After four years of renovations, the Hemingway Bar has finally reopened! Anyone capable of telling us what has changed inside the Ritz’s famous boudoir would be very clever indeed. Ernest Hemingway’s photos, manuscripts and safari trophies still cover the wooden paneled walls that frame the thick floral carpeting, upon which sits the inevitable small Directoire armchairs in almond-colored leather. Undaunted for 35 years and as imperial as ever in his white vest, Colin Field, the bartender, is still there, with his team and his specialties: the very fresh Serendipity (calvados, mint, apple juice, Champagne), a tangy French 75 (Beefeater 24 gin, lemon juice, sugar and Champagne) or a powerful Mach 2 (Glenlivet, chartreuse, ginger syrup). All the cocktails cost €30 except for those without alcohol (improvised on the spot, €22) and the legendary Ritz Sidecar, with a cognac from 1831, that’ll run you a pretty penny: €1,500!
