Having lived in the city in the past year, I am no stranger to a fabulous drink from the many bars that Cardiff has to offer. However, Cardiff Cocktail week has truly opened my eyes…
Cardiff Cocktail week ran from the 22nd August – 30th August, celebrating local companies and hundreds of signature cocktails. During the week, cocktails were priced at £5 across 28 venues.
The spectacular event was sponsored by Franklin and Sons Ltd.
We were kindly invited to begin our evening at Gaucho where we were served with style. Our server swiftly explained the cuts of meat on offer, all 100% Argentinian steaks. Their beef comes from Aberdeen Angus cattle that graze on Pampas across Argentina. I couldn’t wait to try these cuts!
Our server then promptly brought over their signature cocktail: Missionary’s Downfall No.2. A blend of peach, mint, pineapple and lemon juice on a Mount Gay Black Barrel Rum base exploded in the cool long glass, a perfect, refreshing start to the evening.
Alongside Gaucho’s signature cocktail, the server recommended a small bite before our main course; the Cheese and Truffle Croquettes served with confit tomato and piquillo pepper dip. A true melt in the mouth experience and my partner and I were left desperate for more.
In no time at all, we were served our mains – I chose Churrasco De Chorizo, a marinated 300g spiral cut sirloin. My partner chose a classic 300g sirloin cut. Both of these steaks were cooked to perfection, tender and oozing with juices. Accompanied with chimichurri sauce and chips, we tentatively agreed that this might be the best main course we’ve ever had…
After savouring every mouthful, we eagerly ordered our next cocktail, which proved to be a hard choice. Gaucho has such a variety of flavourful cocktails and whilst I was very tempted by their Yellow Mellow Gimlet, I was ultimately won over by their Cherry and Blackberry Cooler.
Described as ‘pure summer in a glass’, this drink was flawless. An amalgamation of thyme, blackberry, cherry, lemon complimented the base of Bombay Saphire Gin.
My partner chose the perhaps more elegant option, the Patagonian Zombie, a non-alcoholic cocktail. This combined lime, pineapple, guava, papaya with Everleaf Forest and Marine for the non-alcoholic alternative. A totally tropical experience with sour and sweet notes.
To finish our dinner at Gaucho bang, my partner ordered the chocolate brownie – simple, but always a crowd pleaser and this was no exception. I opted for the dulce de leche cheesecake, a truly magically way to end our sumptuous dinner.
We left our hunger at Gaucho and began questioning how anything could match our time there until we stepped into The Ivy Asia. I have always loved visiting the Ivy restaurants, however the experience that the staff deliver at The Ivy Asia is unparalleled. The atmosphere transports you to the other side of the world; you almost forget that you’re still in Cardiff.
Seated at the bar, my partner and I soon got talking to Kuba, a bartender working that night. Watching him make cocktails felt like a piece of performance art; he danced around the bar, casting spells into his shaker. And what he created was truly magical, something I can only describe other as worldly.
Named Lavender Fields, Kuba transformed a classic martini with a smoked lavender syrup, Ume fruit liqueur and maraschino cherries. I can hand on heart say I have never tasted anything like it!
Utterly blown away by our delightful experience at The Ivy Asia, we wondered over to Tonight Josephine.
As we headed up the stairs, we could hear the familiar Beyonce and ABBA anthems, and we were met by the intense pink interior. ‘Gimme Gimme’ and pink booths: the ultimate destination for a hen-do, or a girls’ night on the town. The hostess was an absolute star with a wicked sense of humour, organising a hilarious round of bingo.
We were promptly served Tonight Josephine’s signature cocktail, the Starburst Boogie. A bold, bright and pink drink to match the vibes – I think it would put Barbie to shame. For cocktail week, wristband holders can enjoy a 2-4-1 deal for cocktails too.
My partner and I enjoyed our drinks and hit the dance floor to throw some shapes, mandatory at Tonight Josephine’s!
After we ran out of energy singing along to Beyonce, we headed to our final spot, NQ64. We refuelled at the bar with NQ64’s signature cocktail, the Party Iced Tea. The strawberry flavours from the strawberry schnapps and strawberry shrub dominated whilst the softer vanilla tones from the Absolut Vanilla Vodka created a pillowy undertone.
This cocktail was the perfect companion whilst perusing the 24 arcade games that NQ64 has to offer. My partner noted the ingenious menu, classic cocktails renamed with a retro arcade twist.
We found some old favourites and discovered two pinball machines and five retro consoles too.
NQ64 was bustling with groups and couples, proving to be a fun and entertaining bar with plenty to offer. The staff were energetic and eager to explain the token system at the bar to activate the games.
Having tried a myriad of bars, this experience was unmatched. I cannot recommend Cardiff Cocktail week more!
Reviewed by Helen Turnbull
