Síbín Speakeasy reopens

Síbín Speakeasy, situated in London’s historic Great Scotland Yard Hotel, has a fresh new food and cocktail menu.

Once home to some 170 varieties of whisky, Síbín Speakeasy’s sophisticated menu makeover sees the London bar, which is located close to Whitehall, transformed into a venue with a much more diverse drinks offering.

Hidden behind a bookshelf, part of the charm of Síbín Speakeasy is that, like any good speakeasy, it is hard to find. However, plenty of people have discovered it over the years, as the 1,903 empty bottles hanging above the bar attest to – and, with its doors now open until 1am, Síbín is ready to invite plenty more guests to take refuge beneath the bottles.

As part of the relaunch, there is a revamped drinks selection, with a range of spirits, Champagne (including Pol Roger Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill and Palmer & Co), still wines by the glass, and five new cocktails.

Led by bar manager Guilherme Vieira, the Síbín team sport shamrock pins as a nod to the origin of the prestigious whiskeys the bar still stocks, though beyond Irish expressions, there are also bottles from Scotland, the US, India and England available.

Among the new cocktails is Shebeen, which pays tribute to the speakeasy’s roots by resembling the sort of concoction one would find in the illicit whiskey bars of old, known as ‘síbíns’, and created using the sort of ingredients that bootleggers could get hold of. In the case of Shebeen, the only new cocktail based on whisky, it contains Singleton 12 Year Old, eau-de-vie, Campari, pineapple, bitters and smoke.

Also new to the list is 6 O’Clock Swill, a combination of Tanqueray No. Ten gin, yuzu, camomile and Vetiver Gris perfume; and Nightcap, a mixture of Tromba Añejo Tequila, Casamigos mezcal, Elderflower, Pol Roger Champagne, grapefruit and citrus. The choice of spirits is a reflection of Síbín Speakeasy’s commercial relationship with Diageo.

New food menu

Additionally, there is a new food menu featuring snacks to perfectly complement the drinks, including zero waste cauliflower croquettes, a charcuterie platter and a selection of British cheeses.

It isn’t just what’s in the glass or on the plate that has changed at Síbín – the atmosphere has also been different since the relaunch. Every Thursday and Friday evening, live music fills the air, adding to the ambience of this tucked-away retreat.

The interior design also pays homage to Síbín’s rebellious roots, with Belinda Frikh’s bold female portrait in Indian ink setting the tone for a space that is inclusive, and a far cry from an old-fashioned, stuffy gentlemen’s club – this is somewhere designed to be modern, inviting and relaxed.

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