A thing most rare and precious to the Londoner is their hideaway. Somewhere to come and tuck oneself away from that bustling world, to eat, drink, enjoy entertainment or just simply, calmly sit. An escape suited to oneself. The marble vaults of the Natural History Museum, perhaps, or the bar of the OXO Tower Restaurant, peeping out over the Southbank. My sister, an avid movie buff, loves the hidden café in the British Film Institute. In my three years in London I’ve tried out a few…Soho House, Black Lab Coffee Shop in Clapham Common…yet nothing’s quite hit the mark.
Then I came across Scarfes Bar in the Rosewood London in Holborn…
Then I came across Scarfes Bar in the Rosewood London in Holborn…
This cosy, faded leather nook is a very special lounge with the atmosphere of a drawing room come gentleman’s club, within an ultra-luxury hotel. The bar beams charm and character. The place is dedicated to Gerald Scarfe, the famous British artist and caricaturist, and his collection of paintings adorn the marble walls, transforming Scarfes Bar into what Gerald describes as ‘his personal art gallery’. Besides the artwork, the space hosts a vast and ornate fireplace with ever roaring fire, sunken velvet armchairs and shelves filled with over 1,000 antique books. It feels incredibly warm and lux in an old country British manner, piqued gently by the quirky, ever so slightly controversial satire adorning its walls. The drinks are world class, the food fantastic. In short, I adored it.
I came here for lunch a few weeks ago and couldn’t bear to leave. Surprising (perhaps) is that it is Indian food! This makes me love it more and lends the space a sort of….colonial Indian British empire vibe! Head Chef Palash Mitra dishes up uber refined Indian curries and kebabs between 12-15:30, with bar snacks served after this.
I tried the tandoori spiced lamb chops with ginger and mint, served with buttery shards of naan, pungent daal and a coriander dipping sauce. I kid you not, the lamb was so tender that at first I thought chef had removed it from the bone, minced it and put it back on like a kebab. Paneer, a soft Indian cheese, was lent tremendous flavour by being stuffed with basil and almond paste and marinated in cream cheese and cardamom, served alongside the same sides as the lamb. A tiger prawn curry with coconut and Bengali kasundi mustard was light and flavoursome.
I tried the tandoori spiced lamb chops with ginger and mint, served with buttery shards of naan, pungent daal and a coriander dipping sauce. I kid you not, the lamb was so tender that at first I thought chef had removed it from the bone, minced it and put it back on like a kebab. Paneer, a soft Indian cheese, was lent tremendous flavour by being stuffed with basil and almond paste and marinated in cream cheese and cardamom, served alongside the same sides as the lamb. A tiger prawn curry with coconut and Bengali kasundi mustard was light and flavoursome.
The drinks menu is huge, with a highly crafted list of cocktails which is very, very interesting to peruse. The bar staff know these menus inside out and are more than happy to freestyle, if you fancy something else. I tried 3 cocktails which were off-menu and instantly forgot what was in them beyond that it was delicious. The first, for example, came in a dinky glass teapot and was flavoured with dried orange, thyme and gin. Just delicious.
Whilst I love Scarfes for its calm and class, by night it changes, becoming what it dubs ‘artfully social’. Events and entertainment there are common, always quality and carefully selected. For example, this autumn sees comedy, cabaret and a Halloween party in its rostra (see below for the full line up).
Whilst I love Scarfes for its calm and class, by night it changes, becoming what it dubs ‘artfully social’. Events and entertainment there are common, always quality and carefully selected. For example, this autumn sees comedy, cabaret and a Halloween party in its rostra (see below for the full line up).
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In short; I’ve found my hide away and I’ll be back this very weekend. I can’t imagine anywhere more perfect for me to lounge and write, over a couple of whiskies and Indian plates, of course.
9/10
www.scarfesbar.com/
Rosewood London, High Holborn, London WC1V 7EN
Events:
- Comedy Notes – a musical comedy night hosted by Joy Carter, including exclusive performances from Shazia Mirza, Richard Morton and Tamar Broadbent. Sunday evenings, including 11th October, 8th November, 13th December, 10th January. £22.
- Mayhem in Midtown Cabaret – hosted by Dusty Limits, the immersive cabaret evenings will take place monthly on Sunday evenings and resemble an eccentric house party filled with stunning, unique performances by Dusty and his fellow artists, Lili La Scala, Vicky Butterfly, Coco Malone, Laura London, and a jazz trio led by Michael Roulston. £16.50. Dates: 4th October, 15th November, 6th December
- ‘The Haunting of Scarfes Bar’- This Halloween, Scarfes Bar will be transformed into an eerie, haunted manor house library. Hosted by Dusty Limits in the guise of the mysteriously ageless poet Dante, this macabre evening will include spooky acts including a string trio, fire magic, contortion, cabaret, acrobatics and live jazz. £53.50. 31st October
