olivemagazine
type: channel
link: https://www.olivemagazine.com
date: 2026-02-03T17:06:20.000Z
update period: hourly
update frequency: 1
update base: 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00
items: Best London wine bars
items: Best cocktail bars in London
items: Best listening bars in London
items: The World's 50 Best Bars 2025: the results
items: London's best outdoor restaurants and terraces
items: Coupette, Bethnal Green: bar review
items: Watchful Mary, Cornwall: bar review
items: Black Rock, Bristol: whisky bar review
items: Pick and Cheese at Seven Dials Market, London WC2: wine bar review
items: Scout, London E8: cocktail bar review
items: Seymour’s Parlour, Zetter Townhouse, London W1: hotel bar review
items: Best rooftop bars in the UK
items: Uisce by Heaneys, Cardiff: wine bar review
items: Best UK wine bars that serve food
items: Lyaness, London SE1: cocktail bar review
items: Three Sheets, Dalston: bar review
items: Fare Bar + Canteen, London EC1: cocktail bar review
items: Library Bar at The Ned, London EC2: cocktail bar review
items: Original Sin, London N16: bar review
items: Nightjar, London EC1: cocktail bar review
items: Tonica by The Distillery, London EC1: gin bar review
items: The Florist, Bristol: cocktail bar review
items: Bar Three, Spitalfields: bar review
items: The Isle of Wight foodie guide: where locals eat and drink
items: The Racketeer, Kings Cross, London: bar review

Best London wine bars
type: item
date: 2026-02-03T09:44:17.000Z
creator: Hannah Guinness
subject: Bar reviews
subject: Guides
subject: London
subject: Restaurants
subject: Drink
description: Some of the capital's best spots for a glass (or two) of wine, from cult natural wine bars to laidback neighbourhood joints
encoded: Looking for the best London wine bars? I've spent the past eight years writing about London's drinks scene for olive, and one of the things I'm most excited about is the explosion in new-wave wine bars across the capital. From trendy natural wine spots in Shoreditch to Gallic boltholes in Covent Garden and vermuterias in King's Cross, there's something to cater for every taste. So whether you're in the mood for a glass of funky orange wine, a fizzy pét nat or a big, bold Italian red, we've got you covered. Make sure you keep coming back here for updates, as I'll be refreshing this guide with the latest openings and discoveries. Next discover the best new restaurants in London, best dining experiences in London and best food and drink festivals to visit. Also discover some of our London food guides, including the best restaurants in Covent Garden, best restaurants in Kings Cross and best restaurants in Shoreditch. If you're partial to a cocktail served with stellar sound systems, discover our favourite listening bars in London. Best wine bars in London Godet, Islington A good pub is a glorious thing but typically not a place for wine drinkers. Yes, there might be a plethora of tropical IPAs and amber cask ales on offer, but we’ve had our fair share of rickety – sometimes grim – pub wine, and even when the quality is good the choice is usually much more limited compared to what’s on tap. Godet is an Essex Road denizen with the spaciously proportioned bones of an old Victorian boozer (it was formerly The Seveney in another life) but with a decidedly more chic peach and sage palette. It calls itself a ‘wine pub’ and we can see why – the vibe inside feels decidedly laid back, bustling and akin to the neighbourhood local it once was. We were impressed by the equal importance given to grape and grain here, with a pithy rotating list of low-intervention wines chalked up on blackboards and a roster of nine beers on tap. The former draws heavily from France (as befits Parisia…

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Best cocktail bars in London
type: item
date: 2025-12-12T09:00:24.000Z
creator: Hannah Guinness
subject: Bar reviews
subject: Drink
subject: Guides
description: From slinky, speakeasy-style dens to cutting-edge mixology, London's cocktail bars are world-class. Here's a taste of what to expect
encoded: Looking for the best cocktail bars in London? As olive’s drinks writer, I've spent the past eight years scouring the capital’s bar scene to keep up with the latest trends, openings and hot spots. London’s bar scene is one of the best in the world (including four of the World’s 50 Best Bars; see the full list here), buzzing with cutting-edge mixology, top-tier bartender talent and, most importantly, really delicious cocktails. Here’s my pick of the best at the moment – from a Latin American-inspired basement bar in Notting Hill to a Dalston agaveria and award-winning cocktail lounge in Soho. There's plenty to keep your Friday nights and weekends busy; make sure you check back for more as I'll be updating this guide with the best new cocktail bar openings. For more like this, check out the World's 50 Best Bars, the best London hotel bars to visit, the best listening bars in London and the best London pubs for food lovers. Also check out our London food guides, including the best restaurants in Fitzrovia, best restaurants in Shoreditch, best restaurants in Marylebone and best restaurants in Notting Hill. Best London cocktail bars The Black Duke, Vauxhall The Vauxhall roundabout was an unlikely dining destination until Jackson and Frank Boxer launched their much-praised Brunswick House in the surrounds of a Grade II listed Georgian mansion in 2010, and thanks to a restoration of the building’s 18th-century cellars they’ve now launched The Black Duke, making two good reasons why you need to visit. Inside, dripping candles add flickering cosiness to the carefully revived space, which includes 300-year-old fireplaces and chimneys restored to working order. Exposed brickwork, vintage tables and leather seating complete a pared-back yet inviting setting. The drinks list is pleasingly short and to the point – start with a one-sip negroni before moving on to crowd-pleasing cocktails with a twist; alpine herbal liqueur génépi adds herbal complexity to the house martini, while a…

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Best listening bars in London
type: item
date: 2025-11-21T12:01:20.000Z
creator: Emily Marten
subject: Bar reviews
subject: Drink
subject: Guides
subject: cocktail
subject: Drinks
subject: London area guides
description: The Japanese listening bar concept has landed in London. Expect hifi sound systems, stellar cocktails and moody surroundings for soaking up the music
encoded: Looking for the best hifi bars in London? If you're partial to a carefully curated cocktail or two, you may have noticed the term 'listening bar' appearing on the London cocktail bar scene in the last couple of years. Think: intimate, low lighting, stylish, mid-century décor and most importantly, high-fidelity sound systems. Inspired by Japanese "kissaten" culture, which emerged in the post-war era, the experience of sound is placed firmly centre stage. Although while the music may be a key focus, food and drinks menus are by no means an afterthought, with high-quality, seasonal ingredients, global-inspired flavours and rotating chef takeovers. As an east London resident myself, you might call me biased but my favourite spots also happen to inhabit this side of the capital. For a cute and cosy date night destination, Chiave is a no-brainer, where you can continue the night and throw shapes on the luxe downstairs dance floor complete with bespoke sound system (trust me, it's nothing like the sweaty basements you may have frequented in the past). If you're looking for a more substantial meal, I would never fail to recommend Mad Cats's east Asian-inspired menu packed with punchy, umami-rich flavour. And that pandan crème brûlée, wow. Of course, the whole of London is blessed with a wealth of stellar options, so whatever your taste, peruse my list below and find something to suit you. Next, discover the best cocktail bars in London, London hotel bars to visit and the best rooftop bars in London. For an off-the-beaten track new spot to visit, read about these neighbourhood gems according to London locals and find out where our drinks writer goes for summer drinking in London. Best London listening bars Chiave, Shoreditch Meaning ‘key’ in Italian, Chiave cuts a subtle exterior on Shoreditch’s Redchurch Street bar the large, polished brass-effect key on the door. Naturally lit during the day from the sash windows, stay until sundown for the bar to transform into a cosy dri…

