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Above and beyond indulgence at HIDE Below
By Ross Forbes | 12 December 2019 | Food & Drink
We explore the impressive cocktails and intimate atmosphere of London’s hottest underground venue
You want an impressive date spot? Well, I’m sure you’ll know that atmosphere is just as important as striking cocktail creations or tantalising food. Very rarely does one get all three right though. This is where HIDE Below goes, ironically, above and beyond.
Enter through Ollie Dabbous’ acclaimed HIDE restaurant and you’ll instantly feel the energy. Breakfast, lunch and dinner, Monday to Sunday, this place is full. For good reason too. But if you’ve ever walked past you probably don’t need me to tell you that. Make your way through the buzzy restaurant and down the spiralling staircase however, and you’ll find yourself in Oskar Kinberg’s ‘HIDE Below’, hiding in plain sight. Nothing says a good date like taking that special someone to a hidden gem they’ll always remember.
There is a gorgeous underlying theme of sophistication running through this building from top to bottom, however the distinction seems to be in tints and shades of rustic, natural colours. Think cool stone and warm woods, all emphasised by the ambient lighting. HIDE Below brings more of an underground vibe with it’s darker colours and moodier lighting. It’s suave and it’s far less busy, but it’s real. There’s nothing pretentious about it, and yet it just so happens to house the largest collection of vino in the city in the Hedonism Wines-run wine cellar – you’ll find 450 choice bottles from the wine list inside. It is a must that you take a peek. But, even then, the star of the show here are most definitely the cocktails.
Flavour is the number one priority in this bar. With this in mind, they only work exclusively with fresh, in season ingredients when creating the beautiful concoctions. They offer an impressive list of the world’s finest and rarest spirits, as well as creative libations. >>
Signature cocktails include Lost in the Woods (Ketel One vodka based blueberry, violet and lemon thyme), Sugar Plum Fairy (Johnnie Walker Gold whisky, white port, plum, Szechuan pepper and soda) and the Adam & Eve (Somerset cider brandy 5YO, Diplomatico Mantuano rum, fino, fig leaf, spices, lime and clarified milk)
And all of them are bloody fantastic. My particular favourite was the Smoke and Mirrors. A blend of Kamm & Sons British aperitif, Ardbeg 10YO whisky, Cocchi di Torino, Gammel Dansk and melon. Surprisingly light and refreshing, and dangerously moreish.
Flavour is of such importance when it comes to cocktails here at HIDE Below, that they even heighten the experience by encouraging their spectacular drinks alongside a succinct ‘Graze’ menu, full of delicious light bites curated to amplify and compliment taste. As with the cocktails, everything is completely in season and fresh here, so rest assured you’re getting the best of the best. In fact, the food is so fresh, whatever they can make in-house, they do. Think succulent home-cured charcuterie, fresh loafs of artisanal bread, and gorgeously sweet jams and juices to name a few.
