The Blue Bar at The Berkeley Hotel

Slick, seductive and tres chic. The Blue bar at the Berkeley really hits the spot for a trendy yet unpretentious experience. Its charm lies in its simplicity, with an interior that screams library bar with an uplift of feminine elegance and the dark lighting and chocolaty wood furniture finish the room off nicely. Service is professional yet surprisingly friendly and nothing seems to be too much trouble (including an accidentally spilt champagne cocktail, which was swiftly tidied away and replaced with another one without any fuss). Cocktails are the drink of the hour here and there is a vast selection ranging from contemporary exotic to good old classic. Prices are a little on the steep end of the market but the faultless service and rich atmosphere easily make up for it. If anything, you'll be quenching for another drink just to stay a little longer in this little haven away from bustling Knightsbridge. Definitely one to keep in mind for a post shopping spree drink.

The service was friendly and prompt and the cocktails were just what we needed to take the edge off a crazy week, but the atmosphere, sadly, was a bit tired. I can see that in its hey day Madonna might have stopped by, but that ship has long since sailed. Sadly we thought the Blue Bar was past it's prime and to be frank, a little rough around the edges. The decor looks tired and stained, and with gum under my chair it all started to feel a bit dirty. There are nicer hotel bars in the area, so the Blue Bar really needs to take it up a notch if we are to come back.

There's no doubt that The Blue Bar is one of the trendiest hotel bars in London right now although sadly, we didn't spot any celebrities during our visit. Fearing the staff might be a little haughty, we were pleasantly surprised to find them friendly and welcolming and were incredibly impressed by the skills and speed of the two barmen. There's a huge range of drinks on offer and the cocktails are probably some of the most expensive I've ever had. However, they were put together expertly and we couldn't fault anything about them as they looked great and tasted fabulous. A generous tray of Eastern-inspired nibbles served alongside the drink was also incredibly moreish. If you're looking for a laid-back but happening spot, then surely this is it.