It’s not every day you cross paths with a quality cocktail bar folks. For those of you who have had your cocktail destroyed with fruit juice or some sort of puree, you know what I’m talking about. This is why I popped down to the latest Simmons hangout in Fitzrovia; word on the street is they know what’s shaken if you'll pardon the pun.
Venue
Ever wondered where your 80s lamp shade went…the one that wouldn’t go with your new bedcovers? How about where those broken tennis rackets that lasted a week ended up? We have the answer right here. This quirky joint harbours oldie worldly nooks and crannies, under cool circumstance of course. More than likely the wallpaper covering their walls is plastered all over your grandmother’s sitting room, but thankfully the place doesn’t emit the same smell.
The upstairs bar is a square shape and if you travel down the staircase you will feast your eyes on an intimate function area that is ideal for private parties. Old school tables line the outskirts of the upstairs bar, which are grafittied in blue and black ink. Reading those lovey-dovey messages (and the odd crude one along the way) will bring you right down memory lane, where being a rebel meant carving your name into your desk while your teacher scribbled away on the blackboard. They also have a rockin’ outside drinking area that’s ideal for catching some rays.
Drinks
Simmons don’t do food, all of their energy goes into concocting their trademark chic cocktails, that come presented in adorable teapots and cute china tea cups. Our mixologist for the evening had an extensive knowledge regarding cocktails and having mentioned my all-time favourite - The Long Island Iced Tea - he rustled up a variation of the alcohol heavy cocktail. Instead of coke, Richard used lemonade and added a green syrup called 'green banana'. It didn’t knock my favourite from its number one spot, but it came very damn close.
While I happily sipped on my specially crafted cocktail, my friend opted for The My Tie and let me just say…WOW. This long drink would knock the socks off any cocktail fan. It had just the right amount of pineapple juice so that the taste of numerous rums used weren’t completely side-lined. Next on our cards were the fruitier cocktails, the Jamble and the Henrietta. I convinced myself that the Jamble was at least two of my five a day as it contained cranberry juice (great for the kidneys) and fresh raspberries. Now for the Henrietta, calling all prosecco lovers - this has to be your cocktail of choice for 2015. To make this summer worthy tipple, vodka was shaken with fresh strawberries and a squeeze of lemon then topped with some bubbles.
Tipsy confidence then lead to us asking for a surprise, and boy am I delighted we did. We were served the Royal Mojito where gin was replaced with the rum and to finish, topped off with champagne instead of soda. Finally, the Raspberry Martini contained a generous amount of vodka muddled with raspberries, cranberry juice and sugar. It's not an overstatement to label this place a cocktail paradise.
Atmosphere and Clientele
Simmons was buzzing with chirpy customers taking full advantage of the awesome happy hour drink deals (which stretch from 4-9pm). A group of girls were nestled in the corner giggling over some chilled prosecco, while young professionals plonked themselves on high chairs and tables elsewhere. The joint was alive with chatter, proving it to be an excellent choice regardless of what day you're visiting. Towards the weekend, Simmons is known to have a band grace their stage to provide the crowds with some feel good music.
Summary
In terms of cocktails, Simmons smashes it right out of the park. One visit will leave you yearning to return for another round of satisfying mixed drinks and boisterous fun.
