squaremeal.co.uk � 91
BARS + DRINK
THE ESCAPOLOGIST
Tall tales and costly 'tails fail to convince
Aiming to conjure up a 'modern-day Victorian men's club', �e
Escapologist misses a trick by not following the theme through
to its drinks menu. Instead you'll find an overly sweet Mexican
Butterfly alongside predictable modern mixes (Bramble, Chocolate
Orange Negroni, Tommy's Margarita) - many of which also appear
at the owners' nearby Adventure Bar. �e cod-1890s yarn doesn't
fire our imagination and at around £13 for a Porn Star Martini,
your pocket won't escape lightly either.
35 Earlham Street, WC2H 9LD; 020 7240 5142
Shepherd Market
Wine House
21-23 Shepherd Market, W1J 7PN;
020 7499 8555
Classy Old and New World �avours curated
by Ben Van de Meutter, ex-head sommelier
at Butlers Wharf Chop House. On balmy
evenings, linger at outdoors tables over a
perky Austrian Grüner Veltliner, or gutsy
Sicilian reds with cheese and charcuterie
boards. An unfussy Provençal-style bar
supplied by Pall Mall Fine Wine.
Barrio Brixton
30 Acre Lane, SW2 5SG;
020 7749 3940
London's renowned multicultural 'hood
is a logical location for the fourth Latina
cantina from Barrio. Cue some kick-ass
Caribbean cocktails such as Port Of Call (a
pisco and port Sour) and Kumqatameleon
(cachaça with kumquat syrup). The �esta
vibe is completed by South American
soul food, carnival-kitsch decor and
Latin beats until mañana.
WHAT'S HOT
THE LECTURE
Spare us the tutorial about concept,
methodology and provenance with
every drink. We want a quick fix, not
a PhD in advanced mixology.
GINUINE DILEMMA
With the gin-ormous range of gin in
London, we keep having one-night
stands with unfamiliar brands at the
expense of old faithfuls - terrified
we'll miss the ginny love of our life.
SORRY PETAL
We don't dig the contents of the
Chelsea Flower Show in our drinks.
Fancy flora we've recently fished
out? Nasturtiums, daisy chains,
radicchio, aloe vera blades and…
ouch! A thistle.
BOOZE BUNKERS
London's fallen for crazy golf. Get
in a round at Birdies (Stratford,
pictured), Junkyard Golf (Brick Lane),
Plonk (Brixton, Hackney, Dalston) or
Swingers in the City.
FLOATS OUR BOAT
We love boozy barges and
shipshape cocktails. Join us
aboard the Tattershall Castle (SW1),
Bar&co (WC2), The Battersea Barge
(SW8) and Vestal Voyages (N1).
'YOURS OR OURS?'
The Made In Chelsea weekend
conundrum when both bars of Tom
Sellers' Restaurant Ours (South
Ken) serve Blind Date and Yuzu
Something To Me 'tails until 1am.
WHAT'S NOT