A cocktail house with a headache-inducing drinks list, Opal Bar is an intimate basement bar popular with the South Kensington crowd. The drinks and music are reason enough to swing by.

The Venue
A seventies-inspired affair, Opal Bar wants to look like a grotto with cave-like white and black irregular walls furnished with low tables, round stools and small sofas in bright colours and plenty of mirrors (most of the ceiling is covered in them). There is one central bar where all the drinking takes place, but there are private areas as well - very popular for birthday parties. Do not expect a big venue though: Opal Bar is quite small and you should not have dancing expectations. The bar is well lit, but the rest of the space is left in semi darkness, save for some coloured lights here and there. It looks funky (and a bit claustrophobic) more than sophisticated and, with the bright lights, some cosmetic flaws are evident. The few cracks in the walls and some holes in the upholstery do not seem to deter the posh crowd of regulars, though.

The Atmosphere
Populated mostly by the wealthy South Kensington crowd, the bar attracts people of all ages, from the very young to professionals in their forties. The probable reason why the place is not exactly well signposted is that it wants to be a refuge for the rich locals rather than open to everybody, mostly due to its limited capacity. Opal Bar has the habit of opening past 10 pm on some weekend nights and, once it gets crowded, it may be difficult to get in, especially if you do not follow the unspoken dress code: jeans with a smart shirt are ok but no trainers. The atmosphere remains friendly and it is very popular with groups. If you are coming down with friends, book a seating area ahead and you can even bring your own DJ to the party. The DJs in residence here are very good and deliver a lounge-style, upbeat music perfect for drinking.

The Food
People aren’t really here to sample the food but the menu is made of a dozen options, mostly Asian inspired with a western twist. Dishes range from £6 to £10 pounds and peak above £20 for lobster and other specialties. Both the iced oysters and the chocolate platters are particularly attractive to complement the drinking.

The Drink
This is where things get exciting. The selection is very extensive and takes up a lengthy menu. The many house cocktails are the specialty and you will have too many to choose from. Well made, fresh, tasty and reasonably priced (at least for the location) between £6-£8, they are very popular. Punches to share start at £13 are go fast made up from the massive selection of spirits. Whites, reds and Champagne are sold by the glass or bottle. The wine selection is nothing special but they have more Champagne bottles than you can name, including pricey magnums. If you have cash, the cocktails cannot disappoint but don’t come in if you are a beer fanatic: they sell only one (Asahi).

The Last Word
Are cocktails your fix? Provided you fit in with the crowd of regulars, Opal Bar is for you.

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