Category Archives: Bars
Brewnuts Donut Bar | Cleveland Talks | #TCTalks Episode 45
Shelley and John Pippin are co owners of Brewnuts, a donut bar in Cleveland’s Detroit Shoreway/Gordon Square Arts District. The couple was kind enough to take time out of a busy day to chat with me about their brilliant concept and the story behind it. Continue reading →
Beyond Barcelona and Costa Brava: A Road Trip is the Best Way to Explore Catalunya (Metro)
If you love visiting Barcelona and the Costa Brava, but have started to develop a been-there-done-that attitude toward the big city and coastal pleasures of Catalunya, you might want to consider delving deeper into the region. The interior of Catalunya offers a distinctively exotic edge that’s anything but a watered down version of Spanish and French cultures. Continue reading →
Best Bars in Hamburg
Last Night of Freedom runs down the best places to partake in one of Germany’s oldest customs. Continue reading →
Albert’s at Beaufort House Club Reopens in Chelsea
Albert’s is a three-storey townhouse, located just off the Kings Road, has an all day restaurant, two bars and a nightclub plus private dining room that can be used for lunches, dinners, events and meetings. Continue reading →
Passyunk Avenue: A Taste of Philadelphia in London | #TCTalks Episode 41
For episode 41 of tikichris Talks, I chat with JP Teti, owner of Passyunk Avenue, a South Philly style bar in Fitzrovia. With the Philadelphia Eagles set to play against the Jacksonville Jaguars this weekend at Wembley Stadium, I thought now would be a great time to head over to Passyunk for a cheesesteak and conversation with JP. Continue reading →
Henry Jeffreys about His New Book: The Home Bar | #TCTalks Episode 39
For episode 39 of tikichris Talks, I chat with drinks writer Henry Jeffreys at the celebrated Dukes Bar in St James’s. Henry talks about his new book, The Home Bar, and offers tips on how to create your own bar at home. Continue reading →
Tequila & Mezcal Fest 2018 | Index
I hope you enjoyed reading about the team up with this year’s Tequila and Mezcal Fest and that you were able to take advantage of the deep discount for ticket and some of the prizes offered to tikichris readers. Continue reading →
Tequila & Mezcal Fest 2018 | What to Drink at the Fest!
I had so much fun last night sampling my way across three floors full of nearly 40 tequila and mezcal producers. Located in Bargehouse (next to OXO Tower), the fest continues today and tomorrow (Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 October). If you’re looking for something tasty to get up to this weekend, keep this fifth iteration of Europe’s biggest agave extravaganza in mind – and be sure to use my TIKICHRIS discount code to save 20% when booking your tickets online. Continue reading →
Seedlip X Behind This Wall | “No and Lo” CBD Cocktails
Riding high on the “no and lo” wave is Seedlip, the world’s first distilled non-alcoholic spirit. Mixing up quality cocktails using Seedlip spirits alongside their own house brewed CBD oil is the team at Behind this Wall. A recent event at this cosy basement bar in Hackney presented an opportunity to sample a few showcase drinks made by BTW and featuring both Seedlip and CBD oil prominently. Continue reading →
Savannah, Georgia | Blackbeard’s Wake
Direct links between Blackbeard and Savannah are scarce, tenuous and not well documented. However, it’s as swashbuckling a city as ever you’ll come by. Plus, when initially planning my trip, I had hoped to shove off from to explore Georgia island that bears the pirate’s name. Continue reading →
Tequila & Mezcal Fest 2018 | Comida to Crave
The Tequila & Mezcal Fest will be here soon and I’ve got a sneak peek of what to eat when you go. The biggest agave extravaganza in Europe isn’t only an opportunity to drink premium Mexican spirits in a festive … Continue reading →
Ocracoke, North Carolina | Blackbeard’s Wake
From Greenville, I made for the Outer Banks, specifically to the island of Ocracoke, where Blackbeard’s legacy seemed to hang in the air like Spanish moss on a live oak. Continue reading →
Greenville, North Carolina | Blackbeard’s Wake
As much as I savoured reacquainting myself with such a tasty town, I was primarily there to take a peek into the East Carolina University lab where artefacts from Blackbeard’s sunken flagship are being preserved and studied for a more accurate record of North Carolina’s coastal heritage. Continue reading →
Win a Bottle of Patron Reposado Tequila
Love tequila? My team up with Tequila & Mezcal Fest 2018 just got a lot tastier with this competition offering the chance for one tikichris reader to win a bottle of some of Mexico’s best: Patron Reposado. Continue reading →
Franciacorta: Italian Sparkling Wines
Franciacorta has been described as the “best wine you’ve never heard of” and I’ll be honest, I had not heard of it until I was invited to taste some at its Annual London Showcase. The event was hosted by the Vice President of Franciacorta, Silvano Brescianini and Franciacorta’s UK Brand Ambassador, Tom Harrow. Continue reading →
September at Skylight Rooftop Review
Okay I get it, you’ve likely had your fill of rooftops this year. How about rooftops where you can try your hand at croquet and petanque? Not so likely. This week, why not challenge your friends to a game with an unrivalled view at Skylight at Tobacco Dock in Wapping. Continue reading →
