Artesian at the Langham

Artesian is a legendary name on the cocktail scene - the famous bar once had an unshakeable spot at the top of the pyramid, and was ranked as the best bar in the world for years. It may now not hold that top spot by many accounts, but head bartender Giulia Cuccurullo and bar manager Lorenza Pezzetta have their eyes set on bringing Artesian back to the front of the pack. 

The newly-devised Duality menu picks out individual flavours and builds two cocktails around them, representing two different sides of the same coin. Spirit and Matter cocktails, for example, both feature dulce de leche, but the former whips the richness into feather-light, almost ethereal foam, and backs it up with bergamot and lime juice. The latter is altogether darker and more sultry, mixing vermouth, Mount Gay rum and miso to wonderful effect. There's plenty more to crack on with on the menu, with the star of the show for us being The Sun, a gorgeous, crystal clear glass of Thai basil, yuzu, elderflower, Casamigos Blanco tequila and Taittinger. 

Another indication of the fresh, exciting things happening at Artesian comes on the food front, where up-and-coming Humble Chicken chef Angelo Sato has been recruited to devise a new menu. The results are absolutely fantastic - Sato mixes some crowd-pleasing classics (Peking duck bao sliders, and buttermilk chicken karaage with spicy miso mayo) with some more intriguing ideas (mussels with citrus kosho ponzu). Everything is fantastic, but the stand-out is a beautiful tuna tartare that comes with tomato ponzu, avocado and shiso leaves, as well as seaweed crisps to scoop the mixture onto. Bar food can sometimes feel like an afterthought, but Artesian has nailed it here.

On top of that, service is utterly charming and knowledgeable, as one would expect. On all fronts, it feels as though Artesian has found the right mixture of elements here - this is a bar on the up and up. 

A constantly evolving space, Artesian at the Langham is world-renowned for its award-winning cocktails served in a luxurious setting. Here, innovation is key, with the passionate team of mixologists coming up with new drinks list in line with the seasons, to keep things interesting. Indulging in a serve here is much more than the sum of its parts, it’s the collaborative experience of enjoying incredible service and world-class cocktails in one of London’s plushest hotels.

The drinks list changes theme from time to time, but currently cocktails at Artesian are centred around celebrating ingredients of the future - with 16 different cocktails that focus on an idea that ‘every sip tastes like a step towards a healthier planet and a better tomorrow’. For example, Soil cocktail is described as an earthy Artesian twist on the dry Martini, and includes the ingredients haku vodka, sake, soil scent and koji. There is also a cocktail called Insects, and is a take on a classic Whiskey Sour with dry and smokey tones; think bourbon, campari, nixta, crickets, chicatanas corn, coffee and lime.

A handful of timeless Artesian favourites are also available, including The Bridge (a favourite of head bartender Giulia Cuccurullo), which combines Patrón Silver tequila, Martini Ambrato, rhubarb cordial and tomato water, and The Godfather (Macallan 18 and Artesian’s Amaretto)

Alongside the accomplished drinks list – which includes additional wines, Champagnes, spirits and beers – there is also a carefully curated menu of snacks to help keep hunger at bay. Humble Chicken chef Angelo Sato has devised the latest menu, which delves into bold Asian flavours. Snacks on the menu include tuna tataki, smoked buttermilk chicken karaage, Humble Chicken katsu sando, and crispy pork bao sliders. This tasting experience menu can also be combined with a cocktail pairing from the Ingredients of the future menu.