The big smoke that is our beloved bustling London, has never been in a dearth supply of coveted Michelin star establishments, nor palatial cocktail hideaways to engage in a little sophisticated sipping.
No bon ton dining experience or twilight nightcap is plausible without a pre banquet aperitif or four at Artesian, a distinguished cocktail destination for the high life clique. Christened after the aboriginal, 360-feet deep under hotel well Artesian has periodically been crowned Queen of the cocktails winning the Oscars of the cocktail sphere, The World’s Best Bar Award, from 2011-15.
Nestled at the top of Regent Street inside the palatial Forbes five-Star 2022 hotel champion, the Langham, London, Artesian continues to battle their fellow boujee tipple saloons, breaking all barriers in the sphere of creative mixology and theatricality.
With David Collins-Studio at the helm to cast their award-winning design wizardry, the bar’s interiors infused a perception of the historic Victorian reminiscence, enveloped with a far flung Oriental touch. This is evident in the jewel purple leather seating, lampshades resting on intricate horse head features and exquisitely elaborate, antique gold chandeliers of colossal proportions adorning the high ceilings. During the day, Artesian acts as a relaxing snug oasis bathed in lashings of natural light from the head to toe windows, transforming into a high spirited nightcap gala as the chandeliers illuminate their gleaming yellow rays.
A splendorous, backlit mirrored bar houses a handsome liquor and spirits apparel, to form the sacred base of Artesian’s fresh new menu based on the concepts of Duality, which connects a former past heritage with the time ahead and also represents two sides of the same coin.
The cocktail menu sits under the watchful eyes of the head bartender and Italian belle, Giulia Cuccurullo alongside her equally charming sidekick and bar manager, Lorenza Pezzetta. Anything but a stranger to a glossed up bar, Lorenza’s gleaming aperitif resume showcases a remarkable five-year tenure within the time-honoured elegance of the Connaught Bar, not neglecting an enviable stint at the crown jewel of the private members club world, Annabel’s.
Post a flute of bubbling Taittinger to whet my beverage appetite, the evening of cocktail dramatics commenced with a concoction of ‘Amo and Odi’ (‘Love and Hate’). Odi collides sweet fresh watermelon with its cucumber notes, smooth vanilla and spice notes with lemon and botanical tinges from the Tanqueray gin, while Amo chose a take on the negroni with an usual flavour swirl pitched in from a sprinkling of blue cheese, and Artesian’s secret umami essence for a full flavour explosion.
The ‘Good and Evil’ plays to a passionfruit lovers palate, eye-catchingly vibrant in deep orange hues with the ‘good’ parts of sweet, tart passionfruit, and a smooth coastal rose palate from the Hendricks Neptunia gin enveloping a splash of Chablis wine. The ‘good’ battles against the ‘evil’ side whom celebrates the forsaken and shunned ingredient elements, where apple-y touched oxidised wine marries into rich malted whiskey, rounded off with the heady bitter yet zesty liqueur of passionfruit husk.
Determined to live up to the growing hype of my cocktail Queen reputation, it was obligatory to continue the refreshment affair with a serving of ‘Light and Darkness’. Where ‘light’ embraced the radiance of woody pine fresh aromas from the Monkey 47 gin with the mustard heat from wasabi leaves, ‘darkness’ took to the shadows with a squeeze of fresh lime amalgamated into smooth oaky Herradura Blanco Tequila and an edge of sharp, peppery Galangal.
Few and far between cocktail bars compete with Artesian’s fine food pairing, where keeping the cocktail contents in scrumptious companionship, is Artesian’s recently launched partnership with Soho’s jovial eatery Humble Chicken, courtesy of chef Angelo Sato. Drawing inspiration from his Japanese heritage, Angelo came armed with a mission to revamp his motherland’s toothsome cuisine using a creative and sustainable flair, with the flavours elevated to high powered magnitude when coupled with the Dualiity cocktail spread.
Graceful guests and visiting diners are invited to sample a menu that exhilarates the tastebuds with the likes of a helping of melt-in-the-mouth Peking duck bao sliders brimming with slow cooked shredded meat, or a finely chopped avocado tartare served with tangy wasabi ponzu to cut through the rich creaminess.
Not one to be abandoned in this gourmet fest, the buttermilk chicken arrived steaming hot enveloped in a crisp, golden spiced batter with a helping of spiced miso mayo, while the meaty tuna tartare sprung to life with the mild toasted aromas from the sprinkling of sesame seeds and soy sauce, making this anything but a humble conclusion to a stellar evening.
In a nutshell
While Artesian may have been dethroned from their coveted title as World’s Best Bar in the most recent era, this cocktail sanctum is once again wooing the dazzling crowds of London’s finest fast-living neighbourhoods with their reignited menu, served up by the bar’s impeccably astute service brigade whom live to alight your night.
Whether for a swift yet indulgent pre dinner aperitif or a marathon midnight frolic, it looks as though Artesian is once again finding it’s groove as the team set their eyes on the prize, prepared to reclaim their one time unconquerable place at the pinnacle of the cocktail pyramid.
Factbox
Address: 1C Portland Pl, London W1B 1JA
Telephone: 0207 636 1000
Website: artesian-bar.co.uk
