Breakfast and Cocktails with Panoramic views at Aqua Shard

London has a very pretty and ultra mesmerising cityscape and I never tire of staring at the views (apart from when I am sat at my desk). My favourite venue of late, for city gazing though has been Aqua Shard, which is located in the iconic Shard on the 31st floor. It is so fun identifying London’s popular skyscrapers and landmarks from it. Can you spot the Walkie Talkie and Gherkin buildings in the picture below?

One way to really start your day on a high note (literally) is to enjoy the unrivalled views of London’s gems, sparkling away in the distance as you sip on your coffee and take a bite of your delicious breakfast. I have been lucky to have had breakfast at Aqua Shard on two occasions and I ordered two very different things each time.

On my first visit, I indulged in Brioche French Toast which came topped with Caramelised Banana, Yoghurt and Puffed Rice. Yeah Baby! This was a dreamy breakfast and totally instagrammable too! With a side of a panoramic view of the city there is no place I would rather be!

Literally it was like having dessert for breakfast and I highly recommend it for a special breakfast or just because…you know you are worth it and calories don’t count when you are up in the sky 😉

On my second visit, it was a very exciting occasion. It was the morning of the surprise trip we had planned for our friend Aftab’s birthday and we can reveal now we went to Bovey Castle for a luxurious and very royal staycation.

This time I went for the Vegetarian Full English Breakfast, which had an amazing variety of choices which included Two Free-Range Eggs cooked in a way of your liking, spinach, tomatoes, sauteed potatoes. portobello mushrooms, homemade baked beans and avocado on brown bread toast. I decided to go for poached eggs. The whole selection was so delicious and a real treat.

Our dining companions, the lovely Christina and Emma had the much renowned signature Lobster Benedict and Benedict Queen Emma from the Adventures of a London Kiwi has said that the Lobster Benedict at Aqua Shard is the best one she has had and I trust her opinion as she really is the queen of brunch. Emma has blogged about brunch at Aqua Shard and you can read about it here.

Photo credit: Aftab from Fresh and Fearless

To accompany our breakfast we had some champagne cocktails (of course) as well as a range of pastries. It was a real delight! PS There may have been multiple boomerang attempts of the Champagne cocktails.

Aside from breakfast, I have also visited Aqua Shard for cocktails and the best part is they have a no reservations policy for drinks and so you can just turn up to the 31st floor of the Shard and enjoy the views!

Other notable landmarks that you can see from Aqua Shard include Tate Modern, St Pauls, as well as views of Canary Wharf. Try and get a window seat if possible!

 

They do a pretty lush Mojito amongst other fabulous cocktails and you know how fussy I am about Mojitos 😉

It is so impressive and the ideal place to bring a date, or clients you want to seriously impress or just as a lovely bar to catch up with friends or family at. The service is fantastic, the drinks, in terms of choice, innovativeness and flavour are top notch and the views are unrivalled.

For more information or to see menus visit the website here.

Disclaimer: All views and photos are my own. However, my meals were complimentary.

Monthly Round Up: April Adventures

April is a bit of a celebratory month as it is my blog’s birthday, Aftab’s blog birthday and my wedding anniversary! We also celebrated Aftab’s birthday, Angie launched her YouTube Channel and Emma booked a hell of an amazing trip after going full time on the blog and starting a brand new chapter. As you can imagine in true Angles style, we celebrated over lots of Mojitos, Pornstar Martinis and Champagne.

We kicked off the month with a Sunday breakfast with a seriously amazing view at Aqua Shard with Emma, Aftab and Christina. Over some champagne cocktails and seriously good food we had a fabulous catch up. If you haven’t been to Aqua Shard yet it is a must for either breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner or cocktails!

 

Full of energy after our wonderful breakfast, on the same morning, Aftab, Emma and I headed to Paddington train station where we met fellow blogger friend Angie. We were off on a very special trip which was a surprise for Aftab and now we can reveal that we played Prince and Princesses at Bovey castle! I hope you enjoy reading the tale of our stay as I wrote it in a very different way!

Photo credit: Angie

We had the most wonderful time and I fell in love with Devon so much that I returned again later in the month, as you will see. If you have always wanted to stay in a castle I can’t recommend it enough.

