London's iconic Mayfair hotel The Dorchester has unveiled its latest in-house bar, the new Vesper Bar, influenced by James Bond. Part of a revamp of the hotel's ground-floor bars, the Vesper Bar joins the recently introduced Artists' Bar which we covered on the blog in January, here.
The new bar boasts a modern yet classic interior, with its contemporary design inspired by the spirit and sophistication of the thirties, brought to life by London's interiors specialist, Martin Brudnizki.
The Dorchester's website says of the new bar, Serving up an illustrious history and lively reputation, our bar has long been London's ultimate destination for cocktail sipping, celebrating and deal making. For this is the address where the energy and spirit of the city thrives. Here, every drink is poured into bespoke glassware and savoured alongside a cool soundtrack and globally-inspired bites from the eclectic bar menu. Let the good times roll.
The drinks menu has been pieced together by head bartender Lucia Montanelli, showcasing a bespoke selection of signature cocktails. As expected, Martinis are the star of the show here, with the Vesper Martini being the drink of Mr Bond in the 1953 novel, Casino Royale. A Vesper differs from Bond's usual martini in that it uses both gin and vodka instead of dry vermouth, and lemon peel instead of an olive. The name also honours The Dorchester's many connections with James Bond over the years - with Ian Flemming a regular at the hotel.
Find out more about the iconic Vesper Bar here.