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The World's 50 Best Bars 2025: the results
type: item
date: 2025-10-09T11:49:18.000Z
creator: Hannah Guinness
subject: Bar reviews
subject: Drink
subject: Guides
description: Find out which UK and London bars made the list of these prestigious awards, held in Hong Kong, as well as the top 50 winners
encoded: The World's 50 Best Bars is an internationally acclaimed annual list that celebrates the best in the bar industry, ranking destinations across the globe, from London to New York, Tokyo to Mexico City. Hotly anticipated each year, 2025's results include both established favourites and newcomers. Bar Leone in Hong Kong took the No.1 spot, winning World's Best Bar. This is the first time that a bar in Asia has gained the top spot in the awards. London led Europe in the top 50, with four bars making the list, including two in the top 10 – Tayēr + Elementary at No.5 and Connaught Bar at No.6. Satan's Whiskers came in at No.21 and Scarfes Bar at No.31. Panda & Sons in Edinburgh also made the list, ranking at No.34. Explore our guides to the best London cocktail bars, listening bars and wine bars. Check out the top 50 list below The World's 50 Best Bars – the top 50 1. Bar Leone, Hong Kong 2. Handshake Speakeasy, Mexico City 3. Sips, Barcelona 4. Paradiso, Barcelona 5. Tayēr + Elementary, London 6. Connaught Bar, London 7. Moebius Milano, Milan 8. Line, Athens 9. Jigger & Pony, Singapore 10. Tres Monos, Buenos Aires 11. Alquímico, Cartagena 12. Superbueno, New York 13. Lady Bee, Lima 14. Himkok, Oslo 15. Bar Us, Bangkok 16. Zest, Seoul 17. Bar Nouveau, Paris 18. Bar Benfiddich, Tokyo 19. Caretaker's Cottage, Melbourne 20. The Cambridge Public House, Paris 21. Satan's Whiskers, London 22. Locale Firenze, Florence 23. Tlecān, Mexico City 24. Tan Tan, São Paulo 25. Mirror Bar, Bratislava 26. CoChinChina, Buenos Aires 27. Baba au Rum, Athens 28. Nouvelle Vague, Tirana 29. Hope & Sesame, Guangzhou 30. Danico, Paris 31. Scarfes Bar, London 32. Svanen, Oslo 33. Sastrería Martinez, Lima 34. Panda & Sons, Edinburgh 35. Röda Huset, Stockholm 36. Mimi Kakushi, Dubai 37. Salmon Guru, Madrid 38. Coa, Hong Kong 39. Sip & Guzzle, New York 40. Drink Kong, Rome 41. Double Chicken Please, New York 42. Maybe Sammy, Sydney 43. 1930, Milan 44. Jewel of the South, New Orleans 45. Virtù, Tokyo …

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London's best outdoor restaurants and terraces
type: item
date: 2025-09-11T10:25:50.000Z
subject: Bar reviews
subject: Guides
subject: Drink
subject: London area guides
description: Check out the best al fresco dining in the capital, from sun-baked city squares to rooftop terraces and waterside retreats
encoded: Looking for the best restaurant terraces to soak up the sun in London? Choose from our favourite restaurants with outdoor dining for an al fresco lunch or evening bite to eat. Hungry for more? Soak up the capital's most impressive views with our guide to London's best restaurants with a view, then see our favourite outdoor restaurants in the UK for the best of al fresco dining. If you want to pull out all the stops, discover the best dining experiences in London. Looking to get out and about with your foodie friends? Check out the best food and drink festivals to visit. If you like your cocktail served with a stellar sound system, discover our favourite listening bars in London. Also looking for the best brunch to visit in the city? We've narrowed our favourites down in our guide to the best brunches in London. London restaurants with outdoor terraces Amelie, Belgravia Set within the iconic Pantechnicon building in elegant, pedestrianised Motcomb Street, Amélie has a gorgeous, sun-kissed terrace that brings a bit of the south of France to the heart of Belgravia. With tables set up for people watching and comfy rattan chairs the super-relaxed vibe encourages long lazy lunches (and ordering just one more glass of rosé). The Med-inspired menu is concise with some fun touches such as the rösti section – deep golden crunchy triangles topped with caviar, steak or tuna tartare – a perfect sharing bite. Starters are light and vibrant – try the creamy stracciatella topped with sweet, ripe plum slices and a basil dressing, or tender asparagus on airy whipped goat’s cheese with a hazelnut vinaigrette. Mains keep that light and simple Med vibe going with perfectly al dente paccheri served with a vibrant green pesto and sweet confit tomatoes. There’s a carefully curated wine list with lots of French classics including the Amélie signature chablis, beautifully mineral and refreshing. Do save room for the signature chocolate mousse, served table-side from a huge dish and topped wi…

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Coupette, Bethnal Green: bar review
type: item
date: 2020-11-26T08:58:04.000Z
creator: Alex Crossley
subject: Bar reviews
subject: Drink
description: Read our review of cool East End cocktail bar Coupette for Champagne piña coladas, calvados and French toasties
encoded: Coupette in a nutshell: Coupette is a cool cocktail bar that sells itself as “inspired by France but proudly local” (to east London, that is). Where is it? 423 Bethnal Green Road. Nearest tube: Bethnal Green While you're in the area, check our favourite listening bars in London. What’s the vibe? This is a super cool drinking den, where banter over the bar (made from French centimes) is encouraged. There's a soundtrack of hip hop, that has taken over jazz as the cocktail bar genre of choice over the last few years, and punters let loose as the evening unfolds, moving from high tables to mingle in with other cocktail lovers and choose spirits from the brick wall behind the bar. What’s the drinks menu like? There’s an extensive cocktail menu, with intricately illustrated ingredients (spirit bottles, fruits, spices et al) made into small pieces of contemporary art for each drink. There are some super-bold twists on the new menu – 18-year-old rum is washed in chocolate for the Chocolate & Red Wine, Cereal Wars is a malty take on an old fashioned thanks to toasted rye, barley and wheat; and purple and orange carrots add an earthy note to The Bitter Quarter. Which cocktail to order at Coupette? Champagne piña colada is the showstopper; a mix of Bacardi Heritage, French- Caribbean agricole rum, pineapple and coconut sorbet, topped up with Moët & Chandon brut. We also loved the buttery and smooth Corny Gimlet with a sour, smoky edge, garnished with a kitsch mini buttered corn. Code Rouge is a great way to end the evening, made using a combination of sherry cask whisky and homemade red ale vermouth. At the bottom you’ll find a bonbon of red wine ganache encased in a white chocolate sphere to melt into your mouth before you leave.