Once back and recharged after all that clean crisp countryside air, I attended a preview of the ChocolaTEA – Chocolate Afternoon Tea in collaboration with Green and Blacks launched at the Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill. I reviewed the tea here and it is definitely worth indulging in!

April was also the month of the London Coffee Festival and I explored all the various stalls and tried lots of drinks at Truman Brewery with my siblings. I love coffee and it was a great afternoon! If you missed it this year would definitely recommend going next year.

As far as High Tea’s go, I also tried a unique one at Cinnamon Bazaar called The Trader’s High Tea, which I highly recommend if you are a chaat fan. It is so reasonably priced and the dishes are a real delight.

For our 7th wedding anniversary we returned to our favourite bar, Smith and Whistle, for some cocktails before venturing to our favourite restaurant, Hakkasan, where we thoroughly enjoyed Dim Sum in the Mayfair branch.

Easter weekend soon arrived and having already eaten all my chocolate before hand I had a mini meltdown and headed straight to Hotel Chocolat to replenish the stock (which didn’t last very long either).

I was craving my all time favourite Butter chicken at Jamavar so I headed there for lunch, where this time we dined in the luxurious Sapphire Dining Room, with my siblings in tow.

This seemed to be the month of Afternoon Teas, especially chocolate themed ones, and I also tried out the limited edition Easter Special Chocoholic Afternoon Tea at the swanky new Four Seasons Hotel at Ten Trinity Square. It is a stunning hotel so if you haven’t been yet go!

It was also great fun pretending to be a tourist in the area and wandering around Tower Hill. Sometimes it is great to go sightseeing in your own city just to rekindle your love with it.

Using the Easter weekend as my excuse, I continued my feasting early on Easter Sunday with breakfast at Farm Girl, where they did the cutest coffee art on our coffees. I had some baked eggs and Amit went for scrambled eggs on sourdough toast. The concept is healthy food and I loved it but Amit is not quite sold.

We also popped into the Ivy Chelsea Garden after for a coffee after a leisurely walk from Portobello Road to Chelsea. It was worth it though to see this flower wall and we were lucky to have a warm sunny day.

It was then back to work after the lovely Easter break and since I hadn’t seen Aftab in ages we decided to catch up over cocktails and dim sum so we went to Ivy Soho Brasserie for drinks and then to Yautcha for dinner. We always have the best time together!

I luckily somehow had quite a few short weeks this month and had booked Friday off so Amit and I had a weekday date night on a Thursday evening which rarely happens! We started off at Bar Boulud for drinks and decided to go for home comforts at Haandi for dinner.

It was then time to return to Devon again and this time we stayed at the Moorland Garden Hotel, which is in South Devon, close to Plymouth. We had a wonderful weekend in the serenity of the Moorlands and returned to London a little refreshed.

 

The final weekend of the month and again a long one thanks to it being a bank holiday weekend so I participated in some more indulging! We had lunch at Asia de Cuba as I really wanted a Cuban Mojito. It didn’t beat my favourite though!

It was then time to brace the mad crowds in Camden and a little queue to try the signature hot chocolate at Chin Chin Labs which comes with a massive marshmallow on top. I can confirm it was worth the wait and the walk. Chin Chin also have nitrogen ice cream in such amazing flavours. I will be back to try those!

My favourite Blogs and Vlogs this month

In April, I experienced severe travel envy and nostalgia whilst my bestie Aftab toured Lisbon. If you are planning a trip to the Portuguese city (which is seriously amazing), you can read about the 5 Things that surprised Aftab about Lisbon  as well as the Sheraton Lisboa, where he stayed for part of his trip. The restaurant at the Sheraton Lisboa has a panoramic view of the city and some seriously amazing food and you can read about the Creative Classics Aftab ate here.

If SilverSpoon London wasn’t already an addictive blog to read, she has now launched a YouTube channel which is fabulous. Make sure you subscribe and watch her videos. My favourites so far are her Maldives Vlogs and her family stay over Easter at Coworth Park.

