Saturday 14 November 2026
There are few more glamorous ways to spend an evening in London than sinking into a seat at the American Bar at The Savoy while a pianist plays in the corner. Open since 1893, it is London’s original cocktail bar, a place where Winston Churchill and Ernest Hemingway once drank, and it is frequently named one of the best bars in the world. Every evening, live piano fills the Art Deco room, turning a round of cocktails into something far more special. Here are five reasons to go and listen.
1. Live Piano Every Single Evening
The pianist is the heart of the American Bar experience. A pianist performs every evening from around 6.30pm, and in true old-school style the musician is often dressed in a dinner jacket, playing jazz standards and timeless tunes as the room fills up. Guests regularly single out the live music in their reviews, praising the pianist as much as the drinks. The music is there to set the mood rather than drown out conversation, so it works just as well for a romantic date as for catching up with friends. As day turns to night, the bar transforms into one of the most atmospheric evening settings in the West End.
2. You Can Request a Song
Part of the fun is that the pianist takes requests, so you can ask for a favourite song to mark a birthday, an anniversary or simply a great night out. The American Bar is a popular choice for special occasions, and many guests come to celebrate milestones with a cocktail and their own soundtrack. Think Great American Songbook classics, jazz favourites and show tunes, all played on the piano in a room that has seen more than a century of celebrations. With the candlelight, the music and the faint view of the Thames from certain seats, it’s hard to imagine a more romantic backdrop. Just remember that the pianist knows the classics best.
3. Over 130 Years of Cocktail History
The American Bar opened in 1893, introducing Londoners to American-style mixed drinks, and it is now the oldest surviving cocktail bar in Britain. Several classic cocktails were invented here, most famously the Hanky Panky, created by legendary head bartender Ada Coleman. The bar has served everyone from Churchill and Hemingway to Marilyn Monroe, and its walls are steeped in more than a century of stories. Its legacy menu still features classics such as the Hanky Panky, White Lady, Corpse Reviver No 2 and the Savoy Martini. Listening to live piano in a room with this much history makes you feel part of a very long tradition.
4. Cocktails Inspired by Savoy Stories
Alongside the classics, the menu tells the story of The Savoy through new creations. Since 1986 pays tribute to long-serving doorman Tony Cortegaca, blending white port and blanco rum. The Painter’s Palette honours Claude Monet, who first stayed at The Savoy in 1899 and painted the Thames from his room, mixing rye whiskey, Khoosh Bitter and amontillado sherry. The Red Carpet takes its cue from the Dior fashion show held at the hotel in 1950, combining whisky, Amaro Lucano, honey and cold-brew coffee. The bar describes its approach as classics with a twist alongside new and vintage creations, so there’s something for every taste.
5. A Perfect Post-Theatre Treat This Christmas
The Savoy sits on the Strand, a short walk from the theatres of Covent Garden, which makes the American Bar a fabulous spot for a nightcap after a show. With Christmas approaching and the hotel dressed for the season, an evening of cocktails and live piano feels especially festive. Evenings are best if you want the music, while afternoons tend to be quieter and more relaxed. The bar is open from midday until midnight Monday to Saturday and until 10pm on Sundays, and it’s for over-16s only. There’s no formal dress code, but guests are asked to dress elegantly for the occasion, and sports jerseys are not allowed.
Book
American Bar, The Savoy, Strand, London WC2R 0EZ
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 12pm–midnight, Sunday 12pm–10pm
Live piano: every evening, from around 6.30pm
Age: 16+
Phone: 020 7420 2111
Nearest Tube: Charing Cross, Embankment or Covent Garden