Now the Hixter bar in Southwark is good for lots of reasons. It’s stylish, chic, dark, sexy and it’s got a large sunken bar with low bar stools around it that make you feel the size of a giant and the bar staff the size of Oompa Loompas (although they’re much better looking, much friendlier and much better informed when it comes to creating and dishing up delicious drinks.)

The drinks are great, as you’d expect from a bar crated by Mark Hix, one of the leading lights of London’s restaurant and bar scene. A refreshing Innis Gunn Scottish lager, aged in whiskey barrels provided instant refreshment and banished thoughts of McEwans from my mind for ever.

As it was a cold, wet and windy night outside, and the faint whispers of Scotch were already floating around in my head, Marks Mr Nice cocktail followed, a warm, syrupy and fortifying mixture of peaty Talisker single malt whiskey, Pedro Ximenez sherry and orange bitters.

But back to the bar… what I really liked about it more than anything was that my mobile didn’t work within its basement boundaries. Which means no one to call with unwelcome requests to get on with work… and no calls about that PPI fortune that’s just waiting for you to claim. Instead you can just kick back, sink into a soft, welcoming leather sofa and take a break from the world outside as it rushes by.

Of course, the bar gets busy on occasions, as it should do… In trendy ‘Bankside’, formerly known as Southwark, it’s got everything a hipster would love – including a genuine bar billiards table. So, expect a certain degree of trendy beardiness, creative artistry and media luvviness. But that’s no bad thing, it’s bright young sparks like this that keep the London bar scene going strong. They may feel a little lost without their mobile connection, but there’s always WiFi, so they won’t get withdrawal symptoms while the rest of us enjoy our night of booze, billiards and bonhomie.

HIXTER BANKSIDE is at
16 Great Guildford Street,
SE1 0HS

 www.hixterbankside.co.uk

Tags: bars in london, Bars in SE1, Best Bars London, hixter bankside, mark his, marks bar

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No whines about Dandelyan at the Mondrian. –

After a thoroughly enjoyable and educational Nikka whiskey club tasting at Vinopolis I decided to wend my slightly wobbly way along the Southbank towards Waterloo. As I passed the newly refurbished Sea Containers House my eyes were drawn to a beautifully stylish bar basking in full view behind floor to ceiling windows.

It was still early, the bar looked enticing and realising that this was the Dandelyan bar of the new Mondrian Hotel I decided to drop in for a stiffener before my journey home.

I was warmly welcomed by the bar staff, took a seat at the sumptuous, green marble bar and perused the cocktail menu. This offers a range of signatures cocktails carefully crafted to make the most of seasonal and herbal ingredients. The menu kindly guides you through cocktails split into cereal, vegetal, mineral and floral categories – and handily recommends which drinks suit which time of the day.

Award winning mixologist Ryan Chetiyawardana, AKA Mr Lyan, was a welcoming figure behind the bar, and along with his very well informed team, gave me chapter and verse on the origins and thinking behind the drinks. It was quite a challenge to choose, so I plumped for the first cocktail on the menu ‘Puffed Grains and Chocolate. This combination of scotch, curaçao, malted grains and pink pepper was at once uplifting, comforting and oddly reminiscent of coco pops.

It was also very moreish, but I resisted the urge to order another and settled for something different for my second drink. After much deliberation and discussion I decided to see if I could lay to rest the memory of two flavours that have not been too kind to me over the years. The first was tequila, the second was pine, which in my experience was associated with cheap retsina and mighty hangovers on backpacking Greek island hopping holidays. To that end I opted for the Elderfir from the vegetal selection, a combination of Douglas fir, Tapatio tequila, Kamm and Sons (a delicious citrusy, bittersweet British aperitif), grapefruit and elderflower.

Served in a small bottle, with the sprig of fir floating in its midst, this was most enjoyable. The tequila undertones were ever present but the influence of the fir was actually quite festive and reminded me that Christmas is coming and this stretch of the Southbank would soon be full of seasonal stalls and sparkly lights.

I would have loved to explore the menu further but the lure of home meant my investigations would have to wait for another day… and there will be another day as the combination of stylish, dark decor, delicious drinks, knowledgeable friendly staff and a great view across the river towards St. Paul’s will surely make Dandelyan a firm favourite for the future.

Dandelyan
The Mondrian Hotel
20 Upper Ground
SE1 9PD

www.morganshotelgroup.com/mondrian/mondrian-london/eat-drink/Dandelyan

Tags: bar reviews, bars in london, Bars in SE1, Bars in the Southbank, Best Bars in London, Best Bars London, dandelyan bar, Mondrian Hotel

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Drink in some culture, then down some more drinks whilst taking in one of the most beautiful views in London…

Now there are some bars that are notable because their very altitude gives them commanding views over this great city. And then there are bars that are simply breathtaking because of what you are looking at.

The Tate Modern bar on the 7th floor of The Tate Modern Art Gallery falls firmly into the second category. Situated right on the Southbank of the Thames it would be great just to sit here (or stand, as it does get fairly busy) and watch the river. You could even admire the famous wobbly bridge – more correctly entitled the Millenium Footbridge – especially when it’s lit up at night.

But let’s face, the view is dominated by the majesty of St Paul’s Cathedral sitting atop Ludgate Hill on the opposite bank. And if that doesn’t stir something in you, then you probably haven’t had enough drinks yet.

Talking of drinks, what about them? To be frank, who cares? They are all perfectly serviceable… but have you seen the view? Want a snack…? Try some of the tasty tapas… but really… have you seen the view?

Tate Modern Bar – Best Views London? Definitely.

The Tate Modern Bar
Bankside
London
SE1 9TG

www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-modern/eat-drink-and-shop/level-6-restaurant

Tags: bar reviews, bar reviews london, Bars in SE1, bars in Southbank, best bars, Best Bars London, best bars southbank, best bars with a view london, best bars with views london

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