The main bar at Atelier Coupette - try to get a space here if you can.
What can you tell us about Atelier Coupette?
This is a spin-off of the very popular cocktail bar Coupette in Bethnal Green. This outpost sees them opening in a much more central location in Soho, but they're also doing something different with it. Here, there's a bigger emphasis on seasonal and experimental cocktails, matched with a larger small plate offering.
Where is it?
You'll find Atelier Coupette just a few steps away from Charing Cross Road on the edge of Soho - look for the blue-hued building, it's pretty distinctive. Tube-wise, Leicester Square or Tottenham Court Road are your best bets.
The blue livery is what you're looking for - it really sticks out on the street.
Where should we sit?
It's a small-ish space, seating only 35 but if you can, a seat up at the bar is the place to be. If you can't get those, aim for the seats by the window.
What can we expect from the menu?
The cocktails are the main draw, given the bar's reputation from Bethnal Green. However, you'll find they're slightly different here. Atelier Coupette has been inspired by the Sunday development sessions at the original bar where the team regularly created new cocktails, which could end up on the menu full-time if they were received well.
In Soho they've taken that to the next level so the whole menu regularly features new and seasonal cocktails. Those drinks are also served in smaller amounts than normal (and priced accordingly) so that you can try a few more from the menu than you might otherwise.
With that in mind, here's a selection of the drinks we tried on the night:
The Bichy HB, featuring Clynelish (whisky), pumpkin butter Hennessy VSOP, LDN Fields syrup, mineral concentrate (£9)
On the left, that's a Spiced Melon Margarita - volcan de mi terra, montelobos, spiced ancho reyes, sun sweet melon (£9.50) and Midnight Gimlet - rosehip Bombay Sapphire, blackcurrant, dubonnet, pine (£8.50)
Koji Flan - Eminente 3yrs, Barley Amazake custard, salted coconut dulce de leche, cacao (£8)
Bringing all the above together, we'd say the Spiced Melon Margarita and the Bichy HB were among the winners and the Koji Flan was like drinking cake (in a good way). It's a refreshingly different list and we did like the opportunity to work through a fair chunk of the list, given the size of the coktails.
The menu could benefit from some taste guidelines though - we ended up having quite a few sweet cocktails that we might have balanced out with some more bitter or sour options if we'd had just a little more info, so that would be a welcome addition.
But there's food too?
The food menu seems to be something of a step up from Bethnal Green. In Soho, the kitchen is serving up French-inspired small plates that they say are inspired by old-school Nouvelle Cuisine, but given a modern update. There are some impressive dishes on offer here, but as with tasting notes, recommendations of which cocktails to pair them with would be a good addition.
Here's a taster of what we had.
Poussin - panko drumstick, truffle jus, zucchini purée, girolles, grilled courgette (£12) - probably the winner on the night.
Octopus - chargrilled & smoked, chorizo flakes, romesco sauce (£12)
Ox cheek, bourguignon, roasted onion, bacon, shiitake purée, crispy beef crisp, beef sauce (£13) - A perfect, warming dish for a wintery night.
Hispi Cabbage - coal charred hispi cabbage, herb yoghurt, black garlic purée, olive oil caviar, mustard frills (£10). Another extremely strong contender, with the cabbage nicely balanced by the yoghurt/black garlic puree combo.
Anything else to highlight?
If you do need a break from the cocktails, there is a short "wines and bubbles" menu, with glasses starting at £5 for a 125ml Pinot Noir, but we think you'd be missing out on the bar's key drinks if you go down that route.
Overall thoughts
Coupette have come into the centre of town and changed things up a little. The cocktails are well-priced, and while that's reflected in their size, there's also a lot of work that's been put into them. A little more could be done on the menu to highlight the flavour profiles of some of the more unusual offerings, but if you like checking out the new and hottest bars, this should definitely be on your radar.
More about Atelier Coupette
Where is it? 9 Moor St, London W1D 5ND
Find out more: Visit their website or follow them on Instagram @coupettelondon.
Hot Dinners ate as guests of Atelier Coupette. Prices are correct at the time of writing.
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