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Zebrano at the Establishment is a great little cocktail bar and a good place to settle in for the night. With a typical Soho vibe that’s not so hardcore that it will put off those new to the Soho scene, it’s a great addition to the area…their drinks offering is top class at low prices, considering the area - there aren't many places in London where you can get a shot of absinthe for just £4!There’s an excellent range of premium spirits including Grey Goose, Absolut and Belvedere vodkas.
I went here for the opening on the 7th march..for my 21st birthday, had a wicked night..cheap drinks..music was funky house mainly..they could do with a bit more r'n'b but the staff were really friendly promo girl had a fab dress and looked great, the bouncers were all fantastic and made my night totally memorable, great free reservations for seating, plenty of seats and room to trot about across the 3 floors, toilet lady was funny as hell, wicked place to get smashed!
I popped into Zebrano last night for a late business meeting and was delighted. Not too loud so got through the meeting quickly. Lots of eye candy for girls(very cute guys)and boys and I paid £6.50 for two glasses of Rioja on their drinks promotion! I'll definitely be back to try their food, the menu looked fantastic and I'm picky. The two ladies sat next to us were tucking into a sharing plate - it looked fresh, well presented and NOT fried. Yay! The mix of people reflected what is hot and brilliant about Soho - business, fashion and media people flirting and enjoying the vibe.
This place has only been open 7 days and I have been back 4 times, once for food the rest for drinking. its excellent, great service, music and drinks in a really cool looking bar. See you there.
Bursting from the flames of its former life as the ever popular Boardwalk, Zebrano at the Establishment (the sister of Zebrano) offers cheap nights out to eat, drink and be merry without skimping on quality.
The Venue
Located in the trendily downtrodden Greek Street in Soho, Zebrano at the Establishment can be found next to the local Wetherspoons – but don’t let that put you off! An attractive frontage clearly sets it apart as you enter a decadent world of dark reds, trendy paintings and interesting touches. This isn’t a high-end glamorous bar, but therein lies its charm – the brick walls that are left lie in stark contrast to the sun burst gold mirrors, huge disco balls across the ceiling and modern art. Be sure to keep an eye out for the Zebrano motifs painted across the walls.
Anyone who remembers The Boardwalk will be pleasantly surprised by the changes that have been made. Gone are the days when a couple of hundred people would be crushed into the tiny space of the bar. Instead, it’s been opened right out. The bar area is the same as ever; the first thing to greet you through the door, there’s space for four barmen to comfortably serve and enough room for the hoards of thirsty drinkers to get in their happy hour drinks. Around the outer edge are high tables and seating – they’re sparse so get there early if you want to sit down. However, what’s really changed is the dining area, now opened out into a lounge space. The posh, space-consuming dining tables have been taken out and replaced with leather sofas and low tables, which can be reserved for the busy weekends. Towards the back are a scattering of dining tables, but these are compact and won’t encroach on the valuable drinking space.
Upstairs, there’s the VIP area, which can be hired out to parties for a minimum spend. This is decked out in the vibrant red of the rest of the venue, with its own small bar. A large screen TV for music videos and entertainment adourns a wall and you have a great view of the brilliantly huge disco ball, glittering in the light. Fantastically weird is a mannequin on a platform away from the main area, naked and distorted with black paint – so Soho! Downstairs is a small, basement club, which consists of pretty much just a dancefloor with a sofa in the back for weary dancers. It’s a cool area for those wanting a low key club, and when the music is pumping and the dancefloor filled, it gives you the feeling of clubbing in a cave – in a good way.
The Atmosphere
This place is typically Soho. A decadent, attractive bar that isn’t trying too hard – and that’s reflected in the clientele. Expect a typically Soho eclectic crowd. Don’t be surprised to see drag queens largin’ it next to Goths, gay guys dancing next to straight guys, attractive office workers drinking side by side with grungy Soho types. It’s supposed to be a place where you can drink, dance and dine, but the emphasis is definitely on the excellent bar and cool, laid back vibe. Open until 3am, you can enjoy the full range of the atmosphere here, from the early post-work drinks vibe to the late night clubbing feel - great if it’s raining outside and you don’t fancy traipsing from place to place. Quieter early on in the week, by Thursday, expect it to be pumping. They also do a monthly comedy night and live music showcasing live bands.
The Drink
This is where Zebrano at the Establishment excels, their drinks offering is top class at low prices, considering the area - there aren’t many places in London where you can get a shot of absinthe for just £4!There’s an excellent range of premium spirits including Grey Goose, Absolut and Belvedere vodkas. Wait, it gets better. Check out the happy hour (5pm-8pm Monday to Friday, 5pm-7pm Saturday) where ALL drinks, except Champagne and Champagne cocktails, are half price.
