Tag Archives: london bars

Last Chance for Fiz in Soho…

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We all dread the toll of the bell when “Last Orders” are up, but we’re here to give you plenty of notice to try out Fizbar in Soho for one last time before they close there doors this Saturday. London’s first sparkling wine bar opened it’s doors 9 weeks ago for a 10 week residency at iconic London haunt, Lights of Soho. Started by three friends, their quest was to bring a hint of Barcelona’s backstreet Cava bars to London. With a playful and eclectic list of international fizz, the aim was to take a step away from the pretentious wine bars and over-priced, bourgeois culture associated with drinking sparkles in the Capital. As well as a damn good list of drinks to make your way through, the food here is also well curated and carefully selected to pair with your drinks. The atmosphere here is like no other, you can enjoy your bubbles whilst watching the Chef’s cook your food to order right at the bar.

Just to give you an example of how eclectic this wine list was, we made our way from House Fiz which was a crisp Cava at £4.5 a glass all the way to the unusual ‘Black Queen’. Hailing from Barossa Valley Australia, Black Queen is a red fizz with hints of dark cherry and fruit. Not for the faint hearted, this was described by one of the owners as the Marmite of Fiz. There are of course a few Proseccos that feature on the menu but our stand out fizz by far was a lot closer to home, all the way from Kent. Balfour Estate by Hush Heath winery in Kent was an example of something very elegant, dry and sophisticated. The production of this fizz is very similar to Champagne and is unsurprisingly award-winning. If an adventurous journey through fizz is more of what you’re after, there is something for everyone at Fiz, alongside the sparkling red, there is an Italian Sparkling wine with notes of lemon and lime and also something from Brazil too. The wines on the list go from £4.5-£10 a glass to give you an idea of how casual and affordable this joint is. The food offerings include a cheese board, a meat board and a selection of sliders to name a few, we recommend the Pastrami which we are told is made on site. As well as a bottomless brunch available on the weekend. We really enjoyed the little quirks and added extras to the place including a couple of alcoholic ice pops to choose from and of course the striking backdrop that is Lights of Soho featuring many neon light designs.

We highly recommend you checking out Fiz before they close there doors this Saturday before they move on to their next location so stay tuned for more info…

https://www.fizbar.com

Little Bat – Neighbourhood Bar and Kitchen

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Pan Am

“Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Bat! How I wonder what you’re at!” – Lewis Carroll

The weird and wonderful musings of Alice in Wonderland have been an inspiration to many in the past. Never going out of fashion, things have just got a little more ‘wonderfuller’. From the utterly genius team who brought us Callooh Callay in Shoreditch, their latest offering comes to us in the form of Little Bat. Located on a residential street off the hustle and bustle of Upper Street, Little Bat is a haven of calm serving up an abundance of innovative and scrumptious cocktails worthy of any Alice In Wonderland tea party. As well as their award winning cocktail menu, this bar does not fail to serve up an assortment of dishes which could whet the appetite of even the most discerning diner.

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Franklin Whey + Bombay Cocktail

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Bathtub Sour + Hedgerow Smash

It’s rush hour outside but inside, the laid-back, super chill vibes of Little Bat really do take the stresses of the day away. The lay out of the place has been created with feng-shui in mind with moodier, more intimate areas of the bar adorned with comfy booths, to light and airy areas. There is something in here to suit everyones taste from the foliage to the darn impressive cocktail list. We headed first to the sours and worked our way to Whisky. I must admit, someone had recommended the Pan Am to me before I had visited, good shout. I’m not usually a fan of rum, but cocktail mastermind Barney Toy has created the Pan Am with sherbet in mind and this is sherbet in liquid form. I would happily have had seconds or thirds of this but a good start all the same. In fact, we then tried all of the sours on the list and each and everyone is surprising and subtle in it’s own way. Don’t be fooled, they’re all boozy, but with these cocktails each robust and rounded flavours from every ingredient comes through. The Bombay Cocktail was also surprising, the presence of Chardonnay in a cocktail is enough to send anyone into a mental hangover but again, this cocktail is more healthy green juice than booze coma with cucumber making it one of your five-a-day. Don’t quote me on that one! The only mistake was completely self-inflicted, hastily moving onto the Whisky cocktails before we had tried dinner, we recommend you stick to the sours or collins first. Be warned, they pack a punch. There are a mix of different strengths when dealing with the Whisky cocktails, but perhaps try a Franklin Whey before a Hedgerow Smash for example. The clue is in the name.

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When it comes to what culinary delights were served up, Little Bat really did good when sourcing their kitchen controllers. From smaller plates to larger plates, we recommend the Lobster Mac n Cheese, The Jerk Chicken and even their Green Bean salad was divine. The quality really does come through in all the elements that make up Little Bat and with the majority of the cocktails priced at £8 it just goes to show that sometimes the best things are in ‘Little’ packages.

For more info check out;

www.littlebatbar.com

@LittleBatBar

Hilton Bankside launch The Distillery Bar

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Slap bang in the midst of London’s Financial and Cultural District lies the swanky Hilton Bankside. Offering tourists, corporate travellers and weekenders a classy retreat, Hilton Bankside have made sure all of your needs are met… and when we say met, we mean the essential watering hole provided is definitely something to write home about.

The Distillery bar

The Distillery Bar nestled on the ground floor ensures maximum pleasure with minimal effort. If you are a guest, you can continue your home from home experience without having to leave the premises. Open to the public too, this is the ideal location for socialising and meetings. Having checked out The Distillery Bar, this is much more than your regular hotel bar. As with all Hilton resorts, the attention to detail is paramount and The Distillery, built on the site of an old essence factory, has managed to retain its charming, quirky vibe. The bar comes fully kitted out with an impressive drinks selection. From cocktails using their own homemade concoctions, to the extensive wine list, to their very own brand of craft beer. The food on offer is simple but delicious and of good quality offering a wide range of sharing platters and bar snacks served until late in the night. The stuffy hotel bar preconception is thankfully, not anywhere to be seen or experienced with a host of trendy, warm and talented bar staff who will tend to your every requirement.

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Let the vibrant setting transport you to another time and indulge in one of their fantastic cocktails.

Open everyday from 5:30pm.

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Hilton Bankside

2-8 GREAT SUFFOLK STREET, LONDON, SE1 0UG, UNITED KINGDOM