Amsterdam bar Zum Barbarossa to open in Soho
Zum Barbarossa will make its London debut this week on Soho’s Dean Street, following the success of the speakeasy bar in Amsterdam.
The all-in-one cocktail bar and club will be located within a the basement of a 1730 Grade II listed Georgian townhouse and will feature a Paris-style bar complete with historical arches.
It will serve a range of food cocktails that will include the Spicy Rose Paloma; Hot Honey Highball; Banana & Pineapple Daiquiri; Tommy’s Spicy Mezcalita; and Zespresso Martini.
There will also be a selection of small dishes to accompany the drinks, such as caviar served with blinis, creme fraiche, shallots, and chives; dressed oysters with passionfruit lime oil dressing or prosecco, strawberry pearls and shallot vinaigrette; crab cakes; and truffle and parmesan chips.
Interior design studio Marie Martin has overseen the design of the Amsterdam venue and the new London site, which is inspired by the Art Nouveau movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The venue will also host late-night entertainment including live DJs and have a state-of-the-art sound system provided by L-Acoustics.
“Zum Barbarossa is taking its first steps outside of Amsterdam to London’s Soho and we couldn’t be more excited,” says co-founder Pep de Visscher.
“Our London speakeasy will have a similar feel to the original bar but will encompass the spirit of the city’s buzzing nightlife.”
Zum Barbarossa’s history dates back to 1900 in Amsterdam, where ‘Zum’ refers to the mosaic on the entrance to the Barbarossa cellar, depicting a fruit tree with two clovers, as seen on playing cards.
The cellar gained notoriety for hosting illegal gambling games before a police crackdown in the city brought an end to the activities. Today it is one of Amsterdam’s top nightlife spots.
The Seafood Bar was founded by Netherlands-based fishmonger Fons de Visscher and his son and daughter Pep and Fleur in 2012 in Amsterdam’s Oud Zuid neighbourhood. It opened in London in 2021.
Zum Barbarossa opens on 24 October.
