Artesian Bar

You definitely need to go here (the #1 bar in the world) when visiting London. I visited twice on my last trip to London. The first time, I agreed it was the best bar in the world but when I visited the next day I realized it was a gimmick. All show and no substance. The presentation is great but if you take that away and order a normal cocktail, it was below par. The cocktails and presentations change seasonally which is impressive since it required massive overhead.

Well.
Well.
Well.
As far as cocktails go, This place has it freakin’ going on.
It has it going on so much its gone.
Whatever the hell that means.
For the first time in my life i’m unsure of how to write a review because i doubt anyone will believe me when i say this is the best bar ever.
I drank form a volcanic rock.
I couldnt even see what i was drinking but it didnt matter. What entered my mouth had me in awe.
If i wasnt so desperately trying not to look like an alcoholic to my friends and family id be there everyday.
The service was amazing.
We wanted to order their famous marshmallows but it was too early, the chef made an exception for us and made them anyway.
Im going to put that down to how well my eyeliner was done that day.
Amazing.

You’d think the «best cocktail bar in the world» would be snobby. But it isn’t. Very friendly staff that makes you feel welcome. That the cocktails are delicious goes without saying. Best Sazerac I’ve ever had!

Why can’t I give this a 10* rating??? 5 just doesn’t cut it!
OK ok so part of my birthday plans was to spend my life savings at this bar… why? Because its been voted the World’s Best Bar for 4 consecutive years that’s why! So I just knew I wouldn’t have regrets.
The reception we received was warm and welcoming! The staff were EXTREMELY accommodating so the service gets a 10* rating too!
Now for the drinks! Wow! Just wow! The award was well deserved indeed! I have had manyyyyyy cocktails in my 28 years but these were by far the best!
They had textures and layers to them! They played around with most senses! Touch, taste and visual!
I had a few I won’t lie! Lol and I came away pretty hammered but that was the whole point as it was my birthday … One of the cocktails I had is a must try. «Chameleon Crystals». WOAH! comes in a box which when you open pours out smoke and light from heaven itself!!! I don’t even have to go into the taste… Trust me, it was to die for! I could list them all but I have to get back to work and this review must end lol. Price wise £18 a cocktail and great value if you consider the quality you’re getting! Seriously so worth it! I’ve found my new den! Haha

Definitely ‘one to impress’.but not your bank manager.
A super fun place to pop in for a surreal cocktail or two, and then move on.
Food OK, music was pretty average.
Reservations highly recommended.
One to keep up your sleeve.

Ein Cocktail kostet hier mit Service-​Charge knapp 30,00 €. Dafür bekommt man allerdings nicht nur das Gefühl, in der besten Bar der Welt zu sitzen, sondern auch einen Weltklasse-​Cocktail, der meist auch auf besondere Art und Weise präsentiert wird.
Auch toll: die Bar öffnet bereits um 11:00 Uhr. Die Atmosphäre ist dann zwar weniger «Bar» und mehr «Hotellobby», aber ein Barkeeper ist vor Ort und man bekommt alle Drinks.

My girlfriend and I came to Artesian expecting to have one decadent, excellent evening. We came back the next night, breaking our vacation rule of «not the same place twice.»
The surrealism-​themed cocktail menu is a tour de force, playful and artistic but skillfully avoiding campy or gimmicky. Over the course of the two nights we tried all but a handful of the cocktails, and we had the distinct pleasure of seeing the establishment both brimming and serene, perfectly coordinated by the manager (who was also serving and politely chatting with guests).
The cocktails are perfectly balanced mixtures of spirits and bitter/​sweet flavors. The color, aroma and mouthfeel were all, it seems, carefully constructed to be consistent with the idea of the drink. For example, what vessel would a dryad choose for serving an aromatic, energetic and earthy cocktail? A white shell and silver lily pad, of course.
At it’s core, Artesian is a labor of love, and that love is attentive, obsessive and honest. There is no false seriousness or manicured aura of a craftsman’s mystery – it is a plain, innocently excited statement of how wonderful, fun and truly delicious cocktails can be.

This is a great bar. Cocktails are innovative and yummy. The presentation for some is just amazing. This place is really laid back considering that it has been voted best bar. It is not pretentious at all! The staff is really friendly and happy to suggest the right drink for you based on your taste. I also had a burger her which was served with fries. Food was decently priced considering the type of place. Drinks are expensive but not do surprising for a London bar.

