Vesper Bar

Award-Winning Ambiance and Exquisite Cocktails

If Ian Fleming's globetrotting spy needed a locale to unwind, sip on fantastically crafted beverages, and soak up some Old World charm, the Vesper Bar at The Dorchester would indisputably be that sanctum. Upon entering, you are immediately greeted by a lush atmosphere—a concoction of plush décor with velveteen chairs in jewel tones, ambient lighting casting mellow shadows, and an energy that thrums through these historic walls as vividly as gondolas slicing through Venetian canals. The team, led adeptly by Jack, takes service from five-star to applause-worthy; their attentive eye suggests they might moonlight as mind readers, filling your glass almost before noticing it was empty.

The cocktail experience is one worth writing home about, perhaps even stealing ideas for your own soirées. Recommendations from the bartenders flirt daringly between classic nostalgia and bold innovation—the 'License to Chill' leaves a melody of citrus and hazelnut lingering on your palate, while the 'Forbidden Fruit' transports you to an exotic terroir through its aromatic complexity. Snacking here feels far more indulgent than it ought; gluten-free options abound, and heavenly tidbits like salmon canapés come unsolicited when special occasions are smuggled into conversation. Despite an atmosphere teetering on too electric with mood music threatening to spill over the top of one’s conversational cocktail, it's hard to deny the Vesper Bar's sense of theater, as if casting each visitor as both player and observer in its endless debut. A place where life's pace softens, and drinks blend into warmth, conversations flourish effortlessly—it ensnares and enchants, leaving you not wondering if you’ll return, but when. — Clarissa Cuisinier