Round-up of the classiest and coolest places to indulge in cocktails
If you love cocktails you are going to love some of the great new places that are opening up in the city. From The Botanist, Gas Street Social, Marmalade and The Cosy Club there are several more abut to hit the cocktail scene. The city has gone cocktail crazy so here is a round-up of the classiest and coolest places to indulge in those cocktails.
ALUNA
Aluna cocktail bar has just opened in The Mailbox on the site of The Oriental alongside the canal. The owners have transformed the venue to attract the bar crowd, setting up home against the stylish backdrop of The Mailbox. Specialising in magical cocktails expertly created in a stylishly comfortable haven, the mixologists are pushing the boundaries of cocktail making. The team at Aluna want you to make their home, your home. To make it a place you can make your own, no matter what the occasion…. To chill, to chat, to celebrate, to cocktail.
We’ve had a sneak peak and its looks gorgeous and comfy from vintage décor to ornate mirrors – a real feast for all the senses.
PRAZA
The much anticipated Praza by Pushkar launched this Spring on the site of the old Rose Murree on the Hagley Road and promises to be the sassy younger sister of the golden temple that is Pushkar Dining on Broad Street. Owner Rai Singh is proving that there ain’t no party like a Pushkar party – complete with a full on Great Gatsby themed party.
The restaurant is in this gorgeous Grade II Georgian building and the striking interior is a mix of monochrome and copper but within keeping of its original features. The bar takes up most of the centre of the ground floor with small dining rooms off it, with a striking Praza sign framed by lightbulbs taking centre stage.
The cocktail offering is spot on, the martinis are superb and we had many Black Forest Martnis made with Stolichnaya Chocolate raspberry vodka paired with French black raspberry liqueur and cognac based orange liqueur, fresh strawberry puree and a dash of chocolate sugar syrup. The food is excellent too – a more concise menu that Pushkar but the standard and quality are still high.
BOTANIST
A truly unique concept has come to Birmingham with the arrival of The Botanist, a most charming and quirky bar/restaurant. Situated on Temple Street just between Colmore Row and New Street, this charming venue is bursting with life and character.
The concept is essentially cocktails and food inspired by herbs and garden plants, but its strengths are definitely the drinks offering, with herbaceous and fragrant fruity combinations in abundance across its extensive cocktail list.
We dined on a Bank Holiday lunchtime and it took some time to read through the drinks menu – a list of 95 craft beers, short cocktails, long cocktails, mocktails, wines, martinis and gins. Ooh I could go on and on. I dived right in with a pretty Strawberry & Mint Martini made with strawberry puree, mint, Green Mark Vodka and liquor, lemon and sugar. I like my cocktails the sugary the better and this one hit the spot.
One of the highlights of their drinks menu are the Watering Cans pictured above, Peach and Rosemary, White Peach Purée, Lemon Juice, Beefeater Gin for £24.95. It looked so darn cool.
They haven’t forgotten about the kids who dine there either. For them you can have the Cherry Cola Drop, a mixed of fruit juices, Pepsi and a sprig of fresh green rosemary, served in a jam jar, which they loved.
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