If you love Paris as much as I do, you will love reading about Emma’s solo adventure to the city of lights where she had the perfect day! It makes me want to head to Kings Cross St Pancras now! I loved her post about our brunch in the London clouds at Aqua Shard and the serious tub goals at The Scarlet Hotel in Cornwall.

Maggie from Planes and Champagne has making me want to book a spontaneous trip to the beach all month with her posts about her AMAZING stay in the Maldives. She pampered herself at an Underwater Spa in Huvafen Fushi (yes underwater!!) I loved her post about the Hideaway Bliss at Huvafen Fushi and just made me want to head there straight away. Once back, she indulged in a fabulous afternoon tea at Hamyard Hotel and you can get pastry envy here.

What did everyone get up to in April? I would love to know in the comments section below.

Binny xx

 

 

Cocktails at Bar Boulud at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park

Located at one of the most enviable addresses in Knightsbridge, the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park is home to Daniel Boulud’s French Bistro style bar and restaurant, Bar Boulud. He also has venues in New York and Boston.

Now the Mandarin Oriental has some fond memories for me as when Amit and I were in the early stages of our relationship we decided to spend one new year’s eve celebration there and it was a truly luxurious experience! Sadly this was well before I started my blog so I didn’t even think to take room photos at the time. We had such a stunning room and we stayed hydrated with a bottle of chilled champagne and were snug from the freezing temperatures outside. It was truly marvellous.

Knightsbridge, I find, no matter what time of day it is, always seems to be busy with tourists, either keen to shop or window shop at some of the finest stores in the vicinity. Bar Boulud, as we discovered, is an amazing sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of the mad rush outside and we felt relaxed the moment we stepped in. We had decided to have drinks there before moving on elsewhere in Knightsbridge for dinner. It is rare we get to spend a weekday evening out together so it was fabulous.

Greeted with welcoming smiles and friendly hosts, we were shown to our table with swift service and given the cocktail and wine menu to peer through. We weren’t pressured for time at all and loved the ambience, as well as the fact that it was so spacious and that I could see the bar and watch the bartenders mixing drinks and theatrically shaking cocktail shakers.

Now the signature cocktail at Bar Boulud is the White Cosmopolitan, which is served with white grape juice in lieu of cranberry juice. It is rather special as it also comes with a flower frozen in a floating ice ball. I didn’t personally order this but had drink envy at a neighbouring table who had ordered it! I had a good reason not to on this occasion because there was also Champagne Mojito on the menu which is what I went for! I will try the White Cosmopolitan when I next visit the bar.

The Champagne Mojito was utterly delicious and I usually prefer my Mojitos classic but the addition of champagne just made it that much more special. It was a lovely drink and I would definitely be back for it! Chairman’s reserve rum was the base rum used for this cocktail alongside the usual mint leaves, lime, soda water and for that extra sparkle, champagne.

Amit had wanted a more manly drink so he chose a Venezuelan Old Fashioned, which was really well mixed and tasted so good! This was a blend of Diplomatico reserve rum, averna chocolate bitters, orange bitters and demerara sugar. We both somehow ended up having rum based cocktails so we are definitely a match made in heaven 😉

The drinks were excellent, as was the service. The restaurant is adjacent to the bar so we could see the various dishes heading towards the eager and excited diners as well as catch their aroma, which made us want to come back on a different day for dinner to try the food as it smelt really good.

Bar Boulud is an ideal place to catch up with friends or work colleagues or to relax after a day of shopping or battling the crowds outside. It is also lovely for a date night as we found. If you happen to be in the area you really have no excuse not to drop in for a tipple.

The venue is gorgeous and the drinks are really good. Both the wine and cocktail menu are extensive and the service is excellent. I had a superb time at Bar Boulud and will definitely be back. Thanks for having us!

For more information on Bar Boulud visit their website here.

 

 

My 11 favourite London Hotel Cocktail Bars

The best part about living in London is there are so many fabulous cocktail bars to choose from, and some of my favourites are housed inside luxury hotels. In the name of research (!!) I have tried lots of them and here are my favourites. I couldn’t cut my list down to ten so you have 11 choices instead!

I will caveat that at the majority of them I had a Mojito but I did try some other cocktails at some of them too. I have chosen these based on factors which include ambience, atmosphere, deliciousness of the cocktails and service and are listed in no particular order.

