Dukes Bar

Tucked into the quiet St James's Place townhouse that houses Dukes London, Dukes Bar has poured martinis since 1908 and remains the room most associated with the ritual. There is no cocktail list in the usual sense: a bartender wheels a trolley to the table, pours frozen spirits into a chilled glass with no ice, and finishes it at the tableside with a twist of Amalfi lemon. Ian Fleming was a regular, and the bar's spirit-forward martini is long linked to his 'shaken, not stirred'.

The room itself is small and wood-panelled, hung with prints and lit low, with deep blue velvet tub chairs arranged around a handful of tables. It seats only a few dozen and takes no bookings for individual tables, which is part of its character; the pace is unhurried and the measures are strictly counted at two per guest.

For private occasions the bar can be reserved in full for a drinks reception, arranged through the house. Its scale suits an intimate gathering rather than a large party, and it sits within a hotel whose adjoining drawing room, cigar garden and suites can extend the evening.