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Photograph courtesy of Artesian
“Drinking at Artesian is the cocktail lover’s equivalent of a night at the theatre,” wrote The Telegraph of the famed London bar in 2014. We heartily agree. Tucked into the Langham hotel on Regent Street, Artesian features exceptional decor — check out the interiors above — not to mention incredible cocktails you don’t just drink, you experience. The rum-based Above & Beyond, for instance, comes with a floating balloon that, when popped, releases the eucalyptus-scent garnish while Super Panda, a mix of rum and tropical juices, is served atop a panda-shaped lantern that, as it deflates, gives off a tangerine aroma. Your inner narcissist, meanwhile, will love Forever Young: Made with vodka and inspired by Dorian Gray, the drink is placed beneath a mirror, which has a hole in the middle for the straw. There’s a reason the place has been named the “World’s Best Bar” by Drinks International for four years in a row. The food here is no less inventive — tapas include truffled parmesan churros.