Dover Yard is one of the most exceptional bars in London and their new Seed to Sips menu is testament to its excellence. Dover Yard is leading the way for the new breed of London bars, creating world class excellence in mixology as well as pioneering new methods, something that other London hotel bars often lack.
The bar’s new cocktail menu Seed to Sips is all about sustainability, native flavours, and zero-waste principles. Curated by Marco Grisafi, Giulio Guarini, and the whole team, the cocktails are made exclusively with responsibly sourced seasonal ingredients, and locally produced British spirits. Divided into four sections: Seed & Roots; Plants; Leaves & Flowers and Fruit – the menu reimagines classic cocktails with a modern twist – you choose the flavours you like.
Located on the ground floor of 1 Hotel Mayfair, Dover Yard’s ambience blends nature-based aesthetics with luxury, overlooking a charming botanical court. You’ll enjoy a serene atmosphere, ideal for casual bites and next level cocktails.
Seeds & Roots
Sourced from nuts, seeds, and roots, this cocktail selection boasts rich and earthy flavours. If you enjoy nutty, roasty notes, try an espresso martini-inspired Heritage Brew, which combines pine nuts, Brunette coffee liquor, coffee treacle, Dalmore 12yo, Cadello 88, and Porter beer reduction.
And for those who appreciate a sophisticated twist on classic cocktails, the Lakeside Old Fashioned hits the spot, featuring “The One” whiskey, delicately fused with poppy seeds for nuttiness. Tobacco bitters enhance the drink’s depth and smoky aroma – all balanced with the sweetness of maple syrup.
Rustic Boulevard and Unperfect Manhattan are also excellent choices in this section of the menu.
Plants
Fresh, green, and herby ingredients are the stars of this section. Celery Tommy transforms the classic Tommy Margarita with a refreshing, herbaceous twist. Crisp and clean, Casamigos Blanco Tequila forms the base of this drink. While Corte Vetusto Espadin Mezcal adds a smoky flavour, lime provides a bright, tangy citrus note. The surprise really comes from celery and Absinthe, giving a herbal, fresh, and slightly bitter character that sets it apart from other margaritas.
The section also features cocktails like Sunrise Paloma, Verdant Martini, and Garden Sour. The Verdant Martini, created by Andrea Ighani, has so much complexity and savoury notes coming from coconut aminos. A lot of variations on martinis use soy sauce or something similar. Coconut aminos is a dark brown sauce made by fermenting coconut palm sap with sea salt, adding so much to this wonderful cocktail combined with Sapling Gin, Mancino Secco, Eau De Vie, Luxardo Maraschino and Champagne vermouth. Genius.
Leaves & Flowers
Delicate and aromatic, these cocktails spring with different floral flavours. The Rose Garden Negroni incorporates rose tincture and compote, mixed with Tanqueray 10 gin, renowned for its botanical depth. It’s paired with Mancino Ambratom, adding floral notes of chamomile and elderflower, combined with hints of citrus and spice. Rinomato Americano balances between bitterness and sweetness given its citrus and herbal undertones, contributing a richer, more complex base.
Other options from the section include Rookie Bramble, Lemon Nettle Mule, and Lilac Martini. Marco Grisafi created The Rookie Bramble, a signature cocktail that will always be on the menu and is fast becoming a standout choice at 1 Hotels. This inversed Bramble is a clever take on this classic with repurposed ingredients such as in-house made Lemon Sour Mash, made from the daily leftover lemons husks.
Fruit
The brightest and most vibrant, Seed to Sips’ fruits section provides a delightful rainbow of flavours. The Sunset Groove Martini features strawberry-infused Hennessy VS, giving a rich, tropical depth with the classic smoothness of cognac. While Mancino Rosso Amaranto is sweet, its spicy herbal notes adds a layer of complexity to the drink. Adding passion fruit, lime and pineapple juice bursts everything together with tropical flavours, all sweetened with a touch of vanilla syrup. For other fruity cocktails, try Gooseberry Collins, Kentish Orchard Mai Tai, Rhubarb Mojito.
Created by Daniele Mondelli, the Orchard Mai Tai is a work of genius mixing Yaguara Cachaca, Brugal 1888 Rum, Angostura bitters, orange zest infused orgeat syrup, along with an apple & pear foam. The foam is studded with herbs and spices such as fresh ginger, cayenne pepper, cloves and cardamom. Drinking through the foam creates a myriad of flavours and textures. One of the best cocktails we have had this year.
Food at Dover Yard
The nuts have had an upgrade. Gone are the truffled nuts and in are a delightful mixed nuts selection that marry well with the drinks. Led by two-Michelin-starred chef Tom Sellers, Dover Yard’s food menu breaks convention and merges fine dining with forward thinking, pairing well with the cocktails. The dishes fuse simple cooking with nostalgia, curating a selection that you’ll definitely savour while you sip on your drink. Don’t forget to also visit their restaurant Dovetale.
Highlights include their special chili-infused crab brioche, packing a punch of bold flavours. And of course, you must have Dover Yard’s fried pizza with tomato & La Latteria burrata, a top-notch dish. For a refreshing bite to accompany your drink, munch on the summer vegetable crudités and sunflower dip. But if you’d like something heartier, order their club sandwich and fries, or the chicken Caesar salad with aged parmesan.
Sustainability at 1 Hotel Mayfair
Beyond Seed to Sips in Dover Yard, sustainability at 1 Hotel Mayfair is rooted in its pillars. Located just a few steps away, the hotel sits next to London’s green park and was refurbished from two existing buildings with the mission of reducing CO2 emissions and operating sustainably.
Inside, 1 Hotel Mayfair has covered green walls and more than 1,300 plants. Additionally, all rooms feature filtered-water taps, with recycled wine-into-water bottles – no plastic whatsoever!
To nourish their exterior living walls, the hotel uses an efficient irrigation system sourcing water from the building’s roof area which collects rainwater. As for energy, the cooling and heating systems are efficient, and lights work on occupancy sensors – if you’re not your room, the lights immediately turn off. Even the hotel’s linen and mattresses are locally sourced from non-toxic and organic materials. To explore the city, you can ride in a fully electric Audi e-tron, or stroll through the hotel’s green surroundings: Green Park, St James’ Park, and Hyde Park.
To discover more, visit 1hotels.com
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All imagery courtesy of 1 Hotel Mayfair and Dover Yard.