A Seat At The Bar: The House Of Suntory Terrace

In our column, A Seat At The Bar we showcase the world’s best bars – from plush cocktail spots to dive bars, and everything in between. This month, we’re spotlighting The House of Suntory Terrace.

Ham Yard Hotel – tucked away behind Piccadilly Circus in the centre of Soho’s swirling action – is in an easy spot to find. Their roof terrace, however, is usually out of bounds (unless you’re a hotel guest) so we welcomed the chance to visit it at their new pop-up venue, The House of Suntory Terrace, hosted by the premium Japanese spirit company, open now until 6th April.

While it might still be chilly in the city, the terrace’s chic set-up feels cosy. It features plenty of heaters and woollen blankets, allowing us to snuggle down with one of their deliciously original cocktails – which come in both hot and cold combinations – and a plate of gyoza to go with it.

The Lowdown

The House of Suntory Terrace takes the idea of a ‘summer-only’ rooftop bar, and flips it on its head. The location might be reliant on it not being too rainy, but on a dry, bright winter night, it feels special to be enjoying a decadent cocktail outdoors, in the middle of a London winter. It’s also a great way to appreciate the twinkling lights of Soho below.

PIN IT

With plans to evolve their offering with the weather as it warms, The House of Suntory Terrace will transition with the seasons, adapting their menu – inspired by the famous Japanese Sakura Blossom – to match.

In addition to being open for drinks, and the accompanying Japanese-inspired small plates, The Terrace will also be hosting a series of masterclass events – with a qualified Master immersing you in a traditional Japanese craft, accompanied by a guided tasting. These include a Japanese Tea Ceremony, Kintsugi (where you will get the chance to reconstruct your own unique piece of art in the ancient Japanese style of repairing broken pottery with lacquer and gold), Ikebana (flower arranging) and Japanese Calligraphy.

What To Order

The Ham Yard mixologists have built the menu around Suntory’s premium Japanese spirit brands – Roku Gin, Haku Vodka and Hibiki Whisky, married with seasonal Japanese ingredients.

We opted for a hot cocktail – the Mar-Tea-Nez with Roku gin which incorporates langsang souchong tea, and lots of cherry flavours courtesy of maraschino and bitters; it was a sweet warming treat – more so thanks to its cherry choux on the side. We also tried the Japanese Heart – made with Hibiki whisky, frangelico, coconut and chocolate bitters. Both are as delicious as each other.

PIN IT

The food menu is a selection of small plates, including our order of vegetable gyozas, which were plump and moreish. If you’re after something more filling, the karaage chicken or fried tofu sliders are good choices.

As the menu evolves with the seasons, you can expect spring-themed cocktails to appear on it too, mixed with flavours including cassis, Sakura elderflower and hibiscus. Our diaries are already marked for a return visit to try them.

Who To Bring

This is a spot for those who appreciate good spirits in thoughtful, original cocktails. We suggest you surprise a date – as a newly-opened pop-up, you can be fairly confident they won’t have tried it yet. Even better if they are a Japanophile or Japanese spirit aficionado.

PIN IT