2 Best Bars in St. James's, London

Festooned with a chin-dropping array of old club ties, vintage celebrity-signed photographs, sporting mementos, model airplanes, and baseball caps, this sensational and usually busy hotel cocktail bar has superb martinis and Manhattans. The name dates from the 1930s, when hotel bars in London started to cater to growing numbers of Americans crossing the Atlantic on ocean liners. The collection of paraphernalia was started in the 1970s when a customer gifted a small carved wooden eagle. They serve great hot bar snacks and small dishes, too.

There's been a tavern with this name on this site since 1788, but the interior of the current pub dates back to the 19th century; its specially commissioned engraved glass panels and dark wood detailing are a perfect example of Victorian pub decor. You'll find a few wines available by the glass, but the star here, as is the case at most traditional pubs, is the cask beer. The leather banquettes fill up fast when the after-work crowd descends. For those on the hunt for something to soak up that ale, they also serve freshly toasted sandwiches with fancy fillings like pastrami and oak-smoked cheddar, jalapeños, pickled gherkins, and American mustard. Or, if you're after something quintessentially British, opt for one of Mr. Barrick's pork pies—all food is available only between noon and 5 pm, Monday to Saturday.