Kamara cocktail bar to bring East Mediterranean flavours and design to Soho this autumn

Kamara, a new East Mediterranean-inspired cocktail bar, will open in Soho this autumn. The bar is the latest venture from Tasos Gaitanos and Alex Large, the founders of Brother Marcus, and will occupy the former site of The Blind Pig on Poland Street. Developed in collaboration with bar specialist Angelos Bafas, Kamara aims to bring a distinct East Med influence to London’s cocktail scene through a combination of regional ingredients, traditional techniques, and contemporary design.

The 83-cover venue will serve an array of cocktails featuring macerated spirits, house ferments, and foraged British produce. These drinks will be presented in custom pottery sourced from independent artisans in Crete, which also plays a role in the preparation process: the vessels are used for ageing ingredients using primitive methods.

Signature cocktails include the Tuvunu Highball, made with Metaxa 12*, Kamara Fig Brandy, prepared with Greek mountain tea, fermented figs, and fig leaf soda, and the Coffee and Honey Old Fashioned, with bourbon, Cretan eau de vie, Exmoor honey, and British burnt butter. One of the more distinctive offerings is the Mahleb Gimlet, a cocktail made with Axia mastiha and Tsipouro macerated with cardamom leaf grown in Essex.

The food menu follows a similar ethos, offering a concise selection of East Mediterranean mezze. The selection of dishes comprises Cod’s Roe Taramasalata with sumac onion, Greek Feta Sausage with aubergine bayildi, and Crispy Calamari with zhoug aioli and burnt lime. The bar also plans to serve a curated wine list, highlighting producers from Greece, Georgia, and Lebanon.

The interior, designed by Finch Studio, draws inspiration from the textures and tones of the Eastern Mediterranean. Features include bronze detailing, earthy colour palettes, and a cave-like ceiling intended to create an intimate atmosphere.

Kamara will be open from Tuesday to Sunday, with extended hours on Friday and Saturday nights. The opening marks a new direction for Gaitanos and Large, since the establishment of Brother Marcus in 2016: their new project aims indeed to channel the spirit of East-Med hospitality into a bar setting for the first time.

Food Desk

For further information, visit Kamara’s website here.