Restaurateur Markus Thesleff has opened cocktail bar Viajante87 in Notting Hill.
Sister to his Baha-Nihon restaurant Los Mochis, Viajante87 takes its name from the word ‘traveller’ in Spanish and is a nod to Pan-Pacific exploration.
The ‘Agaveria-cum-Izakaya’ is pitched as an “intimate, high-energy hideaway”.
Drinks at Viajante87 are overseen by bar director Panos Kanatsoulis (formerly of The Clumsies in Athens and Zuma Dubai), who, from his basement lab space creates cocktails with a low-waste ethos.
The late-night bar, whose team also includes Paolo Silvestri (formerly of LPM London & Dubai, Corrigans, Hu Tong), will focus on 100% agave-based signature cocktails alongside classics, spanning the spectrum.
Frida is made with La Familia tequila reposado, citrus sherbert, chamomile-oregano syrup, rosemary bitters, plum liquor, and champagne; while the the Cherry Blanco sees tequila blanco, dehydrated sour cherry, clarified coca-cola; and the Viajante Martini, tequila reposado, bell peppers, fermented mead, green tea sherry.
The Smoked Earth cocktail speaks to the bar’s low-waste processes, using redistilled horseradish with vodka and blended with The Lost Explorer mezcal Espadin, combined with lacto-fermented kitchen veggies (carrots, sweet potato, red cabbage, beetroot, purple corn), jalapeno, sansho berry pepper, coriander seeds, wasabi distillate and fleur de sel.
Viajante87’s bar snacks are billed as "seasonal and sustainable" and speak to the Japanese element of the restaurant’s theme. The menu includes crispy rice topped with the likes of spicy salmon, guacamole & fresh truffle, or habanero teriyaki duck; a range of kushiyaki (Japanese skewers), wagyu sando as well as a selection of sashimi.
Music will play an integral role at Viajante87, which has a 2am licence and DJ programme majoring on tribal house.
Markus Thesleff, founder of Los Mochis and Viajante87, said: “I feel that West London has been missing something like this, so when the opportunity arose to open a very special cocktail-based hideaway, we leapt at the chance. It has allowed us a new channel for creativity whilst keeping the vibe high and music key.
"We’ve taken the elements that we know work and applied them to a diverse cocktail offering focused around our Agaveria, opening up the possibilities of what we’re able to do. The way people consume spirits has changed, they want somewhere fun, dark, and sophisticated where they can let loose, this is the perfect antidote.”