Hello London Fashion Week, how nice to see you again. And while we’re eagerly looking forward to seeing what the big bods like Tom Ford, Burberry and Paul Smith dictate we’ll be wearing this time next year, we hope there’s a bit of craziness from some of the newcomers – just to keep things interesting.
Fashion Disaster cocktails at The Riding House CafeIt’s thirsty work though all this fashion malarkey, so a cocktail will be most welcome in between and after the shows. Luckily, a few of our favourite bars have devised some snazzy little numbers to sip into and we think it would be rude not to oblige. At Harvey Nichols they’ve created a menu based on some of the major fashion streets in the world such as Avenue Montaigne in Paris (Martell VSOP Cognac, fresh blueberries, cardamom, lemon juice and blueberry liqueur); Bhanhofstrasse in Zurich (Mozart liqueur, espresso and Absolut vodka, served with a chocolate truffle), and Sloane Street right here in London (Chase Rhubarb Vodka, honey water, lemon juice, Peychaud Bitters and Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut NV), all on the menu in the Fifth Floor Bar until Friday 28th February.
At the Benares bar at Atul Kochhar’s Michelin-starred Indian restaurant they’ve taken the fashion capitals as their inspiration. Choose from The London (gin infused with cardamom, star anise, black pepper and fresh berries, then muddled with vanilla sugar and topped with sparkling wine); The New York (vodka infused with strawberries, Visciolata cherry wine, passion fruit purée and sugar syrup); The Paris (Martell VS, chocolate liqueur and chocolate infused with chilli), and The Milan (Campari, grapefruit, lime, ginger, sugar syrup and homemade bitters). And for fashionistas on the go, each cocktail is served with bite-sized bar snacks (you don’t want to go eating too much – this is Fashion Week after all), including masala peanut salad, lamb samosa with mint and crispy squid rings with passion fruit. Available until 5th March.
Last but by no means least is the Fashion Disasters menu at The Riding House Cafe. Try ordering a White Socks & Sandals Sazerac (Sazerac rye whiskey, Angostura bitters, sugar syrup, La Fee Absinthe, lemon juice and Peychaud Bitters); Mankini Martini (Gin, Noilly Prat vermouth), or Bum Bag Bellini (white peach purée and Prosecco) while keeping your street creed in tact. Available until 18th February.
Fifth Floor Bar
Benares
The Riding House Cafe
