Rake’s Café Bar

Rake’s is a cafe-bar housed inside the Andaz, a five-star Hyatt hotel where once stood the infamous Bethlehem Hospital (aka ‘Bedlam’). While we’re not keen on the tacky plastic ivy-covered gazebo amid the grandeur of The Front Room, Rake’s racy red Victorian-style Parlour is certainly worth a visit for its contemporary cocktails. Raffish recipes such as Mad House (a fennel, orange and red-pepper vodka and Kümmel Sour) and a dried-down alt’ Pimm’s (made with strawberry-laden vermouth and Fernet Branca) are interesting and instantly Instagrammable. Otherwise, in the absence of Prosecco – is this bravely bucking a trend or plain bonkers? – order a crisp cava, one of a dozen wines, hoochy Highballs, juices or smoothies. All-day bar snacks provide nourishment; we liked the sesame and cashew cauliflower ‘wings’ and the chicken and chorizo croquettes. Larger plates might include pan-fried sea trout with potato, fennel and caper salad, followed by ices, sorbets and cheesecakes.

Rake’s is a café-bar housed inside the Andaz, a luxury Hyatt hotel on Liverpool Street. Describing itself as a ‘café by day and a bar by night’, this restaurant encourages informal dining and all-round good vibes. It’s comprised of three rooms: the Front Room is a garden-inspired space where you can vibe along to local DJs throughout the week, the Parlour is a sophisticated yet casual lounge area boasting high ceilings and red walls, and No.3 is its private dining room.  

During the day, the Front Room boasts plenty of natural light, trailing foliage and an indoor gazebo-like structure designed to bring the feel of the outdoors inside. Here, guests can dine from the all-day menu which comprises a range of small and large sharing plates. Examples of smaller dishes include sesame cauliflower wings with cashew ranch, Spanish ham and potato croquettes with chipotle mayo and chilli jam, and a saffron chicken kebab skewer. Larger dishes include a global selection, from beef short ribs with BBQ glaze and truffle mash to tagliatelle oxtail ragu with Parmesan and basil.  

On Saturdays, attention turns to brunch, with both regular and boozy options available. Look out for pecan waffles with lemon crème fraiche, berries and rose fennel syrup, for example, or go bottomless with Prosecco, Champagne or cocktails for an extra cost. 

During the evening, head over to its cosy red-painted lounge area to sample one of its signature cocktails, under names like The Orgy, The Prison or The Mad House. A concise selection of wines, port, beer and cider and non-alcoholic options are available, too, and it also runs a rather appealing daily happy hour!