Stafford Restaurant & American Bar Overview
Whether you choose to visit the Stafford Restaurant, the world-famous American Bar or the Private Dining Rooms, their staff have years of experience and are accustomed to fulfilling all your special requests.
Great food and wines play a large part in any stay at The Stafford Hotel. An award-winning kitchen team, headed by Executive Chef Mark Budd, create a range of modern, British and classical dishes to tempt all palates. Recent accolades include rosettes from the Automobile Association and a fine dining award from Condé Nast's Gourmet magazine.
To complement your meal, a vast range of fine and rare vintage wines are housed in the hotel's 350-year-old cellars. Their Master Sommelier, Gino Nardella, is one of just a handful in the United Kingdom and he takes great pleasure in sharing his incredible knowledge with others.
Gentlemen are required to wear a jacket in the Restaurant.
The American Bar is so called because in the early 1930s the West End hotels started to cater for the ever-growing American market crossing the Atlantic aboard the multitude of ocean-going liners, long before the 747 was ever thought possible. The intrepid travellers from North America brought with them such exotic drinks as Manhattans, Martinis, Sidecars, The Vanderbilt Cocktail and the Waldorf. Prior to this the most adventurous cocktail an Englishman would drink was probably a Pink Gin or a Whisky and Soda. Every West End hotel then named their bar “The American Bar” in order to show that they catered for the American market.
Over the years most hotels have renamed their bars and only The Stafford, The Savoy and The Connaught have kept the name The American Bar.
The American Bar is small and definitely well lived in - but really does have a worldwide reputation. Hundreds of signed celebrity photographs crowd the walls, and the ceiling is hung with a colourful collection of club ties, sporting mementoes and baseball caps. The bar is a confirmed favourite of American guests.
The bar was once declared as serving the best martini in the world and has won awards including being voted the second 'Best Cocktail Bar' as voted by Gourmet magazine.
Although the martini is a firm favourite, the American Bar does have other specialities, including The Owner's Brew. This dark English beer is in fact brewed by Daniel Thwaites, a Lancashire-based, family-controlled brewery that happens to own The Stafford! In the home town of Blackburn, the beer is still delivered by Shire horses; however, The Stafford's weekly supplies come by a slightly more up-to-date means of transport.
The American Bar is open daily and also serves light snacks and suppers. Dress code: Gentlemen are required to wear jackets in the evenings. (Updated 30/11/2008)
Additional Info: Food, Cocktails
Nearby Venues:
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