Gin and Jazz at The Waldorf Hilton Review
I love gin, I love jazz, so when I saw that the internationally known Waldorf Hilton was hosting what they had named ‘Gin and Jazz’ nights in their swanky lobby bar, I couldn’t wait to get down there and try it for myself.
As we waited for our Hendricks, smooth piano notes suddenly filled the air, instantly silencing our area of the bar. We relaxed into our seats and soon a striking women with a beautiful smile entered the room, introducing herself as Blue Rose, and her piano partner Curtis. Most notably, the pair are both overwhelmingly talented, gliding through old time favourites, such as ‘Fly me to the moon’ and ‘The lady is a tramp’ they made the whole performance seem so effortless and elegant. As we moved further through the gin selection we felt ourselves melting deeper into our seats with every note. Second to that, they were just such absolute sweethearts! Blue Rose made a point of asking everyone where they were from, aptly referring to myself as Surrey and my friend as Leicester and kept interaction up throughout the night. After the performance, they both came over and introduced themselves to each of the groups, thanking us for attending before sauntering off into the hotel. The whole thing made it feel like we were sat in a jazz club in New York.
Grand inside and out, it makes you understand why this part of London is such a tourist attraction. Led to our table by our charming waiter, in the lounge bar, cutely named Good Godfrey’s bar and lounge where we were handed our menu for the evening with a thorough explanation of the options available to us. The thing that struck me was immediately the price. A menu offering 4 different gins and 4 canapes for £30, which is great value in London, even more so being at one of London’s most prestigious hotels drinking brands like Hendricks, Tanqueray no. 10 and Sipsmith’s (to name but a few) for that price is an absolute STEAL.
A little bit overwhelmed by the choice, we consulted our knowledgeable server, who gave us a full break down of the gin’s available. I was delighted when they brought out our canapes with a smile, having curated a selection especially for us to meet our annoying dietary requirements. Wild mushroom dumplings, mini blue cheese tarts, mozzarella and sun dried tomato stacks and bruschetta, we had a small feast on our hands. Apologising for having to put them through the added effort of creating something specifically for us, the waiter laughed and told us it hadn’t been a problem at all, making us feel totally relaxed and welcomed. The canapes themselves, of course, were delicious, and beautifully presented.
A truly lovely evening, ‘Gin and Jazz’ is a great night out if you’re looking for drinks with some added sparkle. Great food and drink, in a lovely setting, attentive staff and music that will make your ears melt, it really does offer something for everyone. It’s proving pretty popular so make sure you book ahead to avoid turning up with nowhere to sit!
Website: http://www3.hilton.com
Twitter @waldorfhilton
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Written by Jordan Crowley
