Capital Bar (Bar, Hotel)

Best for: cocktails, down to earth sophistication, intimate setting in the heart of Knightsbridge.

Great: excellent service, delectable food, a large choice of elegant food and drinks.

“Cocktails, five star hotel, Knightsbridge.”
“Cocktails, five star hotel, Knightsbridge.”
“Cocktails, five star hotel, Knightsbridge.”

I couldn’t stop saying these words. They rolled off my tongue easily and sang sweetly to my soul. The very essence of them made my toes curl with pleasure and brought about a dewy-eyed look upon my face. They instilled perfect visions in my head and made my mind wander to an indulgent cocktail heaven that could be found in, well, a five star hotel in Knightsbridge, I guess.

These words summed up a night I could only dream about; especially on my salary! My usual nights out in London are not normally enjoyed in the surrounds of a five star hotel in Knightsbridge. They do sometimes involve cocktails, but usually only ones that are part of a happy hour deal, stuffed with a sparkler, and probably come from a sugary packet mix that boasts “real cocktailz in secondz”. Needless to say, I was excited by what lay in store for me.

Dressed to impress, my friend and I decided to take the scenic route to Knightsbridge so we strutted our stuff there all the way from Sloane Square. We waltzed passed expensive cars, designer shops and lots of glamorous people until we set upon The Capital Hotel. A beautiful yet unintimidating building glared down at us and we felt comfortable, at ease and like we were locals; a feeling we hadn’t experienced when walking by some of the other Knightsbridge night spots. A warm reception area met us and we were kindly shown to the Capital Bar; an intimate and elegant setting in which we spent the next few enjoyable hours.

As two newly single (and happy!) girls in London, we wanted a spot away from the multitude of lechers that are normally found en masse in bars. We didn’t want to be leered at and we didn’t want to be called darling. Luckily, we had come to the right place. I’m not saying it is a man-free zone but the Capital Bar is the sort of establishment frequented by charming businessmen enjoying a night cap, locals fancying a quiet drink and a varying range of hotel guests. My friend and I were able to sit quietly in the corner and not be bothered by anybody. We took in the dark furniture, the subtle decor and the light, tinkling piano music that quietly played through the speakers. The small but airy setting was endearing and comforting. It oozed sophistication but had its feet firmly on the ground. Not once did my friend and I feel out of place or intimidated and as such we enjoyed a much needed and relaxing evening away from the masses.

With the upmarket surroundings came top quality service and staff, not to mention delectable food and crisp cocktails. There were no packet mixes in sight and certainly no sparklers or umbrellas. The whole experience was a credit to Cesar Da Silva, the friendly and personable head barman who keeps Capital Bar running at its best. He is proud of the establishment and rightly so, it is a delightful place to visit, well hidden from the crowds.

Cesar made our cocktails himself and delivered them to us with bar nibbles and food recommendations. We started with Peach Bellinis while we scoured the leather bound menu, an item which, according to Cesar, gets stolen regularly by guests. Perhaps another credit to his exquisite taste.

If I was a whisky drinker, I would’ve asked Cesar to recommend one; there were seven pages of whisky options on the menu. There are so many that Cesar often offers whiksy Degustation courses. There are also cocktail making classes available.

With the rumbling of our stomachs and the help of Cesar’s suggestions, we chose our food quickly. Before too long we were tucking in to the finest crab meat salad and the crispiest lemon sole goujons, followed by a rich and moist walnut and chocolate brownie. We washed this down with more cocktails from the six page strong list, some of which are 70s-themed cocktails to celebrate the hotel’s 40th anniversary. It really was pure indulgence and a far cry from my usual nights out.

As we skimmed through the rest of the drinks menu we were surprised to see such a large variety of choices. Who would’ve known that this little hotel bar in the middle of Knightsbridge would be such a gold mine boasting a drinks menu of more than 20 pages, not to mention the superb and affordable food.

Now I know it exists I will be heading back again and again. I may even have to try the bar’s afternoon tea. It seems the words that were so alien to me before will now be a common part of my vocabulary. When people ask me where I am going out, my reply will simply be: “Cocktails, five star hotel, Knightsbridge.”...read more