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Watchful Mary, Cornwall: bar review
type: item
date: 2020-02-08T15:09:54.000Z
creator: Laura Rowe
subject: Bar reviews
subject: Drink
description: Try jugs of sangria, Cornish limoncello and silky charcuterie at Cornwall’s hippest beachfront bar
encoded: Looking for beach bars in Cornwall? Read our review of Watchful Mary, or check out our Cornwall guide here. Watchful Mary in a nutshell There’s a new spot from which to watch the sunset on Watergate Bay – a beachfront bar with small-batch beers and beats. Where is Watchful Mary? The latest addition to Watergate Bay Hotel, just north of Newquay – Cornwall’s ‘ski resort on a beach’, where swimming, surfing, and coastal walks are encouraged before dips in the pool, soaks in the hot tub, and après in the hotel – Watchful Mary looks over the water. It’s the perfect place, so say the owners, to catch the ‘green flash’ dancing along the horizon. Click here for more restaurants and bars with great views. What’s the vibe at Watchful Mary? Standalone from the hotel, Watchful Mary feels like the grown-up counterpart to Watergate Bay’s family friendly vibe. There’s a DJ on the decks, driftwood furniture, buttery tan leather sofa seats, and dozens of rattan lampshades in all shapes and sizes hang from the ceiling, as well as, of course, those views across the shoreline. What’s the drinks menu like? Things are kept simple and decisions come easy at Watchful Mary. Order a jug of sangria, or a martini (dry by day, sweet and coffee-spiked by night), or work through the local craft beer and spirits, including colour-changing rose-scented Cornish gin, Lyme Bay spiced rum, or even limoncello made from lemons grown in the Eden Project. Is there any food? Bar food at Watchful Mary consists of truffle-roasted nuts, plates of silky charcuterie, veggie antipasti and wedges of British cheese served with gooseberry and nettle or pear and nigella chutney. Where to go nearby for dinner Slope up to Watergate Bay Hotel, to Zacry’s for the likes of monkfish katsu curry and slow-cooked duck shepherd’s pie. And if you’re lucky enough to stay over, be sure to grab a place at the DIY waffle stand, then load up with sausage, bacon, egg and tomatoes for an extra-special full english. olive tip Check out…

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Black Rock, Bristol: whisky bar review
type: item
date: 2019-11-27T17:06:41.000Z
subject: Bar reviews
subject: Drink
description: Try cream soda whisky highballs, old fashioneds on tap and peaty scotch eggs at this Bristolian whisky bar
encoded: Looking for bars in Bristol? Read our review of Black Rock or check out our guide here. Black Rock in a nutshell The award-winning team behind London’s acclaimed specialist whisky bar Black Rock have opened a Bristol outpost serving high-grade drams and cocktails. Where is it? Marsh Street, just off main artery Baldwin Street. What’s the vibe? Smart and compact city-centre bar with a low-lit interior in charcoal shades including communal seating and artwork inspired by Japanese whisky culture. What’s the drinks menu like at Black Rock? There are six cabinets backlit in red and full of different whiskies split into fragrance, smoke, sweet, spice, balance and fruit-based profiles, plus six taps for draught lagers, IPAs, wheat ales and stout. Whisky varieties hail from around the world – the aim is to feature one from every whisky-producing country – but are helpfully arranged only by flavour. There’s also a short list of whisky-based cocktails. Learn more about whisky here. Which cocktails to order? If you’re an entry-level whisky drinker go for a simple, light and refreshing highball. Sweet toothed? Put your money on the Haig Club Clubman with coffee cream soda mixer. To tap into the fragrance section, try the robust 10-year-old Talisker with poky Chartreuse, Suze and lime acid. Cocktails correspond with the cabinet collections – the choice ‘fruit’ concoction is The Singleton with apricot brandy and orange cordial; the ‘smoke’ comprising of peaty eight-year-old Lagavulin, cucumber Lillet and Maraschino. Another interesting sweet option stars Bulleit with biscuits, Curacao and soy milk wash. Is there any food? The ‘scran’ section includes some sumptuous bar snacks – Helford River oysters; fat, oozy scotch eggs with peated Hollandaise; haggis sausage roll and soda bread with seaweed butter. Anything else? While the London branch has an oak-tree table that matures the whisky stored inside while you sit around it, the Bristol bar has an oak-tree installation planted into…

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Pick and Cheese at Seven Dials Market, London WC2: wine bar review
type: item
date: 2019-11-24T13:36:27.000Z
creator: Hannah Guinness
subject: Bar reviews
subject: Drink
description: Try Cornish gouda, floral orange wines and blue-cheese soft serve at this fun cheese and wine bar
encoded: Looking for bars in Covent Garden? Read our review of Pick & Cheese, or check out our guide here. Pick & Cheese in a nutshell Cheese and wine gets the conveyer belt treatment at this lively addition to KERB’S first bricks and mortar site. Where is it? A four-minute walk from Covent Garden underground station. What’s the vibe at Pick & Cheese? Located on the first floor of the open-plan Seven Dials Market, Pick & Cheese sees a conveyer belt bearing pretty pastel plates of fromage and charcuterie surrounded by a sweeping counter in trendy pink terrazzo marble, with high (slightly uncomfortable) yellow bar stools. It’s buzzy, busy and crowded, although there are a couple of booths if you prefer something more private. What’s the menu like? Think of Pick & Cheese as the turophile’s equivalent of YO! Sushi. Plates of (all British) cheese – price coded by the colour of their plates – proceed in a stately fashion along a conveyer belt, ready for you to grab. The menu (there are 25 cheeses in total) comes with detailed descriptions of each cheese and their individually paired condiments (plus wine recommendations), and there’s also a small of roster of cheese dishes you can order ‘off belt’ – from English halloumi with honey and oregano to four-cheese grilled sandwiches. Which dishes and wine to order? Cheese and condiment pairings are imaginative, with an occasional misfire but some real showstoppers. Londonshire from Wilde’s Cheese in Tottenham was a surprisingly firm soft cheese, creamy and mellow. It was winningly matched with an (overly generous) smear of honeyed garlic purée that impressed with its funky, tangy character. A surprise dream pairing saw flaky eccles cake fragrant with dried currants compliment salty, buttery, lemony Mrs Kirkham’s Lancashire – fans of eating Christmas cake with cheddar would love this combination. Another star dish of the night was Cornish gouda with crunchy hazelnut brittle, the latter bringing out the gentle nuttiness of the cheese. Win…

