Anyone who’s anyone knows about Hide. Spread across multiple floors, Ollie Dabbous’s award-winning restaurant is a must for any gourmands visiting London. But, head down those famous wooden stairs to the basement and you’ll find Hide Below – an understated but perfectly formed bar, serving up some of the city’s best cocktails.
Unlike many of London’s cocktail bars, everything here feels authentic and non-gimmicky, with a careful design befitting of the drinks it serves. There’s dim, atmospheric lighting; an illuminated back bar with bottles right to the ceiling, and a punchy playlist only broken up by a hum of chatter and that oh-so-satisfying sound of ice in a cocktail shaker.
For even more entertainment value, facing the bar is Hide’s undeniably impressive wine cellar which houses some of the best bottles in the world, all carefully sourced by Hedonism Wines. Although it is glass-fronted, if you ask nicely a bartender might just take you on a tour – diners upstairs make their selection via nifty iPads.
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Ollie Dabbous’s award-winning restaurant is a must for any gourmands visiting London / ©Hide
Naturally, the drinks menu is equally as well thought out. Hide Below’s cocktail list is refreshingly straightforward; there are some smart tricks and clever twists – like using frozen birch sap in place of ice to chill a martini – but generally, it’s accessible and easy to order from, with plenty of combos that we’re all familiar with.
The menu changes seasonally depending on what ingredients are available (although there are a few one-off specials, such as the current Her Majesty’s Royal Cocktail) and is balanced to suit all tastes. There’s a section dedicated to lighter, more flavor-forward serves, most of which can be adapted to be alcohol-free, as well as a good selection for those who prefer a stiffer drink.
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While the Bloody Mary is usually called on as a hangover-busting miracle, Hide Below’s take is infinitely lighter and more refreshing, making it the perfect pre-dinner tipple. Instead of the usual tomato juice, Hide’s expert bar team uses a crystal-clear tomato consommé, bursting with rich savory flavor.
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The Cross-Eyed Mary is a unique take on everyone’s favorite hangover cure / ©Hide
Team this with the cut of olive oil-infused vodka and the dryness of a Fino sherry and you’ve got an elevated take on everyone’s favorite brunch accompaniment. This recipe doesn’t feature any spice, so if a kick is your thing, adding a drop of Tabasco will do the trick.
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Ingredients:
- 1¼ oz vodka washed with olive oil
- ¼ oz Fino Sherry
- 5 oz tomato consommé
- dehydrated tomato
Method:
Add all liquid ingredients to a shaker with ice and stir. Strain over fresh ice and garnish with dehydrated capers on the rim and a dehydrated tomato.
See more Cocktail of the Week recipes here.
