Annex 3

chrisp

Surrealist Cocktails and superb service 8th September 2008

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As the previous (excellent) review pointed out, there are plenty of bars in London claiming to serve cocktails, and very few that do it particularly well. On the one hand it's nice that you can nip into your local and order a Mojito and it will generally be made with fresh mint and Havana Club rum. On the other hand, we're in danger of losing the craft and excitement that early cocktail pioneers like the Match Bar generated when they first opened over ten years ago. A visit to Annex 3 at the weekend reminded me what is so great about a good drink, as the focal point of a superb evening out.

It is a surrealist masterpiece of a drinks list. Some eyebrow-raising ingredients included wasabi, avocado and rhubarb - not all in the same drink, thankfully, but still unusual enough to wonder what on earth they tasted like. Fortunately, all the examples we ordered on Friday were delicious - particularly a short drink made with ginger and cinnamon, and a martini with pomegranate seeds, the names of which unfortunately escape me. The flavours were as bright and fresh as they were unique and clearly indicated a bar staff determined to put their mark on the London cocktail map. Most impressive.

Tying our evening together impeccably was some sterling service. We hardly had to look up from an empty glass before our gaze was met with a friendly face. Perhaps this was understandable given that a 12.5% service charge was added to the bar bill (even Claridge's only adds 10%) but it was hard to complain given how well our experience was handled. I can heartily recommend you save your pennies for a visit to Annex 3 one evening - you're almost guaranteed to love it.

Niamheen at 08/09/08

This place sounds fantastic.

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Jimmy_James

Glamour gone garish 28th February 2007

8 found this helpful

There seems to be an endless stream of cocktail bars in London these days; a deluge of below-par Mojitos and caipirinhas populate the drinks menus of every blanch wood and aluminium establishment claiming (but never delivering) cocktail status- However mint drowned in ice and low grade rum, does not a cocktail make...

Thankfully, amid these pumped up pretenders, there are those that still manage to do something special and interesting. London is filled with gem's in unusual places. Annex 3's sister, Loungelover, is tucked away on an otherwise deserted street off of the dingiest part of Commercial Road and still provides some of the most creative and tasty drinks around. It's decor throws a harsh parellel to its' surroundings; a true Narnian affair of Hippopotami, enormous candles and fairytale cottages, surrounded by rubbish-strewn streets and low built commercial premises.

Annex 3, the newest venture of Hassan Abdullah, Michel Lassere and Stefan Karlson, creators of Le Trois Garcon and the aforementioned Loungelover, is a new adventure in interior frolics, coupled with equally adventurous cocktails.

When I say adventurous- think Wasabi martini's, Sake with rhubarb and fresh passion fruit coupled with chestnut liqueur. Beyond this Annex follows the standards well- the martini is good (although a tendency towards the overdry) and the other stalwarts stand up just as well; the champagne beer is a gimmick, but not the worst tasting.

In all honesty the only thing that lets this place is location. It provides a thankful replacement for Mash round the corner, but it's precisely its accessability that let's it down, attracting a crowd of Media Agencies and Media owners seeking to impress. As much as this crowd is a part of London (and I'm sure a necessary one!) it's a surefire killer for a bar, driving out the patronage of perhaps a longer term punter, in favour of a momentarily higher value, but all together more flighty, crowd.

sokratis at 18/05/07

Cool review. I'm putting one up for Loungelover in a bit. The more I go the more I like that place.

sokratis at 18/05/07

...although I got to say, Annex 3's cocktails are not at the same standard as Lnglvr's

Jimmy_James at 24/05/07

You're right, although I do think they've tried for something different; Loungelover's is generally more exclusive

Jimmy_James at 24/05/07

And thanks for the compliment. :)

sokratis at 24/05/07

You're welcome - I really liked the review ;-)

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