Hidden away under the streets of Pimlico resides Clarendon Cocktail Cellar—a place inside a place inside a place. Yes, you read that correctly: this subterranean bar is located inside the basement of The Cambridge Street Café, which is situated inside Artist Residence Hotel.
Keeping in theme with the hotel’s artistic motifs, the cocktails are basically sippable incarnations of famous twentieth century works of art; such as the Andy Warhol “Campbell’s Tomato Soup” and the Leonardo da Vinci “Mona Lisa”.
The cocktails are presented on coasters displaying each drink’s respective artwork. They are also accompanied by complimentary popcorn sprinkled with bacon dust. With upcycled cast iron library shelves, red leather bar stools, vintage marine lamps and an antique silver-coloured panelled ceiling, the drinks aren’t the only part of Clarendon Cocktail Cellar that’s inspired by iconic artwork. Although The Clarendon Pub originally opened in the eighteenth century, the Clarendon Cocktail Cellar is brand new, opening just last month after its transition into a more eccentric cocktail hub. Added bonus: now there’s even a ping-pong room.
If you aren’t all that well-educated in the art department, or maybe you just forgot to Google the pertinent works of art before you came to the Clarendon Cocktail Cellar, fear not. The bar staff is very friendly and happy to explain the cocktails and their relevant counterparts. The bar manager, Stephen Ruse, and the owners created all of these cocktails themselves. Each one is an artistically erudite reinvention of a traditional trade cocktail—for example, the Mona Lisa is their version of an old-fashioned with coffee-infused cognac and walnut bitters; or the Campbell’s Tomato Soup is their twist on a Bloody Mary, made with bacon bourbon or olive oil vodka, Worcester sauce, lemon, tomato, celery salt, peppercorn and horseradish tincture.
The Clarendon Cocktail Cellar does take reservations if you’re coming in a group of four or more, and they also have a private booth in the vault (yes, there’s a vault!) for parties of 12. Just call them to make a reservation.
| Address: Beneath The Cambridge Street 52 Cambridge Street London, SW1V 4QQ |
Transport: Pimlico Station (Victoria Line) |
Phone: 0203 262 0502 |
Opening Hours: Monday – Thursday: 5:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. Friday – Saturday: 5:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. Sunday: 5:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. |
| Email: sayhello@clarendoncocktailcellar.co.uk |
Website: Click Here |
