St James Bar at luxury hotel Sofitel London St James has unveiled refreshed interiors and a new drinks and bar snacks offering.
The interior design, led by respected bar and restaurant architect Jim Hamilton, subtly combines French and English themes to match the hotel’s blend of French and local culture.
Key features include plush velvet seating, brass accents and a striking marble-topped bar, housing a colourful collection of spirits. An oil painting of a French cockerel wearing an English military uniform dramatically covers the ceiling – a nod to the hotel’s history as it was originally built as a military bank for Cox and King’s.
Bar manager Enzo Sigaut, previously of Sketch and Fairmont Monaco, has updated the drinks menu, which offers a selection of global whiskies, champagnes and wines, sixty varieties of gin and a prominent non-alcoholic offering.
With a designated Martini section, the bar’s signature cocktail is the Bleu de Galimard, a dry gin Martini where the glass is washed with Charles Legend Brut Rosé and Remy Martin VSOP Cognac.
A bar snacks pairing menu is also available, curated by Anthony Demetre, executive chef at Wild Honey St James. Dishes such as tempura courgette flowers with ricotta and Romesco sauce and crisp buttermilk marinated chicken with wild garlic mayonnaise have been specially designed to complement the drinks list.
An additional bar food menu is also available, featuring a selection of homemade sandwiches and classic fare.
In October, St James Bar will be replacing the current cocktail menu with a narrative menu based on travel, designed to take guests on an inspirational flavour journey across the world.
