What a wonderful time we had here. Cocktails (especially the vespa martini) were amazing. There are rules to play by but they are there for a reason and work well and that provided us with an unflustered enjoyable afternoon which included chatting with the staff...and some regulars. Will return in hopefully a month or so. Well worth the money to escape the outside world and relax.More

We have been to Dukes bar on previous visits to London and it does do amazing martinis but unfortunately it is presided over by a very officious almost rude maitre’d who basically chooses who he wants to let into his bar. You cannot make a...booking however he reserves a host of tables supposedly for guests of the hotel - releasing them to the public as he sees fit. Give the whole unwanted experience a miss and go next door to the Stafford where the staff are friendlier and the martinis just as amazing.More

Please do not go here if you don't like a very tightly spaced intimate bar that has a strict dress code and prohibits the use of mobile phones. Please do not go here if you are looking for a James Bond tourist experience. Please don't...expect the dignified and restrained staff to worship you. If you don't like having to wait an unknown amount of time for a table then also please don't go. And please don't moan here afterwards about any of the above. But if you appreciate beautifully made martinis, poured with care and attention to detail, with high quality ingredients, and you know how to behave in such surroundings, then this is a wonderful and very British experience to behold.More

TOO POSH FOR IT’S OWN GOD! On March 31, 2023, we went to Dukes bar. My husband wanted to treat me, his wife, and his young son 25 to a nice Dry Martini. It was full and we were guided to the reception to wait...for a table. Other people were also waiting there. I can assure you, we all looked decent. In charge was an upstaged man with a white jacket. He made frequent visits to scrutinize us all. My son was wearing designer jeans and took off his jacket while waiting. The white jacketed man went straight for my son. He leaned down a fraction and declared in a voice that was more than audible to everyone ” IF you get a table, you cant’nt go in like that!” It was the rudest, most impolite dress-code-order I’ve ever heard! If this man had adressed my husband, I’m sure he would have said something like :”I’m sorry Sir but it is my duty to inform you that you need to put your jacket on when entering the bar”. This is indred not the place where this rudeness should occur ! ”No Riff Raff!”, Basil Fawlty wrote in his advertisment for the Gourmet Evening at Fawlty Towers. Dont go to Dukes bar unless you are prepaired to be insulted by his little brother.More

While today standards in hospitality are generally fading there are a small number of safe harbours where uncorrupted quality and service are surviving, Dukes Bar is inevitably one of those exceptions. I was introduced to Dukes back in 2013 from a bartender in NYC that...strongly recommended it, since then I never ceased returning. Alessandro and his team crafted a perfect cocktail of friendly professionalism built in years of experience and the very best martini in town, everything brought together with a hint of Italian ease. Far from today shallow instagram look the appeal of Dukes stays intact as a true St.James institution. As for its martinis, simplicity and impeccable ingredients are the reason of its success which will endure as long as the ethos of the place will stay true to the origins. A Dukes Cocktail is a unique London experience that you simply can’t get anywhere else.More

Very disappointed. We decided to sample the bar following the review on “Everybody Feed Phil” food critic TVShow. I appreciate we didn’t pre-book but initially, after being told by a junior member of staff they had no immediate availability and that we would have to...wait, Alessandro stepped in and found a table for us that was marked “reserved.” He made a joke about the misunderstanding and we were made to feel very welcome. We were seated in the corner of a quite cramped room and handed the menu. We chose what was supposed to be the legendary dry martini which was really quite unpleasant to drink. I have enjoyed gin elsewhere at a fraction of the price, much more. I would never return, which is more than I can say for many bars I have visited in my time. I walked away feeling deflated. £50 for 2 x gin martinis in a cramped room, served by an inexperienced barman. Sadly it did not do justice to the James Bond’s IanFleming connection. You judge whether you feel it is money well spent but I will never go again. VP Scotland.More

Fondest memories of this place as I got engaged here - a recent visit left me astounded- the rudest service . We ended up leaving - there is no reason to make customers waiting with no time frame when there are plenty of tables available....What gives ?More

Simply the best place to have a martini in the world! Exquisite service! Loved The Vesper Martini! Nobody Does It Better!

They don’t do reservations unless you are staying at the hotel. Guests make reservations which means space is limited in prime time. It opens at 3pm, so if you get there before 5pm you have a good chance at being seated immediately. If not, you...will wait in the lobby for possibly an hour. We arrived at 530pm and waited an hour. We passed the time talking to the other people waiting, all of whom were long time customers. Almost as much fun as the bar. When you get a seat, enjoy yourself. The drinks are great. The martini is legendary. It’s fun. The negative reviews come from people shocked at having to wait. Don’t be surprised by that, be patient, and enjoy. One pro tip, the doorman can predict wait times better than the bar staff. Bar told us 30 mins, door man said 45-60mins. The doorman was right.More

Only go to this bar if you want to feel like a second class citizen. We enquired about a table and were advised to wait in the lobby where who I presume the lead bar man looked us up and down and advised us to...leave. Being completely honest the bar looked dated and had no atmosphere whatsoever. Very stuck up. Plenty of fun bars in London where you will not be judged by an old fashioned, unpleasant man.More

We had a most lovely afternoon here. Don’t let some bitter people on here scare you with tales of bad service and negative accounts. We had an excellent experience with the cocktails and the service. No nasty servers, no discrimination, no one ignoring customers… There...is a dress code… Smart Casual which means a polo shirt, jeans , and sneakers will earn you a place at a table. You can dress up in a suit and tie if you’d like, but it is not necessary. I wore jeans (not ripped or full of holes), a polo shirt, and a pair of Nike sneakers and was treated like royalty. A person tried to get a table in jeans and t-shirt and was turned away. No shorts, track suits, or t-shirts and you will be fine as far as the dress code goes. The service was polite, friendly, and attentive. The food (yes they serve some finger food) was excellent, and the martinis were to die for. This is an upscale place with history, and that comes with a price. It is a small place and a popular spot for James Bond fans as Ian Fleming used to come here for his Vesper Martini, so make sure you get there early if you are not staying in the Hotel. Hotel guests can reserve tables and walk-ins are first come first served. The bar opens at 3PM Mon-Sat, and we showed up right at 3PM and got to pick our table. The martinis are made table side, so you get to see your drink being poured right before your eyes. A great experience indeed. Highly recommend it!More

A lovely, classic cocktail bar. The barkeepers know their trade and are wonderful hosts. Sticking to the dress code is the way to appreciate the staff and the drinks served.