Spirit of the Clubhouse

The Library Bar
Cinnamon Club

Fine-dining Indian restaurant the Cinnamon Club is set in the historic Grade II-listed former Westminster Library building, so it’s no surprise the establishment is also home to a handsome library bar. “Our Library Bar brings together the feel of colonial Raj and the modern world in one room,” says operations manager Hari Nagaraj. The cocktail menu, like the food, gives timeless classics a twist with exotic, seasonal flavours and unusual spices. The Cinnamon Club Royale – a blend of Edmond Briottet lychee, rhubarb, elderflower and rosé Champagne – is a current favourite. Match your book to the setting, and get lost in a tale of daring exploits and exploration. “We have a wonderful collection of books ranging from encyclopaedias and Charles Dickens classics to books on the Labour party,” says Nagaraj. “One of our favourites is one on World War II by Winston Churchill.” cinnamonclub.com

The Library Bar
The Lanesborough Hotel

There’s something delightfully British about this bar. It could be the old-world ambience, complete with live piano, or perhaps it’s the ‘liquid museum’ of fine Scotch whiskies and vintage cognacs that date back to 1770. The impressive collection was started by legendary bartender Salvatore Calabrese, who wrote Classic Cocktails in 1997 while managing the bar. He’s not the only author to have graced this site, albeit before it was a bar. Ernest Hemingway was a patient at St George’s Hospital, which occupied the building between 1733 and 1980. The thick volumes that line the walls of the bar today are full of character and history – and sometimes a secret note. “I really enjoy it when guests select a book and leave a message in its pages for a friend to find,” says manager Mickael Perron. “It’s a kind of London treasure hunt.” lanesborough.com

Scarfes Bar
Rosewood London

Immerse yourself in British style and literature at this bar, hidden away inside a Grade II-listed building that dates from 1914 and is resplendent with dark timber and sumptuous seating. “It’s important to get a real sense of place when you visit us,” says head bartender Yann Bouvignies. “In keeping with that, we have a lot of classic British literature. I’d recommend diving into Great Expectations by Charles Dickens.” You may have to spend some time searching it out, however – the walls are lined with over 1,000 books sourced by a Portobello antiques dealer. It’s not only the written word that inspires the team at Scarfes Bar. Artwork by great British caricaturist Gerald Scarfe (after whom the bar is named) covers the walls and the cocktail menu is inspired by musical icons. A current crowd favourite is the Tell Me What You Want, a blend of Monkey 47, mango wine, pink grapefruit and ‘unicorn’, inspired by British pop sensation the Spice Girls. scarfesbar.com

The Swan Bar
Maison Assouline

It’s no surprise that the Swan Bar in Piccadilly has such an impressive collection of books – it’s part of the London outpost of New York-based publisher Assouline. “The drinks menu is as refined and eclectic as the books,” says food and beverage director Stefano Fogu. “Each cocktail is crafted with character and flair, many taking inspiration from an Assouline title.” Ibiza Bohemia, by Maya Boyd and Renu Kashyap, inspired a cocktail that matches the vibrant pink of the cover perfectly. Even the bar was inspired by a book – Swans: Legends of the Jet Society by Nick Foulkes. “Conjuring images of exotic global destinations and golden beaches, clandestine rendezvous on opulent yachts, and star-studded parties in palatial mansions, the book captures the last vestiges of a leisured and cultivated jet-set society,” says Fogu. “We hope visitors relive this moment in the Swan Bar today.” assouline.com

The Library Bar
The Ned

Sweep aside the jacquard curtain that conceals the Library Bar at hotel and members’ club the Ned – located in the heart of the City of London – to discover an intimate bar with space for just 18 guests to nestle into jewel-toned velvet club chairs. The old-world club atmosphere is further set with 1930s design details and a Martini trolley that creates blends to order from a vast selection of more than 50 gins and vodkas, and about 25 vermouths. The cocktail menu takes inspiration from the leather-covered tomes that line the walls. “My Dear Fellow is blended with the Botanist gin, Aperol, strawberry, blackcurrant and Champagne,” says The Ned’s head of bars Max Ostwald. “It takes its name from Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes novels.” thened.com

THREE INSPIRING REAL LIBRARIES
You might not be able to nurse a cocktail in these London libraries, but they are well worth a visit…

British Library
The British Library is home to the world’s largest library collection, containing an estimated 170–200 million books and documents… and they add around three million new items each year. Whatever you’re into, you’ll find it here. bl.uk

National Art Library
Delve into fine and decorative arts from around the world in the beautiful and historic reading rooms of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The library is freely accessible to the public from Tuesday to Saturday. vam.ac.uk

National Poetry Library
Get swept up in verse at the National Poetry Library at the Royal Festival Hall, part of the Southbank Centre. This understated space aims to hold all contemporary poetry published in the UK since 1912. southbankcentre.co.uk