How do you set yourself apart from the vast sea of bars in Clapham? Zahra Bar has chosen an exotic theme and has drinks to match.

The Venue
Zahra is the basement bar of the smart and vibrant Del’Aziz, a gourmet deli-cum-restaurant-cum-specialist shop. Everything on the ground floor looks amazing, from the design of the multipurpose space to the incredible baked goods. Hence expectations of Zahra are high. On first inspection, the bar looks sparsely decorated with little furniture to speak of. Its main feature is the contemporary Moorish wallpaper which covers walls and ceiling, but while this is a good focal point, the place looks slightly under decorated, despite the large engraved Middle Eastern trays with Moorish lanterns used as tables. Two private rooms towards the back, separated from the general area by a light metal mesh curtain, provide a bit more ambience.

The Atmosphere
It’s obvious that Clapham is already in love with Del’Aziz and the feeling is more than justified. If the Middle Eastern inspired menu and the fantastic deli attracts client around the clock, it is yet to be seen whether the same crowd of young professionals will patronise the bar as well. Chances are they will, although Zahra has to acquire more personality before this can become a local favourite. In these early days, Zahra lacks confidence: the communication with the staff is rather tentative and you may wait a long time for a cocktail that arrives in a sticky glass, even when it’s not busy. Surely things will adjust themselves with time and, for the moment, there are other elements which they are getting right, like the music, spun on a regular basis by a resident DJ. And to keep things colourful and exotic, the weekend sees a belly dancer swaying downstairs after entertaining the dining guests upstairs.

The Drink
The list is comprehensive and suitably varied: you can choose from a good variety of cocktails (mostly £7.50) including signature, creative concoctions inspired by the Middle East, classics, champagne cocktails (£8) and more. The wine list is not just a token gesture either like it often is in cocktail bars. With two dozen bottles available by the glass (£5-£7.50 for 250ml) and more than 80 available by the bottle (mostly £18-£45), you can taste some rare delicacies from Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia and Portugal. Spirits, liqueurs and beers (including Almaza from Lebanon) complete the bar list, which also include smoothies, fresh juices and hot drinks in the deli upstairs.

The Last Word
Zahra has lots of potential but so far you are still better off upstairs, nibbling on some amazing food and sipping some exotic wine. The bar is sure to develop but the high standard set by Del’Aziz is a tough act to follow.

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