Tucked inside the grandiose Empire Hotel—once dubbed a “monstrosity” by Pevsner, and all the better for it—The Architect nods to the man behind the building, Major Charles Edward Davis, without getting too bogged down in syllables. Carved out of the ground floor and basement, this Bath stone bolthole on Orange Grove offers views over Pulteney Bridge and Bath Abbey, with a terrace that’s almost too perfect. Inside, there’s a bar that doesn’t skimp; local ales, serious wine, and all the good stuff, and a lofty room filled with booths and tables that suit both conspiratorial dates and the full family circus.
The atmosphere’s grand, but never stuffy. Think heritage with a bit of mischief.
