Mandarin Bar at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel

Its fun going to expensive bars and discovering they havent a clue! This is a classic: four of us were eating at Heston's and having almost been killed by a cab driver, who got us there early, we needed a drink. A proper drink. Cue Lemon grass and vodka (excellent) a warm champagne cocktail (sent back) a gin and tonic and my humble request for a martini., with Chambery vermouth.. OK would have settled for any French Vermouth as itd only dash! After a brief discussion with the bar tender my serverwas sent back with the message they only had Martini Rosso! SO I asked for a pink gin on the rocks. The poor server was sent back with a bottle of Plymouth sloe gin (Anyone heard of google here?) SO I asked for a gin and tonic , with Plymouth gin. After all it seemed like a reaasonable bet they had some… Nope! So settled for Bombay that or Tanquery…you can see they are a well stocked bar! So please if you want a drink in Kinightsbrige dont go here. They dont know what they are…and the champagne is warm.

After a couple of years of lukewarm service , this place has gotten its charm back again. Service has improved dramatically. Quality of food and drink are quite good.

Popped in for a nightcap before retiring upstairs. Plenty of space unsurprisingly on Sunday night enabled staff to be superlatively attentive. Bassy music was fairly unobtrusive, so although people-watching was a nice pass-time, happily we could easily converse too. Coloured bottles were put to good use allowing back-lit glass above the bar to colourfully break through the darkness helping to create a subdued atmosphere that they maintain both day and night. Good drinks selection with prices matching those of any pricey London hotel .

The bar at the Mandarin never disappoints and the Cosmopolitans here are to die for. Seriously sized and seriously strong. Service is perfect and it is always a glamorous crowd, shame about the occasional lady of the night, but they are so common in London's 5 star hotels these days, you almost expect to see them there. Definitely recommended as the best bar in Knightsbridge.

The bar at the Mandarin was incredibly quiet when we popped in for a drink last night; where have all the beautfiul people gone? Moved on I say. Having had a drink in the bar a couple of years ago, my second visit was a little disappointing; the place was almost empty and the cocktails weren't anything special (in fact a little too sickly) which was a real shame, especially considering the prices. The bar is quite impressive and I'm sure on a busier evening, it has a good feel to it but on a quiet night, it felt more like a plush airport lounge.