The K Bar, tucked within the luxurious embrace of the Kensington Hotel, is a semi-hidden South Kensington gem where mirrored glamour, velvet banquettes, and a sultry jazz hum conjure a speakeasy’s seductive pull. And seductively did it pull Larry and I, with its oak-panelled walls and leather wingbacks, for a post-work elbow-raiser (or two) and a chance to discuss matters of much import.
Popping in here for a cocktail is always a pleasure, but it’s a particular delight to sample the Hidden Gems cocktail menu; their latest offering, inspired by the nearby V&A’s Cartier exhibition. It boasts a dazzling collection of four gemstone-themed drinks, three alcoholic and one non-alcoholic, and each is a liquid jewel polished to perfection.
The Diamant is the menu’s crowning centrepiece – a crystalline blend of Beluga Gold Line Vodka and Champagne cordial – yes, you read that right, it’s a sweetened Champagne reduction, replacing the vermouth – served over a diamond-shaped ice cube that shimmers like a Cartier masterpiece. A new take on a martini, each sip is elegance incarnate, the silky vodka lifted by a subtle sweetness. It’s a princely £35 which, for a cocktail, you may think a bit steep, but with those ingredients, if you want quality, the price is never an issue.
The Rubis is a sorceress in a glass, living up to its mystical billing. La Hechicera Rum, the ‘Sorceress’ in question, dances with Campari, Mancino Rosso, and – here’s the curveball – mango, yielding a ruby-red elixir that pulses with passion. You’ll recognise some of those ingredients as the components of a negroni, and this is just that, but elevated. The rum’s robust warmth weaves through Campari’s bittersweet edge and the vermouth’s herbal depth, with mango lending a tropical caress. It’s bold, intense, and dangerously quaffable, a drink that feels like it could ward off evil spirits as its lore suggests.
The bar snacks, meanwhile, were no mere sideshow. The sliders, compact decadence in a bun, burst with flavour, such that napkins are a necessity. Golden duck croquettes – and substantial ones, too – are an unusual, but welcome addition, but it’s the chicken katsu ‘sando’ that steals the show; a Japanese-inspired take on a club sandwich that pairs uncannily well with the Rubis. Light it may be on the curry flavour, but all the better to let the cocktail shine through.
Such that we concluded with the last of the trinity, the Émeraude, which is as much emerald by nature as name, capturing the emerald’s allure with Gunpowder Irish Gin, fragrant pandan, citrus, and soda, and practically lighting up the bar in the process. Its verdant glow evokes a Balinese twilight, the pandan’s exotic whisper balanced by a crisp, sparkling finish; vibrant yet poised.
Service is warm, knowledgeable and friendly. The prices reflect the premium setting, but the comprehensive and filling bar snacks, reasonably priced, make indulgence feel accessible. The Hidden Gems menu is a love letter to mixology and jewellery alike, with the Diamant, Émeraude, and Rubis as its brightest gemstones. I urge you to stop by after work, order a Rubis, a side of frites, settle back and let K Bar’s alchemy cast its spell.
The Hidden Gems menu is available now at The K Bar at The Kensington Hotel, 109 – 113 Queen’s Gate, South Kensington, London SW7 5LP. For more information, please visit www.doylecollection.com.