1. The Blue Bar, The Berkeley

With its plush, trendy interiors, the Blue Bar at the Berkeley is a really swish venue with delicious cocktails. It is all blue too! My favourite cocktail was the Toffee and Bubbles. The drinks are colour coded and it is definitely the place to bring a date to impress them!

For more info: The Blue Bar

2. The Connaught Bar at The Connaught Hotel

Ask anyone and this bar tops so many people’s favourite bars lists in London and I can see why! The Mojito was pretty damn good! It has won many accolades and is housed inside the iconic Connaught Hotel.

For more info: The Connaught

3. The Artesian Bar at The Langham

The Artesian is one of my favourite and most picked drinking establishments and as much as they perfect the Mojito, they also do some quirky cocktails too which are served in treasure chests, by example, and with so much flair and theatrical style. Perfect place to escape a crazy shopping day away from Oxford Street.

For more info: Artesian Bar

4. The American Bar at The Savoy

I visited here with some friends and we all ordered our classic favourite drinks and each one was just perfect and spot on! This bar tops international best bar lists and it is much deserved. I loved how the waiters were all so dressed up in tux’s and you would feel like dressing up to go here! Perfect for a special occasion.

For more info: The American Bar

5. The Churchill Bar and Terrace at The Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill

This is the first time I have seen a Mojito served with so much snazziness and it was definitely worth it! My friend had the Raj Mojito, which had some chillies in it, whilst I opted for the classic and we both enjoyed our drinks thoroughly. The comfy sofas were a massive plus point and the living room style charm meant that we could have sat there for hours!

For more info: The Churchill Bar and Terrace

6. The Amaranto bar at the Four Seasons London Park Lane

This has been our choice of venue for pre-dinner drinks on many the occasion and it continues to draw us in with its trendy vibe and superb service! It is an oasis away from herds of tourists in Mayfair and the perfect venue to catch up with friends. The food in the neighbouring restaurant is really good too!

For more info: Amaranto Bar

7. The Arch Bar at the InterContinental, London Park Lane

The best place to people watch from whilst enjoying a really good cocktail! They do a mean Mojito and they also do really good Pornstar Martinis, as the Dynamic Duo have tested rigorously! Lovely place to pop in for a drink and maybe then have dinner at Theo Randall’s restaurant after too.

For more info: The Arch Bar

8. Scarfes Bar at the Rosewood London

I adore the decor in the Scarfes Bar in Holborn and its library feel. It has a grand vibe with comfortable seats, a long bar that you can sit at and they serve some really good indian food too! It has a quintessential British feel and it is housed at the Rosewood London, which is such a beaut hotel. Go to the Mirror room first for brunch and then pop in to the Scarfes bar after for some refreshments!

For more info: Scarfes Bar

9. Smith & Whistle at Sheraton Grand Park Lane

Smith & Whistle is my secret absolute favourite from the list and is always my top choice when in the area for a quick drink or a pre-dinner tipple. I adore this bar and if you haven’t been you have got to go! It has a Mayfair mystery theme to it and has such a lovely relaxed and casual vibe for Mayfair that you feel like you are going home everytime you go in!

For more info: Smith and Whistle

10. The Courtyard Bar and The Long Bar at The Sanderson Hotel, London

The perfect spot for G&Ts or a glass or two of champagne – love the vibe in the Courtyard, especially on a bright day, you could easily forget you are steps away from the madness of Oxford Street! If you haven’t had the afternoon tea here yet it is a must!

For more info: Sanderson Hotel

11. The Donovan Bar at Brown’s Hotel

I can’t believe how long it took me to discover this fashionable bar and boy is it a gem in Mayfair! I love the quirky presentation of the cocktails, the fun vibe, the ambience and it is the best place to forget a bad day or celebrate milestones over some excellent drinks. This cocktail was The Photographer and just loved that it was served inside a Camera Lens. The drink was Chase Marmalade mixed with Cointreau, fresh lemon juice, mango juice, fresh strawberries, fresh blackberries, homemade raspberry syrup and a few drops of Donovan bar Bitters. NOM NOM NOM

For more info: The Donovan Bar

There you have my favourites! What are yours? Would love to know in the comments below.