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Scout, London E8: cocktail bar review
type: item
date: 2019-09-12T15:30:42.000Z
creator: Hannah Guinness
subject: Bar reviews
subject: Drink
description: Try tomato gin tonics, eucalyptus leaf vodka and scrumpy-like ferments at this clever Hackney bar
encoded: Looking for bars in Hackney? Read our review of Scout, or check out our guide here. If you like your cocktail served with a stellar sound system, discover our favourite listening bars in London. Scout in a nutshell Since it first opened in Shoreditch in 2017, Matt Whiley’s Scout has raked in the plaudits for its zero-waste ethos and focus on British produce, as well as its adventurous, creative approach to cocktail making. Fast-forward to 2019 and it’s ranked number 28 on the World’s 50 Best Bars list; set up new digs in Hackney; and fellow drinks maestro Rich Woods now co-owns the bar with Matt. Together they bring masses of experience and know-how to Scout, with Matt previously responsible for the likes of Worship Street Whistling Shop, Purl and Peg + Patriot, and Rich behind the drinks offerings at Duck & Waffle and SUSHISAMBA. Where is it? A four-minute walk from Hackney Central overground station. What’s the vibe? Clean, almost spartan minimalism, with muted pale-green walls, pared-back banquette seating and the occasional print. The space is dominated by a sleek bar, and shelves neatly filled with a Willy Wonka-esque array of ferments, cordials and infusions, from sandalwood vodka to samphire gin. A slightly clinical feel is enlivened by the friendly, easygoing, knowledgeable staff, who serve up drinks with impressive speed (many of the cocktails are pre-bottled to streamline service). What’s the drinks menu like? Scout launched a new menu this summer, Ecosystems, which is divided into three sections. Town & Cities focusses on ingredients sourced in and around London; Freshwater & Marine is inspired by the British coast; and Forest & Grasslands takes its cue from nature throughout the country. Ingredients are sourced with a laser eye on sustainability and locality, from ingredients gathered from Hackney Marshes by urban forager Jon the Poacher (@jonthepoacher) to seasonal ferments made from the skins of fruits and vegetables. Which cocktails to order? The Roe-…

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Seymour’s Parlour, Zetter Townhouse, London W1: hotel bar review
type: item
date: 2019-09-05T16:15:38.000Z
creator: Hannah Guinness
subject: Bar reviews
subject: Drink
description: Try aromatic spritzes, watermelon bourbon and pickled oysters at this acclaimed Marylebone hotel bar
encoded: Looking for bars in Marylebone? Read our review of Seymour's Parlour, or check out our guide here. Seymour's Parlour in a nutshell: Zetter’s award-winning cocktail bars have relaunched with new menus courtesy of London drinks duo Matt Whiley and Rich Woods. The brains behind acclaimed bars such as Peg & Patriot and Worship Street Whistling Shop (Whiley), and the drinks offering at SUSHISAMBA and Duck & Waffle (Woods), together they run much-feted Hackney bar Scout. Whiley and Woods have created separate menus for Zetter Townhouse’s two locations – Potions and Punches for Seymour’s Parlour in Marylebone and Cures & Curiousities at the ZTH Cocktail Lounge in Clerkenwell. Where is it? Marylebone – a four-minute walk from Marble Arch underground station. What’s the vibe? Eccentric Edwardian sitting room – this is a cosy, luxurious drinking den, with earthy red walls, richly patterned rugs on wooden floors, a profusion of gilt-framed pictures and portraits, velvet sofas, carved wooden chairs and oriental vases. What’s the drinks menu like? The new menus focus on 10 ingredients, from St John’s wort to vetiver, with an emphasis on clever, imaginative infusions and cordials that will be familiar to anyone who’s visited Scout. There’s also a roster of classic cocktails, beers and ciders, and a pithy wine list. Which cocktails to order at Seymour's Parlour? The Wishful Negroni was a fruitily autumnal take on the classic cocktail, with petit grain, blackberry Campari and 'elf oil' (a secret blend of ingredients including pine essence) adding woody, herbaceous notes. The Aphrodisiac Spritz – sandalwood vodka, pisco, raspberry brandy, clarified lemon and champagne – displayed a deft touch with bold flavours. The use of sandalwood could have been cloyingly perfumed but it was instead seductively aromatic (we were reminded of men’s cologne) with the champagne adding faintly biscuity dryness. Poker Face is another masterclass in balance, with sweet, almost floral watermelon bourbon…

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Best rooftop bars in the UK
type: item
date: 2019-08-12T13:17:55.000Z
subject: Bar reviews
subject: Drink
subject: UK
subject: Travel
description: We've found the best places to soak up sunshine and city views with a cocktail or two, from slick hotel bars to hipster street food spots and everything in between
encoded: Looking for the best rooftop bars? We’re lucky if summer lasts a whole weekend in the UK, so when we do get a glimmer of sunshine, you need to know exactly where to go to make the most of it. With that in mind, we’ve put together our pick of the best across the UK, places with great drinks and even better views. Check out our pick of the best rooftop bars in London, or take a look at the Worlds Best Bars. If you like your cocktail served with a stellar sound system, discover our favourite listening bars in London. Skylight Peckham, London In recent years, Peckham has become home to many renowned rooftop restaurants and bars. Skylight Peckham, on top of theatre school Mountview, is the newest in the fleet of rooftop restaurants and boasts a striking sweeping city-wide view. The impressive interiors, including a zinc-topped bar are second to their signature list of cocktails – including a south London iced tea, packed with Hennessey and cranberry juice. A comforting and spacious interior makes this a perfect place for warm summer evenings on the terrace or even somewhere to sit and have lunch while working. A highlight on the menu was the burrata topped with smoked aubergine and nduja, or visit on Sundays for a rotating BBQ menu featuring South African, Portuguese and Jamaican dishes. skylightbars.com/peckham The Suffolk, Aldeburgh Restaurant-with-rooms where stellar dishes (try roast halibut with lobster velouté) are now served with sea views on a new roof terrace. Mains from £18; the-suffolk.co.uk Laurel’s on the Roof, London Poolside 70s LA chic atop Mondrian Shoreditch. An all-day menu includes tuna ceviche and lobster risotto. Mains from £16; ennismore.com The Ubiquitous Chip, Glasgow Eat the brasserie’s seafood risotto or beef and venison burger on a cosy terrace overlooking the West End. Mains from £16; ubiquitouschip.co.uk Frank’s Café, London This is about as trendy and hipster as you get, but in the best possible way. On top of a multi-story car park in Peck…

