The Pine Bar - Mayfair — Restaurant in London

Did I miss something? Is this place supposed to be so basic? It was featured at LCW so I figured they would have some sort of signatures. I see them on other people's reviews but nothing like that was available on my visit. There was no signatures menu, nothing creative at all. Just classics with very expensive spirits.

The entire feature menu consisted of 5 insanely priced cocktails with vintage bottles. Like, if you want to pay £450 for a Manhattan, they've got you covered. Using exorbitantly priced vintage spirits doesn't mean the cocktail is even done well. Who wants to risk that? I am convinced that menu exists solely to show off the age of some of their bottles, and to gouge those 20 or so silly new money millionaires that wander in here a year. Let's be honest, this is the Biltmore. Not the Langham, or even the Peninsula. And considering there were only us there, it's not exactly a popular place.

The other option is a meagre 6 classics. Which, okay, to be a cocktail bar does not require you to ever have signatures. You can specialize in classics done to perfection (as I have had at The Connaught, but they had their own creations too.) I'm just not convinced a bar of this supposed class should serve gimlets with lime cordial. Sure, that may be the original recipe but surely we have evolved beyond sickly cordials? They don't even specify any sort of housemade cordial. I can only assume it is store-bought.

I decided to chance their De la Lousiane. Definitely not worth £22. It was mid. Plus, the atmosphere just wasn't there. The place was dead and the staff were often nowhere to be found. My friends just ordered wine. Nothing seemed special to them either.

The main problem is that there's just nothing memorable about it at all. It looks like every other moderately upscale hotel bar. The staff were perfunctory but mainly absent and forgettable. The drinks were fine (not good), but again, instantly forgettable in their sheer blandness. Absolutely nothing stood out, and for the price, it really, really should. I just have a hard time believing anybody actually thoroughly enjoys this place. It's a bit nothing-y. All they have is their vintage bottles... but so do many Mayfair hotel bars now, and more impressive ones with cocktails and spirits hitting the £1000s.

I'll admit one of those cocktails tempted me, and with a little more disposable income, I would have maybe gone with the £140 1960s Negroni, lmao. But if I had that sort of cash to throw around, chances are I wouldn't be at this bar in the...

On my weekly explorations of “new places to have a nice drink” in London continues, I decided to explore the Pine Bar at the Biltmore hotel with some coworkers. The Biltmore hotel is situated on the south side of Grosvenor Square.

Well, the whole experience was top notch. From the warm “Good Afternoon” from the hotel “Doorman” ( I do not like using that term because they do so much more….) to every single interactions with any staff member on property. All were so warm and genuine.

We decided to sit at the bar.

I love witnessing the actions of the mixologists and always like to stare at a good wall of bottles in hopes of finding a hidden gem.

Our Mixologist today was Ryad! What a gem. His smile, and enthusiasm for his job permeates through every interactions with his guests and Coworkers. He ( and the whole team) made us feel welcomed and valued. (And that can be a rare thing these days….)

Our drinks were made to perfection. Fresh tasty snacks were served. And the price tag was what is expected in such a nice and refine venue.

Come for one, feel the vibe, enjoy the cocktails! I will definitely be back.

Where will next week take...

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! I don't think there are words to describe how impressed I was with the service and the quality of the cocktails I received at the Pine bar. Me and my friends were greeted by lasmina when we first arrived and we were greeted with a warm smile. We got seated in less than a minute. She offered us water, olives and a nut mix, which is something you rarely see in London, within a minute or two. I started off with an Amaretto sour which was 11/10. The drink was perfect. Not too sweet nor was there too much foam to just fill the glass like most places like to do. When I was almost finished with my drink, the waiter/ bartender Nestor came over and asked if we would like any more cocktails. I told him which flavour I would like and he did it superbly. I don't know what cocktail he made but it was sweet & sour. It was cold, refreshing, garnished beautifully and overall an experience I will never forget. Whenever I come to Mayfair again, I will be coming here again 1000%.

Thank you to all the team members for the wonderful experience but in particular,...