5 Romantic Things to do in London

London is full of romance, whether you are dining at the city’s finest restaurants, taking in its seductive views from different sites, or trying out brand new experiences. Here are my 5 favourite romantic things to do in my favourite city.

Go sightseeing 

I can never tire of London and there is nothing more romantic than strolling hand in hand walking around the city marvelling at its grand sights.

There are so many lovely vantage points for some of the finest views. You could even go for a ride on the London Eye or take a boat ride on the Thames Clipper.  I challenge you to find the best spots, whether at sunrise, sunset or in the middle of the day, and do let me know in the comments section below! I would recommend starting off at Southbank!

A Cheese and Wine Date

Sharing an epic cheese board whilst sipping on wine and sherry in a gorgeous restaurant? Yes now you can have someone prepare the ultimate cheese board for you while you just relax and stare at each other lovingly at The Montagu restaurant at The Hyatt Regency – The Churchill.

The experience is fantastic and so interactive. You learn so much about the cheese, which are the finest from Alsop & Walker, and it is a truly unique and fun way to spend an evening.

Fun fact, Winston Churchill used to indulge in a cheese platter almost every day! A lovely fact to use as an ice breaker or to impress your date with!

I absolutely loved my experience and you can read about it in depth here.

To make a booking click here.

Cocktails with a view

Take your romance to new heights by sharing cocktails with a rather spectacular view of all the key landmarks in London from the 31st floor, at  Aqua Shard. Not only are the cocktails delicious, the restaurant and bar area are stunning and the view…doesn’t get better than this! No better way to spend time soaking up London’s sexy skyline with a cocktail in hand.

The best bit is there is no need to book if you are going for drinks so go if you haven’t been!  They also have a brilliant breakfast, lunch, dinner and afternoon tea menu if you want to make it extra special but you will need to book for that.

For more information and to book click here.

Table for two at an Italian restaurant

For me every time I think of a romantic meal, the image of the kissing scene from the Lady and the Tramp comes to mind, where they are sharing spaghetti.

While I prefer pizza and tagliatelle or pappardelle, Italian food shouts romance to me and my current favourite and recommendation is Fucina.

The food is marvellous, the ambience is lovely and very romantic, the restaurant is pretty and the service is excellent. For my review click here.

“Press for Champagne” at Bob Bob Ricard

A restaurant where you can press a button to order more Champagne? Your date will definitely be suitably impressed. The food is fantastic but  please do save space for the dessert, especially the Signature Chocolate Glory! You won’t be disappointed.

For more information click here.

If you have any suggestions for romantic things to do in London would love to hear them in the comments section below.

 

Halloween Cocktails at Mango Tree

To celebrate Halloween, Mango Tree, in Belgravia, had created a wonderful selection of spooky cocktails to mark the occasion. Aftab and I arrived at the restaurant early evening on the day after walking amongst several cute kids out doing the trick or treat rounds in their fancy dress outfits and pails ready to collect candy, as well as slightly more grown up zombies, ghosts and Frankensteins.

As we walked into the restaurant, the wonderful scent that wafts throughout Mango tree which is reminiscent of a spa, greeted us and we got a lovely cosy corner in the beautiful bar area to settle down in.

The bar area had been decorated especially for Halloween and was complete with carved pumpkins, spider webs and even the lighting dimmed to add to the eerie aura.

To start with, we tried a  ‘Dark Night’ cocktail, which was a blend of Cognac, Vodka, hahlúa, flamed orange syrup, that arrived beside a carved pumpkin with misty air blowing out through it in a spooky way. I just loved the theatrical presentation and the cocktail was a bloody red colour adding to the ominous experience.

The second cocktail we tried, was a Dancing Zombie, which was white rum, gold rum, orange juice, pineapple juice, angostura bitter and grenadine.and it also arrived in a similar chilling manner. This was slightly lighter than the first one and fruitier and I preferred this out of the two. There was also a mocktail available.

To accompany our cocktails, we shared a spring roll platter as well as crispy beef, which were delicious.

