Us Londoners are spoilt for choice when it comes to decent hotel cocktail bars, as our city houses some of the best in the world. Going beyond the stuffy hotel lobbies and tourist-filled drinking dens, you’ll find spots doing exciting things with their drinks menus, decor and interiors, and Fitz’s Bar is one of them. Located in the Grade II-listed Kimpton Fitzroy, (the striking red brick hotel on the edge of Russell Square), the bar is as beaut on the inside as it is on the out. Inspired by the Roaring Twenties, you’ll be greeted with a massive disco ball and plenty of ostrich feathers and velvet.
Fitz’s has also recently launched a new cocktail menu, The Theory of Colour, which includes 14 altered renditions of 17th century still life flower painting by artist Nicolaes van Verendael that you will find hanging on the walls of the bar. Each artwork is reflective of one of the cocktails on the menu, and instead of deciding on the flavour profile you want, you are encouraged to choose your drink from the artwork you find most impactful. Just like the menu, the cocktails are a work of art. Our faves were the Monk by the Sea, the bar’s take on a marg made with tequila, toasted rice, sugar snap spirit, chartreuse & clarified lime, and the Mummy Brown, a strong tipple made with bourbon, wild strawberries & mixed nut orgeat.
All of these were enjoyed with some of the snacks off the bar menu, including imam biyaldi, oyster mushroom with a truffle teriyaki glaze, and skinny fries with parmesan & rosemary salt – the perfect side snacks for sipping.
Along with some great drinks and snacks to indulge in, there’s also live music to enjoy, making it a great spot for some celebratory cocktails whether you’re staying in the hotel or not.
Russell Square, London WC1B 5BE
fitzs.co.uk