It’s hard to find a good friend in central London. And by friend I mean bar. It’s hard to find a good bar in London.
After years of searching, I was introduced to Scarlet. She’s super-fun, naughty, really good-looking and makes some of the best cocktails I’ve ever tasted.
Scarlet has made a home for herself right in the middle of Leicester Square and Covent Garden. And she’s settled in well. Although she’s new here, you wouldn’t know it – the large, open pub space has been transformed into a cocktail haven. The interior is full of mismatched framed art that resembles a cool East London flat, and neon signs commanding us to drink, dance and have fun (you don’t have to ask me twice babe!).
Me and my Ultra-Cool mate went down for some after-work drinks on a Monday night (What? Mondays are stressful y’all!). We planned on having a couple of drinks and maturely going home early. But Scarlet had other plans for us… told you she was naughty.
I started with a Rum Punch, while Ultra-Cool went for signature drink The Scarlet – Elderflower liqueur shaken with mint and peach bitters, topped with Heidsieck Monopole Champagne. Delicious, refreshing and crisp, a British summer’s evening in a glass! My rum punch included three types of rum, passion fruit, mango, lime and almond topped with Ting (a grapefruit soda that I live on in summer). One sip and I mistakenly thought I was on a Caribbean beach (or the streets of Notting Hill during Carnival).
Now, margaritas are my all-time favorite drink, so obviously my next tipple had to be one. I wanted to see how Scarlet’s margarita faired in comparison to the many, many I have had throughout the years. I wasn’t disappointed. Not too sweet, not too bitter – the perfect mix of tequila, lime and triple sec. So good I had to have two. Ultra-Cool chose a bramble, a classic cocktail often done badly. Not at Scarlet’s. I was so jealous of her perfectly-mixed berry and gin concoction that I had to order one for myself (while she moved back on to glasses of The Scarlet). After all the booze, we felt peckish… not only does Scarlet make a mean drink, but she ain’t a bad cook either! There is classic pub food to choose from; burgers, fish and chips and steak. But if you’re looking for something a bit different, go for one of the grilled sandwiches. All the food here is fresh and tasty, nothing greasy or sickly – just good, hearty food to soak up some of the booze and give you energy to stay a little longer…
Like any good friend (read bar), Scarlet’s is a comfy, fun place full of laughter, good food and strong drinks. And like a good friend’s house, you won’t want to leave!
Scarlet's, 1 Upper St Martin's Lane, London, WC2H 9NY. 0207 395 1200