When we arrived (around 2pm on Saturday afternoon), the place was empty. The barman invited us to sit where we liked and we chose a comfy spot by the window.
The décor at Archer Street is very chic, lots of grey velvet upholstery, plush cushions and intimate tables for two. There’s another bar downstairs (which appears to be ski-themed), but this was closed during our visit.
The first page of the menu showed their winter cocktail selection, all of which sounded appealing, but when the barman came over to take our order, I had settled on a Saturday Night at the Movies and Mr M went for a White Stripes.
As he brought our drinks the barman asked if we’d been there before (we hadn’t) and then explained that this bar was a little bit different. All the bar staff were also singers, and every half an hour or so one of them will grab the mic and perform a number. In his words, “If you stick around you’ll probably get to see one of them perform.”
Now, Mr M and I have nothing against singing per se, but the thought of sitting in an empty bar being serenaded by one of the bar staff made us more than a little uncomfortable. We were the only ones there, would they really sing just for us? And if they did, wouldn’t it seem a bit private dancer-y? We almost considered necking our drinks and heading for the door.
At least, we would have done were it not for the cocktails. The cocktails! Saturday Night at the Movies is a mixture of bourbon (Four Roses Single Barrel), lime juice, popcorn syrup, amaretto, Coke and cherry heering, served with a sprinkle of popcorn on top. While I didn’t taste much of the lime coming through, the popcorn, cherry and Coke made for an amazing combination of flavours. It was beautiful, one of the best cocktails I’ve had in a long time (and I don’t say that lightly).
Mr M’s White Stripes is Archer Street’s signature winter cocktail, containing Ketel One vodka, Chambord, vanilla syrup, white chocolate liqueur and whole milk. While a little on the milky side for me, he really enjoyed it.
After lunch, we popped back in, and the place had packed out so much we had to stand at the bar for a few minutes before a table became available. We had another couple of drinks (they make a nice Old Fashioned) and did eventually see some of the staff perform. Our embarrassment relieved by the presence of other customers, we actually enjoyed the performances and have made a mental note to return (I think it would a nice spot for birthday drinks).
On a practical note, drinks are around £13 each plus 12.5% service charge, which I would say is average for London. There is a free cloakroom and table service, so if you’re looking for a nice bar with a good atmosphere, friendly staff, great cocktails and a song or two, I would heartily recommend Archer Street.
Albatine x
