A boozy island paradise awaits your discovery at The Beachcomber, a basement bar just a jaunt away from Bayswater Station. It’s a great destination for rummy cocktails, and with a new menu of “bites and small plates” by Creole Kitchen’s Vanessa Bolosier, The Beachcomber is a tasty place for bar snacks that equal the yum of its tiki drinks.
Tikichris went to a tiki bar. No news there (though I don’t make it out to tiki venues nearly as much as I would like – or nowhere near as much as one might presume given my nom de plume). And yes indeed I enjoyed every aspect of my Beachcomber visit. Bartenders mixed tasty cocktails (I was bowled over by a couple of house specials) behind a bar backed with an impressive (and said to be ever growing) collection of agricole rums (distilled straight from sugar cane juice). Perfect for laidback, convivial drinking, The Beachcomber is a zero attitude bar with welcoming vibe. I’d be glad to bend my elbow there most any night and hope to do so again soon.
The most memorable drink from my night at The Beachcomber was the Root 666 (Jagermeister, Koko Kanu, coconut, pineapple, beetroot, lemon and salt) – such a treat. I was doubtful when I saw it on the drinks menu. But it worked so well – and totally won me over.
Food was dee-lish too. Vanessa Bolosier – author of Creole Kitchen – brings to the bar a flavoursome and zestful assortment of dishes inspired by her upbringing in Guadeloupe. Snacks such as fiery sauces, saltfish fritters, and irresistible (vegan) coconut coleslaw hit the spot and heightened the flavours of accompanying cocktails.
Most mixed drinks at The Beachcomber are priced at £8 or £9. The few that cost more have super premium ingredients or are designed to share. All bar snacks are priced less than £5 (no dish costs more than £5). So yes – wonder upon wonder – it is actually possible to catch an affordable buzz in Central London drinking quality cocktails and not having to starve yourself. The tiki gods are smiling.
The Beachcomber is located at 86 Queensway W2 3RR. Find out more at thebeachcomber.co.uk.
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