THE BERKELEY BAR & TERRACE

Standout interiors at The Berkeley’s new watering hole in London’s Knightsbridge.

Portrait of Tammy Strobel

Standout interiors at The Berkeley’s new watering hole in London’s Knightsbridge.

When it comes to a rare whisky or cocktail, The Berkeley’s new baby complements its legendary Blue Bar.

Every inch of this intimate 40-cover spot at The Berkeley hotel in London has been so designed that a leisurely tipple enjoyed here feels almost otherworldly.

The brainchild of Irish interior architect Bryan O’Sullivan, key features include a half-moon marble bar and a hideaway corner called The Snug. The terrace part of the equation, on the other hand, is pretty small. Its glass doors open out onto a space with four seats overlooking nearby St Paul’s Knightsbridge church.

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Lighting, including this wall sconce, were customdesigned and handcrafted.

The old-world charm of the indoor space is not only evoked by its Art Deco-esque furnishings – from the globe table lamps and frosted glass sconces to the marble countertops and inlaid floors – but also in the plain fact that each element is bespoke and custom-made for the establishment. 

The 300-year-old walnut wood panels – obtained from a single, storm-felled tree in Fulbeck Estate, Lincolnshire – lining its entire length are also central to the effect. The delicate finish of their complex and beautiful grain produces a warmth that cocoons the space.

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The half-moon bar features a carved limestone front and Belgian Bluestone countertop.

Most endearingly, the tale of this tree and its former home in Fulbeck Estate is captured in the plaster frieze that runs above the walnut panels. Even the soft corals, creams and pinks of the furnishings were selected to complement the richness of the wood. 

Arguably the most iconic space is The Snug, a lounge set away from the main bar that seats up to nine. One’s eye is immediately drawn to the mural of female faces with worldly and enigmatic expressions floating between crisscrossing lines. Inspired by the snug spaces in old public houses reserved for women to gather for a gossip or to share secrets, it is the work of American painter TM Davy, and based on a concept he developed with O’Sullivan. 

My Reading Room

Perfect for private parties, The Snug has its own sound system and call-for-service button.

The first hospitality project by Bryan’s studio, The Berkeley Bar & Terrace has the design world thrilled. Of course, we’ll be enjoying a leisurely tipple or two at the bar while patiently anticipating the next best thing they’re working on.

Good to know

The drinks menu highlights exclusive champagne and wine, as well as whisky, cognac and rum from under-the-radar producers.

The Berkeley Bar & Terrace is located at The Berkeley hotel, Wilton Place, Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7RL, United Kingdom. Visit www.the-berkeley.co.uk.

Photos THE BERKELEY HOTEL AND JAMES MCDONALD