Autumn has most definitely arrived and along with the golden leaves (and plenty of drizzle) sprinkling to earth, the whirlwind has brought a flurry of new bars. Our resident lounge lizard Keith Barker-Main is in his element: as a cold-blooded creature, he’s adapted well via a warming cocktail or two. Just for a change… Here’s what he’s been sipping and where.
Casita2, Hackney (above)
A favourite among off-duty bartenders (speaks volumes), Shoreditch’s spirited South American hole-up, Casita, has spawned a ‘son of’. This blink-and-you’ll-miss it dive on Broadway Market is unassumingly located in the low-beamed basement (a former nightclub) of Turkish meze bar Solche.
Dry Martini, Regent’s Park (above)
A veteran of the World’s 50 Best Bars list, the original Dry Martini Barcelona is the work of Javier de las Muelas and has become synonymous with world-class cocktail culture since opening in 1978. As is tradition at the Barcelona original, a tally is kept of the number of Martinis made and a stamped certificate issued to every drinker upon ordering.
Henderson at The Laslett, Notting Hill (below)
A terrace of five converted townhouses provides the setting for the latest hotel by Living Rooms, owners of Europa House (Little Venice) and No. 5 Maddox Street. Order Daiquiri or Pembridge Secret Garden (a Sipsmith gin, elderflower and cucumber Sour) from the list of £9 cocktails; or linger over reasonably priced wines.
The Hyrdrant, Monument
Inside, its pine-clad, folksy, 1950s cod-American decor isn’t dissimilar to that of various other behemoth City bars. Here, though, you’ll get Fuller’s draught beers: served in both bars and including Frontier lager, Wild River pale ale and Black Cab stout.
Threadneedle, Bank (below)
This plush first-floor gallery bar, housed in the imposing Victorian Royal Exchange, has been relaunched by owners D&D as a discreet cocktail bar – away from the hubbub of the Grand Café below. The emphasis is on drinks inspired by the father of modern American mixology, Jerry Thomas, in his 1862 tome, Bar-Tenders Guide.
Two-Bit, Shoreditch
Brewdog has rebooted Underdog, its clandestine bar-within-a-bar, reopening it as Two-Bit. What is new, is a range of pinball machines and amusement arcade games aimed at retro-tech geeks: try your luck with Tron; revisit The Battle of Midway; or engage in spaceship shootout, Pleiads (first launched, 1981).
This article was published 9 October 2015