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Uisce by Heaneys, Cardiff: wine bar review
type: item
date: 2019-07-04T18:01:54.000Z
subject: Bar reviews
subject: Drink
description: Try buttery Brazilian fizz and liquorice-tinged Australian reds at this laid-back neighbourhood wine bar
encoded: Looking for Cardiff bars? Read our review and check out more places to eat and drink in Cardiff here... Uisce in a nutshell Following the success of his first solo restaurant, chef Tommy Heaney introduces a second helping of his relaxed dining concept less than a year after opening Heaneys. With a focus on wine and a succinct – yet seriously impressive – menu of tapas-style small plates, Uisce (pronounced ish-ka) is the neighbourhood bar everyone wishes was at the end of their street. Where is it? Right next door to Heaneys in Pontcanna, a leafy suburb which has become a mecca for Cardiff’s resident foodies. What’s the vibe? The original restaurant’s muted grey palette has been brightened with house plants, exposed brick and a tiled bar straight out of a Mediterranean bistro for the second instalment. A chilled playlist and buzz of chatter from neighbouring tables creates a casual atmosphere. What’s the drinks menu like at Uisce? Rather than replicating the restaurant’s wine list, Tommy and team have curated a seasonally shifting line-up to compliment the dishes being crafted in the tiny open kitchen behind the bar. It’s an eclectic list which roams the new world as well as more traditional terroirs, with a couple of funky additions from the natural wine contingent. Learn more about natural wines here. Is there any food? If you can’t stretch to a splurge on the tasting menu next door, this is your opportunity to indulge in Heaneys clever cooking without committing to multiple courses. Taking inspiration from the tabernas of Spain and then adding his own local stamp, Tommy has assembled a bill of snacks, plates and charcuterie where shepherd’s pie (not as you know it: potato foam, crispy onions and unctuous ragu) shares menu space with giant gambas, smoked duck croquetas and tortilla topped with silky garlic aïoli. What should I order? Take bar manager Owen’s advice and pair a glass of the deliciously oaky Cantos de Valpiedra rioja with the wipe-the-plate-clean delic…

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Best UK wine bars that serve food
type: item
date: 2019-04-25T09:50:28.000Z
creator: Hannah Guinness
subject: Bar reviews
subject: Drink
subject: Guides
subject: Tapas
description: Wine bars are back, and this time the emphasis is on accessibility, sharing expertise, impeccably sourced bottles and well-matched food. Here are the UK’s best...
encoded: Looking for wine bars in London? Want to find the best wine shops in the UK? A new wave of hip, ultra-casual wine bars are transforming how we drink and eat. Heres our pick of the UK bars going big on exciting new wines and high quality rustic food that are set to overtake the modern British gastropub. After, check out best cocktail bars in London, the Worlds Best Bars and our favourite listening bars in London. Looking for an English vineyard break? Check out our favourite vineyards in the UK for tours, tastings and overnight stays among the vines Best wine bars in London… Top Cuvée, Highbury This friendly, understated neighbourhood wine bar and restaurant on Blackstock Road is a relaxed affair but there’s some serious drinks talent behind it, from owner Brodie Meah (ex-Heston Blumenthal drinks expert) to business partners Max and Noel Venning, owners of acclaimed cocktail bar Three Sheets in Dalston. Their wine list changes regularly but focusses on interesting low-intervention bottles, with mostly light reds and textured whites on offer. The menu lists only a few options by the glass but this is deceptive – staff are happy to let you try most wines, depending on what’s open. Winners on our visit included Lucy M 3 Colours Red: a juicy, gluggable red made, unusually, with pinot noir and two white wine grapes – pinot gris and sauvignon blanc. Another hit, Podere Pradarolo Vej 210, was a lovely malvasia with bold stone fruit notes. They also have a cocktail list courtesy of Three Sheets, featuring an elegantly tropical take on a G&T as well as a deliciously tannic margarita made with an orange wine reduction. Drinks are accompanied by an affordable, seasonal small-plates menu – try the likes of beef dripping potatoes with aïoli, charred leeks and smoked cream, and Blythburgh pork chop with burnt apple purée. topcuvee.com Passione Vino, Shoreditch Wine importers Luca Dusi and Federico Bruschetta have run this Shoreditch shop since 2013, supplying Italian wines from 75…

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Lyaness, London SE1: cocktail bar review
type: item
date: 2019-04-23T15:19:56.000Z
creator: Hannah Guinness
subject: Bar reviews
subject: Drink
description: Try elegant tiki cocktails, funky daiquiris and banana-tinged sazeracs at Ryan Chetiyawardana’s newest opening
encoded: Looking for bars in South Bank? Read our review of Lyaness, or check out our London bar reviews here. Lyaness in a nutshell When drinks maestro Ryan Chetiyawardana’s lavishly garlanded Dandelyan (including World’s Best Bar in 2018) closed earlier this year at Sea Containers London it was swiftly replaced by his next incarnation – Lyaness. Where is it? South Bank. Nearest tube: Blackfriars underground station What’s the vibe? The sweeping green marble bar and sleek mid-century aesthetic remains at Lyaness, but this time the colour palate is lighter (but still statement-making), with sky-hued walls, soft-grey sofas and electric-blue banquettes, plus lots of opulent gold accents. What’s the drinks menu like? While Dandelyan’s thematically complex menus covered topics such as botany, sustainability and agriculture, Lyaness is more pared back, with a cocktail menu built around seven key ingredients. If this sounds simple then rest assured there’s plenty of Ryan’s characteristically intricate drinks wizardry going on behind the scenes, with each ‘ingredient’ the end result of various clever processes and techniques. Take Infinite Banana, made from bananas that have undergone everything from curing to fermentation, until the end result is intriguingly multi-layered: creamy, sweet, smoky, caramelised, tropical and umami all at once. Or the oddball ONYX, a spirit made in collaboration with Copenhagen’s Empirical Spirits that uses ingredients such as blackened koji, birchwood kombucha and Equinox hops to create an intriguing savoury/sweet concoction with fruity funkiness. You can try a £2 taster of all the ingredients if you’re curious to try them on their own. Which cocktails to order? The layered nature and versatility of these ingredients becomes truly apparent once they’re used in cocktails (some of which come with boozeless options). In the tiki-inspired Double Painkiller – Infinite Banana, Bombay Sapphire gin, Bacardí Cuatro rum, toasted coconut, lemon and orange – wher…

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Three Sheets, Dalston: bar review
type: item
date: 2019-02-14T11:21:18.000Z
creator: Alex Crossley
subject: Bar reviews
subject: Drink
description: Check out our bar review of Three Sheets Dalston from Max and Noel Venning, including the best cocktails to order and where to eat nearby
encoded: Three Sheets won Bar of the Year at CLASS bar awards 2019, here's why to head in to celebrate... Next discover our favourite listening bars in London. Three Sheets in a nutshell: A stripped-back cocktail bar with a succinct list of drinks and a buzzy neighbourhood hang-out vibe. Where is it? 510b Kingsland Road. Nearest tube: Dalston Junction overground station. Who’s behind Three Sheets? This is the first venture from the Venning brothers, originally from Manchester, who have worked in leading cocktail bars for years, most notably Max’s experience with Tony Conigliaro’s Drinks Factory and 69 Colebrooke Row and Noel’s time in Manchester at tequila bar Crazy Pedro’s. Max also won bartender of the year at CLASS bar awards 2019. What’s the vibe? Max and Noel aren’t big on the showy side of cocktail making – behind the bar is a simple shelf of bottles containing only what the mixologists need for the short cocktail list. This no-frills approach allows the brothers’ northern charm to shine through; they chat away and recommend local haunts while shaking up drinks as though hosting you in their own home. What’s the drinks menu like? The menu reflects the name, and is split into three ‘sheets’ (aka pages), with three cocktails on each. The first ‘sheet’ showcases lighter, aperitif-style cocktails, and the drinks become more complex and punchy as the sheets unfold. There are a few beers from local breweries and a red, white and sparkling Italian wine for good measure. Which cocktail to order at Three Sheets? The fizzy pre-bottled French 75, made with gin, verjus, clarified lemon juice, moscato and orange flower, is poured straight into your glass like champagne. It’s dangerously easy to drink (you can buy it buy the glass, or, even better, by the bottle). Different but equally as sinkable is the Scottish coffee, an indulgent take on its Irish counterpart. Super-smooth hot coffee is combined with salted coffee liqueur and whisky ‘washed’ in salty butter. A shortbread-infused…

