If you don’t fancy battling the crowds at the Chelsea Flower Show, why not kick back with a floral cocktail instead? Here are five of the best spring sips to try this week.
As part of D&D’s Blossom City campaign, Plateau has created some fabulous floral cocktails that will really get you in the mood for summer. Stop by after work for a glass of Moët spiked with elderflower cordial and Parfait Amour or fresh strawberries and basil. Our personal favourite is the Blossom Passion – a refreshing blend of Belvedere vodka, Xante pear liqueur, chamomile syrup and passion fruit. Don’t miss their ‘Flower Hour’ from 5-6pm on Mondays and Tuesdays when all floral cocktails are just £6!
With its roaring fire and walls lined with antique books, Scarfes Bar oozes old world charm. After a long day, you can sink into one of their velvet armchairs, order a drink, and feel all your worldly cares melt away. The highlight of their new cocktail menu is the Highgrove, a drink inspired by Prince Charles’ private gardens. It’s a twist on the French 75, made with Bombay Sapphire, citrus, chamomile, elderflower and ‘Highgrove Gardens scent’, topped up with Champagne. If you’re feeling peckish, try their delicious Indian bar snacks or skip across to the superb Holborn Dining Room.
For drinks near Liverpool Street, check out the new Lotus Bar at Darbaar. It launched this week with a menu of Indian bar snacks and cocktails made with spice-infused spirits. To celebrate the Chelsea Flower Show, the bar team have created a special drink, the Lotus Flower, made with lotus-infused rum, lime juice and hibiscus syrup. The restaurant was crowned Best Newcomer in last year’s British Curry Awards, so it’s well worth staying for dinner.
The Ivy Chelsea Garden has gone all out this week with a summery cocktail and a beautiful floral installation outside the restaurant. We love the look their ‘Chelsea Summer Blush’ – a blend of Briottet Creme de Menthe Blanche, grapefruit juice, elderflower cordial and prosecco. Pair it with something light and fresh, like their smoked salmon and crab open sandwich or the crispy duck salad. If you can beat the locals to a terrace table, there’s no finer place to dine alfresco on a sunny day.
At Aqua Shard, bar manager Luca Missaglia has created a new cocktail inspired by the rich floral notes of violet and lavender. The Chelsea Flower Show cocktail is made with sloe gin, crème de violette, lemon juice, egg white and a spritz of lavender essence. Try it alongside their limited edition dessert – summer berry mousse with vanilla brulée, almond sponge, olive oil and violet powder. Both are available until May 28th so book now for dinner, drinks and stunning views of the London skyline.
