The unassuming UK bar that inspired the famous James Bond cocktail
IF you fancy the original “shaken, not stirred” martini then you should head to a tiny bar in London.
Duke’s Bar, found in the Duke’s Hotel, is said to have inspired the Bond drink.
The hotel opened back in 1908, with famous guests including Princess Diana and the Queen Mother.
Rumours suggest a secret tunnel links Duke’s Hotel to St James Palace, the former home of Henry VIII.
But the bar is what attracts tourists from all around the world.
It is said to serve one of the best martinis in the world, with the bar led by Alessandro Palazzi, who also worked at the Ritz Paris back in the 1980s.
The website states: “Frequently visited by James Bond author Ian Fleming, the legendary DUKES Bar is said to be the inspiration for the classic line ‘shaken, not stirred’.
Guests who order the famous martini will have the drinks trolley wheeled to your table where it is made in front of you.
Mr Palazzi told Travel + Leisure: “At Dukes, we freeze the gin or the vodka, making the process a little bit longer, but with greater results.
“We use Nocerella olives, which are plain and juicy [but] there’s no secret to the perfect martini – it’s all about the temperature, the execution, and the ingredients.”
Duke’s Bar is open Monday to Saturday from 3pm to 11pm, with a strict dress code.
Sportswear, shorts and t-shirts are banned, although polo shirts are allowed.
Only hotel guests are only able to reserve tables, and the bar only serves two martinis per customer.
People on TripAdvisor have raved about the bar, with one person calling it a “hidden gem”.
Another wrote: “Simply the best place to have a martini in the world!”
A third said: ” It is a must on our to-do list everytime we go to London; sometimes we go a few times a trip for a Vesper!”
If you fancy exploring the hotel further, there is Great British Restaurant (GBR), the restaurant on the ground floor for fine British cuisine.
In better weather you can request a picnic in the park too, in either Green Park or St James Park, or head to the Cognac and Cigar Garden.
If you want to stay, you can choose from double, king or twin bed rooms, or one of their suites which come with champagne and homemade treats.
The fanciest is the Duke of Clarence Suite, on the 5th floor with a private balcony and complimentary airport transfers.
Offers included the Royal Connoisseur Experience to celebrate King Charles‘s coronation, which includes a “royal breakfast and afternoon tea,” famous martini, and enhanced amenities.
The Family Tradition offer has fun for kids too, with board games, welcome packages for young guests, Scavenger Hunt kids and personalised bathrobes.
A UK cocktail bar has also been named the fifth best in the world.
The Connaught Bar, in Mayfair, has even welcomed celebs including Gwyneth Paltrow, Cameron Diaz and Taylor Swift.
In better weather, here is what it’s like to visit the UK’s first swim up bar.
And a converted school was recently named the best pub in the UK.