We loved the food at Trèsind, but we went deeper into the experience by trying the underground bar where India’s regional flavours are reimagined through contemporary cocktail making

The 30-seat speakeasy, from the internationally acclaimed Trèsind restaurant group (London, Dubai and Mumbai), says it places ingredients, memory and craftsmanship at the centre of every drink.

Well that sounded good, so staggering out the heat of London, which certainly was recreating the Indian experience, we went in early doors.

Created by Marina Juszczyk, formerly Head Bartender at SOMA, Tryst looks to regional ingredients, traditions and food cultures as the starting point for a drinks programme that is both deeply rooted and distinctly modern.

It’s a nice vibe downstairs, although at 7pm it was understandably a little quiet. With the lights down low though, there was a good louche atmosphere ideal for fancy drinking. Think natural stone, textured plaster and brushed metals as your building materials.

The opening menu, Volume One, travels across India, with each cocktail celebrating a single ingredient or place. Kokum from the Konkan coast, jasmine from Madurai, Assam tea, Ratnagiri’s celebrated Alphonso mango and Bengal’s fragrant Gondhoraj lime each become the foundation for drinks that combine fermentation, clarification, milk washing, carbonation and sous-vide infusion. Future editions will shift their focus from geography to India’s rituals, festivals and artistic traditions, allowing the menu to evolve as an ongoing exploration of the country.

We really liked Konkan, a highball made from kokum, vodka, fino sherry and toasted coconut, while the Bikaner, inspired by Rajasthan’s preserved fruits and warming spices, layered Johnnie Walker Blue Label with kumquat, aamchoor, cognac and buttermilk in a silky sour. The Tanjore drew on the flavours of South Indian rasam, pairing clarified tomato, tequila, pisco and curry leaf in a dry, savoury cocktail.

Trèsind up above, reinterpretis Indian cuisine through a contemporary lens. Tryst applies that same philosophy behind the bar, offering a fresh perspective on Indian flavours that feels both innovative and authentic.

Tryst
Beneath Trèsind, Hanover Street, Mayfair, London
tresind.co.uk/

Opening hours
Monday–Thursday: 5.30pm–11.30pm
Friday–Saturday: 5.30pm–Midnight