Open Mon–Wed and Sun 5pm–midnight; Thu–Sat 5pm–1am; happy hours Mon–Wed 5pm–8pm; Thu–Fri 5pm–7pm
The style:
The smaller sister of the Walton Street branch of Eclipse has more of an industrial feel, with corrugated iron walls and copper lights hanging low over the bar. Round tables are surrounded by gold leather banquettes and there’s a club downstairs (the boyf admitted to previously pretending to visit the bar so he could enter the club through the back door and avoid the entrance fee). Ibiza-trained bar staff add to the celebratory atmosphere – spinning cocktail shakers and handing out shots once in a while.
The crowd:
Eclipse attracts a distinctly international mix of local residents (with the English group letting down the side in the style stakes during our visit).
The food:
It isn’t about the food here; it’s about the cocktails. The Walton Street branch passes their order onto their neighbour Itsu, but this branch has their own small menu of Asian snacks. We didn’t think the Asian platter was worth its £30 price tag and we didn’t finish a few of the bland dumplings.
The drinks:
I had to have their signature cocktail – the watermelon martini (£8.75 tall), which reminded me of a five-star beach holiday – refreshing and far too easy to get used to… We also tried a delicately sweet and summery Chelsea Mule (fresh strawberries, lemon juice shaken with Marquis vodka and topped with ginger beer; £8.50) and an (in)famous Crackberry shot (£5.80) – vodka shaken with fresh sour passion fruit and black raspberry liqueur, topped up with Champagne. Again, far too drinkable. Wine and Champagne are also available by the glass, although beer is limited to Asahi.
