Bar Amercain
Cocktail bar · Soho ·
Classic cocktails in an elegant Art Deco lounge setting
Classic cocktails in an elegant Art Deco lounge setting
"A low-lit, subterranean art-deco cocktail lounge with wood-paneled walls adorned by early-20th-century prints, this spot operates without reservations and exudes Golden Age charm. It offers two complementary menus—one of 19th-century classics and another inspired by Golden Age Hollywood—and white-coated bartenders mix each drink precisely. The setting and service invite classic-ordering; a less-common but fitting choice here is a light, floral Army & Navy." - BySam Stone
"If you enjoy blaming the internet for ruining your love life, then this one’s for you. When you step into Bar Américain, it all feels very 1920s Paris thanks to the art deco paintings. You know, back when you couldn’t stalk and inevitably judge their Spotify playlists before meeting them. If the date goes terribly, you can blame it on the vodka. If it goes really well, head next door to Brasserie Zédel for an old-school dinner date." - heidi lauth beasley, jake missing, sinead cranna
"Sadly, we don’t have a time machine. If we did we would let you borrow it so you could go back in time to picking your seat for the flight and avoid the world’s most iconic snorer. But, what we lack in time travel potential, we make up for in Bar Americain. This very good looking bar near Leicester Square and Soho feels distinctly like you’ve stepped back into 1920s Paris, and there’s even a cabaret spot across the hallway if you’re looking to keep the night going after a couple of old fashioneds. You’ll find this cocktail lounge inside Brasserie Zedel, a huge, surprisingly affordable French restaurant that you should definitely check out if you’re also looking for somewhere to eat in the area." - heidi lauth beasley, jake missing
"Bar Américain is an honest-to-goodness cocktail bar for grown-ups. Walking down the stairs at Brasserie Zédel near Piccadilly, it feels like you’ve turned up in a bar in 1930s Paris, complete with framed old pictures and comfy seats all over the place. The bartenders serve classics and will make your drink flawlessly, and while you can arguably get a better cocktail elsewhere in Soho, the atmosphere here is hard to beat. We wouldn’t judge you for nipping next door for a late-night dessert at the brasserie either." - heidi lauth beasley, jake missing
"Bar Américain is not the kind of bar you stumble into and demand something that sounds like it could be a Formula One sponsor. No. Shame on you. This is a bar that doesn’t even let you take pictures with the flash on, such is their commitment to providing an old-school cocktail experience. A leather-packed basement situation in the same glamorous Soho building that houses Brasserie Zédel, the cocktails here are faultless. You’re in safe hands for any of the classics but in this setting an Old Fashioned just makes sense." - heidi lauth beasley, jake missing, daisy meager