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The spread of ‘proper cocktail’ bars in west London is continuing apace. At the beginning of High Street Kensington, this little underground vault delivers cocktails (all a reasonable £9) with an emphasis on flavour rather than power, served in varying receptacles and adorned with all manner of flora. Both our Beekeeper – butter-washed rum, lime and honey water – and our Gin Julep came a bit too heavy on the ice, but the flavours were outstanding. The Julep, particularly, with its ‘thyme-infused vermouth and lavender bitters’ was well worth the visit. House-made syrups are the backbone of most creations: cardamom, vanilla and rose or hazelnut, maple and smoke are intriguing, but basic coconut or pomegranate are just as luscious. Pan-Asian bar snacks don’t let the place down either. The chicken satay (£6) came fresh and well-presented, with just enough heat to be thankful of the aforementioned cocktail over-icing, and with three skewers it was surprisingly good value for money.
And, as if the food and drink isn’t enough to talk about, the walls at the back are garnered with some intriguing examples of JJ Adams’s original ‘Star Wars’ art just to keep the conversation flowing. Service was attentive and impeccable. Only when you explore the wines, spirits and beers menu do your eyes pop and you are reminded of what part of town you’re in. But then, you won’t want to stray from the cocktails anyway.