About that moody, dark, sleek, eminently impressive little date spot you’ve been asking about.
We found it.
It’s just underneath Ollie Dabbous’s acclaimed Mayfair restaurant HIDE – hence the name – and it’s run by his longtime drinks collaborator Oskar Kinberg, who ran the cocktail joint below his stunning debut restaurant Dabbous.
Here, the space is just as just as beautiful as the restaurant above, with cool concrete tones complementing warm wooden fittings. Customers will find themselves sandwiched between the curved bar meandering its way across the wall on one side, and the vast wine cellar on the other. It’s run by Hedonism, and they boast the largest collection of vino in the city – you’ll find 450 choice bottles from the biblically long wine list chilling inside.
Of course, wine aside, the drinks of the hour here are the cocktails, curated by Oskar Kinberg. The drinks rotate seasonally, but you can expect a classic Martini shaken with frozen birch sap rather than ice (to give it a silkier finish), as well as originals like:
- Cross Eyed Mary: a take on the Bloody Mary, this one has a strong depth of flavour from its olive oil and sherry. It’s bafflingly tasty.
- Sugar Plum Fairy: whisky, port, plum, and Szechuan pepper all come together to give this one a powerful punch, delivered with nevertheless delicate flavours.
- Strawberries and Cream: despite being made from just rum, lemon balm, and vermouth this one inexplicably tastes exactly like strawberries and cream. It’s faintly surreal, and not-so-faintly delicious.
If nothing on the menu takes your fancy, they have a ludicrously deep selection of rare spirits: Macallan 25YO Anniversary Malt 1971, The Cask of Yamazaki 29YO in Mizunara Oak 1979 – you know, the usual. There’s some bar food too, of course, and it’s all quite superb of course. Expect fluffy flatbreads, rich cheese, and stunning charcuterie.
Ironically, this one’s very much above other cocktail bars.
NOTE: HIDE Below is open now. You can find out more and make a booking at their website right HERE.
Hide | 85 Piccadilly, W1J 7NB
Like fine dining? Check out our guide to fancy restaurants in London