Posts Tagged “bar”
A Taste of Scotland and Beyond. So many of us appreciate a well-crafted Scotch, but it’s likely that we don’t think of Kingston Upon Thames as the perfect location for a world class collection. That is unless you have discovered The Grey Horse. The whisky and whiskey (yes, there is a difference) menu is awesome….
Delicious Gifts for 2022! Christmas gifts need to have impact; be welcomed by the recipients; and be different to make you stand out from the crowd. Tequila is the fashionable new tipple and so consider two of the best tequila brands on your Christmas shopping list this year – Rooster Rojo Tequila, with its classic, embossed…
An Ice Bucket to Impress Viners is a household name, at least it is in homes of distinction. They have been a family of silversmiths in the UK since the late 19th century. Their first manufacturing business was founded in 1908 in Sheffield, a city famed for its metal tableware. After the First World War,…
This worthy tome isn’t a cocktail recipe book, and I would venture to say The Oxford Companion to Spirits and Cocktails is for the serious cocktail drinker. By that I don’t mean those who drink a lot of mixed alcoholic drinks but rather those who want to know and understand every element that helps to…
Classic Cocktails: The Home Bartender’s Guide to Mixing Spirits, Liqueurs, Wine and Beer 150 Sensational Drink Recipes Classic Cocktails: The Home Bartender’s Guide to Mixing Spirits, Liqueurs, Wine and Beer – 150 Sensational Drink Recipes is a bumper volume and a comprehensive reference for all keen home mixologists. Cocktails and mocktails Stuart Walton has penned…
The neighbourhood of historic Covent Garden isn’t short of restaurants and bars. There are iconic eateries, busy cafés and swanky watering holes to suit every mood. But it’s hard to find that perfect little spot where one will want to be recognised as a regular, a spot for a glass of something special and a…
This is undoubtedly one of the most noteworthy hotels in London. St Ermin’s welcomes guests with iconic architecture and unique ambiance (read more about the hotel here). It has other advantages too: The Caxton Grill (read my review here) and its associated bar. That is a convivial space with not only drinks but a lot…
Davy’s Tappit Hen? Sounds like a chicken-shaped friend of a lad called Davy. But it is in fact a cosy wine bar, and Davy’s Tappit Hen is one of the celebrated venues of a fifth-generation wine merchant. Wine has been the business of Davy’s since 1870 and they still choose and import their own wines….
Gin: The Essential Guide for Gin Aficionados offers a wealth of information. Gin is one of the world’s best-loved spirits. It has a rich history – made in medieval monasteries it was thought to protect against the plague. The science had come from the Arab world with their elevated knowledge of medicine. Gin’s botanicals were…
Mayfair is one of the swankier neighbourhoods in London. It has everything the well-heeled might need: classy boutiques, jewellery, galleries and some great restaurants …expensive great restaurants. And then there is the gem that is known as El Pirata. There isn’t much in Mayfair that could possibly be described as cheap – not even good…
This is a PopUp so don’t spend time reading the rest of this piece. Just go before it closes! One might think that sparkling wine is for the connoisseur, those with money and a dictionary of posh wine terms. Fiz Bar aims to encourage a new generation of sparkling-wine lovers – those who aren’t interested…
Soho in general and this street in particular became the refuge of Huguenots, French Protestants who fled to England in the early 1680s. The street was named after Henry Compton who raised funds for a local parish church which eventually became St Anne’s Church. Now there is The Patty and Bun at No.18! By the…
Tokyo is a vibrant modern city but tradition is still evident. We might be looking for the latest technology in Akihabara or fashion and pop culture in Takeshitadori; but we all need food and many of us need sake. You’ll find that all around this sprawling town if you know where to look for it….
Dean Street is a famed Soho thoroughfare. It runs between the retail hub of Oxford Street to the north and Shaftesbury Avenue to the south. The street has a colourful history. Mozart gave a recital here in his youth. The French House was the unofficial headquarters of Charles de Gaulle and the French Resistance during…
Opera Tavern was built in 1879 by the then celebrated public house architect George Treacher. Those were the days when there was a traditional pub with tiled facade and etched glass windows on almost every street corner. This more ornate example was considered the most striking of his 1870s buildings. Catherine Street, under that or…
Opened in 1851, Flemings Hotel in Mayfair is one of London’s oldest hotels. It was converted from six Georgian townhouses but now this historic building has been restored to a tasteful and luxurious haven. Flemings is a chic discreet townhouse hotel set in the heart of one of London’s most exclusive areas, Mayfair. The hotel…
Today I have a review of a smart restaurant conveniently situated about 2 hours outside Paris. Good transport links with easy access to city shops. Superb food and waiters who speak English, and a menu in English as well. Yes, that’s got your attention, my dear Anglophone reader! Even better news is that, if you…
You might say you like “Mexican” food. You might have had “Mexican” food on trips to the US and Taco Bell might be your favourite fast food but, dear reader, your experience is probably a faint shadow of the real extravaganza awaiting you at Mestizo. Mestizo Restaurant and Tequila Bar has a convenient location just…
We have what Jeni Barnett would call a “nearasdammit” son who is Catalan (note: I do not say Spanish). This has given us the advantage of having the address of our boy’s (well into his 30s now) favourite tapas bar in Barcelona. The Cerveceria Catalana is a bit off the beaten track (Carrer Mallorca) but…
Originally produced in the Val-de-Travers region in Switzerland and in Pontarlier, France, Absinthe is a distilled anise-flavoured spirit made from herbs including the flowers and leaves of the plant Artemisia Absinthium, also called Wormwood. Although it is sometimes termed a liqueur, absinthe has no added sugar and is therefore considered as a spirit. Absinthe was…