Trader Vic's in London, United Kingdom

	Everyone	You
Decor	9.5
Drink Quality	8.4
Drink Selection	9.1
Food Quality	8.2
Food Selection	8
Mood	8.4
Music	6.5
Service	7.7
Tikiness	9.2
Tilt	8.6
Vibe	8.1

Comments about Trader Vic's

JayTiki has visited Trader Vic's.

September 11, 2017, 11:01 AM

I was fortunate to choose this as the location for my 40th birthday dinner on a recent trip to London.

The decor was nice and similar to what I remember from the Dallas location about a decade ago. You descend a staircase into the restaurant, which is a nice touch and helps to create that "I'm visiting someplace other than I am" atmosphere that great tiki bars create.

I opted for the 1944 Mai Tai to start, and it delivered. I can recommend this classic (and classically made) drink with no reservations. For my second drink, I wanted to give a nod to my London locale, so I opted for the Queen's Park Swizzle. It was good, but if the '44 MT was a 10, it probably clocked in around a 6.5 or 7. The various other drinks delivered to our group were all well-received, including the non-alcoholic ones for the kids.

Everyone also enjoyed the food, which was my primary concern going into the night. One note, if you're planning to order one of their Signature Wood-Fired Oven dishes, I recommend doing so when you make your drink order, because I was told only when we all started our meal orders that it was going to take 45 minutes to cook, even though it's not mentioned anywhere on the menu. So word to the wise, have people figure that part of the meal out and order a bit earlier than everyone else.

A few nit-picks include the music. It was some kind of instrumental, and while not top-40 (thankfully!), it wasn't the Exotica I'd hoped and that I enjoy in other good tiki bars.

They also had VEEEEERY few TV items for sale, which was something I was banking on for my birthday. The only "mug" available was a rum barrel, and they had no TV London-emblazoned items to be found...not even simple napkins I could bring home for my home tiki bar. We did get a couple Menehunes out of some drinks we ordered, but those, of course, aren't location-specific either.

Those small nit-picks aside, I would highly recommend you stop into the London Trader Vic's, even if just for the bar. It's a classic that deserves our tiki respect.

KeanuCheese

KeanuCheese has visited Trader Vic's.

July 26, 2017, 9:33 PM

I was super excited to see an old bastion of tiki, so my enthusiasm may have glossed over some stuff but I still had an amazing time. First trip to London as well, so I just knew I couldn't pass up a visit. We visited on a Monday night, so it was relatively empty which was kinda nice and intimate. My mouth was open for about the first five minutes while I enjoyed the beautiful decor and super chill atmosphere. The drinks/food had the same thing in common I felt. Super tasty, but not enough to justify the price. The food portions are small and say what you will, but almost $18 for a mai tai doesn't sit well me with regardless of how much I love the setting. Despite the price, I still reveled in the experience and loved everything I tasted. Even with a dozen or so people around us, I still couldn't make out any music in the background. The waiters were nice, but were not very attentive during the whole meal. I befriended one of the managers while looking at their merch display cabinet. I asked him if they had any glasses for sale. He said no, but not because of tiki enthusiasts like myself. He said they've had an issue with customers stealing mugs and salt/pepper shakers. Damn shame! He felt bad and gave me a couple coffee mugs dated from 1988. He said they found cases of them in the back and were happy to give them away. The bad timing came when he said they were getting a few cases of mugs in a couple weeks. The bartender was nice enough to throw a few swizzle sticks/menehune figures my way as well. I would love to come back and do recommend coming here at least once!

Trada Rick

Trada Rick has visited Trader Vic's.

July 18, 2017, 5:20 PM

My wife and I visited London for the first time last week. We read the reviews on Trader Vic's which were good so we wanted to experience it. We arrived early, around 7pm. We got a table in the bar. The place is like aTiki museum. We had a round of drinks which were good, not great. We're used to Bali Hai Mai Tai's, our home port . Nobody makes them better. We enjoyed our drinks and the service was excellent and friendly. We asked our waitress if there were mugs for sale. She said no but maybe some glassware. She said she talked to the mgr. She came back with swag, on the house. Swizzles, fruit spears, coasters, and best a new,old stock TV ashtray with Made In Japan sticker on bottom. Found out these were from the 60's. Got seated for dinner, started with a tuna poke appetizer. Best I ever had. We get great poke in San Diego, this was better. Next a beef ap. Delicious, tender, no fat. We split a salad and an Asiannoodle dish for entree. Delicious again. Our waiter was a Kiwi, kept us laughing all night. I told him about Martin Denny and Authur Lyman. Did not know them. The music was my only complaint as it was Salsa and some 50's, 60's oldies. Minor problem as we stayed 5 1/2 hours. Enjoyed the company of an English couple next to us . Trader Vic's is legendary and we were not disappointed. Will definitely go back if we are in London. Highly recommend for a most enjoyable all round Tiki experiece. Shout out to San Diego Ohana , Tommy, and everyone at The Bali Hai

