Category: Bar (££) 
I rarely do drinks/bar posts, this is not because I don’t drink (quite the opposite unfortunately) but because I know much less about mixology and wine than I know about food. In addition I tend to spend my limited funds on food rather than expensive drinks.
The Hide Bar deserves to be mentioned here however. Not only because it is located in the new gourmet destination Bermondsey Street but also because I have had some of the best (and most reasonably priced) cocktails in London here and they do a mean Chili and Raspberry Martini! I recommend you pop by after you had some exceptional Italian food at Zucca, sampled the Tapas at Jose, enjoyed the seasonal British food at Magdalen or went for some cheap Thai at Suchard.
I used to live just around the corner and this was the destination I would go for honest, inventive and high quality cocktails. While Village East on the South End of Bermondsey Street might be the more atmospheric bar in the area, The Hide Bar without doubt does the better cocktails.
The mixologists at The Hide Bar are taking their job extremely seriously. There is no messing about or cutting corners which might be at least part due to the fact that The Hide Bar is located just next to the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET), where most (all?) of the bar keepers are trained.
The menu changes frequently and I find choosing very hard. You don’t find many standard cocktails on the menu, but have to take your pick between gems like An American in London (7.50, Knob Creek bourbon, infused with Early Grey tea, peach liquor, Peychaud’s bitter and sweet vermouth) or the Snow Leopard Martini (7.50, Snow Leopard vodka infused with rosemary and Lillet Blanc). Naomi and I don’t only share food but also cocktails, so I got half of both and I can’t say which I enjoyed more. I loved the rosemary taste of the latter but also the hint of earl grey in an alcoholic drink is simply delightful.
It never works at The Hide Bar to only go for one round. At this point already slightly cognitively impaired, I think I tremendously enjoyed the tangy flavours of The Nethernez (7 Bols Genever, Zucca rhubarb liqueor, China Martini and home-made anise syrup). Angel Face with Quince infused Gin, calvados and apricot brandy you probably shouldn’t attempt if you can’t take your alcohol. We can’t take our alcohol too well, so we staggered home after this one, happy, mellow and drunk.
Here you can take another look at their extremely appetising Drinks menu.
- Drinks: 9/10
- Ambiance:7/10
- Service: 8/10
- Value for money: 8/10
- Chances or Returning: 100%
- Verdict: my favourite cocktail bar in London
London SE1 3XF
Area: Borough
020 7403 6655
If you like to read about bars, you might be also interested in my post on Callooh Callah in Hoxton. For further reading about restaurants in and around Bermondsey Street check out  Zucca or Magdalen.
This sounds exactly the kind of place I’d love! And coincidentally, I’ve been thinking about moving to this area!
@Katherina: it’s a lovely area to live in and affordable when you move a bit further South. Email me if you need some advice, I lived around Bermondsey Street for 5 years.
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