A lot happens over a drink. When we stepped into a revamped i-Bar at The Park, we were a living testimony to that. After seven years of serving teeny boppers, the pub decided to grow with its clientele and make it more sophisticated and inspiring. The result is a silky and leathery ambience in rosy pinks and deep reds. Which is a lot better than its previous avatar of bean bags sprawled on the floor on one side and straight backed chairs on the other. The ambience was too mysterious and the music too loud. This time around, i-Bar has stepped into the world of subtle pub hopping that comes close to fine dining – you can sit and drink over appetisers and some stimulating conversation with lounge music wafting into your consciousness oh so subtly.
The good stuff
The warmth and privacy. It lets you talk your heart out without the music and décor intruding into your space. Designed by Project Orange of UK, the pub is a box within a box where the inner sanctum can be accessed through the sliding timber screens. Those who are more comfortable to be by the barman and deejay can order their drinks by squatting on those high bar stools even while dictating the choice of music to be played while others can make their way to the inner reaches of the pub and just be by themselves. The graphic sense of pattern and colour on the sofas, walls and even glass partitions adds a sense of mysterious and understated glamour to the place.
The richness of the bar counter is enhanced with all the top-end liquor displayed along the walls behind the bartender – single malts, champagnes, scotch whiskeys, gin, rum and what have you. We ordered the gin-based cocktail, Wasp Sting. It gave us a sublime kick. It’s best if you want to enjoy liquor without getting sloshed. Another cocktail that was just as good was Lips Don’t Lie. It was tequila, chocolate, chilli, lemon and sugar delivering the kick this time. Among appetisers, we loved the unique take on Singapore’s chilli crabs served in miniature buns. We rounded it off with the absolutely sinful three warm chocolate shots – one with cognac, another with absolute vodka (pepper) and yet another with cointreau (orange).
The not-so-good
The service wasn’t something to rave about. We asked for some good vegetarian appetisers that took a long time in coming. The price of liquor was on the higher side. Some single malts were costing as much as Rs 6000/30ml. But otherwise, nothing to really complain about.
Talk plastic
Cocktails cost between Rs400 and Rs500; a Kingfisher pint is Rs 150. The bar snacks are between Rs225 and Rs550. The cover charge is Rs1000 on weekends that is completely redeemable against food and drink. Everything is inclusive of taxes.
i-Bar, 14/7, MG Road, Bangalore. Ph: 2559-4666
(This piece appeared in Mint, the business newspaper of The Wallstreet Journal)