Mango tree’s bar is gorgeous, with a lovely seating area whether you want to sit at the bar or on the cosy couches around the room. It makes a great venue for pre-dinner drinks at the restaurant, which is also fabulous and you can read my review here. The cocktails we tried were created specifically for Halloween, however the bar has its own extensive cocktail menu and the drinks are really good.

Definitely one to check out whether you are going on a date, or for dinner and drinks with family and friends.

For more information go to: http://www.mangotree.org.uk

Disclaimer: Our cocktails and bar snacks were complimentary however, all views and photos are my own.

Cocktails at Victory Mansion in Stoke Newington

Sometimes you find unexpected gems in unexpected places, and the Victory Mansion was one of those gems, found in Stoke Newington, an area of London I hadn’t ventured to before.

I arrived at the trendy bar Victory Mansion, named and inspired after Orwell 1984, and run by six friends, two of which are award winning mixologists. For an extra quirky addition to the theme, there is even a set of CCTV big brother style cameras at the entrance as part of the decor.

A group of bloggers and myself were there that evening to try out some of the cocktails and get a taster for the food, which was also fantastic and made by chef Sam Browne-Wilkinson, who began his career at Bentleys before moving to Ottolenghi where he developed his own style. The food is a definite must try!

The decor in the venue is stunning, and all done by hand by the six friends through blood, sweat, tears and hard work. All the different aspects have been sourced from around the country and every single part of the bar has been decorated by the friends themselves through long hours of dedication.

We tried a selection of very quirky but delicious cocktails such as The Very Hungry Manzanilla made with rum, sage and mint agave, manzanilla, lime and soda and which comes topped with a little candy caterpillar, and the  The Great Quacksby, a vodka based cocktail, and which has homemade candy floss and little sugar ducks on the top. Dr Gonzo, in the middle below, has a variety of rums and I just love the glass!

While we caught up with each other, we tried a few more cocktails. My favourite was definitely the The Great Quacksby, because Candy Floss! Chris and I even had a go making our own Candy Floss out of sweets which was so much fun.

The final cocktail I tried was the Robinson Curacao (Calle 23 tequila, curacao, capsicum, lime, chilli bitters, mezcal spray, and Robinson’s ice cubes) which was delicious and had a little kick.

The venue is stunning, spacious and a great place to catch up with friends over some seriously delicious cocktails and food. I will definitely be back to test out their Mojito making skills 😉

For more information go to: http://www.victorymansion.co.uk

Victory Mansion: 18 Stoke Newington High St, London N16 7PL

My 5 favourite bars in London for a classic Cuban Mojito

The Mojito is one of the world’s most popular classic cocktail, and a favourite of both Ernest Hemingway, who spent many days in La Bodeguita del Medio sipping mojitos during his time in Cuba, and mine, and this is the drink I order (majority of the time), whenever I want to relax and unwind.

So where in London can you be guaranteed to have a delicious Cuban Mojito?

W Lounge at W London

With uber stylish,  Contemporary decor, and ultra comfortable seating, the W Lounge is a lovely chic bar to enjoy really good cocktails in a vibrant and trendy venue.

Check out: http://www.wlondon.co.uk/w-hotel-bar

 

Drake and Morgan Kings Cross

With classy and unique decor, this spacious bar, spread over 2 floors, is a really nice venue for a catch up with colleagues, friends and to have some decent and delicious cocktails. Located in Kings Cross, a few minutes walk from the underground station, it has a really nice atmosphere and vibe.

 

 

Check out: http://drakeandmorgan.co.uk/kings-cross/

The Artesian bar at the Langham

Voted the world’s best bar for 4 consecutive years, it is easy to see why with cocktails made with quirky but classy drama and one of the best Mojitos I have had in London. I love the relaxed vibe despite being located in a 5 star hotel, with neighbouring restaurants such as Roux at the Landau.

I love this bar and it is always the one I think of going to whenever I am near Oxford Street.

 

Check out: http://www.artesian-bar.co.uk

The Connaught Bar

With a luxurious upmarket feel, beautiful colours, and ultra stylish decor, The Connaught Bar in Mayfair, at the 5 star hotel, The Connaught, did have the best Mojito I have had in London. Not surprising as it has won many accolades, such as World’s Best Cocktail Bar.

