DUKES Bar — Restaurant in London

This place is regarded as one of the best in London for martinis, and I personally love a martini. And in fact the martini I had there was actually very good. Why the 1 star review then, you might be asking? Well, I got there early, as I was meeting my friend for my birthday. It wasn't clear where to go so I went to the doorway to the bar and waited. A guy asked me if he could help me and I asked if it was possible to get a spot in the bar. He pointed to the hotel lobby and said I needed to wait. Ok, so far, no problem. There were a few others sitting around and I assumed everyone was waiting for a place in the bar. Anyway over time a few people get to go in, and my friend also turns up. A few more people go in and it's been maybe 20 minutes of waiting at this point. I'm not too bothered though as there does seem to be a system. Anyway soon after that the guy comes to me and says the bar is really full and would we prefer to go to the 'other room' now, where we could get a table immediately. Maybe stupidly, I agreed, and he points us to a room in a different direction to the bar. We start wandering over, and a few seconds later I turn back to see him leading another 2 people (who arrived after me) into the main bar! I'm a bit confused but I think ok, whatever, let's see what the other room is. Turns out the 'other room' is an overflow room with zero atmosphere and zero staff. There's no bar in there, and one other table was occupied. It was very brightly lit, and I guess it was used as a breakfast room in the hotel or something. Ended up waiting ages to get a drink too. As I previously said, the martini was decent, but I'm pretty upset by this point. No trolley service either, they just brought the drinks through. I mean if he was going to send us to that room anyway, why make us wait all that time as well? Felt like a power trip. I still don't know why the guy treated us that way. We were both dressed fairly smartly. For me, it's not somewhere I'd never visit again. Didn't feel welcome, on my birthday of all days. I'll get my martinis...

Rude staff. I booked as a hotel guest and I was the youngest person here. They treated me so horribly. Thankfully I found the hotel to be so charmingly lovely I will be back but this bar is in stark contrast to what the hotel offers do NOT trust Condé Nast it’s not a place to go if you’re under 50 and look it. If you aren’t with a group they will rudely rush you and give you the minimum service possible. I was slapped with the menu and demanded to order and told my table would be limited to a very short time with no respect to my booking. When I walked in they tried to act like I wasn’t on the list. So much so I thought I must not have met dress code or had made bookings at the hotel restaurant. Until I inquired at the front desk and was informed in fact I had booked at the bar for the correct time. The servers refused to serve me like they served the groups around me. When I finally took out my wallet and signaled I was done with the experience they billed me without my knowledge and I got a notice of the charge via email. While they continued to wait on everyone else. Absolutely not what I had come to expect when booking my stay and reservation here. Be warned if you are not in a group or are young looking. They will treat you as such. I tried to voice complaints they laughed me out of the room. The martinis weren’t even that great. I’m sure for others they actually crafted something decent but for me they seemed to be hatefully mediocre. I was shocked. I will be sure to only stay here moving forward and dine and drink only at the hotel...

We recently attempted to visit Dukes Bar in London with high hopes for a pleasant evening, but I was met with an experience that left a sour taste in my mouth. Despite being initially welcomed and told we could be seated, everything took a turn for the worse when the staff member went to consult with someone else, only to return with an abrupt “sorry, you can’t come in.”

It was disheartening to see such blatant exclusion happening in 2025, a year where inclusivity should be the norm. The whole situation felt premeditated, as if they were actively judging patrons based on criteria that had nothing to do with the quality of service or the experience they offer. It’s a shame that in a vibrant city like London, there are still places that perpetuate a culture of exclusiveness and elitism.

Instead of feeling welcome and valued, we left feeling dismissed and frustrated. There are countless venues in London that embrace diversity and ensure that everyone, regardless of their background or appearance, is welcomed with open arms. Dukes Bar clearly has a long way to go in fostering an inclusive environment for all its patrons.

This experience was not just disappointing; it was a sad reminder that places like Dukes still exist, choosing to judge rather than celebrate the richness of our diverse society. I would strongly advise anyone seeking a warm and inviting atmosphere to look elsewhere. There are many better options in London where every type of person is genuinely welcomed. Shame on the staff and management for perpetuating this...