A hotel bar in the Rosewood London that earns its place through Gerald Scarfe's original drawings covering the walls — savage, brilliant caricatures of politicians, writers, and public figures that give the room a satirical intelligence missing from most luxury bars. The cocktails are well-made, the leather armchairs are deep, and the live piano adds warmth without overwhelming conversation. Named after the artist (whose Pink Floyd wall drawings and political caricatures made him a national institution), the bar treats his work as both decoration and provocation. High Holborn, between Covent Garden and the City.
Location
Holborn, London
Map
Insider Intel
A classic cocktail — the bartenders are skilled with the old-fashioned, the martini, and the negroni. The menu changes seasonally but the classics are always available. Match the drink to the Scarfe drawing nearest your seat. The bar snacks are hotel-quality (good, not revelatory).
Late afternoon for the most peaceful appreciation of the Scarfe drawings — the room glows and the piano hasn't yet competed with crowd noise. Post-work hours (6-8pm) bring energy. Weekend evenings are busier.
Inside the Rosewood London hotel — enter from High Holborn. Smart casual dress. Cocktails £16-22. Live piano most evenings. Gerald Scarfe's original drawings are the reason to come — spend time looking at the walls. Holborn tube is steps away. Reservations recommended for groups.