From the outside, Amaro Bar looks fairly innocuous.
It’s not attached to some fancy hotel, or on the roof of a twenty story building or anything. It’s the kind of place you might randomly happen upon, walk in, and proceed to have one of the most unexpectedly good nights in a long while. In fact, according to the World’s 50 Best Bars list, there are only 45 other places on earth that might give you a better one.
You’ll find it on High Street Kensington, wedged in a sleeve of a space between a bright yellow Italian restaurant and a dental clinic. Step inside, and you’ll find a small but intimate space with sleek pendant lights dangling like sentinels over the polished, black marble bar, which reflects the gleaming glassware arranged in meticulous rows. Tropical print bar stools line the bar, offering a pop of pattern and a subtle nod to exotica.
Behind that bar you might just find the man behind the whole operation, Elon Soddu. He was (to rapidly skim over his CV) a barkeep at The Savoy’s American Bar who worked his way up to oversee all of the bars in the Savoy’s portfolio, before deciding to fly his own flag. He roped in some help from fellow mixologists who had stints at places like Homeboy, Kwānt and 69 Colebrooke Row under their belts, and opened Amaro (it worked so well, he’s now opened Twice Shy, too).
So, this place is essentially a love letter to cocktails, both classic and cutting edge. Thus you can expect the likes of:
- Banana Mai Tai: a gorgeous combination of rum, banana and almond grappa
- Tomato Bamboo: blending mezcal, sherry, tomato, and celery bitters
- Fig Old Fashioned: with whiskey, fig, amaro, and chocolate bitters
And of you want to push the boat out? Well, you can get one of their vintage cocktails, made with original vintage spirits, and ranging from a 1970s daiquiri (£20), to a 1960s Martini (£45) all the way to a 1970s Boulevardier (£70). And you can balance it all out with some ‘sea charcuterie’ of tuna bresola or slices of cured swordfish.
That ought to cut through the booze.
NOTE: Amaro Bar is open now, Tuesday to Sunday. You can find out more, and make a booking at their website right here.
Amaro Bar | 15 Kensington High St, W8 5NP
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