Flour & Grape has been one of the better Italian restaurants in South London for years. But the most exciting thing about it right now might actually be what’s underneath it. The Cellar Club just opened in the basement, and it’s a proper cocktail bar – not a refined hotel bar with a posh menu, not a pop-up, not a vibe-only situation with mediocre drinks. A genuinely good cocktail bar with astoundingly reasonable prices (for London, that is!).
The space is dark and intimate, and it was designed with Flour & Grape customers in mind – you can have a drink while you wait for your table (if you didn’t make a reservation, it’s likely you will have to wait) or ahead downstairs after your dinner for a closing drink.
What’s on the menu?
The signature cocktail list is all £10, which in London right now feels rewardingly radical. And there’s no watering down happening – the cocktails are just as delectable as any other with a £15 or even higher price tag. Here are some of our favourites:
The Pajarito was, to our surprise, our highlight: Gobernador pisco, St Germain elderflower, egg white, strawberry oleo, lime and pisco bitters. It’s essentially a pisco sour but much smoother and creamier, a home-run even if you’re not typically a fan of this cocktail.
The Cardboard Concorde (with Pensador mezcal, Ocho tequila, Amaro Montenegro, Aperol, lime) is one of the most complex concoctions on the menu. Smoky and bittersweet – not the most approachable drink on the list but absolutely the right one for the right person.
The Brazuka arrives looking suspiciously like a daiquiri, but you’ll taste the cachaça as soon as you sip it. It’s got blackberry and basil syrup, lime and green Chartreuse, so it leans more to the sweet side. Most bars in London don’t go near this Brazilian spirit, so if you’ve been longing for a caipirinha-like tipple, you know where to find it.
Lastly, there’s the Dona Maria – a more tropical cocktail with rum, banana liqueur, pineapple shrub, Falernum, lime, Angostura. This one is lethally sweet, but go in knowing that and you’ll enjoy it.
If none of these take your fancy, you can always ask for the house classics. The bar staff is incredibly friendly and will likely be able to accommodate your requests. There’s also a range of chaser cocktails at £6 worth knowing about – these are small, spirit-led serves that sit somewhere between a shot and a cocktail.
And the food?
Snacks only, because the main act is upstairs. There are crisps, almonds, olives – all the right things. But the cheese toasties (£7.50) are worth ordering. If you’re sharing, they’re not so large that you’d need to skip starters.
Our verdict
Not every cocktail needs to come with a story. Don’t get us wrong, we really, really (did we say really?) appreciate the craft and the knowledge behind inventive cocktail recipes with a background. But sometimes all your soul needs is a quick pick-me-up before dinner, and these £10 cocktails will do the trick – and add another pirouette in there. Worth a visit if you’re in the area.
Key details
Address: 214 Bermondsey St, London SE1 3TQ
Website: www.flourandgrape.com
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