The Bar at The Peninsula

On the first floor of the 1928 landmark, The Bar deals in timeless rituals: a perfect Negroni stirred tableside, an 81-year-old Scotch whisky displayed like museum art, and the nightly presence of a jazz pianist who sets the room’s unhurried pace. The decor is pure Peninsula: dark mahogany, plush seating and warm lighting that flatters every table. Signature cocktails like The Hive (sweet, light, effortlessly smooth) and Green Parrot (herbal, bold, not for the faint of heart) sit alongside classics executed with five-star precision. The staff, led by veterans who remember faces across decades, offer the sort of intuitive service that makes first-timers feel like regulars.

Tatler Tip

Arrive just after nine, when the first set of live piano gives way to something looser. The room settles, the regulars appear, and the bartenders have time to pour that 81-year-old Scotch if you ask nicely.