Cocktail Bar in Aldwych
We visited the Parrot cocktail bar in Aldwych, situated within the Waldorf Hilton on a Friday evening. The bar is a partnership with Lee and Nicky Caulfield and is intended to draw on the exotic inspiration of the Palm Court where the Waldorf has traditionally hosted entertainment events.
The Cocktails!
Wow, what a cocktail menu. They all sounded so good. We started with Puffer Parrot (£13): Absolut Elyx vodka, seasonal mixed fruit and vanilla ice cream. The glass was designed more like a puffer fish than parrot but looked pretty cool! The cocktail was more like an alcoholic fruit smootie so a little thicker than normal, presumably because of the ice cream.
We loved the Kakapo (£15): Roku gin infused with basil, cucumber and sugar snaps, elderflower cordial, lime juice, vanilla syrup and soda water. The cocktail arrived in an exquisite parrot shaped glass and the flavour combinations working perfectly.
The bartender made us their own off menu creation, a Turbo Bellini. With mango, champagne, lime juice and syrup, it was lovely and refreshing and an excellent cleanser in between the signature cocktails. Make sure you ask for this wonderful cocktail!
We finished with the Blossom Parakeet (£12) with Auchenfoshan double oak whiskey infused with plum, comomile cordial & ginger ale. It was presented in a sealed bowl – the bartender released the cork and the smokey scent arrived! We thought the whiskey and ginger ale was a winning combination.
The Bar Snacks
Along with our cocktails we enjoyed some of the signature bar dishes. We tried the Confit Duck Spring Roll, sirrachi, soy and spring onion (£9) and the Spicy Crispy Squid, smoked chilli jam and kimchi (£9). The duck spring rolls were packed full of filling and the spicy crispy squid packed a punch when paired with the chilli jam. They were excellent small plates to enjoy with the cocktails and the squid was some of the best we have tasted.
Overall
Parrot is a gorgeous cocktail bar in Aldwych, perfectly located near the theatre district. The cocktails are beautifully created and presented and it has a sophisticated but unpretentious vibe. We loved that there is a live band on Friday and Saturday evenings.
East London Girl: Parrot Bar
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