The Best Bars Near Hyde Park Corner
The best bars near Hyde Park Corner are almost all in the grand hotels that ring the junction, with one much loved pub tucked into a mews behind them. Everything below is within about ten minutes' walk of Hyde Park Corner station, so you can pair a drink with a walk in the park or a visit to Wellington Arch. One note before you go: the old Blue Bar at The Berkeley has closed, and the hotel's bar today is The Berkeley Bar and Terrace.
The Library Bar at The Lanesborough
Set inside The Lanesborough, right on Hyde Park Corner, The Library Bar feels like a private club, yet it draws locals from Knightsbridge and Belgravia as well as hotel guests. Its collection of cognacs and whiskies includes bottles dating back to 1770, and the cocktails are mixed by an award winning team. Live piano evenings run during the week, and art books from the publisher Rizzoli are displayed around the room. Reserve a table through the hotel website. The address is Hyde Park Corner, SW1X 7TA.
Brooklands Bar at The Peninsula London
On the eighth floor of The Peninsula London, Brooklands Bar is a rooftop cocktail bar with views across the London skyline. The design picks up the themes of British aviation and motor racing: the latticed ceiling echoes a 1930s twin engine bomber, and the glass chandelier recalls the blades of a jet engine. Order from the classic cocktails or the more conceptual drinks developed in the hotel's Drinks Studio. Brooklands Bar takes no reservations. Find it at 1 Grosvenor Place, SW1X 7HJ, right by Hyde Park Corner station.
The Berkeley Bar and Terrace
A short walk west along Knightsbridge, The Berkeley Bar is panelled in timber from the Fulbeck Walnut, a tree that fell in the Great Storm of 2007. The cocktail menu celebrates the hotel's Belgravia neighbours, with ten drinks each inspired by a local name, plus seasonal small plates and bar classics. There is a terrace outside and a private room, The Snug, for groups. The bar does not take reservations and stays open until 1am from Monday to Saturday. It is at The Berkeley, Wilton Place, SW1X 7RL.
The Halkin Bar at COMO The Halkin
For something calmer, the Halkin Bar sits just off the lobby of COMO The Halkin, on a quiet Belgravia street. It works from morning to night: coffee or a light lunch by day and cocktails in the evening, while the hotel serves afternoon tea daily from 2pm to 6pm. The hotel is known for its healthy COMO Shambhala menus, so there are good options if you want a bite with your drink. Find it at 5 to 6 Halkin Street, SW1X 7DJ, about five minutes' walk from Hyde Park Corner station.
The Grenadier
Hidden in cobbled Wilton Row, just off Wilton Crescent, The Grenadier is the pub to choose when you have had enough of hotel bars. Its ceiling is covered in banknotes, left by visitors trying to settle the debt of Cedric, a soldier who, legend has it, was caught cheating at cards and now haunts the place. The kitchen serves pub classics daily and roasts on Sundays, and the dining room can be booked. The address is 18 Wilton Row, SW1X 7NR, about five minutes from Hyde Park Corner station.
The Mandarin Bar
Further along Knightsbridge, about ten minutes' walk from the junction, The Mandarin Bar at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park is the most glamorous of the group. It is arranged around a rectangular, catwalk style bar beneath suspended copper and glass lights, with a caviar menu and bar snacks alongside the cocktails and Champagne. It opens at 5pm on weekdays and at noon at weekends. The address is 66 Knightsbridge, SW1X 7LA, and Knightsbridge station is closer than Hyde Park Corner.
Good to know: the hotel bars are smart, so dress the part, and expect to pay hotel prices. Brooklands Bar and The Berkeley Bar operate a walk-in policy, so arrive early on Fridays and Saturdays. For an early evening drink before dinner, combine one of these with a stroll through Hyde Park or a visit to Wellington Arch.
