14-17 Carthusian Street,
The City,
London,
EC1M 6AD
(020) 7726 8925
The ViewLondon Review
First impressions are vitally important in the hospitality trade. Neo, a brand spanking new stylish basement bar around the corner from Barbican tube, has nothing to worry about in this respect. It’s a beautifully designed space fashioned out of rugged quartz stone imported from India and reclaimed industrial piping. This is one venue where your initial impression turns into a favourable lasting one.
The Venue
There’s a certain mystique about basement bars. From the street there’s no indication of what you'll find inside – will you stumble into a Blue Oyster-style bar as immortalised in Police Academy, or is it going to be the word-of-mouth speakeasy of your dreams? Take a chance and descend the stairs of Neo, and you won’t be disappointed. Inside, it’s a dramatic space, mainly because of the rocky, rippled effect of the imported quartz that makes up the texture of the walls. This natural beauty is highlighted by discreet, moody lighting, and crushed velvet chairs with a mottled-effect and tables with gold studs around their perimeter show that this is a space with an eye for fashion and an experienced hand behind the design.
Even on a warm evening, the basement feels cool and airy. You may even be mistaken into thinking the stone-clad surroundings are responsible for this effect, but it’s actually a sophisticated air-conditioning system that helps keep things nice and cool. It’s a compact rectangle room, one that’s dark and mysterious, but unlike some basement bars that only come into life in the wee small hours, Neo is just as well versed during the day as it is after dark.
The Atmosphere
With very little self-promotion other than word-of-mouth, Neo is already attracting a nice mix of in-the-know local workers. There are easily as many girls as boys in attendance and there’s no set age range, late twenty and early thirtysomethings mix with those who’ve got a few more years on the clock.
Musically, it’s a background mixture of deep house and chilled electronica. There’s no sign of a DJ booth as yet, but for private parties and events, you can be sure the music can be cranked up to a level befitting the occasion.
Neo isn’t relying on its good looks for business, either. Staff and management clearly know that a frosty greeting is the sort of thing that’s an instant turn-off. Instead, they look after their guests with great care and attention to detail.
The Food
An Italian-inspired food menu is now in place at Neo. A passion for all things pizza has led the management to invest a lot of time into making their own dough everyday, sourcing premium ingredients and dishing everything up with care and attention – there are no corners cut here. You can choose from eleven classic pizzas, which start from an infinitely reasonable £6 for a Margherita, with the most expensive option only costing £8.50. Two good choices are the Piccante (spicy salami, mushroom and olives) and the Quattro Stagioni (ham, peppers, mushrooms and artichokes), as both are evidently made using good quality produce.
As Neo has become a massively popular space for private bookings and events, sharing platters are very much in demand. Cheese, vegetarian and meat are all available, with the likes of the bresaoloa di manzo (£8.95/£16.95), another nod to the delights Italy has to offer in the way of cured meats. It is served with rocket, parmesan, olives and bread. For those watching their figures, a range of lighter salads are on offer too.
The Drink
Cocktails are very much at the forefront of Neo’s business. The list has been carefully researched and constructed by an in-house team who previously worked at some of London’s premier drinking destinations. Each drink has a little bit of history attached to its written description and premium ingredients come as standard. Prices flutter between £8 and £9. A Mai Tai has so many negative connotations it’s rarely the first thing to grab your attention on a list but here it’s a revelation. Instead of a tropical blend it has more of a citrus edge and the combination of El Dorado 3 and 5 year old rum and the lethal Wray and Nephew Overproof rum at a whopping 63 percent ABV shows they’re not messing around when it comes to content. Lime juice, orange Curacao and Orgeat are also included in what’s a beautifully balanced and refreshing tipple with a hint of marzipan in the aftertaste. Another very good (and equally stiff) drink is the Old Fashioned, a mix of Four Roses Bourbon, sugars and bitters. Finally, if you run out of inspiration, they’ll tailor-make one for you and the DB7, a mix of fresh passion fruit and 42 Below vodka, is well worth requesting.
The Champagne list starts off with Veuve Clicquot, at £9.95 a glass or £59.95 a bottle, and if you’re in the mood to go for the jugular, prices escalate to the £345 mark for the Louis Roederer Cristal. House wine is pitched at a much more reasonable price point of £15.50 a bottle but, once again, if you don’t mind flexing your plastic, there are plenty of more expensive options to indulge in.
Beers all come in bottles and go for a more obscure international angle. Viru (£3.95) from Estonia, Kasteel Cru (£4.75) from France and Blue Moon (£4.50) from North America are amongst the shortlist.
The Last Word
Neo feels like you’ve stumbled across a cool underground bunker that not everyone is privy too – a kudos-enhancing sign for a bar if ever there was one. Add to this, a great selection of premium drinks, a handy location near Barbican tube and its stunning design, and you have a venue that will impress whoever you decide to share it with.
Neo has been reviewed by 50 users