Dusk Bar at Somerset House

With summer drawing to a close, it feels right not to go out, but to slope back home and feel secure about being inside against the onrushing darkness.

Those open air bars and al fresco restaurants seem that little bit less inviting given that it is getting dark at seven. But while there is a definite chill in the air as October gets ever closer, that doesn’t mean there is any real need to retreat inside and bolt the door shut. Get out while there are still leaves on the trees and just remember to take an extra layer if you’re planning to stay out long.

One of the prime spots to enjoy the remaining hours of the day is the River Terrace in Somerset House. Its Bombay Sapphire Dusk Bar was one of the hits of the summer and remains one of the standout places to go and enjoy a drink.

The person behind the layout of the bar is no less a figure than Tom Dixon, one of the world’s leading designers. His use of materials and lighting captures the bar’s themes of dusk and romance quite imaginatively. The layout is like a labyrinth crossed with an American diner with dark blue corrugated plastic divisions giving a sense of openness while still providing a secluded spot.

But the work of designers is not limited to just the architecture of the bar. Style icon Nicole Fahri has created her own twist on the classic martini to produce the Fahrini. Other contributors to the cocktail menu include mixologists from some of the capital’s most exclusive bars.

Yet given the fact that the pop-up bar is in the grounds of Somerset House, it is remarkably unpretentious and the drinks on offer are very soberly priced. The Tomtini is a wonderful blend of green tea, apple and ginger and comes in at £6.95.

Other cocktails such as the Bombay Sapphire Berry Spice are around the same price and provide excellent value for money although the menu changes from week to week. The bar will be packed up and shipped to another venue after October 18 so try and get a slice of the action before it’s gone.

The Dusk Bar
Somerset House
Strand
Covent Garden
WC2R 1LA