There’s a decent range of bottled beers, including Asahi, Peroni, and Leffe Blonde – nothing on draught, but there’s a Wetherspoons next door and this is a cocktail bar after all.
Best of all, is their cocktail list. Not the longest list in the world, granted, it’s still eclectic and has enough to offer everyone from the hardiest drinker to the virgin cocktail drinker a nice range of everything from the very hard alcoholic drinks to the creamy, softer concoctions. With a barman who boasts he can make a decent mojito in around 40 seconds (and proves it), you’ll be surprised at just how good such a speedy drink can taste! There’s even a bit of flair throw in for good measure, including a neat little trick with the Jaegermeister Bomb – a shot of Jagermeister in a long shot glass, placed inside a glass of Red Bull. Order a bunch of them and watch as the barman dominos them into the glasses – it’s gotta be seen to be believed. They’re even happy to do the unusual Flaming Lamborghini – delicious and great for showing off! If you prefer your cocktails creamy, they do a mean White Russian that’s sweet enough for the ladies. And with long cocktails priced at just £6.95 and shorts at the £4 mark, you can drink to your heart’s content even when it isn’t happy hour!
The Music
Starting early on in the night, there’s a definite lounge feel to the tunes. Expect chart hits that will get you bopping in the bar area. And hallelujah! The music, although loud enough to emit an upbeat atmosphere, isn’t so loud that you have to scream at the top of your lungs just to be heard. You can still comfortably hold a conversation, which is great if you’re catching up with mates.
Downstairs, however, is another story. The main club area is loud and brash – just what you want when you’ve drunk your fill and want to let loose on the dancefloor. Expect the usual mix of funky house and commercial dance hits – perhaps not anything to rave about, but great for letting loose in a laid back style.
The Last Word
Zebrano at the Establishment is a great little cocktail bar and a good place to settle in for the night. With a typical Soho vibe that’s not so hardcore that it will put off those new to the Soho scene, it’s a great addition to the area.
The London Restaurant Review
Zebrano at The Establishment has opened its doors on the 6th of March 2008 with a coveted launch party. The guys behind this new bar, restaurant and Club have already built up a successful Zebrano bar on the other side of Soho and now they are to unleash themselves at one of Soho's most famous buildings.
18 Greek street, where the legendary “The Establishment” was founded by Peter Cook and his partner in the early sixties holds many rare and warming secrets. Back in the days of the Peter Cook, Dudley Moore partnership no one was safe from comedic humiliation – the politicians in particular. Imagine a scene where a man named David Frost practices his satirical delivery in the balcony, the ground floor is a hive of activity and from the basement come the repetitive drills of the typewriter. Here the first ever issues of Private Eye were conjured up in the waiters changing room and the writers thrown out at the turn of half past five with their portables. Cook of course bought the publication for £500 – a small price considering the success we see now. The Club had many regulars such as John Bird and John Fortune, guests like Barry Humphries and controversially, the American Lenny Bruce. The venue was named The Establishment because “everyone wanted to be a member” of this private members club.
As with Zebrano in Ganton Street, Zebrano at The Establishment will now be a venue to excite everyone. And even though the venue has a past to be immensely proud of, Zebrano at the Establishment will step into the present and is sure to become a new favourite hangout for the après work drinkers, the dinner crowd and not forgetting later night party people.
Licensed to 3am, Zebrano at The Establishment believes that a location should cater for all needs and with a laid back but professional team, Zebrano at the Establishment will become a home from home for the savvy Soho patrons. DJs will spin across the week playing familiar, classic and latest tunes facilitating that classic mix of dancing and drinking.
The exceptional drinks menu has been put together by operations director and TV mixologist Chris Sheldon who has taken inspiration from classic cocktails served in Peter Cooks era fused with modern flavours which have been in high demand over the last 3 years at Zebrano on Ganton Street.
The food will be unfussy, uncomplicated but hugely tasty. Head Chef I. Chikuendu (Chico) has created a Mediterranean and Asian menu that can be dressed down or up depending on the occasion. Chris Sheldon says ‘the customer is king at Zebrano and we have built up a reputation and a top business by putting them first and delivering a great product without emptying the pockets of our customers. Zebrano at the Establishment will be no different with our policy being: not charging minimum spends, for booking tables or drinking areas - keeping drinks and food prices at a reasonable level without sacrificing quality.Whatever your social requirements, it is distinctly possible you will find the answer at 18 Greek Street and the new era for this old Soho building.