The Rivoli Bar at The Ritz

Can I scream enough about Daniel @ the Rivoli Bar @TheRitz? He was kind, informative & entertaining. He made our trip (from NY) worthwhile. Thank you Daniel ! Get a Cosmo!!!

Came here to celebrate a significant anniversary and so decided to push the boat out. Beautiful art deco bar with lots of ooh aah features including etched mirrors and Lalique glass figurines and wonderful lighting. The cocktails are exotic and since this year is the Ritz’ centenary they’ve created some new ones. I drank a take on a champagne cocktail with Grey Goose vodka infused with gold flakes. Decadent! The price of most cocktails is £20 and it’s unlikely you could enjoy the place without spending at least this amount. You are served an impressive selection of nibbles which are included in the price so whilst not exactly an everyday treat it’s definitely worth it for the chance to be inside this very classy hotel.

Great place for a drink after dinner and you want to spoil yourself.
Their Pimms cup is probably the best Ive had. And their Scotch selection, expensively reassuring. I couldnt afford half of them without my dinner budget being reduced to McDonalds or KFC.
Lovely surroundings, great service and intimate ambiance, this was a lovely way to end our evening in London.
My only critique would be the Ritz itself. Rooms, furnishings, lobby and décor is somewhat dated and in need of a significant renovation. I would not recommend staying at the hotel at all.

A quintet laying in the lobby lounge as always a grand entrance into The Ritz. Wonderfully friendly door man all dressed in suit and tails.
The Rivoli bar is off the main lobby and serves snacks and a wide range of cocktails and drinks.
We had a wonderful afternoon after signing property deal.
Particularly enjoyed the prawn snack served in a cone like an ice cream. Wonderfully tasty and soft cone with a generous dollop of prawn mix.
Attentive service although acoustics made for a more lively atmosphere than I would have liked for a family chat.

the most intimate, little gold jewelry box, with waiters in impeccable white uniform serving excellent drinks. a must if you enjoy a fine cocktail and fabulous atmosphere
also loved the bathrooms. they are decorated in pale pink with an 80’s looking tropicana theme with painted palm trees and white cabinetry. very lana del rey

The place for a drink when you are dressed to impress for a night in London. High end and luxurious, the Ritz is what visitors think of when it comes to swanky, and this bar is the center of that lifestyle. Stop by for unique cocktails, opulent surroundings, and well heeled guests.

I think when you visit London, you have to atleast visit the Ritz. It’s gorgeous on the inside and the Rivoli Bar is no exception. Plush seats, gold ceilings and ice buckets of Bollinger will greet you… what more could you ask for? I had a cappuccino, which came on Tiffany blue china with the most mouth watering shortbread cookies. I’m not even a shortbread person, but I devoured them! My mom had a glass of rose and she loved the presentation of hers as well, it was served in a crystal goblet. I’m fairly certain our tab came out to about 60 pounds for the cappuccino and glass of wine, but it’s an experience not to be missed.

The Rivoli Bar is very nice. Of course it’s expensive. You can get similar drinks elsewhere for less. But, the experience here SHOULD be hard to beat with the cocktails consistently perfect and the service always outstanding. I’ve never had a better martini, and many far less good ones in London, but the quality of service has declined during my past few visits.
The atmosphere is classic luxe but not stuffy. Music is American 40s-​50s jazz and easy classics with a little bit of contemporary in that mode. Lots of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Billie Holiday.
In earlier visits, the staff was very professional and friendly. They enjoyed discussing the drinks, their history and how they are made. Lately, however, they seemed to be stiff and in a rush.
Making things worse, the cigar patio is no longer open to the public. I was able to visit it without staying in the hotel in January 2014, but they subsequently changed their policy and one must now be staying in the hotel or a member of the Ritz Club (casino) to patronize the cigar garden. This annoyed me because London has lots of nice bars but few where one can also enjoy a cigar nearby.
This, plus the drop in the quality of service, means my review rating has plunged from my earliest visits.

