Welcome To London!
Yes, I was just “across the pond” and want to share some of my food and drink adventures with you – we open this journey to London with a shot of the iconic Big Ben, because the clock was striking LUNCH!
Those who follow along know that I am obsessed with Fish ‘n’ Chips: I grew up in Seattle and they are required eating – and of course I had to have them in London – and I am also a bit obsessed with these as well:
Martinis!
We were in London for 4 days to help our great friend Yvette celebrate a birthday, and she arranged a lot of great food and drink tours, so of course I had to try a “Sky-High Martini” at one of the greatest bars in the world!
The World’s 6th Greatest Bar!
Connaught Bar is a world-renowned, luxury cocktail destination located within The Connaught hotel in London’s Mayfair.
The Connaught Bar in London is consistently ranked among the top bars in the world, renowned for its Art Deco style, expert service led by Agostino Perrone, and signature “Martini Trolley!”
It was ranked No. 6 on The World’s 50 Best Bars 2025 list and was named the World’s Best Bar in both 2020 and 2021.
Well, this was something – this is a photo from a travel magazine, showing a Mixologist pouring a “Sky High” Martini from the Martini trolley…but would that happen in person for us?
Before I reveal the answer, here’s a really cool way we started our visit!
A “Bitters” Tasting!
That’s right, there is a really cool “Martini Cart” and it did indeed pull over to our table, and the fun began! First, we were given 5 separate samples of Bitters to smell – we could choose whichever one we wanted for our drink – and they all had their own distinct flavor!
Our Mixologist is holding one of the “bitters bottles” in the photo below:
Then, this happened: watch as our Mixologist not only pours our drinks “sky high”, but twists and waves a lemon peel through it as he does, enhancing the flavor!
Wow!
The entire Connaught Bar experience was incredible, and it came with series of small bites as well:
What a feast! We had Iberian ham piled atop crusty bread, plus lemon cream biscuits, and of course a tater tot topped with caviar!
These bites were perfect for the drinks: not too much, just enough to cleanse the palate between drinks – and packed with flavor!
Our time in London was packed with exploration and enjoying some incredible drinks! It inspired me to try this unique Martini at home:
Yes, this “Dirty Martini Deviled Egg Dirty Martini” recipe was unique, and a bit of a challenge!
See how I did – and the one that sank like a stone – by clicking on my story here!
So much great food and drink already, but our London food trip is just beginning!
I will be sharing my fish’n’chips adventure soon, but those who have read me for awhile know I had a hilarious London food adventure once that was wild – see it here!
I wanted to get ready to eat British food, so I made some of these a while ago:
See how my “toad in the hole” recipe turned out here:
I love English food, and as soon as we booked our flight to London, I got focused on some of the traditional recipes that gave me a chance to learn more of the English culture and history as well!
I made a “Lancashire Hotpot” – inspired by my friend Carol – and loved it!
Click here for the recipe!
I also loved the English TV series and “Downton Abbey” films and have cooked from their cookbook:
It’s a delicious dinner to make anyone feel like royalty – click here for the recipe!
Speaking of dishes with a UK connection connection, I offer up this:
Yes, it’s “Spotted Dick!”
Click here for the recipe!
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Categories: Alcohol And Bars, Bite Eat Swallow, Bite! Eat! Repeat!, Fine Dining, Food, Food Pictures, Food Travel, Recipes, Restaurants, Travel, Wacky Food, World's Wildest Food
Bite! Eat! Repeat! 
I love London!!!
We hadn’t been there for a few years and missed it!
Ssh – you are giving secrets away . . . to me the Connaught Hotel on Carlos Place was home away from home every British summer for decades … but I had it better than you . . . there was no bar at the time but a drawing room to the left of the main entrance . . . one did not use the tiny lift but walked downstairs at the appropriate time and everyone, literally everyone, joined for the very well made G&Ts and best of whiskies and sherries British style there. If you knew to make that your London residence – that was enough of recommendation . . . 😉 ! It was very much a quiet home away from home for many actors at the time when they wanted a private stay . . .the place I met and became friends with Deborah Kerr and James Mason and Rex Harrison and Stewart Granger at times and quite fell for Peter Ustinov . . . and then walked down the corridor to the then best grill room in London . . so I am reading now of the much bigger version but know my time was a very special era in London . . . oh, no TV in the rooms . . . that was not part of the then scenario . . .
Wow, thanks for sharing that! A classic time to be sure!
After all these indulgences, you must have slept very well!
Our friend front loaded our schedule so we never got a morning off! But it was fun! Thanks for the note!