The Savoy Photo Credits To Canon Photos (17)

American Bar

Perhaps the worst/best kept secret bar in Covent Garden, The Savoy’s prestigious American Bar – the world’s longest-surviving cocktail bar – is the best bar in the world. Originally opened in 1903, the first ever bartender was a lady named Ada ‘Coley’ Coleman, whose signature cocktail was the Hanky Panky, still a popular choice today. Ada’s successor was the inspirational Harry Craddock, who not only created a number of classic cocktails but who notoriously compiled these recipes into the legendary Savoy Cocktail book, still regarded today as the bartender’s bible. From cocktails such as Curtain Call, inspired my frequent guest of The Savoy Marlene Dietrich, all the way to First Impressions, which is based on the first time David Bowie and Elizabeth Taylor met in which Bowie kept her waiting for four hours.