The May Fair Hotel
Friday evening: a chill autumn breeze stirs the leaves in London’s Green Park. Undeterred, the TI editorial team turn up their collars and grimly march on. There’s serious business afoot; there’s a hotel bar to be tried.
It seems strange to say that a hotel as large as the May Fair should be ‘tucked away’ anywhere. But it’s true. The hotel is secreted away down a dogleg that runs between Berkeley Street and Piccadilly. As such, the only traffic to speak of – either human or of the automotive variety – relates to the hotel, which gives it an unusually private feel.
Edging past a cheerful doorman, we strode purposefully into the lobby. Glance left; glance right… Lots of sleek, shiny reception area. Not so much bar.
After a little aimless wandering, we kicked off proceedings in the May Fair’s Amba Bar – more because it was the first space we came to that served drinks than anything else. An orange-tinged, vaguely oriental-themed annexe off the hotel’s grill, it’s an intimate little spot. Orientation out of the way, we got stuck in; first orders included a deliciously thick, almost meaty, Bloody Mary, and a brace of beautifully rendered gin and tonics.
Peaches has left the building…
Leaving a scattering of pistachio carcasses in our wake, we moved on, like thirsty locusts, to the main bar (the eponymously titled May Fair Bar). A trio of sharp eyes scanned the room. But of celebs, sadly, there were was nary a sign. Peaches Geldof had just left the building. For the last time.
The bar team, it’s fair to say, seemed to be taking the news of La Geldof’s departure on the chin. A trio of signature May Fair mojitos were briskly mixed, a crushed glacier of ice added and dispensed with – although it may just have been our imagination – a more than usually jaunty flourish.
When we arrived, the bar was quiet. A couple of slick suited types reclined in their chairs, chatting and idly toying with their long drinks. As we worked our way slowly through a couple more mojitos (having been thoroughly won over by the first batch), the place started to fill up. Not disagreeably so. Just a smattering of glamorous types casually gearing up for a Friday night over an early evening tipple in Mayfair. It’s that sort of place.
Tags: Hotel Bars, london, may fair bar, may fair hotels, wishful drinking