Jose Pizarro | All Consumed Episode 3 | #TCTalks Episode 36
For this episode of tikichris Talks I’m sharing the third and episode of All Consumed, a podcast that I coproduce with fellow food, drink and travel writer Neil Davey. It features an in depth discussion with Chef Jose Pizarro. Continue reading →
Up In My Grill at The King & Co
What started as affordable, flavoursome steaks has now morphed into a wide menu of burgers, crispy lamb belly, aubergine parma mess and short rib. And because old habits die hard, I did try all of the dishes that Up In My Grill will be serving during the two-month residency at The King & Co. Continue reading →
Win Tickets to the Tequila & Mezcal Fest 2018
Coming to London the first weekend of October for its fifth anniversary is the Tequila & Mezcal Fest – the biggest agave extravaganza in Europe. As part of my team up with Teq Fest, I’ve set aside a pair of day tickets to share with one lucky tikichris reader. Continue reading →
The American Bar at the Stafford London Hotel
Classy cocktails and a mighty burger were hallmarks of my al fresco dine at The Stafford London Hotel’s historic American Bar. Continue reading →
Bottles Wine Bar at Old Spitalfields Market
Recently opened wine bar Bottles at Old Spitalfields Market does a smart wine list with a wine-smart staff and brilliant kitchen preparing perfect plates for pairing. Continue reading →
Bar 1821: Luxardo Pop-Up in Shoreditch
To celebrate the launch of its new Sour Cherry Gin, Italian spirits brand Luxardo has opened Bar 1821: a month long pop-up cocktail bar in Shoreditch. Continue reading →
Cocktails in the City London: Summer Edition | Bedford Square, 3-4 August
Cocktails in the City offers an intoxicatingly convenient opportunity to experience 25 of London’s most innovative cocktail bars all within sipping distance of each other, for the UK’s largest festival of bars in a leafy outdoor setting. Continue reading →
Denise Medrano, The Wine Sleuth | #TCTalks Episode 26
Denise Medrano, aka The Wine Sleuth, is a London based blogger and the wine buyer for The Grocery Wine Vault. She’s also the subject of the 26th episode of tikichris Talks. We had a great conversation about her passion for wine and her mission to help others simply enjoy drinking it. Continue reading →
Made in Jamaica, Enjoyed in Brixton
It’s no secret I’m a fan of rum nor that I’m partial to ones from Jamaica. So when the folks at Campari UK invited me along for a tasting of their rum portfolio at rumspirational venues across Brixton, I was keen to accept. Continue reading →
The Elephant’s Head, Clapton
The Elephant’s Head in Hackney does crafty cocktails and great pub grub in a moody, Victorian setting. Continue reading →
Lunch at The World’s End Market
A light and flavoursome lunch was enjoyed at one of my favourite Chelsea venues for food and drink: The World’s End Market. Continue reading →
Cheese and Mocktail Pairings | Paxton & Whitfield X The Stafford London
Stalwarts of upscale and historic St James’s – Paxton & Whitfield (cheesemongers since 1797) and The Stafford London (one of this city’s most historic and storied hotels) – teamed up for a recent mocktails and cheese pairing, which I was more than happy to oblige an invitation to taste and critique. Continue reading →
Everything You Need to Know about Alcohol Licensing
For many of us, running our own pub is a dream. From ultra-modern gastro pubs, to cosy rural inns with a log fire burning in the corner, the idea of owning the perfect pub and being its loveable landlord greatly appeals. However, making it a reality can often be time consuming and confusing. Continue reading →
Olso Takeovers at Oslo Hackney
Mondays just got a whole lot better. DrinkUp.London have partnered with Oslo in Hackney to host what they call Oslo Takeovers. To cut a long story short, that means £6 cocktails. Continue reading →
The Tapas Room | #TCTalks Episode 18
The 18th episode of tikichris Talks features an interview with Chef Paul Belcher at the bar of The Tapas Room in Tooting Broadway Market. During the quick session at the bar we chat about Spanish food and wine, the end of his Donostia Social Club in Brixton, his second Tapas Room opening soon in Deptford and more big news. Continue reading →
Vijay’s Bar & Lounge, Lokhandwala, Fitzrovia
Stylish Charlotte Street Indian Restaurant, Lokhandwala, has launched Vjay’s Bar & Lounge: a “speakeasy” above its main dining room. Continue reading →
Mahiki Kensington
I hadn’t been to a tiki bar in ages (a sad thought for a fella going by the online moniker of tikichris). So the invite to take a tipple and nibble at Mahiki’s new(ish) Kensington outpost was welcomed with a readily returned response. Continue reading →
Minimix at The Megaro
Alexandra Kalinowski gets dragged out for a night at a plush dive near King’s Cross. It’s not often you’ll find me out four nights in a row. But a bar designed as your personal minibar with unlimited help yourself popcorn … Continue reading →
Where to Dine in Dublin | Piglet Wine Bar
Piglet Wine Bar, a laidback little eatery on the edge of Temple Bar was a last minute idea for dinner – but one that turned out to be brilliant. I loved the concept and the food and left wishing there was something similar in my hood back home in London. Continue reading →