BarChick’s been in the cocktail game for a while. We've seen concepts, drunk in a prison, mot much surprises us. A bar based on Antarctic expeditions, however? It’s a new one.

The clue is in the name, although you’d have to have a pretty niche knowledge of snowy adventures to get it. BANZARE is an acronym for British Australian New Zealand Antarctic Research Expedition from the 1930s. Quite the mouthful. Remove the e and add the bar bit  - voila! You’ve got something to snazzy to call your new bar. 

There’s a bit of exploring to do to get into Banzarbar in the first place. This place is tiny (only 20 seats) and is hidden above the beloved Freemans restaurant. Once inside, it’s beautiful - cosy and intimate, with nods to both exploration and the 1930s. Cocktail ingredients also hark back to some of the unusual flavours and spices. Even the glassware gives a sense of place and time. Impressive. Exploration features in the menu, so there’s a mix between stiff drinks and lower ABV serves. These less boozy options come in handy for the five course drinks tasting menu, otherwise you’d be exploring yourself to a hangover. Expect vermouth, sherry and amaro to mostly make up these cocktails. Over two hours, you can enjoy five drinks each paired with a seafood taster dish - examples might be a sherry and Cocchi Americano cocktail with scallop crudo. It’s reservation only, so get booking to discover a whole new world of cocktail fun.