27th March 2007
A mate recommended Dukes Hotel for its martinis so I went their before dinner on a Friday evening with 3 friends.
The bar is cosy, quite small and with a pleasant 'old world' rather than trendy feel. It's hidden just off St James's and it's not somewhere you're likely just to chance across.
There was a mix of well-heeled 30- and 40-somethings when we got there at about 8pm and it seems to be a great place to relax and have a catch up with old friends/business colleagues over a cocktail or two. I probably wouldn't recommend it if you were looking for a romantic 'first date' kind of venue though.
Part of the theatre of the place is that they prepare the martinis on a small trolley by your seats...its a nice touch. I agree with the other reviewer that their cocktails are leathal in their size and strength!
It's a gem of a bar and definitely one I'll return to.