New York-inspired cocktail bar Cato to open in Covent Garden

A new cocktail destination, inspired by New York’s historic bar culture, will open in the Seven Dials area this November. Named Cato, it’s a collaboration between hospitality group Bart & Taylor and award-winning bartender Angelos Bafas that aims to blend American cocktail heritage with a focus on sustainability and British ingredients.

The team boasts an impressive pedigree. Bart & Taylor operate establishments including Fern, Trickle, Adam & Eve and Mr Fox; meanwhile globally recognised bartender and drinks author Bafas (a finalist in the Elit Art of Martini competition) has previously worked at high-profile venues including Nipperkin in Mayfair, Soma, Nijû and Kioku by Endo.

The name Cato pays homage to Alexander Cato, regarded as the world’s first celebrity bartender in the 1800s. The new watering hole will highlight the Julep cocktail, which original expert helped popularise. They will will use herbs grown on-site in an in-house growing system, with additional ingredients sourced from urban allotments and family-run farms. The aim is to create what they describe as “the first self-sufficient bar for herbs and fruits”. There will also be a food offering to accompany drinks, which will include dishes inspired by American classics, such as fried oysters – a nod to the original Cato’s Tavern – alongside burgers and toasties.

The venue is divided into three distinct areas. The ground floor, dubbed the House of Julep, will serve a menu of accessible cocktails in a lively setting. Below, Lower Cato is designed as a more intimate space with a smaller menu of 12 to 14 cocktails, all made using British spirits and produce. The third area, Cato’s Study, will serve as a multi-purpose space for cocktail masterclasses, pop-up events and experimental drinks.

Speaking about the project, Bafas explains Cato is intended to reflect “community, inclusivity and cocktails built around provenance, seasonality and low waste”.

Food Desk

Cato is scheduled to open in November 2025 at 17 Mercer Street, London WC2H 9QJ. For further information, visit their website here.