bond film, so it feels only natural."

They added: "This is a bar where you treat yourself once in a while and it's worth it!"

Previous guests have also commended the service from staff, with the bar receiving a 4.5 out of a possible five stars on Tripadvisor at the time of writing.

If you want some additional dining options or feel like sampling a new menu, The Connaught Hotel is home to a selection of other bars and restaurants. 

These include The Connaught Grill, The Connaught Cigar Merchants, Hélène Darroze at The Connaught, Red Room, Jean-Georges at The Connaught (pictured), Coburg Bar and The Connaught Patisserie by Nicolas Rouzaud.