A new subterranean cocktail bar designed for music lovers has opened its doors, focussing on smooth cocktails and sounds.. Nestled under the city’s bustling streets within the brand-new Hyde London City hotel, Black Lacquer pays homage to the Hyde brand’s origins on the LA club scene, with a late night venue specialising in slick and playful drinks and endless vinyl.
Black Lacquer will be a space where a multitude of music genres are celebrated – this new creative hangout will feature vinyl-forward music programming – enlisting the best and most dynamic of the city’s music scene for DJ performances. Special monthly takeovers from eclectic music collectives from across the city will showcase and uplift emerging talent.
Beneath where the city sleeps, the ever-changing soundtrack is hand-selected each night from an expertly-curated collection of vinyl records. From lo-fi ambient beats to smoky jazz for after-work drinks and on to amapiano vibes that pulse through the weekend nights, Black Lacquer takes guests on a genre-bending musical journey throughout the week.
Black Lacquer’s drink offerings are an homage to drinks and flavours found throughout Japan, expressed using modern techniques. The cocktail menu is a combination of classic and innovative flavours, with each drink created with the same care and detail as a timeless record. Served in elegant Shotuku and Kimura glassware over hand-carved blocks of crystal-clear ice, each cocktail is a masterpiece enjoyed with a soundtrack to match.
Black Lacquer takes an unpretentious approach to drinks, with every drink either on tap, poured directly from the freezer, or carbonated and bottled in-house. A large selection of the distilled Japanese spirit Shochu fills the shelves.
Cocktails will include the Lemon Sour, an izakaya staple, with Mizu green tea shochu, yuzu and lemon cordial and MSG soda; a Tomato Paloma, with an intriguing blend of blanco tequila, seaweed, strawberry, and tomato soda and the Mr. Saburo, a refreshing fusion of Satsuma Shochu, Midori.
Black Lacquer’s signature cocktail menu has been carefully designed by Michele del Negro. Michele was an integral member of the opening team at Andre Balazs’ Chiltern Firehouse, where he served as Bar Supervisor during its first five years as a coveted celebrity hotspot. Following his successful tenure, he continued to make waves at the exclusive private members’ club Annabel’s for another five years. Michele has now brought his expertise and dynamic leadership to Black Lacquer, where he takes on the role of Head of Bars.
Once whistles are whet, guests can satiate appetites with a small menu of moreish snacks including house made togarashi & black vinegar nuts, spicy tuna handroll, cheeseburger spring roll, chips with golden curry dip and of course, a prawn katsu sando.
Whether perched on the sleek central bar or hidden away in one of the secret recessed booths dotted around the room, Black Lacquer is a pause from the hectic city above, to sink in and take a minute to savour.
Black Lacquer, HYDE London City
15 Old Bailey, London, EC4M 7EF
OPENING HOURS
Tuesday & Wednesday | 5pm – 12am
Thursday & Friday & Saturday | 5pm – 2am
Sunday & Monday | Closed
