Together

There are speakeasies, and there are… speakeasies. But Together is not quite one. The 'hidden bar' shows up on Google Maps – we checked – and the black and white cat logo in the narrow alley is your cue to head up the elevator to the third floor.

Chatter drifts up from The Pint Room below. There's no grand entrance, but the tiny passage – bathed in red light and lined with vinyl records ranging from The Police to Bruce Springsteen and Taylor Swift – is enticing enough to push through the inner door, where the curved walls stop you in your tracks. The lighting is low, and textured mirrors and cobbled walls add to the moodiness. 

The focus is on the music, though, and the cocktails exist to amplify it. Small savoury bites and sharing plates round out the menu, and the drinks lean into notes of sweet, spicy and umami. My friend gets stuck on Track 1 and orders it twice in a row – not for lack of curiosity, but because she can't get enough of the bright, yuzu-forward tequila drink with hints of soy and basil. Track 4 gets my vote: a wasabi-washed white rum with mango and basil, smooth all the way through. Special mention to Track 7 though – whether it's the caramelised pineapple or the pisco cocktail with rosemary and Campari doing the work, it's a win either way.

Food might be something of an interlude, but it’s a good one. The assorted vegetables tempura hits the spot, the chicken dumplings are satisfyingly juicy, and the poached chicken in chilli oil may be one of the best I've had in the city. There are tacos and sandos too, but to be honest – with just a couple of drinks in, my ability to read the menu has diminished. There are many secrets to be found here, clearly, and they’re not the pretentious kind.