To say that I was fussy about where I drink my booze would be understating things slightly. If I'm paying £8 for a cocktail, I don't want to do it in a venue that I don't like (Be At One, I'm looking you square in the face). I can deal with an average pint but I won't settle for mediocre mixing.
This weekend, The Boy and His Poison took me to The London Cocktail Club. I knew immediately that this was going to be excellent. The decor is cosy without resorting to the cocktail bar staple of 'grandma chic'. The staff were busy, but still friendly. Flirty, without making us feel uncomfortable (far from it, they're all really very attractive). They were playing 90s CLASSICS. All of this and we hadn't even got to the drinks yet.
Oh my goodness, the drinks.
The LCC menu swerves from a little bit pretentious to poking fun at itself. You can buy drinks in jam jars but you can also get a pina colada. I love seeing a pina colada on a cocktail menu. But they absolutely wowed me with their bacon and egg cocktail. Yep, they've turned the breakfast classic into an excellent drink of bacon-infused bourbon, maple syrup and egg whites. It's clever. It's sweet and savoury at all once. It tastes of bacon but it doesn't taste of hangover breakfast. It came with a a candied bacon garnish and if you don't like the drink, they'll buy it back. I've just bought a bottle of bourbon so I can try my hand at infusing.
The drinks are around £8 and they've just opened a second venue in Bloomsbury that I can't wait to visit. The London Cocktail Club are absolutely knocking it out of the park.
LCC are hidden away at 61 Goodge Street, down some stairs just opposite the excellent Benito's Hat. Their new venue has just opened at 244 Shaftesbury Avenue. Go drink bacon.
'Flirty, without making us feel uncomfortable' ... I always prefer it when they veer on the uncomfortable.
ReplyDeleteYou're not wrong about the bartenders - so cute and friendly. Thanks for introducing us to it, Nick!
ReplyDeleteOh I was perfectly comfortable with the flirty man.
ReplyDeleteSounds great, we'll have to have a staff trip there!
ReplyDeleteIf you're even in Bristol check out Hyde & Co, awesome little speakeasy that's hidden away. No sign at the door and you have to ring a doorbell to get in, if the bartender looking you through the spy hole thinks your suitable! Table service only and if you don't know what you want they'll make you something special, I tried various cocktails and then asked for something tall, vodkary and fruity and the drink was amazing!! I know it's a bit of a distance, but if you do find yourself in sunny old Bristol check it out. :)
ReplyDeleteI went to their new venue on opening night last week and it was lovely. Decor comprises some rather awesome skull print wallpaper and painted vintage tattoo style murals, menu is heavy on the rum options. Staff were also lovely and the two drinks I had (it was an unplanned visit and I had my bicycle, boooo) were mixed really well. Wasn't brave enough to try the bacon and egg one though!
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