Bars & Pubs

By Ben McFarland

NB As of 10 August 2009, the Opera Quarter Bar has closed, and will be renamed as well as being relocated in September. Check back soon for more details.

Blink and you'll miss it: Opera Quarter is on a site formerly occupied by an Italian restaurant in the heart of Theatreland, but come the end of August, it plans to shut up shop and, like a trendy trilby-wearing meerkat, pop up somewhere else nearby.

It's drinking and dining flashmob-style: a Georgian townhouse has been briefly transformed into a cocktail bar, restaurant and club. Strung together on a shoestring and the goodwill of cutting-edge creative types, favours have been called in from close contacts in the antiques, art, photography and design worlds to create a temporary four-tier temple to all things über-flipping-trendy.

Liquid responsibilities have wisely been left in the extremely capable hands of Douglas Ankrah, legendary mixologist formerly of LAB and Townhouse. As well as tiki drinks, bling-tastic champagne punch bowls and twists on the Negroni and other classics, Ankrah revisits legendary libations from the LAB days. He also hosts a cocktail master-class every Saturday between noon and 3pm for £150 per person.

The food offer could be described as dual-personality dining. A Japanese and a European menu come courtesy of neighbouring restaurants Hi Sushi and Café du Jardin.

To keep you entertained, they've assembled a really rather impressive line-up of regular DJ sets and live acoustic sessions featuring Zero 7, Martha Wainwright, Tim Burgess, The Holloways and White Lies. There’s also wi-fi and private rooms for hire.

Time Out London July 2009