The Alchemist at Bevis Marks in London

It was my sister’s 18th birthday towards the end of May, so we celebrated the day by heading into London to visit The Alchemist in Bevis Marks.

It’s just a short walk from Aldgate Station, although Google Maps did send us in the wrong direction first of all…

So after a little walk, we finally found it!

We booked the table for 12’o’clock and were seated on the top floor of the restaurant. Our table was just behind the bar, but nestled in amongst other people, so it was a handy seat to take a peek at other people’s cocktails and in view of the bar!

The interior here is absolutely gorgeous. The bar area has grand ceilings and shiny wooden floors, with plenty of soft furnishings and sofas to relax on. The glass-stand feature behind the bar holds hundreds of different liquors and spirits, and The Alchemist sign shines brightly on the back wall.

The restaurant section is intimate and cosy, with chunky dark wooden tables and the comfiest sofa-type-chairs that you just sink in to. The wooden cladding, dim lights and old paintings on the wall really add to the mysterious yet cosy feel!

We browsed the cocktail menu and went for the big one first: The Mad Hatters.

 

The Mad Hatters

Ketel One Vodka, citrus, elderflower, Cointreau, summer fruits, science

This is by far the most amazing cocktail I’ve seen. EVER!

Our lovely waitress Sophie came over to the table with a large glass bowl full of vodka, elderflower and cointreau one end, and  mint and strawberries the other. It was popped onto a bunsen burner and after 5 minutes, the alcohol heated up and was infused by the fresh fruit and mint on top! Pretty magical to watch.

The waitress wisked it away and came back with two teacups and saucers, and poured the cocktail solution into conical flasks with edible dry ice and within seconds, the table was covered with a thick covering of smoke.

It was pretty magical and looked incredible; well worth the £20 we paid! So if you’r looking for a cocktail that’s elaborate, centre of the attention and big – this is it!

 

Bubblebath

Tanqueray gin, Aperol, Chambord, lemon, apple, fairy liquid
 

Bubblebath was my second cocktail and it was a magical little bubbly one! The cocktail was deliciously sweet and I loved the bubbles on top which popped, burst and smoked! It was a little sticky to drink from but that’s expected from a sweet little cocktail. It was super lovely though!

 

Colour Changing One

Reyka vodka, briottet apple, lemonade, citrus, magic
 

Mum ordered the Colour Changing One, which came in two parts. The drink turned purple once the second part of the cocktail mixed with the other, and the smoke that poured out was fun to watch too!

 

Aviator | 3.5oz Of Happiness

Tanqueray gin, blue and violette, citrus, sweet and clue | Portobello gin, Chambord raspberry, Vermouth, citrus, happiness

 

Megan ordered the Aviator; a punchy strong cocktail with a super sickly after taste of Parma Violets. I didn’t like it because I stand stand Parma Violets, but it would be a great cocktail for anyone who loves those sweets.

Dad ordered 3.5oz of Happiness; a fruity cocktail with a gin after taste. Both cocktails came in a reusable flask that you can take home with you! If you have either of the cocktails and fancy them again, they knock £2 off the bill if you order it again!

 

With a belly full of cocktails, we perused the menu and ordered our starters and main courses.

 

Crispy Avocado

In panko breadcrumbs with chipotle mayo

I ordered the crispy avocado for starters and I’ve never had anything quite like this before.

Deep fried avocado was surprisingly nice – the avocado was soft on the inside and crunchy on the outside thanks to the crispy panco breadcrumbs. The chipotle mayo on top was lovely too and gave it a great spicy kick! Would I try it again? Probably not, but it was something different to try.

 

Crab Bon Bons

With lobster mayo

The crab bon bons looked really crisp and fresh. With a crispy outer coating and a gooey crab centre, it melted in the mouth. The lobster mayo gave it a lovely after taste, making it the perfect indulgent dish.

 

Satay Prawns

 

Despite the unappealing photo, (I had to lighten and brighten these like crazy!) this prawn and fresh mango & pineapple salad went down an absolute treat by Mum and Dad! The prawns looked fresh and juicy, and the fruity salad gave it a fresh after taste.

 

Katsu Chicken Curry

In panko breadcrumbs served with coriander rice

I absolutely love katsu curry, it’s my go-to at Wagamama and I’ve even made homemade katsu curry before – so it’s definitely one of my favourite dishes! Mum, Megan and I all chose to have it for lunch and it was delicious.

The chicken was super soft and tender inside, and the panko breadcrumbs gave it a great little crispy crunch. The coriander rice was fragrant and the sauce had a nice little spicy kick.

I loved the addition of the crunchy kale and spring onions sprinkled on top, which gave it a nice salty/cruchy edge!

 

Jerk Chicken

With dumplings, rice & peas

Dad ordered the jerk chicken, with a side of dumplings and rice & peas, and a super sticky, sweet and spicy dipping sauce. The chicken was tender and melted off the bone, and the rice was delicately fluffy. The mini dumplings tasted great submerged into the jerk sauce and the cabbage slaw was great for cooling off the mouth!

 

We all had a fantastic meal and magical cocktails for Megan’s birthday – I’m so excited to visit again!