Elixir at Art Yard Bar & Kitchen

Blackfriars has always felt like a ‘no man’s land’ to me — a mysterious area on the banks of the Thames, a stop for City of London commuters.

But when I recently found myself there, south of the river, I was pleasantly surprised by the changes I saw. It was a far cry from what I remembered – now a place of impressive high-rise office buildings, glistening glass, upmarket hotels, and bars, with an eclectic mix of people: office workers, students, tourists, and those like me, in search of somewhere new and exciting.

I met a friend at the Art Yard Bar and Kitchen, nestled within the 5-star Bankside Hotel. My first thoughts as I walked through the doors (separate from the hotel’s main entrance) were how it didn’t feel like a hotel restaurant, which, in my opinion, was a good thing. Hidden away in a little courtyard, it took us a minute to find it, but once we arrived, we received a very warm welcome.

We liked the ambiance, and my friend and I noticed the music as soon as we walked in—it was pleasant, relaxing, and at the perfect volume, meaning we didn’t have to shout over each other and leave with sore throats. It was evident that the décor was carefully curated with browns, beiges, and greens—a perfect balance of Scandinavian style mixed with coziness and warmth, with a strong emphasis on art.

There were plenty of attentive, professional, and friendly staff looking after their guests. They were passionate about the venue’s “cocktails as art” concept and more than happy to talk us through the art, the cocktails, and the bar and restaurant in general. It was clear they were very proud of their work.

I’m never quite sure about hotel bars and restaurants, but this venue was the perfect compliment to our evening. What also struck me was the mix of clientele: small groups of friends, hotel guests, and larger groups that I assumed were work colleagues, all enjoying themselves over food and drinks, chattering away. With the attention to using textures the sound of others enjoying their evening did not drown out our own conversation.

During our long-overdue reunion, we made ourselves comfortable, cocktails in front of us, ready to solve the world’s problems. We were there to try the ‘Art Yard Elixir,’ an exclusive cocktail with a unique Augmented Reality experience. If you’re confused, don’t worry—we were too.

The cocktail arrived with a special coaster that was part of the AR experience. On one side, it featured artwork inspired by the full-size piece in the hotel lobby, created by husband-and-wife artists Amy Shackleton and Julian Brown, resident artists at the Bankside Hotel. On the other side was a QR code with instructions on how to immerse ourselves in the art. Once we scanned the code and pointed the phone’s camera at the picture on the coaster, we were transported into an Augmented Reality scene with flowing rivers and moving trees—something I hadn’t seen before. It was a unique and fun experience.

The cocktail was created by Art Yard’s Apostolos Vasdekis, who brought the real-life art into a glass, and it tasted as delicious as it looked. The Elixir was made with London Kew Gin and some imaginative ingredients, including homemade spinach syrup, honey from the bees that live on the hotel’s rooftop, spirulina, pineapple, and a dreamy layer of egg white foam.

We also tried the ‘Aged Negroni,’ which certainly didn’t disappoint, and ‘Our Bee’s Knees,’ which came in a martini glass garnished with a big chunk of the hotel’s own honeycomb—a delight to the eye and the palate.

Great atmosphere, delicious cocktails, and a welcoming environment—a local gem that’s hard to fault. With the Art Yard Bar & Kitchen, there might be more to Blackfriars than meets the eye.

• Location: The Art Yard Bar & Kitchen, 2 Blackfriars Rd, London SE1 9JU. Nearest tube: Blackfriars, Waterloo, Southwark.