GNH Bar & Terrace — Restaurant in London

My first visit in 2019, another trip to Scotland. I really dislike rushing across London, so tend to leave plenty of time to relax. Very busy in a Monday morning, but pleasant. Once again staff very welcoming and attentive and another excellent breakfast.

I have said this in other reviews, it's really important to set time aside, even for two hours, go and find somewhere that's different to your norm, and enjoy you time. Having nice, exciting, interesting or eye opener moments that feed your soul, followed by delicious food and a bit if pampering.. Why not.

2018 review : Chandeliers, cocktails and breakfast. A very appreciated welcome.

I enjoy a bit of bling, a bit of posh, and an opportunity to experience something new. The staff were friendly, good service with a smile.

I had salmon and scrambled egg, with Earl Grey tea. GNH Bar has a good selection of food on the menu, as well as a good cocktail menu if you fancy a cheeky one.

As an artist it's about the experience, so for me l enjoy wondering into places that heads turn as l walk in.. It might be the Mawhawk...

What a delightful way to start the day and pass the time while waiting on a train to...

I tried to order a drink at the bar. Since my partner had already gone to sit down the bartender wouldn't serve me. He told me I should go and sit down, or he could get in trouble if he delivered drinks to the wrong table. A member of staff then approached us. My partner asked about finding the toilet. He gave her some very convoluted directions. I thought he was going to take our order, but he then walked straight past me. Other staff constantly walked past me whilst my partner was away. She came back and told me that she and other people had been walking around down some stairs trying to locate the toilet. Also, before the bartender approached me another staff member had been directly in front of me at the bar and blatantly ignored me whilst he shovelled ice into glasses. The place seemed to have some idea of its own grandeur. We ended up leaving and taking our custom elsewhere. Had a relaxed lunch with prompt service in the pub in Saint Pancras. Caught the train an hour later. For goodness' sake we had some time to spare before our train and could have had a relaxed drink before...

The GNH Bar offers a glamorous refuge from the bustle of King's Cross station, and a place for travellers to share a final farewell tipple before heading on their way North, to Scotland, or indeed continental Europe.

It transports you back to a time, long before the grind of the daily commute, when rail travel was an exciting experience to be relished.

The splendour strikes you the moment you enter, all chequerboard floors, wooden tables and chandeliers.

It is exactly how Hollywood told us cocktail bars should be.

With no seats available on my first visit (it’s immediately after office hours), we head upstairs to the more secluded and cosy room that adjoins the Plum + Spilt Milk restaurant, and take our place at the bar.

I order an 1854, a Manhattan derivative (smoked pineapple syrup and crushed cardamom, shaken with Woodford Reserve and Noilly Prat) fittingly named in honour of the hotel’s original year of opening.

It’s just perfect; a drink to savour and one that totally sums up the rebirth of this fine building that so deserves a leading role in this area undergoing major...