8.5
Great
Bars

Viajante87

Viajante87 | A Globe-Trotting Cocktail Bar in Notting Hill

On date night, you’re usually inclined to go above and beyond.

But on this particular occasion, you’re going to head below – specifically, to a subterranean cocktail & agave lair slung below the gilded cinema that is the Gate Picturehouse in Notting Hill.

Viajante87 comes to you from the same team behind nearby Mexican-Japanese restaurant Los Mochis. The Viajante part of the name means ‘traveller’ in Spanish, and this concept is imbued into each of the inventive drinks they serve in this beautifully designed bar.

viajante87

The first thing you’ll do upon arriving at Viajante87 (besides walking down the stairs) is take a moment to eye up the surroundings, because they’re quite the sight. You’ll descend into a low-lit lounge of lunar colours – with room for just over 100 – backed by walls made entirely of cork, with teal banquettes and velvet stools positioned around little marble tables (perfect for hunched over gossip sessions) and a showpiece 20-foot backlit bar (made with recycled bottles) that ties the whole space together.

The drinks at Viajante87 have been masterminded by Pietro Collina (previously Bar Director at Eleven Madison Park, consistently ranked as one of the best restaurants in the world), and take their inspiration from ingredients native to Latin America. The menu is divided up into five sections, so as to take you on your own little journey across your palate.

Things start with the Be Comfortable portion of the menu, listing a few familiar classics, ranging from their simple spicy margarita, to an exemplary pisco sour. Then things dip into more taste-broadening territory with Be Curious, which includes the likes of a smoky lilac negroni (courtesy of a little purple potato extract); an Elote Old Fashioned (with elote corn liqueur & smoked hay chumming up with bourbon); and Ya Esta, which brings together tequila, lime, celery, apple cordial and sotol (a spirit made from a succulent harvested in the Chihuahuan desert).

Then, there’s the more challenging Be Courageous collection, which features a twist on the Argentinian 90210, so-called for its recipe of 9 parts Fernet Branca, 2 ice cubes and 1 part coke – which has been dialled back just a little here to include some earthy ayuuk liqueur, lemon and mint. You’ve also got the Be Present collection, which has a range of cocktails to serve the whole table like a carafe of caipirinha, and last but not least you have the Sin Alcohol collection for those off the booze.

viajante87 cocktail

The Martini Malcriado

They’re all pretty heady, and you will want to try more than one… so draft in some ballast from the bar snacks offering, a surprisingly filling array of dishes that follow the Mexican/Japanese theme of Los Mochis. Think nibbles like wedges of crispy rice crowned with shavings of black truffle; some amazing guacamole with crunchy tortilla chips; and ‘taco makis’ fusing tacos with maki rolls. And finally, there’s also the modest selection of 300 different tequilas and mezcals that they have, that you can enjoy on the rocks as well.

Try not to get carried away…

 

NOTE: Viajante87 is open from Tues-Thurs 6pm-midnight and Fri-Sat 6pm-2am. You can find out more, and book, HERE.

Viajante87 | Basement, 87 Notting Hill Gate, London, W11 3JZ


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Viajante87


87 Notting Hill Gate, Notting Hill, W11 3JZ

8.5 | Great