Not to be confused with The American Bar at The Savoy, this smart hotel lounge is a destination in its own right. Low-lit, with comfortable brown leather chairs, parquet floors and walnut-panelled walls, there’s a cosseting feel to the space. The room’s art-deco styling harks back to the Roaring Twenties of F. Scott Fitzgerald, one of the faces that peers down from the rows of monochrome star portraits that line the walls.
You’d think The American Bar had been around since then, but in fact it only opened in 2014. Nonetheless, the drinks list is resolutely old school, with a focus on Prohibition-era cocktails. Try a dainty Clover Club, sparkling French 75 or sophisticated Dry Martini before getting stuck into a serious selection of Cognac classics, including the Sidecar and Sazerac. American whiskey is also a focus here, so expect accomplished renditions of Manhattans, Old Fashioneds and bourbon-laced Mint Juleps too.
If all that booze has helped you work up an appetite, the good news is that bar food is provided by the hotel’s excellent Colony Grill Room, with an all-day menu encompassing everything from lobster rolls and macaroni cheese to New York hot dogs and buttermilk fried chicken.