Twilight Dining at Victory Mansion
Known locally as a great place for a late night drink with a selection of delicious cocktails, Victory Mansion in Stoke Newington has been something of an ‘it spot’ since its opening.
The venue itself is perfectly decorated, somewhat of a mish mash between a step back in time and modern marvel, the venue combines classic décor combined alongside modern furniture. Quirky and unusual, it’s not hard to see why people are travelling from all over London to visit Victory Mansion.
A bar that pays homage to the most significant literature, food, and drink, that has inspired London over the past century. The vibe is relaxed and somewhat ‘speakeasy-esque’, think long cocktails, small plates and dimmed lights. A hop and a skip from Stokey High Street, Victory Mansion has earned its popularity thanks to being both a charming space and a perfect after hours spot.
Designed and built by the Bartenders taking Inspiration from their time spent in North America. Head Chef Sam Wilkinson brings his unique take on eclectic, casual dining to the venue inspired by his experience from his time spent at NOPI, Ottolenghi and Bentley’s creating a seasonal menu of sharing plates.
The food is certainly something to shout about, somewhat avant garde and a beautiful balanced offering, with innovative, delicious dishes. Small plates are the order of the day so arrive ready to share, and get creative! We tried the amazing pardon peppers with lemon myrtle salt, chargrilled sourdough with Italian beef tomatoes and harrisa, delicious asparagus soldiers with confit duck egg yolk and parmesan, tempura whiting with chilli shrimp aioli and, finally, Korean spiced beef brisket with spinach and radish salad. Everything was totally unique and of first class quality.
And if you’ve room for dessert, they are equally nostalgic, with a twist on tradition. We took the options of poached peach, homemade custard and liquorice walnuts, cookie dough madelines and a delectable cheese plate. The peaches were divine, as were the madelines, perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth.
The brunch menu at Victory Mansion is also known for drawing in the crowds at the weekend. Expect a variety of dishes including smashed avocados, poached eggs, and burnt miso prawn toast with sesame & chilli. Plus, if you fancy indulging in a tipple or two, you can make it bottomless. For £15.00 more you can enjoy and endless flow of cocktails with your brekkie (although there is a limit of two hours to this offer!).
If you’re not after food, then let us tell you a bit about the cocktail list… Stuart Binks and Benji Purslow put their names and life purpose into finding the prefect mix of cocktails, and a perfect list of cocktails it is.
Choose from Beatniks, Gonzo and Dystopian. The full menu and choice can be found here. Sip on some literary-influenced cocktails, go dystopian with the Hurricane Dave (VX, Wray & Nephew, bergamot, pineapple, passionfruit, grapefruit sherbet) or beatnik with the Divorced In Mexico (Olmeca Altos tequila, campari, dry vermouth, allspice, eau de vie).
Alongside amazing food and drink, the service couldn’t have be better. The passion of the owners who have set this up is undeniable. The experience was personal, memorable and unstuffy all the way through. Coming from south east London, it was a long journey for us but totally worth it, and we will definitely be returning for more of the same.
Victory Mansion is a real hidden gem that just can’t be beat. It feels cosmopolitan, European and has a touch of the New Yorker about it too. It’s open late most nights, so there’s no need to end up in some chain bar or dirty dive hole when you fancy just one more drink. Head to Victory Mansion, you’ll have a unique experience and first class food. Just get in there and discover it before everyone else does!
