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New Opening: Jetlag Bar
Last Friday saw the official opening party for Jetlag bar, the latest drinking hotspot in London’s Fitzrovia.
Located in a former Cunard-owned building in the shadow of the BT tower, Jetlag bar has taken on some appropriately nautical design references as part of its wider theme of travel, adventure and “the positive aspects of jet lag”.
As you wander in through the door or, if that option looks a bit crowded, one of the large open windows along the front, it feels as though you should be brushing the sand off your feet after a hard day’s work on the beach.
Don’t expect to see too many old friends on the cocktail list, which has been carefully compiled to broaden your repertoire. The rhubarb and pineapple Daiquiri pulls off an unlikely but successful combination, while the Melon Rose, made from Tanqueray, lemon, watermelon and rosemary offers a refreshing long drink.
The wine list offers a decent selection of sensibly priced options, such as Kleine Zlaze Chenin Blanc available for £3.95 by the glass, or £15 for the bottle. Beers are equally respectable value by London standards, with Asahi served on draught or by the bottle at around the £3.50 mark. If the aviator-clad ducks on the walls are having a sobering effect, then there’s a good choice of smoothies which rival the cocktails for creativity.
If you’re looking for a relaxed bite to eat, Jetlag offers a truly cosmopolitan selection. The breakfast menu ranges from eggs Benedict (£4.50), through to a banana pancake (£4.50) or “Grandpop’s Patata’s Italian” (£6.25), which the owners claim you won’t find anywhere else. Moving back into more mainstream territory, lunch or dinner options include grilled sea bass (£13), a steak sandwich (£8.50) or a tasty snack of nachos with guacamole, cheese and salsa (£5.50).
An atmospheric downstairs bar forms a sharp contrast with the light and airy ground floor, offering a good option to progress to as the night wears on. This basement bar can also be used for screenings, coming equipped with a cinema screen, HD projector and top notch sound system, as well as Sky HD for major sporting events.
There’s a fair amount of “concept” at work here, and you may or may not be drawn through the door by the prospect of reliving Tokyo’s nightlife in the late 80’s, which is cited as the main inspiration for this venue. However, it’s a friendly, relaxed, good quality spot which certainly offers somewhere fun and original to seek out if you’re in this corner of town.
Jetlag
125, Cleveland Street
Fitzrovia,
London
W1T 6QB
0203 370 5838
Gabriel Savage, 04.08.09