 

Check out: http://www.the-connaught.co.uk/mayfair-bars/connaught-bar/

Smith & Whistle

Your Mayfair Local. Well at least mine if I am around Green Park! I love this bar, with its theme of detectives, mystery and missions, and it is such a lovely relaxed space, with amazing service. There is also an outside seating area if the weather plays ball!

Located at the Sheraton Grand Park Lane Hotel, it is a fantastic bar for fun catch ups with friends, family or work mates. The mojito is pretty spectacular too!

 

Check out: http://www.smithandwhistle.com

If you have had a really good Mojito in London I would love to know where (in the name of research) so let me know in the comments below!

Cocktails at Drake & Morgan King’s Cross

It had been ages since I had visited the King’s cross area and I was pleasantly surprised to see so many new eateries and bars in the vicinity. I am always up for a new cocktail bar to try.

I was especially absolutely blown away by Drake & Morgan, in King’s Cross, which Amit and I made a last minute spur of the moment decision to go to.

It is a cocktail bar and a restaurant and the decor is incredible, unique and trendy and the staff are so much fun, full of humour and such great enthusiasm. A great escape from the hustle and bustle of  a busy day, and a fantastic venue to catch up with friends over drinks.

I went for a Mojito (what a surprise) and Amit went for an Old Fashioned.

This was a seriously good Mojito (I am really fussy) and one I would happily go back by myself, and sit at the bar and enjoy another one.

The bar is massive, with both an upstairs, downstairs and outside area and is really classy and spacious.

This visit was a short one but definitely it is a close enough local  on the Northern line to add to my favourites list!

http://drakeandmorgan.co.uk/kings-cross/

Cocktails and Yorkshire Puddings at Reform Social and Grill

One evening Amit and I found ourselves at the Reform Social and Grill, at the Mandeville Hotel  to try out the cocktails made by the head bartender, which we thoroughly enjoyed.

You can enjoy  cocktails in the gorgeous eclectic bar area, as well as food in its slightly more upscale restaurant, with gorgeous leather interiors, and which serves an all day dining menu, breakfast, afternoon tea and brunch. It is a fabulous venue for both drinks and food.

The ambience is cosmopolitan and relaxed, and its location next to the prime shops and restaurants, make it a perfect spot for a cocktail (or two) and to unwind from the hustle and bustle of the neighbouring areas.

Maciej, Head Bartender, (also known as  Magic), was so lovely, inspiring us with his background and talking to us about his favourite drinks. At the end of the evening I was convinced I needed a degree in Mixology!

He made us both a cocktail each, which are currently not on the menu, although if you want to try them he will be more than happy to make them for you.

Mine was “Holiday memories” and so delicious I practically downed it in a couple of (big) sips. It was a mixture of Gin, Falernum, Melon Liqueur and lime juice. This is exactly the kind of drink that would transport you straight to the beach and I may even choose it over (can’t believe I am saying this) Mojitos.

Amit wanted a more manly drink, and his was rum, bourbon, campari and vermouth bianco, which he really enjoyed sipping.

After enjoying our drinks in the contemporary and tranquil bar, we headed to the main restaurant to try the Yorkshire Pudding Menu, which has proved so popular that it is now a permanent fixture.

 

 

 

Yorkshire puddings are the best part of a roast dinner for me! This Yorkshire Pudding menu, at a game of two halves, £8 for 3 savoury and £8 for 3 sweet versions, is a total game changer!

The savoury trio of Yorkshires  are filled with salt beef and horseradish, hot smoked salmon and cream cheese, and cheese and truffles.

They are massive but you have got to save some space and try the dessert ones, although I could only manage one!

With flavours such as chocolate and caramel, clotted cream and jam, and banana and custard, you’d have to be bonkers not too!

The banana and custard one was epic!

Amit went for the catch of the day, with a side of garlic mash, which was delicious too, although he did steal some of my puds!

 

The location is fabulous and absolutely love the chilled but gorgeous atmosphere. I will be back again for cocktails and Yorkshire puds because OMG AMAZING!!!

Homepage 2

The Mandeville Hotel
Mandeville Place
London
W1U 2BE
Telephone: +44 (0)207 935 5599

My meal was complimentary but all views and opinions are my own.