Despite a recent refurbishment, this drinkspot remains relaxed, comfortable and unpretentious. Check out the oyster bar and the award-winning cocktails.
Kings Cross is best known for its neon-lit sleaze and reckless nightlife. But way back in the '20s and '30s, this area was actually a magnet for the young upper crust and refined arty types. The Cross was once a hub for bohemian life with a definite posh twist - and somehow, this essence seems to live on today at Bayswater Brasserie.
Sure, this venue has only been around since the early '80s (and it was also recently renovated), so it's not really a blast from the past... and it's not even trying to be. However the vibe of the original Cross still seems to exist inside 'The Bayz'. This place is sophisticated, cultured and expensive, but not pretentious. It feels like a European bistro and attracts suits, locals and frocked-up women.
Bayswater Brasserie won the title of Best Cocktail Bar in 2005 and Best Drinks Selection in 2006 at the National Bar Awards. Its cocktail list is huge and offers such classics as martinis and whisky sours, along with mod creations such as the Miss Moneypenny (passionfruit vodka, Aperol, apple liqueur, passionfruit puree and saffron syrup) and the Chilli Chilli Bang Bang (pisco, Aperol, raspberry liqueur, pineapple, raspberries, crushed ice, chilli and vanilla sugar).
Check out the oyster bar, venture into the leafy courtyard or visit the dining room for some blue swimmer crab lasagne.
Andrea Tomaz