Otto von Abbattoir

Otto von Abbattoir has visited Trader Vic's.

January 4, 2017, 3:24 PM

Strictly to admire the nice interior: there are so many better bar options in London. Stick to rum. The only Tiki Puka Puka I've ever walked away from. Pretty much unfit for a Shag painting, but not as moribund as the nearby Playboy Club; which lacked a single customer and relegated the bartender to glass polishing and the not-tail-worthy Bunny staring at her cellphone. Brutal.

Grubby bar and bottles. Zero Ohana spirit. Almost all of the Aloha spirit was enshrined within the doorman who was forced to spend most of his shift at the top of the stairway staring off into the fume encrusted void that is Park Lane. Disinterested H&M waifs with zero hips serving Heineken and cheap wine. Bar furniture meant for intimate tables swept aside into darkened corners, of which there are many, so the staff can keep everyone cornered in small, brightly lit pens. Bartenders in threadbare and unpressed Aloha shirts. Exceptionally depressing if you're a regular at this website; although nowhere near as hideous as the not missed Trader Vic's at LA Live.

RobMagus

RobMagus is a semi-regular at Trader Vic's.

May 9, 2016, 2:49 PM

Every time I have visitors I insist we go here. For tiki friends, it's a pilgrimage, and for everyone else it's a perfect intro to tiki.

The staff have invariably been friendly, attentive, and accomodating to dietary requests. I never noticed any music though, and due to its location in an expensive hotel in mayfair the crowd is often conference attendees and partying businessmen or their rowdy adult children, which can disrupt the vibe. But on a quiet weekday evening? Magical.

I hope it never closes.

kilaueakyd

kilaueakyd has visited Trader Vic's.

April 14, 2015, 2:28 PM

Drinks are great and the Decor is excellent. A must see.

NYC Tiki

NYC Tiki is a semi-regular at Trader Vic's.

February 13, 2015, 1:42 AM

So this is one of my favorite Tiki joints in the world. It was the first Trader Vic's outside of the US and it looks like it hasn't changed in a bit. At the edge of Mayfair, along the park and downstairs from an old Hilton is this gem. Hit the bar up for some real classic tiki drinks in the traditional mugs (for each drink ordered). Marvel at the original decor and feel the vintage vibe. Music is often hosted and dinner is an elegant (albeit expensive) affair. When I am in London, I always pop by here to get away from it all and remember the experience people looked to bring to London after World War 2. Very cool spot

Wiki Tiki

Wiki Tiki has visited Trader Vic's.

February 3, 2015, 4:56 PM

We've been here twice, in 2009 and 2013. The first visit included dinner, which was OK but not fantastic for the price. The drinks were awesome. I had to order a pina colada first, which confused the waiter. He was an immigrant and probably not familiar with Warren Zevon. Also, they call that drink a Bahia at Trader Vic's for some (undoubtedly historical) reason. Still, the bartender knew what I meant and made a terrific pina colada. After that I ordered a tiki classic of some sort, but I no longer remember which one. Our second visit was only for drinks. It was early on a Tuesday evening, and the place was almost deserted. Service and drinks were excellent. I hope they do better business at other times, or I fear this place will not long survive. Perhaps it could be declared a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Amanda International

Amanda International is a regular at Trader Vic's, and is usually there Whenever I'm in London, which is often!.

May 31, 2009, 10:41 AM

Simply the best place to drink in London! Okay, it's pricey (but so is all of London), but this Trader Vic's at The London Hilton really does have a 'retro jet-set', old-school Tiki vibe, a WONDERFUL drinks menu, fabulous music (always tropical, always mellow), great food, super service...and it genuinely takes you away from the hustle and bustle of foggy London to a far more civilized, magical place.