You won’t struggle to find a cocktail bar in London. Obviously. The hard part is finding one that does the job without requiring you to take out a small loan.
Enter Nest. Situated in Bishopsgate among a strip of other restaurants and bars, Nest holds a prime spot and is only a few metres away from Liverpool Street station, meaning transport won’t be an issue. Plus there’s no need for an Uber. Nice.
This is one of those bars that will show you an equally good time at half past six or closing on midnight. Start your evening tucking into some top-quality food and cocktails; then, as the evening progresses, the atmosphere picks up as local workers come and get their drink on.
What to drink?
There is a drink to suit all taste buds at Nest, with 16 different cocktails on the menu. Its wide range of specials is very impressive. If you’re looking for a drink perfect for the festive season then the Winter Aperol is exactly what you need. It’s a classic with a difference, containing winter spice syrup that will warm you from within. Like hot orange juice – only alcoholic!
Flying High is another standout, a unique mix of peach, creme de Violette, lemon juice, maraschino liqueur, shimmer syrup and prosecco which hits the spot perfectly. Gentle warning though: you won’t notice the strong kick while drinking it, but you’ll soon realise that – for some mysterious reason – you can’t quite seem to walk in a straight line afterwards.
A word on the presentation, which is superb and should be appreciated even as you demolish the drinks. Flying High came with a hand-folded paper bird wedged onto the glass. Simple yet sweet, and while not edible it can be taken home as a momentum of your night. I must admit I still have mine and it has taken pride of place on my desk.
If you’re partial to a good old classic cocktail, Nest has you covered. From the menu you can opt for a Pornstar Martini, Bloody Mary, Daiquiri, or Espresso Martini for a traditional twist. Classic doesn’t mean boring: the Espresso Martini tasted divine and yet again the presentation was flawless.
What to eat?
A great feature of the menu are Nest’s sharing platters. Choose between a fish, vegetarian and meat platter to share between two people. If you don’t fancy sharing, then there are plenty of other options. Nest’s menu has a selection of salads, burgers, and other main dishes so there is something there for everyone.
The Ramen chicken burger is a shining star on the diverse menu. This is more than your standard chicken burger. The thin, outer breadcrumb layer added extra texture and gave the burger a delicious crunch, with the sriracha ketchup adding a little bit of spice. You also get a generous portion of skin on fries which are the perfect thickness and crispiness.
Will it bankrupt me?
Nest will by no means leave you strapped for cash. Their cocktails are either £9.50 or £10.50, and all are a very good size.
The food is on the slightly pricier side, with the cheapest option on the menu being their £14 salads. You get what you pay for though, with nice big portions that won’t leave you hungry. The sharing platters are priced at either £30 or £26.
If you opt for a meal with dessert and multiple drinks then you will be looking at a slightly pricey night out, but it is fantastic value for money, and the beautiful setting and atmosphere is definitely worth those extra pennies.
Anything else to note?
Nest offers bottomless brunch every Saturday from 1pm, which features DJs, sax players and fire breathers. You’re only young once!
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155 Bishopsgate, EC2M 3YD; Nest
