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