Trader Vic's

Polynesian
Mayfair

The nights are drawing in and the weather is getting colder and wetter. London is no fun in the winter. Luckily there are places to go to escape the wind and rain, places that will transport you far away to happier, sunnier places.

One of which is Trader Vic's, a Polynesian themed tiki bar beneath the Park Lane Hilton. Drinking rum cocktails to the sound of hula music should immediately transport you to the Pacific islands, a paradise world of relaxation and about as far away from the hustle and bustle of Central London as it is possible to get.

Trader Vic's has been in London for many years, but has now been renovated to ensure it still looks the part. The heyday of tiki bars was the 1950s and 60s, a period now enjoying a resurgence thanks to shows like Mad Men, and during our visit there were more than a few drinkers that could have passed for Don and Betty Draper.

Cocktails are rum themed (as they should be in a tropical bar) with plenty of fruit juice and coconut to mix things up. The music started out with 'Blue Hawaii' era Elvis and Californian surf pop, but after the mid-point of the evening, moved towards more contemporary dance music.

Trader Vic's is a great fun night out where you can dance, drink and pretend it's 1969 in Honolulu. And that has to be much better than a grey winter in London.

London Hilton, 22 Park Lane, W1K 1BE

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