MAISON ASSOULINE
- Jupiter Humphrey-Bishop
- May 5
- 2 min read
Nestled on the busy packed streets of London, sits the Swans Bar within Maison Assouline. A place for art, style and culture.
The Swans Bar began its journey in 2014, when Assouline opened Maison Assouline and launched its first hospitality concept.
As you step up into the venue, you instantly are greeted with such confident style, from entire walls filled with colourful books, banana leaf plants, alphabetic rugs on the floor, and a hint of electric red throughout as the company's signature style.
This grade two listed building was once a bank in its previous life. Now as a bookstore and bar, with books capturing a snippet of history bring the venue to life, the venue is available for hire, and also has a secret room hidden away, only available to view on appointment, suitable for dinners and small - medium sized events.
The Swans Bar is just as quirky as the rest of the venue, with vintage globes in glass cabinets, a copper trolley with shelves filled with red wine bottles and glasses, just waiting for someone to order, and frames of movie stars filling spaces on the walls.
The waiters behind the bar shaking up cocktails, pouring negronis and making espressos, then move from table to table with trays full of aperol spritz. Couples sit at the bar, and conversations flow, Italian tarallini and big green olives are served. This is a place of style. You completely forget you are on one of London's most busiest streets.
The venue has leather seats throughout, wood panneled walls and low lit book shelves. With the bar open into the early stages of the evening, just as the London sun starts to set and London's evening world begins to make itself known. The overall place has such a luxurious feel.
I ordered myself an alcohol-free negroni which arrived garnished with candid orange, served in a frozen glass with the bar logo melted into the ice, along with the burrata di bufala and fresh tomatos, drizzled with olive oil and sea salt, which comes with fresh sliced sourdough and even more olive oil. Both delicious and recommended . Alongside the bar's extensive cocktail list, you can order dishes such as cheeseboards, cured meat platters and smoked salmon filet.
There are many collectable cars and objects, in keeping with the theme of the books, including a special James Bond collection. White gloves are layed out on the large print books, on the book stands, for anyone who wishes to look through its pages, warmly inviting guests to explore and educate with some of the most well known authors, writers and photgraphers. Books vary from catwalk shows, photographic holiday destinations, and vintage car portraits, showcasing some of the worlds best creations.
If you love beautiful books and classic cocktails, then this is the place for you.
Visit Now: https://www.assouline.com/pages/swans-bar