I’ve loved Kansas Smitty’s since its opening in May 2015 and have been following the band since their early days of touring around London. It’s only fitting then that my final review had to cover my favourite London band and one of my favourite hangouts while it launches a new cocktail menu.
Since opening less than a year ago, Hackney’s jazz and julep bar Kansas Smitty’s, in the basement of Broadway Market’s Off Broadway bar, has now become a guaranteed fun spot to listen to great music and sip lovely cocktails.
Kansas Smitty’s is now channeling the house band’s individual musicians’ eclectic tastes and passion for music into a new weekly programme that goes beyond jazz. Last Thursday night for instance, Marcus Bonfanti filled the room with his heart-felt and fun blues, fulfilling the bar’s aim to use Kansas Smitty’s to showcase some of the best talent around, opening up Londoners’ eyes to genres they wouldn’t normally listen to.
The venue’s new cocktail menu was part of the fun, with drinks originating from the band’s musical tastes. Aside from the venue’s signature juleps, the new cocktails (all £9) include:
- First Dance (Courvoisier VSOP infused with raspberry, peach, tonka bean, orgeat and topped with prosecco);
- Corcovado (Cachaça infused with sage and Averna);
- Azalea (Campari, Bols Genever infused with sloe berry, citrus, dry sherry).
From Poker Nights and dedicated vinyl evenings, to one-off live performances and regular band nights, this East London venue will continuously offer its guests a place to hang out and experience much more than just cocktails. Will miss Kansas Smitty’s and will definitely stop by if I return to London!
Pictures courtesy of: Kansas Smitty’s
Video: Carolina Are
