The Library Bar at The Lanesborough (Hyde Park Corner)

Quintessential 5* hotel bar affording wonderful comfort and privacy

This is perhaps, one of the best bars in London.  An untapped gem, it outshines the crocodile bar at The Berkeley, the main bar of the Mandarin Oriental and the Rivoli bar of The Ritz for sheer cosy and homely elegance.  The snack menu is a lovely ‘instead of’ dinner option although this works out as not cheap at all and one can gain a Michelin-starred lunch or pre-theatre menu at better value (see Veeraswarmy, Wild Honey and Dysart at The Petersham as just a few examples).  The prawn cocktail with avocado mousse was very good (£30); the ‘wagyu’ beef burger was slightly overdone from medium rare but had better flavour than its price of £41 a fair lobster and chili linguine was fine but a little steep at £42 for what it was and considering the stratospherically good linguine I had in Venice last year for half that price…but then again, this is a five-star hotel in Belgravia.  Although the bill was £189 for just a few bits and bobs for three people, this is a lovely option to have once in a while where glorious care, service and decor can be enjoyed.  I wonder if this food comes from the same Lanesborough Grill kitchen as an afterthought?

Food Grade: 64%

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