Bar Américain at Zédel: what to order and when to go

Down a flight of stairs, past a small café frontage, there is a room that looks like a 1930s Paris bar. Bar Américain sits in the basement of Brasserie Zédel at 20 Sherwood Street, on the Piccadilly edge of Soho, just off Piccadilly Circus. It is across the foyer from the brasserie and the Crazy Coqs cabaret room, which makes it one of the more theatrical places to start an evening.

The room

Think varnished wood, gilded fixtures and period light fittings under low light. The Nudge describes it as 1930s in style, and The Infatuation says it feels like a Paris bar of that era, with art deco touches and comfortable seats. David Collins designed the interior, according to Punch and Katie Parla.

A little history

The space belongs to the old Regent Palace Hotel, which opened on 16 May 1915 as Europe's largest hotel at the time, with 1,028 bedrooms, built by J. Lyons & Co. In the 1990s this corner was the Atlantic Bar & Grill, run by Oliver Peyton. Brasserie Zédel opened on 25 June 2012 under Chris Corbin and Jeremy King's Rex Restaurants, with the American bar and Crazy Coqs as part of the scheme.

What to order

The menu is a tour of cocktail history, set out by decade with historical notes. The Summer 2026 menu on Zédel's site includes two to start with, both £15.50:

• 1915 Pisco Sour: singani 63, peach aperitif, allspice dram, lime, sugar and foam. The one for people who think they know a sour.
• 1951 Diamondback: rye, calvados, sweet vermouth, yellow chartreuse and orange bitters. Stirred, strong and serious.

The menu also says a full range of classic cocktails is available on request, so a regular order will not baffle anyone. Wines, champagnes, beers and non-alcoholic options are on offer too. Menus change with the seasons, so treat those two as a snapshot rather than a promise.

For something to eat, the brasserie next door is the obvious answer. The Nudge has noted bar snacks such as smoked salmon blinis and cheese gougères.

When to go

Zédel's own hours: Monday to Thursday from 5pm to midnight, Friday from 4pm to midnight, Saturday from 3pm to half past midnight, Sunday from 4pm to 11pm. Last orders come at least 20 minutes before closing. Hours can shift, so check before you travel.

Our suggestion: go soon after opening, when it should be calmer. An older review reported a queue at about half seven.

Going to a show? Crazy Coqs is across the foyer, and a drink here beforehand suits it. Le Grand Cabaret is £35 and The Black Cat Cabaret is £37.50, each about 90 minutes.

Booking and practicalities

Mainly walk-in. Zédel says the bar is first come, first served, though its contact page mentions a limited number of tables that can be reserved, with room always kept for walk-ins, and a booking page exists on SevenRooms. Entry is 18 and over, and there is no dress code. The bar is down stairs, so ask the venue about step-free access before you rely on it.

The nearest Tube is Piccadilly Circus. Full details are on Zédel's Bar Américain page.

For after

The Infatuation points to Green Bar at Hotel Café Royal, 68 Regent Street, for cocktails, arguing you can arguably get a better drink there than at Bar Américain, though the atmosphere downstairs is hard to beat. Expect to pay more: signature cocktails are listed at about £25, and La Parisienne, an absinthe cocktail, at £22. Order the La Parisienne, and check hours before you walk over.

Read The Infatuation's review of Bar Américain for the full comparison.