I was extremely excited when I noticed this corner bar with the art deco letters spelling out Rivoli. After taking several meals in the grand ballroom, I was looking for an alternative to the more formal dining experience. I haven’t actually tried the cocktails here, but I have eaten here more than I would like to admit.
The place resembles a gilded version of old speakeasy lounges with domed ceilings and bevelled armchairs. Glossy wooden panelled inlays cover the walls and mirror helps the golden decoration reflect off itself. It gives you a sense of timeless opulence and carefree indulgence.
The service here for food is chronically slow, no matter the time of time, meaning you should plan to be seated for at least 40 minutes from the moment you sit down to being service. Luckily you are surrounded by a lavish bar, often up-​scale clients, and attentive staff. My Caesar salad with chicken gourjons had a nice dressing, with a decent amount of chicken. The Rivoli burger was simple and could have used a bit more flavoring and tenderness in the meat. I was wholly unimpressed with my Steak and Stilton club which lacked any trace of that aggressive blue cheese bite I was craving. I took the sandwich apart and still got no hint of that nutty bitterness. I refrained from having it sent back as I didn’t want to offend my paying host, but really it is unacceptable to miss a key, advertised ingredient.

Wow this place is lush!! n I mean really… the whole place is basically gold!
Stopped by here for an after dinner drink with a friend and just loved it, its leaves you spellbound just looking at the furnishings.
Barman makes a great Manhattan and the olives etc compensate slightly for the rather punchy prices!

I love the Rivoli Bar at the Ritz. The service is always impeccable. The setting is upscale and warm. The menu has everything from great burgers to Beluga caviar. Sitting at one of the intimate tables is nice but most of all, I enjoy having Martini’s at the bar. The bartenders have great stories and know everything about the vast scotches and cognac selection. It’s a formal place but it has a relaxed feeling. I try to go whenever I am in London. It’s well worth it.

If you’re in the neighborhood hoping for High Tea at the Ritz, but forgot to make a reservation, Rivoli Bar will come to your rescue. Serving the same high tea service that the they serve to the Queen (and others who have had enough sense to make a reservation), but simply in a different location in the hotel. And while I certainly love having high tea in the Palm Court, there’s something slightly more intimate about having it in the Rivoli Bar with its Lalique glass panels combined with a subtle populace. It might just be the most chill place in London to have High Tea.

The Rivoli is always a nice place to relax.

I have to say I was expecting a lot more from the Ritz. Overall it was an expensive disastrous few drinks, by no fault of our own.
I called the day before to make a booking for 6 people in the Rivoli bar area specifically. They made a rather bizzare point of ensuring they asked me if I was a Miss or a Mrs. In fact they asked me twice. They also warned me of a dress code which required non trainers and jackets.
Upon arrival one of our guests was wearing a trendy pair of leather shoes which were not trainers, nor were they brogues. Nevertheless he was asked to change them at coat check. He obliged. We were then seated in the hallway, albeit a nice hallway, but given the specifics that had been agreed I was surprised. It was sweaty sweaty hot in the hallway so one of our guests took off his jacket. Within a 30 seconds he was told he would either have to put his jacket on or leave.
At this point we still had not been served. When we finally did get served they came over and said how can we help you Mr. Kretzschmar. What a joke, why bother asking me if I’m a Miss or a Mrs if you’re just going to be a chauvinist pig anyway. The waiter was corrected by the gentleman he was addressing which then triggered a full meltdown of all courtesy and social behaviour. He did not apologise, instead he escaped saying someone else would be back to help us, again, not taking and orders. It’s now been 20 minutes since we were seated and a German staff member comes over. Whether is was coincidence or be design based on my last name remains the be seen. He took our orders.
Another 20 minutes later 3 of the 6 drinks come with no indication of the other three being on their way. One of the drinks was a bloody mary at the cost of over £20. It was clearly made by an amateur. The spice was so overpowering that it literally burned your tongue and you couldn’t taste any of the other ingredients. This drink was passed around for confirmation of it’s failure as a bloody mary, thus I am speaking from personal experience. Anyway we of course sent the drink back noting the complaint. About 5 minutes later it cones back to the table and the waiter says that the bartender has poured some of the original drink out and topped it up with tomato juice, oh and there is some complimentary extra tomato juice on the side if it’s still too spicy. In what world do you pay over £20 for a drink this is made poorly and then not get a totally new drink once you complain. Apparently in the Ritz’s world.
My final moan. We had to ask for the bill 5 times and wait over half an hour for it to arrive. We had dinner reservations down the road which we were then late for.
Coming full circle, while I’m more than happy to adhere to a dress code and strict etiquette, I do expect the same level of respect, care, service, etc from the organisations enforcing these rules.
No wonder the Ritz are resorting to selling groupon coupons. Even at the large 60%+ discounts they are offering you couldn’t drag me in unless I was dead and cold.

