Claridge's Bar is a neighborhood joint attached to the famed
103-year-old hotel. Rocker
Mick Jagger and
actor Pierce "007"
Brosnan are among those who've dropped in of late. Intelligence has
it the current James prefers margaritas, not martinis, but still
likes them "shaken, not stirred."
GASTROPUBS
The term "gastropub" refers to a watering hole attached to a
restaurant serving serious
food, not just pub grub.
London's most
famous is
The Cow in Notting Hill, on an old cow-herding
road. This enticingly schizophrenic outpost is no bangers and mash
emporium. Upstairs, the swells dine on grilled filet of sea bass
with couscous, while downstairs, they knock back the house
specialty - Irish rock oysters and pints of Guinness.
Anglesea Arms, a century-old West London gastropub, is a
popular haunt for entrees like toasted diver scallops with minted
pea purée and the 50-plus wines manager Rene Rice keeps in stock.
"The British love their pubs, but now they want relaxed, not poncy
[pretentious] service, and really great food and drink done well,"
says Rice.
Boasting an eclectic mix of modern furniture, scarred church
tables, and '50s-style chairs, the
Evangelist is not quite a
cocktail confessional, but close. A tiny lounge in leather, velvet,
and silk is the centerpiece. Pick a fish from the glass slab and
it's cooked to order.
TRADITIONAL PUBS
While London's new bar scene is enticing, there are several
traditional pubs you don't want to miss.
The first is a tiny haunt called
The Grenadier, tucked away
in a private, cobbled Belgravia mew. "The Grenadier was originally
the officer's mess for the Duke of
Wellington's Grenadier Guards,
which was haunted by the ghost of an officer 'accidentally' flogged
for cheating at cards," explains manager Patricia Smerdon. Guinness
at $4 a pint and Laphroaig single malt Scotch at a bargain price of
$3.50 are the house favorites, but what also keeps folks coming
back are the wicked Bloody Marys and sausages smeared with
sinus-clearing English mustard.