Eve Bar in Covent Garden: Edgy cocktails and a sustainable vision

There are very few places where indulging in cocktail temptations would be easier than at Eve Bar. Sam Orrock has just taken the helm of Adam Handling’s subterranean venture, bringing a drinks list that perfectly embodies London’s character. Their collaboration finds the magical intersection between the mixologist’s masterly creativity and the chef’s passion for fresh produce and zero-waste systems. Combined with a secretive atmosphere at an elegant hideout in Covent Garden, right below Handling’s flagship restaurant, the concept makes for a daringly seductive bar experience.

The counter is the perfect place to enjoy drinks whilst watching the friendly staff in action, but it is the private room, a charming mirror and plant-decorated area, that provides a more intimate space: a little Eden underground. The venue is a sumptuous canvas for artists JJ Adams and Courty; their works – apple-themed and edgy – welcome visitors from the very entrance, with the bar’s motto neon-lit at the top of the stairs. The mistress of the house, Eve, is represented in bold colours on stained glass.

The menu offers traditional cocktails – your Negroni, Old Fashioned and Margarita – as well as Eve’s Signature Selection – an original collection sold as the classics with a twist. Behind the scenes, there is the modern drinks lab installed on the premises: the team distil and carbonate the creations in house, bottling and refrigerating some of the liquids to get them ready to use at the counter. That’s how refreshing creations such as the Fizzy Pop and British Tea Company are served in record time, the first tangy and the second juicy.

Now, when you are in any of Handling’s outlets, there is one common guarantee: you are in for a luscious foodie treat. And the snacks completely meet our expectations. The Crab Kimchi Tarts are mouth-watering spicy bites, but it is in the Veal Tartare that the smooth combination of light and puffy base with rich paste will astound your taste buds. To add a pinch of divination to the night, you may want to consider the razor clams, served on top of a foggy bowl looking like a witch’s cauldron. Featuring artistic presentation and gratifying flavours, these nibbles are more than a good deal, especially considering you can get each of them for less than £8.

The apple of Orrock’s eyes is nothing less than Adam’s Apple, a clear drink crafted from the leftover produce from the kitchen upstairs. The fruit’s offcuts are converted and distilled with infused tequila and cherry bark. One sip from the glass and you will start wondering why on earth aren’t we already reusing all food scraps as ingredients when they can be so delicious. A dryer aftertaste is left by the Peat’D Colada, an intriguing blend of Bacardi Carta Blanca, coconut and pineapple, with just a hint of bubbles.

For a frothy option, the Debbie Does Dallas is the one for you – passion fruit butter syrup, thyme and a squeeze of lemon flagrantly transform the casual Pornstar Martini. Another valid spin on the traditional cocktail is available in the form of the Pandan Old Fashioned.

Artistry and experimentation have found their home in central London at Eve bar, and a visit is surely due.

★★★★★

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Cristiana Ferrauti
Photos: Filippo L’Astorina

To book a table at Eve Bar, 34 Southampton Street London WC2E 7HF, call 020 7199 8375 or visit their website here.