Last Christmas, my family decided we’d forgo tradition and NOT spend the day watching Eastenders and stuffing our faces. Instead we’d head into town and spend the day enjoying the city we love without the overwhelming crowds.
We started off with a service at St Paul’s, which was beautiful, then a walk around Green Park. Then, to top it off, we headed to The Rivoli Bar at The Ritz.
As you’d expect, we were the only ones in the bar which you’d think would make you the guests of honor. But the staff who, understandably, would probably be anywhere else than at work just made us feel like any ol’ punters. Which is impressive in a bar where you’re the only people!
The bar itself is fairly small, but beautiful. In stark comparison to the Tea Rooms which are steeped in history, this was grandeur with a modern twist. Very glitzy, lots of gold.
Despite living like a student, I count myself lucky that I’ve been to some very lovely London haunts. But I just found I couldn’t relax at The Rivoli. Largely due to the stiff service and the stifled atmosphere. For hotel cocktail bars I’d recommend The American Bar at the Savoy a thousand times over The Rivoli.
The best moment, beside my superb pinocolda, for me was walking through the Tea Rooms and hearing a pianist playing «Putting on the Ritz». Now, that’s not something that happens every day… more’s the pity.

If it’s good enough for the Queen Mum then a tipple at this most elegant of London’s hotel bars should be good enough for you! Just make sure to dress the part.
Jacket and tie? Check! No jeans or trainers? Check! Sounds like you’re all dudded up. Time for a cocktail. And where better to sip than amidst the grandeur of one of the most gorgeous bars in the world? An ode to Art Deco style, the Rivoli Bar at the Ritz London Hotel on the Piccadilly and steps from Green Park was designed in 2001 by interior designer Tessa Kennedy to have the look and feel of a bar on the Orient Express. Tessa more than succeeded as a visit to the Rivoli offers a welcome a departure from the urban grind.
Booking a table here is advisable, but over the years, I’ve been readily accommodated every time I’ve shown up at the door. There seems to always be room at the bar.
Yes the Queen Mother (rest her soul) purportedly had a penchant for G&Ts at the Rivoli. And who can blame her? Expertly crafted, well presented (along with a bounteous display of posh nibbles), the Rivoli’s G&T is a winner. As simply a concoction as a G&T is, it’s amazing how many bars get it wrong. That won’t be the case should you choose to pop in the Rivoli. A smooth and balanced gin and tonic is virtually guaranteed.
Plenty of other notable Londoners and celebs from around the world have taken their cue from the Queen Mum and sidled up for a taste of sophistication over the years. Indeed, this is a brilliant spot to eavesdrop on upper crusty jet set convos about the the trials and triumphs of the rich and famous.
An adventureous and inspired drinks menu (including non-​alcoholic cocktails) ensures that even the finickiest of appetites are whetted. Consider the Cesar Ritz. For a mere £120, a mix of Courvoisier l’Esprit, Ruinart Blanc de Blancs NV, Angostura Bitters and brown sugar is asperation is a glass. For those of non-​trustifarians out there hoping to score a drink from under £20, no worries. Try one of the many Champagne or martini cocktails or one of the Rivoli’s own original cocktails, such as the Ritz 100 (Ketel One Vodka, 24 carat gold leaf, Grand Marnier, peach liqueur and Champagne).
The Rivoli’s gin and tonic will set you back £16.50. Yes, I know that ain’t cheap. But you’re paying not just for a perfect cocktail but for the experience. The Rivoli is an ideal setting from making any special occasion feel that much more special. Service here is predictive but never presumptuous. Yes, it’s expensive. But c’mon splurge a little.