A Tini Affair: Quaglino’s and No.3 Gin Bring Back the Martini’s Golden Age

The martini has always carried a certain weight. It’s not just a drink—it’s a statement. A whisper of elegance, a nod to timeless glamour, and, for the uninitiated, a slightly intimidating order to utter at the bar. This summer, Quaglino’s has decided to loosen the tie on that formality, inviting guests to enter their own martini era with a touch of theatre, a dash of irreverence, and the confidence that comes from knowing you’re in the safest of hands.

In partnership with No.3 London Dry Gin, the storied St James’s institution has unveiled a new martini menu that treats the cocktail as both a classic and a canvas. Bar Manager Jonathan Ecca has composed a collection that runs the gamut from the steely and minimalist to the soft and aromatic. There’s the Bijou No.3—an elegant blend of camomile liqueur, Quaglino’s house white vermouth, and grapefruit bitters, a drink that feels as much like a conversation as it does a cocktail. Or the Sakura Martini, where Mancino Sakura vermouth, Luxardo Maraschino, and Akashi-Tai plum sake liqueur create something floral, romantic, and unmistakably decadent.

For the purists, the No.3 Classic Martini is served exactly as you like it—Frozen, Naked, Filthy, Dry, Wet, Dirty, Gibson, or anywhere in between. This is a martini without judgement; whether you want yours clean as a whistle or unapologetically dirty, the bar team is ready to indulge.

Adding a layer of theatre, the martini trolley glides between tables, with cocktails built to your exact specification before your eyes. It’s a ritual that recalls the grand hotels of old—part performance, part precision.

For those flirting with the idea rather than plunging headfirst, the Tiny Tini Flight (£20) offers three miniature martinis, allowing guests to taste, compare, and discover their preferred style. Then there’s the Tini Table—a £35-per-person soirée for two or more, pairing a Chicken Caesar salad and sides with your martini of choice. It’s a moment that sits somewhere between a long lunch and the social media–coined ‘Girl Dinner’, but with a sharper suit and better lighting.

Naturally, no martini would dare appear without its supporting cast: oysters, garlic & truffle fries, briny olives—all the small indulgences that turn a drink into an evening.

From Thursday 14th August to Sunday 12th October, Quaglino’s Bar is making the martini the star of the season. Whether you arrive as a devotee or a curious first-timer, you’ll leave with your own take on this most iconic of drinks—and, more importantly, the knowledge that the golden age of the martini is alive and well in St James’s.

Bookings via quaglinos-restaurant.co.uk.