Cocktails. They're becoming a bit passé as pubs and bars jump on the mixology bandwagon. Thank God, then, for Experimental Cocktail Club which brings Parisian cool to the capital’s bar scene. Magnifique!

The Venue
ECC Chinatown is secretive to say the very least. This is definitely not a bar you’ll stumble across by accident. Even with the address and a map you won’t be able to find it, disguised as it is among a sea of Chinese restaurants. The simple door is unadorned by street number or signage; you have to be in the know to find it.

Once inside the three storey townhouse, you’ll find a narrow staircase that opens up onto the first floor. And boy is it impressive. A gleaming speakeasy-style bar takes up most of the space with a few tables dotted around and a comfortable sofa area, whilst a mirrored ceiling reflects the dim lighting and candlelit tables. On the wall is a hanging imported from China, for the mere cost of £6000, and that’s just the beginning. Up a level is a private hire area where exposed brick walls mix with a highly embellished ceiling from the USA, a Chanel leather-topped bar with built-in piano (really), a pretty patterned French carpet and another of the beautiful gold leaf Chinese wall hangings. On the third floor there are equally impressive toilets, appearing to be built into the walls themselves. In the ladies, flamingo print pink wallpaper mixes with lights made of teapots. It doesn’t get much quirkier than that.

The Atmosphere
There is an air of exclusivity at ECC Chinatown but it’s one that is suitably free of pretension. Although not a members’ bar, they do like customers to come via introductions and bookings. Anyone can visit, from art students to City boys and plumbers – the only requirement is you’re cool. And that doesn’t mean draped in expensive jewellery and designer clobber. The staff are friendly and efficient and they encourage an atmosphere of openness with the waiting staff bantering merrily with punters. And they really look the part, dressed in formal uniforms that add to the speakeasy appeal of the space.

The Drink
Promising that a cocktail at 8pm will be as good as a cocktail at 3am, ECC Chinatown is laying down the consistency gauntlet. The menu is succinct with around 14 cocktails to choose from (they change seasonally), all priced at £9.50-£11. And yes, they are experimental. If you want to live out a Mad Men fantasy the Havana (Cuban cigar-infused Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Marsala, angostura bitters and an Octomore whisky wash) arrives as a short, smells like it will blow your head off and tastes as smooth as any fine whisky. If, however, you prefer your cocktails a little more girly then the pink, frivolous Renaissance (Aperol, Hendrick’s, lemon juice, homemade rhubarb syrup, Himalayan purple salt and Billecart-Salmon champagne) is just the right mix of sweet and alcoholic with the excellent champagne offering a quality finish.

The piece de resistance though has to be the Madras Flip (Grosperrin Cognac, XM 5-year-old rum, cream, homemade organic chai syrup, egg, nutmeg), a rich, creamy drink with a hint of sweetness counteracted by the clean taste from the chai. It really shows off the mixology skills of the bar staff - and the ingredients. They produce fresh lime and lemon juice every hour, for example. In fact, they have gone as far as to import an ice machine especially from the USA that produces ice cubes that don’t dilute your cocktail by melting mid-drink. It may defy the laws of physics but hey, this bar is so cool they can do that.

The Last Word
Achingly cool and effortlessly stylish, this is the kind of bar you can imagine Don Draper drinking in. Paris should be proud.

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