This has been voted best bar in the world so it was on my list to visit for quite some time.
It is not possible to make a reservation, but we strolled in for cocktails on a Sunday afternoon without a problem. Everyone there is friendly and can offer suggestions.
There is a great vibe and the atmosphere isn’t stuffy at all. We ordered food as well as drinks and couldn’t fault either. The cocktails were absolutely delicious and I only wish it weren’t as pricey so I could try even more.

This was such a fun bar! There was six of us, and at first they were hesitant to get us seated since we were a big group without reservations, but we waited about 30 minutes and they were able to squeeze us in at a table. I’ll admit, the atmosphere was a bit for rich stuffy people, but it turns out the service was top notch and the drinks were anything but stuffy. I would go by your waiter’s suggestion, I told him what I liked and he picked the perfect drinks for me. We ended up getting a second round of drinks for the whole table, because we really wanted to get the drink served in a box (opens up with «smoke» and all). In addition to the presentation of the drinks being unique, the flavors were too, and in a good way.
So yes, the drinks are very pricey, but for the amount of alcohol (yes, we all felt a buzz by the second drink) and the experience, it’s certainly worth it for special occasions.

The prestigious organization Drinks International has voted Artesian the number one cocktail bar in the world for several years running, and it’s not difficult to understand why. In truth, calling it a «cocktail bar» is a bit gauche, as this place is a lot more ambitious than that. It’s more of a «cocktail gallery,» as every cocktail carries a certain artistry and technique that few can replicate.
We arrived late afternoon on a weekday, at which point there was already a bustling after-​work crowd, but no line out front. No tables were available, but the courteous hostess did allow us to stand at the bar and order. That was fine with me, even preferable — as an amateur mixologist, I was fascinated to watch these pros work at bartending’s highest level.
You might want to dress in a smart manner. To my knowledge there is no dress code, but while I did put in *some* effort to not look like a total American tourist buffoon, I still did not even begin to approach the level of sartorial sophistication of the crowd inside, one I can only assume is mostly comprised of young hotshot London investment bankers. Ah well. As long as the bartenders don’t treat me like a second class citizen because I’m not wearing an expensive bespoke suit, I don’t really care.
The cocktail I ordered involved setting a sprig of pine aflame and letting it smoke inside a rectangular chamber for aromatic purposes. Another featured frankincense and bergamot orange — which you would think would be very herbal and bitter, but actually came out pleasingly sweet and way too easy drinking.
The one and only true negative I can bring up for Artesian is the shocking price tag. Even if I received my salary in GBP, 18 pounds for a cocktail is a lot. Unfortunately, since I of course get paid in good old US greenbacks, for me one cocktail cost nearly 30 USD. I would have loved to hang around and try more of the adventurous «Surrealism» portion of the menu, but when one round of cocktails for two costs 60 USD, going one-​and-​done is an all too easy decision.
Expensive to be sure, but a must-​do for any serious cocktail connoisseur, even if just for one drink.

El lugar es extraño quizás un poco kitsch.
Pero ha sido cuatro años considerado el mejor bar de cócteles del mundo.
Puedes tomar un trago regular como un Gin & Tonic o una caipirinha pero te recomiendo animarte al menú especial y que actualmente está en curso es un menú inspirado en el surrealismo.
Los magos detrás de esto son dos famosos cantineros Alex Kratena y Simone Caporale. En mi opinión como bar tender creo que esos están haciendo historia y serán en un próximo futuro dos leyendas de la coctelería. Llegue a la barra y déjate guiar por el cantinero no te va a defraudar.

So they say that this is the best bar in the world.
I can see why.
The presentation of the food and cocktails here were amazing. The décor of the place itself is meh.
But shouldn’t the effort be going more into what you’re consuming? I mean, this place IS in a hotel, so they can do but so much with their décor without stepping out of code and accordance with the hotel.
So, it was definitely quite a wait. But worth it. You did have the people who snaked in front of you, begging to come in because they knew someone or stayed in the hotel.
Damn, get in on your own accord for goodness sake and don’t ditch the line. You’d think adults would learn this by now.
Yeah…nope –_​–
Anyways, once my friend and I were able to be seated, we had an experience indeed.
Tapas/​hor d’oeuvres & crazily crafted drinks.
I’d definitely go back.
Service was lacking a bit but definitely not horrible. Justified some since they were crazy busy.
Pictures say 1,000 words…
Go.

