Post by Kate Antoni, FG London Correspondent
Gigi’s is a newly opened bar, club, restaurant in Hoxton square with an offering for more or less everyone. Enter a great place to brunch, an outdoor terrace and a lounge bar with loud live music, all above a basement club. It’s the kind of place you can take your oldest best friend and dance the night away (whilst ordering bar snacks if you’re a hungry badger like me!)
I spent most of the night on the terrace, which is spacious and has deck chairs – a sweet touch and fun for a night out. Beer barrels serve as tables and the expanse of umbrellas and outdoor heaters enabled me to drink my cocktail sans jacket. I thoroughly enjoyed my drink, the aptly named Gigi and T, paying homage to its founder the formidable Giovanna Hussein. I didn’t care much for the espresso martinis on tap; to me the magic in this cocktail is found in fine quality freshly brewed espresso and a solid vodka. Premixed drinks rarely, if ever, possess these attributes. Though, I’ll appreciate that others may find joy in the novelty of cocktails at the touch of a button.
Formerly Zigfrid von Underbelly, Gigi’s has revamped the space with a long bar to the left and a collection of tables and chairs scattered around the room. There’s a full wall mural in a kitsch graffiti style by Katie Philipson- it reminded me of a restaurant in NYC called Vandal that I loved. There’s the obligatory “Gigi’s” emblazoned in neon lights, which feels appropriate and fun. I didn’t see the basement club and sampled only the canapés on offer, so can’t adequately review the menu that was created by head chef Antonio Mollo. The food promises to celebrate fresh Italian inspired ingredients with simple well-constructed dishes. I’m eager to try this and impressed at the opening hours, noon on a weekday and 10am at a weekend. A great idea to attract a varied crowd.
My friend, Sophie, who is far cooler than I, remarked that it was hard to find a place with good music, reasonably priced drinks and a great smoking area. A place where her hungry friend Kate can nibble on fried whitebait and arancini whilst she dances the night away till 3am. At Gigi’s there really is something for everyone.
11 Hoxton Square, Hackney, London N1 6NU
020 7613 1988
