Wonderbar at Selfridges

I stopped by for after dinner wine & dessert with my dear friend Helena to the Wonderbar at Selfridges. London has many amazing department stores, Selfridges being one of my favorite! Any place where you can sip Bollinger champagne, visit the Psychic Sisters for a psychic reading and buy a leather Tory Burch bag to go with Alexander McQueen couture all on my lunch hour does indeed = happiest place on earth.

courtesty of decanter.com as my photos are not this good!

We paired yummy scorched cocoa almonds from Selfridges designer chocolate department....

...with a 10 year ruby port for Helena and a 2004 Hungarian Tokaj for me (served in a large glass no less!)

...note:  drinking this Tokaj will somehow justify any post imbibing purchases. You have been warned!

My favorite hotel bars in London

There's simply something magical about enjoying a great cocktail in a gorgeous setting served up by handsome suited bartenders! Perhaps again I imagine myself as a jazz baby, or a 1930's starlet meeting her married lover, or a spy waiting a rendezvous like a scene from Casablanca, if only in my imagination. So when I am feeling in need of a bit of mid week glamour & attention, without jetting off to Paris, I can often be found at one of these bars.

Here are some of my favorites in no particular order:

1. Claridges Bar at Claridge's Hotel Scene: Celebrity and Eurotrash. Best for people watching if you can get in, and especially if you can grab a seat at the bar. Exceptionally friendly and down to earth staff.

Claridges Bar

2. Rivoli Bar at the Ritz.  Scene: Impeccably coiffed British Countess. Lovely art deco inspired bar with soft peach lighting to purposely soften the complexion and make us ladies look as young and dewy as Doris Day! Overdressed? Never at the Rivoli. Best place to wear red lipstick and your gran's veiled hats.

Rivoli Bar

3. Knights Bar at Simpson's on the Strand. Scene: Dapper Gentleman's Bar. Great for a crisp, dry martini and priced less than the average hotel bar.You'll be in the company of suited men who have been drinking martinis there for about 40 years.

Knights Bar

4. Connaught Bar at the Connaught Hotel.  Table side martini service. Need I say more? Read my very first post.

5. Amaranto Bar at the Four Seasons. Scene: Ripe for romantic tryst. Red, sexy and exclusive. Purposefully not a destination bar which means lots of seating and anonymity. Not available to the public in the late evening.

Amaranto Bar

6. China Tang at the Dorchester. Scene: 1920's Shanghai Spy. Make your way downstairs to this dimly lit bar and exchange spy stories. Wear your shades if you want to give the illusion of "mysterious celebrity". Chances are you are sitting next to one. Be sure to check out the loos before you leave.

China Tang

Honorable Mention. Beaufort Bar at The Savoy Hotel. It's long and colorful history attracts underdressed tourists, but it's still a gorgeous bar with award winning bartenders known for crafting amazing and always interesting cocktails (such as the the Winston with cognac and muddled cigar!) Worth a visit.

Beaufort Bar