Voted the world’s best bar, 3 years in the running. This stylish hotel bar inside The Langham Hotel is one of the most forward thinking and avant garde cocktail bars in the world. Alex and Simone never stopped its creative innovation development, the latest menu is inspired by surrealism that challenge yours five sense. «How not to be seen» contained smoke elements and a nutty element was a hit for me with its choice of cognac that blended in so smoothly with the agave, very interesting flavours. And the service here isworld class, I can remember most of the stuff from 3 years ago, which show real HR commitment from the management team which is all too rare in the hospitality world.

Working in the alcohol industry back in the states, I knew I had to try one of the 18£ Artesian cocktails! Although they are pricy, the presentation is so beautiful and the drinks are definitely unique and will challenge your taste buds. I had the anti hero… Tequila based, but with smoke, blood orange and a couple other spirits unfamiliar to me. I also tried the club sandwich, which was excellent. It’s a high class experience and you will pay dearly for it… Around $ 60 for a cocktail and sandwich, but it’s an experience you will remember.

Said to be the best cocktail bar in the world, the Artesian Bar failed to impress me. the décor was flambouyant and baroque — an outdated trend — and if I’m honest just felt a bit cheap and tacky. The cocktails are equally flambouyant and also experimental but I don’t think worthy of the hefty price tag.
If you’re looking for an experimental cocktail that’s delivered in a theatrical manner I’d recommend Lounge Bohemia. The cocktails are better and significantly cheaper.

The Artesian Bar was voted the best bar in the world last year, and many years before that. And it’s unbelievably easy to see why.
Tucked away inside the Langham Hotel, you can’t make a reservation for a table, just have to risk it. We came in and were told they were all full but could put our name down. Only one opened right after that and we were sat.
Surprising, since this is a bar you can sit at forever. It’s comfortable, the lighting is neither too dark or too bright, the staff are attentive but not annoying, there are little nuts and chip snacks that are constantly being refilled and every once and while they’ll bring over something for you to try, like fried truffle broccoli in a gourmet mayo sauce. Mmm.
But not surprising, since the cocktails are £18 a pop, maybe you can’t sit there forever.
However, if you are in London, visiting or live here, you must go. Because not only does the Artesian make some of the best cocktails I’ve ever had in my life, their presentation is beyond phenomenal. One we ordered came in a glowing box, a la Pulp Fiction, with seasoned smoke pouring out. Another came contained in a net that you can drape off your finger when you put on the ring at the top. And the best one came in a specially made lego-​esq elephant that was based off the painting of Dali.
The Artesian is not cheap, but my god, it is an experience that everyone must have.

Simone is a master of his craft! The ambiance of this place was great but you need to go for the drinks and watch him as he works. The amount of work that goes into each drink is absolutely worth the price! Must go when in London!

Drinks were good — I had Death of a Gangsta, which was a coffee, elderflower, tonic-​based drink. Very unique and great presentation in a chemistry lab flask-​sort of glass.
Ambience was nice as well — posh but not overdone. Small splashes of oriental influence, which I appreciated.
Service was prompt and solid. They came to check whether we needed anything more every once in a while and also let us split the bill multiple ways in the end.
All in all, a great place for drinks if you’re in a posh kind of mood!

Well you don’t get called the best bar in the world for nothing. Drinks might cost you half your wages but go on pay day and at least treat yourself to one.
The atmosphere isn’t relaxed but you are in a hotel bar.
Enjoy it for what it is and if your lucky they’ll bring round extra nibbles, which will sort of make up for the fact that they’re charging you three times as much as anywhere else.

Tolle, extravagante Drinks… super Sound und chilliges Personal! Fantastische Atmosphäre!!! Sehr teuer aber wär in einer der besten Bars der Welt was trinken möchte wird es nicht bereuen…

Simply brilliant. The cocktails were definitely the one thing the Artesian placed its emphasis on. The service was sublime and the flavors unparalleled. It was evident why this is the world’s best cocktail bar.
While the chairs looked comfortable, nothing compares to seeing Simone Caporale mixing drinks. The bartenders are extremely pleasant and polite and the overall atmosphere pleasant and fun.
Overall, impeccable service and a relaxed ambience combined with the world’s finest cocktails make for one hell of an experience.

