The speakeasy is back, thanks to a glossy new basement bar tucked away in the heart of Soho. Down a dimly lit staircase thick with the smell of incense, you’ll find SOMA: the latest offering from the team behind buzzy Indian restaurant group Kricket. Drinking here is all about minimalistic luxury – the cocktails come with no bells and whistles, just high-quality (and often surprising) ingredients, with an ethos that’s all about sustainability and low waste. You won’t see bunches of wilting mint or wasted orange peels behind the bar, only top shelf spirits, bottles of homemade essences and jars of fermented pickles to snack on.
“SOMA is a grown-up place to have a drink,” says Stylist’s features editor Meena Alexander. “Its shadowy corners and polished wood create a real sense of intimacy, and its bartenders welcome you like old friends. But the cocktail menu – small and perfectly formed, with Indian-inspired twists on all the classics – is the star of the show. If you love a margarita, try the chaat: a delicious blend of mezcal and tequila flavoured with chaat masala, kumquat and gooseberry salt. The most mind-blowing creation for me, though, was the spin on a gimlet – a silky gin cocktail with pink peppercorn oil, kaffir and curry leaves that was so special, I had to take an at-home mixing kit away with me.” Cocktail aficionados, do not pass GO, do not collect $200. 14 Denman St, London, W1D
