Artesian Overview
Anyone without prior knowledge of Artesian’s existence could easily stroll past the stately entrance of Portland Place’s prestigious Langham hotel oblivious to the fact that concealed in one clandestine corner is one of London’s most up-and-coming bar/restaurants. Those who make the discovery to the left of the Langham’s main entrance hall, however, are in for a unique experience.
Entering from the refined traditionalism of the Langham’s grand hallways, Artesian certainly makes a lasting first impression. The striking décor, recently redesigned at great expense by celebrated interior designer David Collins (no, I hadn’t heard of him either), is a bizarre concoction of Middle Eastern, oriental and art deco influences, combining classic touches with contemporary flourishes, all hued in equal parts cool, vintage violet and loud, trashy chintz. By the time you collect your coat and exit back through the Langham’s relatively restrained hallways at the end of the night, you may still be deciding whether that initial impression was good or bad.
The clientele sat around us in Artesian - a mix of businessmen, well-to-do ladies, transient hotel guests on their way in or out, and the trendy young London socialites at whom Artesian seems primarily targeted – is similarly varied, as is the jazzy, ethnically-infused dance music that at first seemed a little busy and overbearing, but soon felt appropriate for the eclecticism of the Artesian experience.
As for the food, the selection, though not extensive, is again culturally diverse. My dining partner and I opted for a Chinese platter to share, which comprised a fairly standard oriental selection including dim sum, fried pork, breaded prawns and other Chinese staples. Though all perfectly nice, only the deliciously crisp yet juicy sesame toast and spring rolls really stood out as particularly worthy of the considerable price.
Artesian is not primarily a restaurant, however, and its culinary offerings are clearly designed merely as an accompaniment to the venue’s real essence of being - its cocktails. And in this field, the quality is uniformly excellent. I could tell from the enthusiasm with which deputy bar manager Ed waxed lyrical on the vast range of alcohols available - sourced from all round the world, and stringently sampled and scrutinised before being afforded admittance to the Artesian cabinet - that this excellence is the result of a genuine passion for the quality of ingredients and the art of mixing them. And as someone who has had the good fortune to have sipped daiquiris in Havana’s Floridita bar, where the drink was first popularised, I can honestly say that daiquiris served in Artesian were at least the equal, if not better than those I drank in Cuba. The Ernest Hemmingway was a particular delight, and should not be missed by any visitor. The quality of the other cocktails sampled was also high, worthy of the high prices, while the menu’s breadth was similarly impressive, including concoctions that I had not previously seen on any other drinks menu in the UK.
Overall, Artesian has been very successful in its concerted efforts to cultivate an entirely unique bar experience, and if this review seems to pay disproportionate attention to the look and sound of the place, it is because these facets are just as crucial in achieving this air of exclusivity as anything else. Though the prices are also exclusive – the special deal on Monday’s ‘daiquiris and dominoes’ night gives you and your partner two daiquiris each and a platter to share for £40 a head – the sort of customer liable to be attracted to Artesian is unlikely to ever consider trifles such as money an obstacle. A glamorous cocktail bar that itself is an exotic cocktail of a venue, Artesian truly boasts an eclectic look, feel, and menu of food and drinks that is unlike anywhere else in London – a real rarity these days.
Alistair Martin (Updated 16/07/2007)
Additional Info: Cocktails Recommended, Food, Non-Smoking Area, Late License
Nearby Venues:
- Landau (The), Modern European (0.00km)
- Ozer, Modern Ottoman (0.08km)
- No. 5 Cavendish Square, Modern European (0.12km)
- Match Bar (West End), Bar (0.19km)
- Gaylord Restaurant, Indian (0.19km)
- La Tasca, Spanish (0.20km)
- Annex 3, Modern European (0.20km)
- Social (Portland Street) (The), [Other/Unclassified] (0.21km)
- The Slug and Lettuce - Great Titchfield Street, Modern British (0.22km)
- Ha! Ha! Bar & Canteen, Modern European (0.22km)
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