Tried & Tasted: Four of the best bars in Mayfair for spring cocktails

There’s nothing like London in the sunshine, and what better way to celebrate the first hint of spring than with a cocktail or two? A postcode synonymous with luxury and style, Mayfair’s social scene is bursting with new openings, old favourites and hidden gems as restaurateurs, hoteliers and award-winning mixologists continue to elevate the city’s cocktail culture. Whether you’re looking for a sophisticated evening, a vibrant place to catch up with friends or a date night spot that is certain to impress, Mayfair offers a plethora of options stretching from the glitz of Park Lane to the historic charm of Berkeley Square. Wherever your night takes you, Mayfair’s venues promise not only drinks, but an immersion in the very best of London’s hospitality, style and spirit. So, for the inaugural instalment of our Tried & Tested series, Tempus reveals our top four picks of the best cocktail bars in Mayfair – ensuring that, no matter your mood, you’ll find a venue as memorable as the company you keepBAR ANTOINE | PARK LANE

Four Seasons at Park Lane has been topping best of London lists for its Michelin-starred dining from celebrated chef Yannick Alléno’s Pavyllon restaurant, but the restaurant’s Bar Antoine is just as impressive in its approach. Taking a culinary approach to cocktails, with seasonal menus and unique ‘Allénotics’, the menu is a delightful journey through the versatility of fine spirits. Try the On Dirait Le Sud for a sophisticated take on a French martini, the Jardin Ephemere for a refreshingly zingy spring spritz, or the Pandan Colada for a true taste of summer. 

The food menu is equally impressive, combining elevated bar fare with very special snacks. For a light snack, the Creative Bites section is utterly delicious, featuring items such as chicken lollipops “à la Diable” and a prawn toast cocktail, as well as Alps Socca – a moreish chickpea pancake with melted cheese and pumpkin dip. The perfect spot for pre-dinner aperitifs or late-evening entertainment in elegant retro surroundings.NIPPERKIN | BERKELEY SQUARE

For cocktail-lovers and gastronomes in search of something truly special, Nipperkin at Nijū is not to be missed. Tucked beneath the streets of Berkeley Square, Nipperkin is a warm and welcoming hideaway that puts the artistry of mixology at centre stage. Snug booths, vinyl records and convivial atmosphere combine to create an intimate ambience in which award-winning mixologists work their magic with a unique cocktail list unlike any other. 

Led by flavour and crafted around four seasons of nature – prep, lean, plethora and dry – each menu showcases local seasonal ingredients blended with fine spirits and sake, complemented by bar snacks such as grilled aubergine, wagyu beef, and crudités. Every cocktail is a unique and perfectly balanced experience – the Bramley Apples & Meadowsweet features The Macallan double cask 12 year old, foraged meadowsweet, Bramley apple cordial, dry cider and wild apple soda; the Grilled Leeks & Truffles with Nipperkin’s grilled leek spirit, Cambridge truffle gin and pickled onion vermouth; Foraged Mushrooms & Ginger is blended from Michter’s rye whiskey, Nipperkin’s mushroom distillate, Mancino Kopi vermouth, fermented ginger and Exmoor wild honey; and Heritage Radishes & Koji mixes Cotswolds dry gin, Nipperkin’s koji & shiso distillate, Kanpai brewery yuzushu and sake “vermouth”. Low- and no-alcohol cocktails are concocted with equal care and attention, for a sensational experience every time. FARM SHOP | SOUTH AUDLEY STREET

The next bar on our list is one for the oenophiles. If you’re anything like us, you’ve probably walked past Farm Shop on South Audley Street time and again – maybe you’ve even popped in for one of their fresh pastries, daily lunches or to stock up on a range of British cheeses for the weekend – but head downstairs from the charming Mayfair farm shop and you’ll find an intimate wine bar full of charm and character. The venue – aptly named Wine Bar – serves seasonal small plates, charcuterie and cheeseboards (all stocked by the Somerset farm’s produce), alongside an extensive international wine list.

With 150 bin wines and an expert team of sommeliers, guests can enjoy white, orange, rosé and red wines, champagnes and sparkling wines, as well as impressive dessert wines, sherry, madeira and port. As well as exceptional international wines, Wine Bar also puts the spotlight on English wine – including the outstanding Maid of Bruton Bacchus and Maid of Bruton Rosé from their own vineyard in Somerset. BACCHANALIA | MOUNT STREET

Mount Street’s Bacchanalia could never be mistaken for understated dining. Opened in 2022 by restaurateur Richard Caring, this ostentatious (and delicious) Mediterranean restaurant is an epic evening out, with its unapologetic decadence exemplified by the statues depicting Greek mythology that dominate the space. But if you’re looking for an aperitif before your Greco-Roman feast – including moreish mezze dishes such as keftedes (meatballs), cheese croquettes, stuffed peppers and red pepper hummus – or just in the mood for a truly theatrical cocktail, head through to Apollo’s Muse. 

This private cocktail lounge, nestled inside the restaurant, continues the mythological theme by offering a veritable temple to Apollo – ancient antiquities line the marble walls, framing a stunning bar along one wall and drawing the eye to the larger-than-life-sized statue of the Greek deity at the far end of the lounge. The remarkable cocktails continue the theme, named after Greco-Roman gods and legends such as Bacchus (Don Julio Blanco and Reposado Tequila, grape, passionfruit and hibiscus), Caesar (a complex serve of Johnnie Walker Black & Blue Label Whisky, bee pollen, honey, dried cranberry, cereal and absinthe), and the indulgent Venus (Grey Goose Vodka, apple, pear and popcorn). 

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