Located on Gresham Street in The City, The Anthologist offers something a little out of the ordinary. Encapsulating a collection of all your favourite things, The Anthologist has a seasonal all day menu, vintages from across the globe, skinny cocktails, a rustic deli with a mixology table and an assortment of spaces for any occasion including a private room complete with 1950s kitchen.
The Anthologist sits on a prime site in The City and the sheer scale of it screams flagship. The central seating and bar area is vast, comfortably catering for a seemingly endless surge of after work drinkers but the smaller nooks of seating at either end of the space ensure that you can find your own calmer haven if you fancy a relaxed meal with friends or a catch-up over a coffee.
The City can be sterile so The Anthologist’s thoughtful touches that include candelabra and pots of fresh herbs on the tables are a refreshing antidote. Given its location, it’s impossible to escape the work hard, play hard culture that demands drinks after work and the central bar area is perfectly suited to this purpose. Row after row of high-topped tables and a long L-shaped bar acknowledge that after a long day crunching numbers you don’t want additional stress, you just want to be served quickly and have somewhere to rest your drink. For the most part, functionality is finished off with flair – the glass light shades with tassels hanging over the tables in the central area are stylish and work well with the more industrial light fittings over the bar.
Feeding off the main bar area, the smaller spaces are what really give The Anthologist its character. The chef’s table sits in its own lilac-wallpapered alcove and the dining area strikes the balance between cosy kitchen and stylish eatery. At the far end, a ledge accommodates tables for two and is bound to become one of the seating areas of choice as you can sink into an upholstered armchair and survey the room from your lofty perch. At the other end of the room, there is a semi-private room with lavender-painted mock wood panelling and another seating area curving into the far corner that’s especially inviting thanks to the smooth curves and tactile felt upholstery of the seating. Attention to detail is everywhere and even the loos have been lavished with TLC – the diffused lighting, ornate dressing tables and roughly hewn walls are less bar loo, more boudoir.
Champagne bottles line one of the walls but they’re subtle and clearly chosen for the complementary pastel hues of the labels, rather than to incite a return to the ‘let’s max out the expense account and get lashed’ nights of yore. The bar certainly witnesses plenty of pints and cocktails making their way into grateful hands but the stylish surroundings ensure that it never descends into rowdiness and this could have a lot to do with the equal emphasis that the bar puts on food. The dining area with its open kitchen, baskets of produce and low level tables is cosy and relaxed whether you’re popping in for a quick breakfast meeting or late night supper.
Wine enthusiasts are well catered for – The Anthologist offers over 50 bins, 40 of which are available by the glass. There are wine flights and fine wines available but the standard list includes some fantastic wines too. Highly recommended are the white Bacchus Reserve Chapel Down (2006) that hails from Kent (£6.50 for a 175ml glass) and the red Rioja Cosecha Saigoba (2007) that’s a shade cheaper at £5.50 for a 175ml glass. It’s also hard to resist sparkling wine when it’s as good as Chapel Down’s Brut (£6.95 a glass, £27.95 a bottle).
The cocktail list is divided into skinny and signature cocktails so if you’re having a few cocktails, you can indulge safe in the knowledge that your cocktail calorie count doesn’t have to come in at more than your meal. The Skinny Apricot Ricky (Tanqueray gin, apricot liqueur, fresh lime juice and soda is just 89 kCal and a mere £5.95). As for beers, there are plenty on tap although you’ll pay for the privilege if you want a pint of Peroni as it’s £4.55. Pints of Heineken and London Pride are more reasonably priced at £3.70 and £3.80 respectively.
Treading the line between fashionable and functionali is a fine one but The Anthologist carries it off with finesse. Music and a late license until the early hours on Thursday and Friday make The Anthologist the perfect place
| 58 Gresham Street, London, EC2V 7BB | Transport: St Paul’s or Bank tube/DLR |
| Telephone: +44 0845 468 0101 | Open: Mon-Wed 7:30-23:00, Thurs & Fri 7:30-2:00, Sat & Sun avaliable for private hire |
| Email: info@theanthologistbar.co.uk | Website |