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Fare Bar + Canteen, London EC1: cocktail bar review
type: item
date: 2018-12-26T10:28:09.000Z
creator: Hannah Guinness
subject: Bar reviews
subject: Drink
description: The latest launch from the team behind Sager + Wilde delivers punchy, creative cocktails, intriguing wines and pared-back sharing plates
encoded: Looking for bars in Clerkenwell? Read our review of Fare, a creative bar and eatery on Old Street Fare in a nutshell: An ambitious new bar and restaurant from Michael Sager and Marcis Dzelzainis, the duo behind much-loved east London wine spot Sager + Wilde. Check out more wine bars that serve food here. Where is it? A six-minute walk from Barbican underground station. What’s the vibe? Fare, located in the old Morelands building on Old Street, is a venue of two halves. Entry takes you first to the Upstairs Bar, a large, light-filled minimalist space with Crittal windows, high ceilings and pendant lamps, dominated by a sweeping marble-topped, horseshoe-shaped bar. Head downstairs to find a more intimate restaurant and bar set-up: low lighting casts a soft glow across the basement room, with an exposed-pipe ceiling brightened up with whitewashed brick and plants of all shapes and sizes. What’s the drinks menu like? There’s lots to explore at Fare. On the ground floor there’s a roster of pithy, affordably priced cocktails on tap, from nitro espresso martini to old fashioned, plus coffee (from Assembly Coffee in Brixton), natural wines and beers. Downstairs there’s a separate menu of pricier cocktails replete with à la mode and homemade ingredients – from clarified milk to celeriac-infused vermouth. There’s also a 250-strong, Sager + Wilde-curated wine list, packed with boutique producers hailing anywhere from Burgundy to Greece. Which drinks to order at Fare? Cocktails on tap are easy-drinking, yet refined. Altos tequila and sour cherry with Punt e Mes vermouth, verjus and eucalyptus is a dream pairing, the mouth-puckering dryness of the fruit a match for the bright vegetal notes of the spirit. A Green Apple Spritz – Lillet Blanc vermouth, clarified Granny Smith apple juice, 30&40 Aperitif de Normandie (a blend of calvados, pommeau and rum) and soda water – was bright and refreshing, with a distinctive green apple snap. Downstairs, drinks are complex and punchy. Gin in…

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Library Bar at The Ned, London EC2: cocktail bar review
type: item
date: 2018-09-20T15:01:27.000Z
creator: Hannah Guinness
subject: Bar reviews
subject: Drink
description: 1930s-style interiors, champagne and martini trolleys are on the agenda for this plush City cocktail bar
encoded: Looking for cocktail bars in The City? Check out our review of Library Bar, a plush, intimate addition to The Ned. In a nutshell: This luxe bar at The Ned serves champagne and bespoke martinis. Where is it? The City, a three-minute walk from Bank underground station. What’s the vibe? With 17 bars there’s no lack of drinking opportunities at The Ned but what sets Library Bar apart is its more private atmosphere – a desirable quality for those who find the open-plan, food-court-style layout of the hotel’s other restaurants and bars a little overwhelming. Enter through a dramatic, sweeping jacquard curtain and discover a surprisingly intimate, 1930s-esque space with comfortable velvet armchairs, a bar clad in oxblood leather and soft lighting. What’s the drinks menu like? Aside from a pithy list of house cocktails the main focus is on champagne and martinis. There’s 30 varieties of the former and for the latter an extensive list of gins, vodkas and vermouths. Click here for more martini recipes. Which cocktails to order? The house cocktails acquit themselves well, especially the Apricot Vesper – a floral, dry blend of Botanist gin, Sipsmith Sipping Vodka, fino sherry, Cocchi Americano vermouth and apricot. The star of the show, however, is the martini menu. Choose a combination of gin or vodka, and vermouth (or ask the knowledgeable staff to make one up for you) and have a white-jacketed bartender wheel a trolley laden with booze to the table to mix up your drink, served in super-chilled glasses. Our wet martini – salty Rock Sea vodka, Regal Rogue Daring Dry vermouth and nutty Xeco amontillado sherry – was deliciously saline and punchy. Try our martini cocktail recipes here chocolate martini elderflower martini breakfast martini Is there any food? There’s a luxe bar snacks menu featuring the likes of caviar, oysters and wagyu beef tartare. Where to go nearby for dinner: Head back out to the main hall to explore The Ned’s nine different restaurants. Price: From £16 for …

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Original Sin, London N16: bar review
type: item
date: 2018-08-24T14:40:51.000Z
creator: Ellie Edwards
subject: Bar reviews
subject: Drink
description: Read our review of Original Sin, a cosy neighbourhood bar in North London serving killer Old Fashioned's
encoded: Looking for places to drink in North London? Read our review of Original Sin, a cosy neighbourhood bar in Stoke Newington. Original Sin in a nutshell: A dimly-lit neighbourhood basement bar serving creative cocktails with a focus on obscure spirits. Where is it? Stoke Newington, a seven-minute walk from Stoke Newington overground station. What’s the vibe? Dark and cosy, a long bar with stools hugs one side of the room while on the other leather booths are lit up by pineapple-shaped wall lights and single tealights on tables. Exposed brickwork adds a rustic vibe while a pool table at the other end brings a fun touch to the space. What’s the drinks menu like at Original Sin? Vermouth, sherry and whisky are strongly featured on the menu which puts a wild twist on classic drinks. Expect to find Fernet Branca bitters, Escubac (a juniper-free botanical spirit) and Suze (a French liqueur made from gentian root) peppered throughout the list, but just ask the enthusiastic bartenders to point you in the right direction if you’re unsure, or to mix you an off-menu number. Which cocktails to order? The House Old Fashioned made with bourbon, plum wine, peppercorn tincture and bitters is perfect for whisky lovers – smooth and sippable, with warm depth. For something lighter, go for the White Americano, where Cinzano Bianco vermouth is matched with floral peach, Suze and tonic. Negroni lovers (read our guide to the perfect nergoni here) can choose between the punchy Negroni Nero made with tequila, sherry vermouth, rhubarb aperitivo and coffee, or one created with gin, Campari, Cinzano 1757 Rosso vermouth and cold-brew coffee which adds a slightly smoky flavour. We also loved the sweet yet punchy notes of pomegranate molasses and apple brandy in the Handy Dandy bourbon cocktail. Is there any food? There’s a selection of platters and pâtés to choose from as well as smoked almonds and olives to nibble on. Go for the creamy salmon pâté with chunks of toasted sourdough and red onion chu…

