Where To Sip In Style This November
Ichibar
Chinatown favourite Ichibuns has marked its first year of trading with the launch of Ichibar, a late-night drinking and dining destination. Open until 2am and serving up an extensive list of Japanese whisky, gin, craft ale and sake alongside an innovative cocktail menu, it brings a slice of old Tokyo flavours to the very centre of London. Launched in the basement space beneath the main restaurant, Ichibar’s interiors have been designed by Noriyoshi Muramatsu of Tokyo’s famed Studio Glitt. From Manga-covered ceilings to walls decorated with Japanese beer cans and re-purposed Pachinko machines, the team promises to offer an experience unlike any other outside of Japan. Every weekend, guests will be able to enjoy a programme of house DJs, playing music live and (most importantly) late into the night.
22 Wardour Street, Soho, W1D 6QH
Visit Ichibuns.co.uk
Bangkok Underground
Bangkok Underground is a new subterranean bar and dining space beneath Fitzrovia’s Greyhound Cafe. Tucked away below the popular Thai restaurant, the new launch draws on the neon-lit buzz of the drinking spots that line the back streets of Thailand’s capital city, creating the perfect spot for everything from post-work drinking to private feasting. The menu features Greyhound signatures including ‘Complicated Noodles’, ‘Salmon in Hot Pursuit’ and ‘Mor Fai’ to share – a Thai favourite featuring hot and sour tom yum soup with prawn ravioli and river prawns. For drinks, expect to order a two-ft high Chang Beer tower for the table, alongside a choice of cocktails – we like the sound of the ‘Bang Yee Kun Sour’: Mekhong, lime, lemongrass, syrup and ginger syrup, served in a coupe.
Visit Greyhound Café, 37 Berners Street, Fitzrovia, W1T 3LZ
Visit GreyhoundCafe.uk
The White Haus
Pining for the slopes? With three floors of rustic décor complete with cosy corners, cuckoo clocks and vintage cable cars, Farringdon’s The White Haus aims to bring the joie de vivre of ski season to the capital. Spread over three floors, the pub transports guests to the mountains via timber chalet-style décor and a seriously good drinks list. 1936 Biere – a Swiss lager brewed at the foot of the Alps – is dispensed fresh from tank to glass and signature cocktails include a salted caramel old fashioned; black cherry and amaretto sour; and a barrel-aged bordeaux negroni alongside hot toddies, vin chaud and ‘ski shots’. From schnitzels and sauerkraut to Swiss beer-battered fish and chips and sharing boards of baked Mont d’Or, pickles and potatoes, the all-day menu is all about comforting dishes with a European twist, using seasonal ingredients. DJ sets and bottomless brunch are also on offer.
17 Farringdon Street, Farringdon, EC4A 4AB
Visit TheWhiteHaus.co.uk
The Parrot
This past weekend saw the launch of The Parrot, an intimate cocktail bar and live music venue. Housed within the iconic Waldorf Hilton in collaboration with actor, DJ and producer Idris Elba and identical twins Lee and Nicky Caulfield, guests to the 60-seater bar can expect a whole host of A-list surprises, from a hidden tropical cocktail menu to secret shows and an exclusive guest list. When it comes to food, the Waldorf’s Executive Chef Karl Richardson has crafted a selection of ‘vibrant and delicious small plates’ that align with the bar’s tropical theme. The venue also boasts access to the London bar scene’s first chauffeur-driven, branded car – an Aston Martin, no less.
Aldwych, Covent Garden, WC2B 4DD
Visit TheParrotLDN.co.uk
Diogenes the Dog
A former Elephant & Castle boozer has been transformed into a new-wave wine bar and shop, Diogenes The Dog. Inspired by the Greek philosopher who founded the philosophy of cynicism, the wine bar and shop share the same inquisitive nature of Diogenes, questioning what we know about wine and bringing lesser-known alternatives to the table. Spread across two floors, the 60-cover venue houses a wine shop on the ground floor among tables that line the windows overlooking the street. Inside, there’s a classic al fresco feel with plants and a green palette, juxtaposed with a more contemporary stripped-back aesthetic. Downstairs, the pretty basement is available for private hire and will host regular acoustic nights. Small boards of Italian cheeses and charcuterie from Cannon & Cannon meats will accompany the wines in the evenings.
96 Rodney Road, Elephant & Castle, SE17 1BG
Visit DiogenesTheDog.co.uk
No 17 Dickens Yard
Ealing’s No 17 Dickens Yard takes inspiration from urban European lofts. The seventh location from Darwin & Wallace (which also runs No 29 Powerstation West at Battersea and No 197 Chiswick Fire Station), this a bold, modern space, decked out with huge lamps, soft textiles, generous lounge seating, large bleached oak sharing tables plus a dedicated bar on both floors. Fronted with a large outdoor courtyard filled with foliage and terracotta, the space also boasts a wrap-around terrace on the first floor, which overlooks the newly landscaped Dickens Yard development. Right next to Ealing tube station, the bar invites locals and visitors alike to enjoy a menu of locally sourced food and drinks in a home-from-home setting. All cocktails will use house-made syrups and herbs foraged from the bar’s own kitchen garden – we’re keen to try the ‘Honey Martini’.
Dickens Yard, Longfield Avenue, Ealing, W5 2TD
Visit No17DickensYard.co.uk
Mrs Fogg’s Maritime Club & Distillery
Located in Broadgate Circle and spanning two floors, Mrs Fogg’s Maritime Club and Distillery is the latest cocktail bar from the award-winning hospitality company Inception Group. Inspired by Aouda, Phileas Fogg’s Indian wife in Jules Verne’s Around the World in 80 Days, Mrs Fogg’s serves up inventive cocktails and innovative dishes with a nod to her heritage and nautical travels. The carefully themed and decorated bar, complete with its own gin distillery and steamer ship, is set to be the City’s hot new destination this winter. To celebrate the launch, the team is offering SL readers 50% off lunch and 25% off dinner, plus if you're a SL VIP you'll receive a free cocktail too. Sign up to become a SheerLuxe VIP using the link below.
37 Broadgate Circle, City, EC2M 2QS; offer valid until 18th November; to redeem, book online.
Visit SheerLuxeVIP.com
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