There’s a new cocktail bar at Gymkhana.
And it’s working out.
Named 42 after the Michelin Starred Mayfair restaurant‘s address on Albemarle Street, it’s a sleek new addition that goes far above & beyond the handsome facelift the place was treated to after nearly being devoured by fire a couple of years ago.
You’ll find it through an inconspicuous door to the right of the restaurant – the brass plaque reading ’42’ gives it that you-need-to-know-about-it allure by hiding it in plain sight. Head up the staircase, and you’ll spill out into a ravishingly beautiful upstairs space. It’s a lustrous tableau of maximalist design, with walls swathed in richly patterned tapestries, crystal chandeliers dotting the ceiling, and porcelain jungle cats standing guard by a brooding fireplace. It’s like the home of an eccentric Indian aristocrat. And the cocktails are just as impressive…
The wooden table bar is polished to a sheen, as is their cocktail menu, which features just eight signature drinks and the same number again of classics. They’ll mix something up to request, but trust us on this one, stick to the menu. It’s wonderful. The drinks are all designed to evoke stories of the subcontinent, with standouts including the Paloma-style Moose Walla made with high end coriander seeds that have been distilled into a kind of tequila, and served with citrus chaat for added zing. And if you really want to push the boat out, there’s the Bagheera that’s made – get this – with crushed up weaver ant chutney, mixed with mezcal and served in a salted glass. Believe it or not, the ants genuinely add a bright, zippy, sour flavour. Or you can just get some Cokagne, which involves Thums Up cola sorbet that’s topped with with cherry liqueur & Champagne.
It’s intimate, it’s moody, and it’s open until 2AM most days…
…sadly, this isn’t one of those 24hr gymkhanas.
NOTE: 42 is open now, Tuesday to Saturday. You can find out more, and make a booking at their website right here.
42 | 42 Albemarle Street, W1S 4JH
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