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Nightjar, London EC1: cocktail bar review
type: item
date: 2018-07-26T15:01:54.000Z
creator: Hannah Guinness
subject: Bar reviews
subject: Drink
description: Check our review of Nightjar, an intimate, speakeasy-style bar in Shoreditch that's all about intricate, elaborately crafted cocktails
encoded: Looking for places to drink in East London? Read our review of Nightjar, a slick, intimate speakeasy bar in Shoreditch Nightjar in a nutshell: A sleek, subterranean cocktail den with a fine line in thoughtfully crafted, potent cocktails. Where is it? A two-minute walk from Old Street underground station. What’s the vibe? Busy City Road in Shoreditch seems an unlikely setting for a stylish speakeasy-style bar but that’s exactly where you’ll find Nightjar. On the outside, a tall wooden door sandwiched between two cafés is the only evidence of its existence, but go inside and discover a plush space replete with candlelit tables, leather banquette seating and flatteringly dim lighting. It’s table service only, and staff are assured and knowledgeable. What’s the drinks menu like? The bar’s characteristically detailed drinks menu riffs on old cocktail recipes (ranging from the pre-prohibition to post-war periods) but adds its own twist. Its latest iteration, launched this summer, uses the Arts & Crafts decorative movement as inspiration, with ornate, embellished glassware and intricate garnishes. Which cocktails to order? Start with the Poet’s Dream, a martini-like concoction of Tarquin’s gin, hemp leaf vermouth, yarrow and grain of selim (a type of African pepper). Clear, crystalline and bone dry, it’s an ideal aperitif. Click here for more martini recipes. The Honeymoon came in a round, black ox-bone bowl modelled on a quaich, a traditional vessel used by Celtic brides and grooms to share a sip of whisky during the marriage ceremony. A short, fresh yet punchy blend of Glenfiddich 12-year-old whisky, Nightjar’s ‘forbidden fruit liqueur’ (a mix of citrussy pomelo, sherry and dry vermouth), artichoke honey wine, lemon and geranium leaf, it was a complex drink, dry and delicately smoky, with subtle honey and aniseed notes. Read our whisky guide here. Is there any food? There’s a pithy roster of bar snacks and sharing plates, from ham croquettes and bourbon BBQ chicken wings…

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Tonica by The Distillery, London EC1: gin bar review
type: item
date: 2018-07-12T15:56:12.000Z
creator: Hannah Guinness
subject: Bar reviews
subject: Drink
description: Check out our review of Tonica by The Distillery, a Spanish-style gin bar in Exmouth Market that's on a mission to take G&Ts to the next level
encoded: Looking for gin bars in London? Read our review of Tonica by The Distillery, a chilled-out gin bar in Exmouth Market. Our rating: In a nutshell: The Distillery (home of Portobello Road Gin) has opened up a bar and restaurant in Exmouth Market serving Spanish small plates and souped-up G&Ts. Where is it? Clerkenwell, a 12-minute walk from Farringdon underground station. What’s the vibe? Tonica is chilled out – colourful artworks hang on the white walls, there’s Spanish-style tiling on the floor, skylights fill the space with light and hanging plants trail green foliage. There’s also an on-site distillery – products of which you’ll find on the drinks menu. What’s the drinks menu like? Gin, unsurprisingly, is the star, specifically the roster of ‘Gin & Tonic Plus’ drinks, which blur the line between a classic G&T and a cocktail – Nordés Atlantic Galician Gin, for example, is served with hibiscus liqueur and ginger bitters, Merchant’s Heart hibiscus tonic, orange, stem ginger and edible flowers, while Portobello Road Gin 171 is matched with pamplemousse liqueur, grapefruit marmalade, Nordic Blue Mist tonic water, grapefruit, juniper berries and hops. Click here for some of our favourite unusual gins to try. Also of note on the menu are the Spanish-themed cocktails, from the Sherry Cobbler (manzanilla sherry, pineapple, lemon, maple, Abbott’s Bitters) to the Vespertine Negroni (The Distillery Smoky Gin, Campari, Pedro Ximénez) and a mostly Spanish wine list (with plenty of sherries, naturally). Check out our sherry guide here. Which cocktails to order? The G&T Plus cocktails lived up to their hype, served Spanish style in enormous copa de balón glasses. Our favourite saw Rives Special Gin mixed with Lacuesta dry vermouth, olive bitters, Fever-Tree Mediterranean tonic, dehydrated orange, olive and rosemary. Refreshing, aromatic and savoury, it was the perfect foil for the tapas-style plates served alongside our drinks. After dinner, the Isabel I – Dubonnet, amontillado sh…

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The Florist, Bristol: cocktail bar review
type: item
date: 2018-05-11T15:55:08.000Z
subject: Bar reviews
subject: Drink
description: Read our expert review of The Florist, a central Bristol bar that's all about cocktails with a floral theme
encoded: Looking for bars to visit in Bristol? Check out our review of flower-themed cocktail bar The Florist. The Florist in a nutshell: This sprawling, horticulturally themed bar-cum-restaurant is the first in a new brand from bar group New World Trading Company, which also owns the Botanist group of bars. Where is it? The Florist has taken over what was once popular bar and restaurant Goldbrick House on Park Street. Check out more places to eat and drink in Bristol here... What’s the vibe? The Florist is spread over three floors and embraces its floral theme with abandon – think huge hand-painted roses on the walls, flowers and greenery spilling from ceilings, floral wall art and chairs upholstered in chintzy fabrics. Intimate drinking den this isn’t (head to Hyde & Co or Red Light if that’s what you want) – instead rooms are big, music is loud and the vibe is busy. It’s a good place for large groups or post-work drinks, but perhaps not if you’re after a cosy tête-à-tête. What’s the drinks menu like? As you’d expect, the cocktail offering is inspired by all things floral, with an extensive menu divided into sections – English Summer Garden, Ikebana and Modern. The floral riff ranges from the tropically themed – think geranium and lychee cooler, or coconut and poppy mojito – to the more contemporary, like Roses on the Heath (rose and poppy liqueur, peach bitters, pink peppercorns, white zinfandel, Hush Heath sparkling rose) and Rhubarb in Bloom (Slingsby rhubarb gin, rhubarb and ginger liqueur, green apple liqueur, raspberry syrup and ginger ale). Also of note are a roster of artisan gins and an extensive beer list with a few interesting choices. (Read our round up of best British beers here) Which cocktails to order? Drinks are prettily presented and run towards the sweeter end of the spectrum. Overall they weren’t as punchy as we’d have liked (evidence, perhaps, that the Florist should focus on refining and trimming down its menu), so would suit those who prefer more eas…