Elle est où la sixième étoile? Oui vous savez celle qu’on peut mettre aux établissements qui sortent largement du lot, où on sait qu’on va passer un moment d’exception?
Ici, on est au Langham Hotel (bien situé, vraiment chic)…
Ici c’est aussi le meilleur bar à cocktail du monde depuis 3 ans selon des gens très très sérieux…
Ici c’est surtout un lieu où l’on AIME les cocktails…
Accueil classe et discret, pas de banderoles et de coupes étalées partout… c’est un salon d’hôtels point barre, on peut y accéder sans être particulièrement bien habillé (évitez la combo Marcel/​chaussettes sous tongs quand même), qui sert des cocktails de folie, avec des barmans qui frisent le génie… mais ultra simples et accessibles!
Un conseil, restez au bar, n’allez pas en salle, et laissez vous guider par vos envies et la carte, et n’hésitez pas à parler au Barman (c’est même une obligation s’il est disponible)…Nous avons été servis par Simone Caporale… assez beaucoup très connu dans le milieu, mais qui nous a accueilli avec simplicité et passion de son métier.
Bien sur je pense que ce n’est pas tous les soirs comme ça, il a parlé d’une moyenne de 700 cocktails par jour sur les jours d’affluence (ah oui quand même!) donc un conseil, réservez votre virée à l’Artesian pour un dimanche soir. Et pensez à checker votre compte en banque avant (17 – 19 livres le cocktail …)mais les cocktails sont très généreux en quantité et ça vaut le détour!
Les cocktails à la carte et à la demande sont originaux et chaque cocktail est présenté avec soin et recherché… Du grand spectacle sans chichi!

Este bar fue seleccionado como el mejor bar del mundo 2014. Es el bar de un hotel, precioso, a unos metros de la BBC.
Los tragos vienen presentados en distintas copas (el mio vino en un anana, por ejemplo) dependiendo de su temática.
La atención es buena, tienen wifi, lo único malo es que justo cuando fuimos (noviembre) no estaban disponibles un par de tragos (varios). Muy recomendable, la barra es una cosa de locos.

There’s a reason Artesian has been voted the number one cocktail bar in the World.
Located inside the posh Langham Hotel, Artesian is the epitome of sophistication and tasteful refinement. While you can reserve tables in advance, snagging a spot at the bar is quite an entertaining option as then you can watch the bartenders craft each drink. Fresh herbs and edible flowers are painstakingly placed, and watching them work is tantamount to watching a well choreographed ballet. Don’t get me wrong, the price tag certainly matches the setting, but undoubtedly, you will receive a caliber of libation that will assuage your guilt.
Jasmine, curry, and volcanic ash rims to add an element of smokiness, each unusual ingredient tests the boundaries of standard cocktails and elevates the presentation into a fine art stimulating all the senses. Although they do offer some of the more traditional standbys like the Negroni and the Bloody Mary, their unique concoctions are not to be missed. The titles are witty and whimsical, and nod to the experience ahead (enter the West Side Story mention with the «I Feel Pretty,» made with Frankincense, Bergamot, Mandarin, Raspberry, and Rice). The menu changes every so often, making a specific recommendation difficult, but undoubtedly each will bring satisfaction and a bit of tipsy euphoria. The bartenders are immensely knowledgeable and friendly, despite the focus required for each drink, so if you’re undecided they can help steer you depending on your libation preferences, and perhaps offer some interesting trivia on your chosen cocktail too.
They also keep the bar snacks plentifully stocked, although if you’ve got a cashew addiction like I do, I recommend treading with caution (especially if you’ve just popped in on your way to a multi-​course dinner, a tremendous error on my part). Ditto if you’re a fan of chips, or rather «crisps.» Instead, plan ahead and stick to cocktails, or commit your stomach to a full evening at the Langham, and just order off their food menu. They’ve got everything from caviar and oysters to dim sum. You can even choose to enjoy your cuisine with beer, wine, or champagne, if you’ve reached your cocktail limit (although I can’t imagine passing up their creations).
Plan ahead, bring a date, or make it a special occasion (which can also include a just-because-I’m-here-in-London occasion), just be sure to find an excuse to give this venerable cocktail bar a try, it is well worth the hype.

Après avoir testé le bar du George V à Paris, nous avons voulu testé le bar du Langham Hotel à Londres qui a été élu le meilleur bar au monde.
Comme je peux comparer avec le George :
— beaucoup plus détendu: personne né m’a regardé de travers en basket et rucksack (bon après c’est l’effet Londres où tout le monde est punk et moins «chic» qu’à Paris)
— les cocktails étaient à 16£ (donc un peu moins cher qu’au George où c’était 27 €)
— les mises en scènes des cocktails étaient très fun: tête de mort, miroir, encens, etc.
— malgré le monde, il y avait de la place pour nous un samedi soir 23h après une petite attente au bar
— tout le personnel était très sympa!
Bref, si vous aimez tester les bars de grands hôtels, celui là était cool !