Tucked away in the heart of Soho, ROOM86 is the after-dark sibling to MOI, the Michelin-listed, Japanese-inspired grill and sushi counter which sits above. Whilst MOI focuses on live-fire cooking and precise sushi, ROOM86 focuses on the night itself, bringing DJs, sound, cocktails, food, art and fashion together under one roof.
ROOM86 is all about variety, and doesn’t commit to a single genre or format. Instead, it runs a constantly shifting programme, so each evening has its own soundtrack, mood and crowd. The venue pairs food and drinks with an intimate soundtrack, as a rotating cast of guest DJs, selectors and creatives play a mix of house, disco and groove. Be sure to check out the website to discover this week's line-up.
The ambitions stretch beyond the DJ booth too. ROOM86’s Culture Edit strand offers a monthly series showcasing emerging artists and photographers. Guests can also expect workshops, talks, film screenings and collaborations with names from London’s fashion and creative scenes.
When it comes to drinks, ROOM86 offers inventive cocktails with a Japanese sensibility alongside a well-chosen selection of sake. Expect options such as the 'Shiro Negroni' which blends together dry white port, potato shochu, white bitter, yuzu sake and chrysanthemum bitters, or why not try the 'Them Apples' which is packed full of sparkling green tea, whisky, tomato liqueur and marigold.
Food is served as well, so it’s easy to settle in for the whole evening rather than just stopping by. Choose from small plates and sushi, including crab onigiri, tempura octopus with wild garlic, and sushi ranging from Chalk Stream trout to fatty otoro tuna.