What They Say
The latest of London’s all singing-all dancing bars, The Act is a chic Cocktail bar with a twist. Their talented team give live performances throughout the evening creating a fabulous, fun atmosphere, guaranteed to get you up on your feet and dancing. They serve delicious Indian small plates, sublime cocktails together with a selection of seductive wines in elegant surroundings, and their DJs keep the party going, all night long.
The Style
The Act is a clever combination of concepts: it has the elegance of a high-brow west London bar, mixed with live performances akin to that of The Aeronaut and Archer Street, high-quality cocktails with kitsch musical theatre inspired names (as a fan of musicals, the Elphaba had me geeking out) and an Indian inspired menu.
There’s a Soho house vibe about the decor; dusty pink velvet sofas against dark green walls, British colonial lampshades and paintings of Indian jungles – a tasteful nod to the menu.
Everywhere in the building has the touch of luxury, from the Instagram worthy toilets to the mood lighting on the stairs, even the plants are expertly placed, and there are luxury candles on each table.
The Drinks
As I mentioned before, I loved the Elphaba (Bombay Sapphire, Premier Cru, Agwa, Coca Leaf Liqueur, apple, cucumber, mint) and the Jean Valjean (Grey Goose Vodka, St Germain Elderflower Liqueur Cognac, Grapefruit). If you’re tempted to pick a cocktail named after your favourite character from a musical, fret not, every cocktail on the menu is created to an exceptionally high standard, so you won’t be disappointed, whatever system you use to choose. And, the cocktails have obviously been crafted by someone who knows their way around the (incredibly well-stocked) bar.
We then tried the Judas (Patrón Reposado, Mezcal, Orange Liqueur Cranberry Juice, Homemade sugar syrup, Lime) and a take on an old fashioned, the Frankie (Evan Williams bourbon, Miso Caramel, Banana Liqueur Shaken). Both cocktails were gorgeously indulgent; I felt like I was drinking dessert.
Each cocktail was sublime, actually, my personal favourite being the Grizzabella (Bacardi Carta Bianca, Aluna Coconut Rum, Pineapple Juice, Yoghurt, Coco Lopez), which was a delicious take on a Pina Colada. I tend to find Pina Coladas to be too sweet, because bars will often skip the coconut cream, but the use of yoghurt in the drink was so clever: the slightly sour creaminess was just the right touch to balance out the sweetness.
Honestly, I could have tried every single cocktail on the list, and if they weren’t so strong I might have!
The Experience
The good thing about the Act is that it’s strictly 25s and over, so you get a slightly more upmarket experience than many of London’s singing bars. The singers, who wind their way in-between the tables performing sultry songs (and later on, more upbeat group numbers) are all hugely talented, many of whom are in-between Westend jobs. The music doesn’t take over the experience, however, and you can easily move back and forth from your conversation to watching the night’s entertainment. It’s really a lot of fun.
The Details
The Act Bar Notting Hill, 126 -128 Notting Hill Gate, London, WII 3QG
0208 075 5233
