If you have something to celebrate, we suggest heading to Claridge’s Bar – home to one of the finest selections of Champagne in the capital. Its list reads like a who’s who of producers, from grand marques to growers, with a stellar selection of rare cuvées and vintage bottles including Krug Clos d’Ambonnay, Bollinger La Grande Anne´e and Salon 1971 – priced at a cool £5,800.
Happily you don’t need to be a billionaire to enjoy the delicious buzz at this David Collins-designed bolthole, or the reasonably priced roll call of cocktails including Brook Street (the signature Claridge’s Martini made with Jensen’s Old Tom gin and Antica Formula) and The Flapper – a sparkling concoction of Champagne, fresh strawberries and crème de cassis that’s been on the list since the bar opened. Another highlight is the special collection of Prohibition-era whiskeys – a real treat for connoisseurs. To nibble, oysters, caviar and desserts await.
If you’re settling in for the evening, we suggest slipping away to The Fumoir, a darkly lit, Lalique-panelled bar that serves up twists on the classics – from a Saffron Sidecar (Martell Cordon Bleu Cognac, saffron-infused Cointreau, lemon and pear) to a Netherlands Sour made with Rutte Genever and peach-infused Riesling.