If festive films have taught me anything, it’s that Christmas is a time for miracles. A time when singing can power Santa’s sleigh, eight year-olds can outwit burglars, and unsupervised kids can mount a festive takeover of an airport (honestly a cracking film, and a lot less terrifying than it sounds). And now London’s very own Christmas miracle has winged (wung?) its way back to town. The charmingly festive cocktail bar Miracle at Henrietta has returned for its sixth year of Christmassy cocktail-fuelled revelry and festivity.
Naturally, we had to go and check it out for ourselves (and have a few cheeky drinks in the middle of the work day):
Miracle is a big hit over in the US, and London is once again its only stop in the UK. And quite frankly, the rest of the UK is missing out big time. Given its American origins, you’d be right to assume that Miracle is bigger and less restrained than the usual English Christmas gathering. Every year, they open up with even more gloriously kitschy décor on display.
Aimed at transporting you back to Christmases past, an army of throwback Christmas ornaments, colourful lights, and an oversized fireplace transform the Henrietta Hotel (hence the name) into a ravishingly retro space. It’s outrageously over the top, but we’ll never stop loving it!
The drinks are a Miracle too
Eye-popping décor is hardly the only string to Miracle at Henrietta’s bow. Their wonderfully wacky Christmas concoctions are just as outlandish, with whimsical names like Elfing Around (gin, mulled wine reduction, grapefruit shrub, aromatic bitters, and orange bitters). Recent years have also seen drinks like the Bad Santa (a hot toddy of cider, sherry, cinnamon, and popcorn & bacon butter) and the Christmas Carol Barrel (tequila, coffee liqueur, dry curacao, spiced chocolate, aromatic bitters, and orange bitters).
A new addition to the menu last year was the Christmapolitan, made up of vodka, elderflower, dry vermouth, spiced cranberry sauce, lime, rosemary and an absinthe mist. Fortunately, it proved popular enough for them to keep it around for another year. Absinthe mist – now that’s sure to cause some dangerous misty days in London…
All the drinks are served in gloriously tacky Christmas vessels so you’ll be full of festive cheer by the time you tumble back to reality. We’re particularly fond of the SanTaRex, which is served in a dinosaur-shaped vessel. Just look at that tiny Santa hat!
And don’t worry, we know that drinking on an empty stomach is never a good idea. Fortunately, you can grab snacks from the Italian Supper Club at Henrietta to accompany your drinks.
So what are you waiting for? Bookings are going like hotcakes – so act fast to secure your seats and get ready and sleigh those cocktails!
Miracle at Henrietta os open from November 13 until December 23. Book your visit here.
Miracle at Henrietta
Also published on Medium.