Hidden beneath a sleek Georgian restaurant Kinkally on Charlotte Street, Bar Kinky is a cocktail hideaway offering just 17 seats and an intimate, avant-garde atmosphere. Opened in December 2023, this small but bold bar invites guests to explore a world of creativity and open-mindedness through its drinks and design. The space captivates with its shiny stainless steel walls, sleek terrazzo bar tops, and a lighting design by Expolight that bathes the bar in dimmed orange and subtle purple hues, reflecting off the metal surfaces to create a futuristic, spaceship-like feel.

Upon entering Bar Kinky, guests are enveloped in a warm, buzzing atmosphere that immediately feels lively. Seating is thoughtfully arranged to cater to different preferences, whether at the chef’s table-style bar where patrons can watch the bartenders make their cocktails or in plush velvet booths for a more intimate experience. The attention to detail in the design, from the hand-cut or fruit-infused ice to the personal lighting around the bar, ensures a visually and sensorially engaging experience.

Carefully curated music enhances the atmosphere – deep lounge beats and tribal rhythms – that resonate through the space, adding a layer of playful energy to the overall experience. With a mix of flirtatious charm and meticulous craftsmanship, Bar Kinky is a hidden gem that encourages guests to engage with the cocktail-making process or relax in a secluded booth for an evening of experimentation and indulgence.

When creating the space, the team paid special attention to the spotlights which illuminate the bar counter ensuring that all eyes are on the cocktails that are being made and placed – and giving a sense of theatricality to the evening and the suspended metal ceiling creates soft edges to the basement bar, whilst also masking the practicalities of air purifiers and extractors. 

The drinks menu at Bar Kinky stands out for its foundation in classic cocktail formulas, but with a distinct twist, highlighting unusual ingredients like porcini mushrooms or fat-washed goats cheese, each telling a story about the venue’s creation. Cocktails are served with minimal but intentional garnishes, always edible and designed to complement the drink rather than distract. The bartenders excel at offering a personalised approach, tailoring drinks based on individual preferences while guiding guests through the innovative menu. As such, the drinks service set up is meticulously designed and prepared, with pre-batching techniques employed to streamline service. While the bar is closed during the early part of the week, the space is transformed into a lab in which the team can experiment and prepare. 

The senior management team at Bar Kinky strive to create a diverse workforce, two of the three co-founders are female and have had first hand experience of gender inequality issues so this is an issue close to their hearts. Training is extensive and personality-focussed, with every team member asked to take a colour test before they start and consideration made for disabilities and different styles of learning. At the end of shifts, as well as a formal debrief, everyone is invited to relax and connect with each other, either with a drink at the bar or a shared meal.