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Bar Three, Spitalfields: bar review
type: item
date: 2018-04-27T11:24:05.000Z
creator: Alex Crossley
subject: Bar reviews
subject: Drink
description: Check out our bar review of Bar Three Spitalfields from Max and Noel Venning, including the best cocktails to order and where to eat nearby
encoded: Bar Three in a nutshell: A basement cocktail bar below Blixen restaurant with a concise cocktail list from the brothers behind Dalston's Three Sheets. Where is it? Spitalfields, London (below Blixen restaurant). Nearest tube: Liverpool Street Who’s behind Bar Three? This is the second bar from brothers Max and Noel Venning, who reconvened after working in separate cities (Manchester and London) to open Three Sheets in Dalston (read our review here) in 2016. This time the brothers have teamed up with Blixen restaurant to provide a basement hangout for before or after dinner drinks. What’s the vibe? This new venture is a bit swankier than the brothers’ first bar. Little alcoves are lined with woven rope and framed illustrations of leaves, velvet banquettes are gathered round tealight-lit tables, and windows give a peek into the other side of the cavernous space that acts as a spillover when the bar gets busy. This second area boasts a high-backed orange sofa that suits the slick style of Bar Three rather perfectly. What’s the drinks menu like? As in Three Sheets, the concise menu is three fold, with ‘light’, ‘medium’, and ‘full’ cocktails that, as the names suggest, range from light and refreshing to short and punchy. There are three carefully crafted drinks in each section, with the addition of three alcohol-free cocktails, three wines and three beers and ciders. Which cocktail to order at Bar Three? The dangerously easy-to-drink pre-bottled French 75 has been carted over from Three Sheets, which we’re very pleased about. New concoctions join old favourites, such as Whisky + Milk, a super-smooth drink made of three ingredients – Woodford Reserve bourbon, milk-washed Earl Grey tea and a cedar aroma spritzed on top. Is there any food? The benefit of having a restaurant upstairs is that the bar snacks are bound to be top notch. Go for indulgent little crisp croquettes of spiced lamb shoulder, chargrilled prawns with a punchy herb sauce and red pepper, or simple skinny f…

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The Isle of Wight foodie guide: where locals eat and drink
type: item
date: 2018-04-16T09:08:03.000Z
creator: Charlotte Morgan
subject: Bar reviews
subject: Drink
subject: South East travel
subject: UK
subject: Travel
description: Our round-up of the best places to eat and drink on the Isle of Wight. Including Gallybagger cheese soufflé at The Royal, pretty plates from Robert Thompson, and all things Danish at The Little Gloster
encoded: Brits have been holidaying on the Isle of Wight for nearly 200 years, many of them inspired by Queen Victoria, who built a much-loved retreat (Osborne House) there. It’s partly that bygone charm that attracts us today. On the island’s southern tip you can stay in a hotel – The Royal, distinguished by its original wrought-iron porch – that the Michelin Guide has recommended every year since it was first published in 1911. But skip over to Newport or Cowes and you’ll find ambitious young restaurateurs transforming island produce into clean, modern food that challenges the Isle of Wight’s nostalgic reputation. olive’s must-visits for foodies on the Isle of Wight The Royal – for a Victorian experience Afternoon tea served on manicured lawns and a lofty dining room that looks as if it once doubled as a ballroom show that The Royal hasn’t lost its Victorian feel. Bedrooms enjoy the same ambience (arched, floor-to-ceiling windows are a highlight), and most are painted sky blue to compliment the views of Ventnor Bay, a five-minute walk away. Perhaps it’s the old fashioned dining room, but we didn’t expect such clever, delicate cooking from The Royal’s restaurant. A cheese soufflé made from Isle of Wight Gallybagger cheese (similar to cheddar) was so light that it evaporated on the tongue; and pearly white lemon sole caught that day had just the right level of bite. Prune and Armagnac soufflé was 10/10. The Little Gloster – for a Scandi sleepover At the opposite end of the scale, The Little Gloster in Cowes takes inspiration from co-owner Ben Cooke’s Danish grandmother. Set against The Solent, a stretch of water usually peppered with sailboats, it looks like an unfussy little bungalow from the outside; but inside its clean, white interiors are illuminated by candlelight, Scandinavian-style. There are three bedrooms, all large suites, and all with the same minimalistic-yet-cosy feel – watch the sailboats race from your very own veranda, decorated with squashy cushions. Not su…

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The Racketeer, Kings Cross, London: bar review
type: item
date: 2018-04-04T16:15:19.000Z
creator: Amanda James
subject: Bar reviews
subject: Drink
description: Check out our review of The Racketeer bar in King's Cross, London. Expect uniquely curated cocktails and boards of charcutiere served in an informal, relaxed environment
encoded: Looking for bars near King's Cross, London? Read our review of the Racketeer bar in London's King's Cross. Name of the bar: The Racketeer The Racketeer in a nutshell: Neighbourhood bar serving uniquely curated cocktails beers and wines. The name of this Clerkenwell bar reflects the antics that took place at what was once the Carpenter’s Arms – Victorian gangs would create a racket inside and pickpocket oblivious guests. After having worked together for over a decade at the likes of The Palomar and Hawksmoor, co-owners Tyvian Vigrass, Marco Torre and Jack Foxcroft have reopened this former pub (minus the petty thievery) and turned it into a charming venue that makes the most of its handsome Victorian features. Where is it? 105 King's Cross Rd, London WC1X 9LR, nearest tube –King’s Cross station. What’s the vibe? A trendy, rustic cocktail bar with an intimate feel and super-cosy ambience. Tall wooden stools hug the classy marble-topped bar, deep-blue walls are lined with glitzy mirrors and retro bistro chairs and marble-topped tables sit on stripped wooden flooring. What’s the drinks menu like? The drinks menu is a small offering of new and old-world wines, beers and perfectly curated cocktails. Which cocktails to order? Our favourites included a daiquiri with pineapple rum and lime that finished with a sweet kick, and the Trinidad Swizzle, which used both dark and golden rum, peach, passionfruit, raspberry and pomegranate. Served in an elegantly tall glass, it was refreshing and easy to drink. If you’re after something less sweet try Penicillin in a Storm, in which Chivas Regal 12-year-old whisky and Laphroaig combine perfectly with dark, hoppy porter beer and fiery ginger, infused with light hints of lemon. Is there any food? Boards of charcuterie and cheeses are on offer, as well as beers on tap such as Lawless Lager and Squencher IPA. Anything else? The Racketeer isn’t just a stylish cocktail bar as it has its own bottle shop, too, with a unique selection of wines…

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