Why Ten to One is one of London’s most unique cocktail bars

Home from home

The clientele at Ten to One tend to be varied, and this is part of what makes it so unique. Everybody is welcome and the staff go to great lengths to ensure this is true, happily chatting with customers and answering questions about the menus. It’s quite easy to feel at home here: during the daytime the large windows let in plenty of light, inviting guests to linger over a lunch or coffee, and come the evening, the soft lighting (which reflects beautifully off the many bottles lining the walls) makes the space feel super cosy.

Cocktails

It’s easy to wile a way an afternoon or evening here, and with a great selection of cocktails and nibbles to enjoy — we can see why you might. The cocktail menu is split into four parts: Classics, Contemporary, Signatures, and Mocktails. There are over 40 tipples to choose from, each as lip-smacking as the next. If you like your cocktails fruity, we highly recommend the Pina Colada, made with Bacardi, pineapple juice, coconut cream, and fresh lime juice. It’s creamy and sweet, and has the ability to transport you to warmer climates! If you like the taste of Pina Coladas, but want to mix it up slightly, opt for the Coconut Sour, which is prepared with coconut rum, vodka, fresh lemon and lime juice, chocolate bitters, and coconut cream. Yum! Perhaps you’d like to try something completely new, and if so, there’s no better place to do it: Ten to One offers a number of more unusual concoctions. We love Old Terry’s, the festive-inspired cocktail — a fiery blend of bourbon, Cointreau, crème de cacao, and chocolate and orange bitters. Equally exciting is the Sazerac, made with Bulleit Rye, Peychaud’s Bitters and sugar, then served in an absinthe-laced glass – not one for the faint-hearted!

It’s refreshing to see that at Ten to One, non-alcoholic cocktails aren’t just an after-thought. There are eight different mocktails available, all of which are well-balanced and not overly sweet (which tends to be the way with non-alcoholic cocktails). The Virgin Mojito is fresh and vibrant, and for those wanting a little extra something, the virgin raspberry mojito (prepared with fresh raspberry purée) hits the spot every time. Ruby’s Punch is easily quaffable (filled with coconut cream, lemon and lime juice, and tonic water), but for something a little more grown up, the Pure Passion fits the bill perfectly. Prepared with passion fruit purée and topped artfully with whipped egg-whites, it’s just as good as its alcohol-filled counter-part. For those who aren’t interested in cocktails (we’re not judging), there is also a vast array of draught, bottled and canned beer (including a number of craft options), a two-page spirits menu (which includes a section dedicated to Japanese Whiskey), and, of course, a range of expertly-picked wines.

Elevated dishes 

After a couple of drinks at Ten to One, you’re bound to start getting a bit peckish — so it’s just as well that the food menu here rivals that of the beverage offerings. All of the food is made fresh to order, and a great deal of care and attention goes towards ensuring that the ingredients are well-sourced. The team is all about elevated comfort food. From succulent chicken wings (Nashville, Buffalo, or Korean-style), to big sharing plates of nachos, the dishes are hearty, but presented with finesse and with flavour at the forefront. Take, for instance, the grilled cheese toasties. They’re all served on homemade sourdough bread, and are accompanied with a range of fillings that take this simple treat to the next level. We love the roast ham cheese toastie, complete with mustard and homemade red onion chutney, but if you really want to push the boat out, try the homemade pickled pineapple and sriracha toastie, you won’t regret it!

We love that the menu has as many vegan and veggie options as meat ones. There’s an entire section dedicated to vegan hot dogs, with options ranging from a vegan mushroom chilli-topped dog, to the Dehli Dog, complete with vegan mango mayonnaise, curried chickpeas, coriander chutney, vegan cheddar and topped-off with a spicy Bombay mix. Wow! The dessert offerings are short but (very!) sweet and usually revolve around what’s in season. Currently there’s a knock-out burnt Basque cheesecake, which is light and airy, and a perfect palate cleanser for the slightly heavier savoury fare.

And it’s live

Beyond cocktails and small plates, one of the things that Tent to One is most well-known for is its superb live music and events. From lunch specials with local indie bands, to football screenings, quiz nights, and stand-up acts — there’s something to suit all tastes. The atmosphere at these events is always buzzing, and the restaurant really packs out, so make sure to book well in advance. 

What makes Ten to One so charming (and successful) is its inclusivity. Often London-based cocktail bars can feel too exclusive or fussy, so it’s a relief to find a spot that’s neighbourhood-y and friendly. This sophisticated bar/restaurant hybrid caters for a wide range of tastes, ages and occasions, and does so with style. We can’t recommend it enough.