Of particular interest to Barbican residents because of its proximity a new lively Irish themed Bar/Restaurant has been opened on City Road around 50 yards to the south of the Old Street roundabout.
The ground floor restaurant
Recently opened by Niall Davidson, the new bar/restaurant, NUALA, is open all-day Monday to Saturday. By day, NUALA promises comforting flavours cooked over a giant fire pit, with modern riffs on classic combinations. By evening the NUALA basement bar also beckons; an underground Irish bar with live music daily, too many whiskeys to mention, cocktails, pints and Tayto’s. We were privileged to take in a press launch for the venue earlier this week.
With a sweeping concrete bar, and sleek relaxed seating, the restaurant is centred around the brick-lined open fireplace. With dishes like clams in pistachio beurre blanc, steak tartare with Guinness sauce, squid and bacon broth, and veal sweetbreads with cauliflower rarebit, NUALA promises to mark a new stage in the evolution of all day British and (Irish) bistronomy.
The kitchen is run by Colin McSherry (Fat Duck, Dinner by Heston). The floor is managed by Alice Dell’Orco and John O’Dowd (Bistroteque) with wine by Honey Spencer (Noma Mexico) and bar by Spencer Large (Barbecoa).
After plates are cleared the fires stays lit for post dinner chat and cocktails. Lunchtimes are all about casual and hearty food, while mornings offer a relaxed space to meet over world class coffee, or dig into proper fire-cooked Irish breakfast classics and brunch punches. Plates and bowls are handmade by ceramicist Tom Butcher, while grills and ovens are custom made in Madrid.
NUALA basement bar
From 5pm NUALA BAR opens Via the City Road entrance and the shenanigans begin. The ideal place to start or seal a night, NUALA Bar promises strong drinks, atmosphere and revelry paired with a dash of Irish music culture. The bar hosts live bands every night. Featuring a changing roster of London acts playing an eclectic mix of original acoustic sets and well-loved covers, NUALA Bar’s live music provides a great backdrop for letting your hair down.
