Bar Américain

Bar Américain is one of Soho's most glamorous places for a cocktail, a jewel-box Art Deco bar hidden within the grand Brasserie Zedel complex just off Piccadilly Circus. Styled after the transatlantic bars of the 1930s, all polished metal, mirror and low golden light, it is the sort of room that makes an ordinary drink feel like an occasion.

As a classic Art Deco cocktail bar in Soho, it keeps things timeless: properly made martinis, negronis and the full canon of traditional mixed drinks, served with old-school flair. It sits across the foyer from the Crazy Coqs cabaret room and above the Zedel brasserie, which makes it a natural stop before dinner, a show or simply a late aperitif.

What to expect from this Art Deco cocktail bar in Soho

Expect a concise, classic cocktail list delivered with precision in a genuinely spectacular room. This is a bar for a well-made martini and conversation rather than gimmicks, with table service, a pianist on some evenings and a dress-up-if-you-like atmosphere. It works for a pre-theatre drink, a date or a nightcap after a Crazy Coqs show.

The setting and the group

Part of the Wolseley Hospitality Group's Zedel complex, Bar Américain shares the site with the brasserie and cabaret below street level. It sits alongside Brasserie Zedel, with more of the area's bars in our Soho pubs and bars listings.

How a visit works

Bar Américain opens for drinks in the evenings on Sherwood Street, downstairs in the Zedel complex; it takes walk-ins and bookings, and is busy around show and dinner times. Details are on its official site, with reviews on Tripadvisor.