As the sun goes down over London and the little tea-lights come out it really is rather nice to be sitting on a squishy velvet chair, cocktail in hand, looking over the capital.
‘We’ve been waiting for you all day!’ – this is one of the most enthusiastic welcomes I’ve ever had. Anywhere, from anyone. I liked it.
I also liked being shown to one of the best tables in the bar, with low sage velvet sofas and more cushions than you could shake a stick at. With views so good you might forget to talk to your companion, the newly revamped Galvin at Windows Bar is perfect people-watching territory. We were sat gazing over the Serpentine, Albert Hall and Knightsbridge, watching the cars whizz by 28 floors below and the cads roll in just a few feet away.
It is important not to drink on an empty stomach. I do not belong to the ‘eating is cheating’ school of thought and luckily the bar snacks here are scrumptious: tiny scotch eggs, beautifully gooey inside their crispy shells; fluffy liver parfait, adorned with silver-skin onions and cornichons; a signature burger; and olives as big as your hand.
The bar menu has been devised by Michelin-starred chef Andre Garret, the man in charge of the award-winning restaurant next door, which gives you an idea of their quality.
The cocktails were so good I can’t really remember what they were. I know that mine had some lovely chestnut deliciousness, or maybe maple syrup, hmm, either way something lovely was topped with egg whites and a hint of lime to cut through the sweetness. It was far too drinkable.
Various other fruity concoctions came and went, including one which could well win a prize at a mixology competition. There are pages of drinks to choose from, cocktails, wines and spirits. All the drinks you would expect in a bar – just really good versions of them.
This is a super bar – not super cheap with cocktails coming in at the £15 mark, but you do get a wonderful evening for your money. And as the sun goes down over London and the little tealights come out it really is rather nice to be sitting on a squishy velvet chair, cocktail in hand, looking over the capital.
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