The Connaught Bar at the Connaught

What was the design brief here? A Milanese palazzo? Harrods’ marbled perfume halls? No: the inspiration came from Irish & English cubist art, apparently. Host Erick Lorincz is the London bar world’s equivalent of Tom Ford, sending out liquid fashion classics such as the Connaught Collins, pistachio sour, cardarita & camomile crusta – along with signature creations such as the vintage Italian job (a tribute to Connaught regular Sir Michael Caine, perhaps). Elsewhere, look for head-blowing fizzy flutes including the Mount Street cobbler & the Champagne julep, offered with complimentary amuses according to season. Crab cakes, caviar, blinis, tacos & lobster spring rolls are classy touches that deserve applauding, though flogging bespoke stemware (£190 for six coupes) is decidedly not worth a cheer.