Salt Bar, Marylebone, London

I have just returned from Salt Bar on the Edgware Road London, and can’t emphasize enough how much we were RIPPED OFF by the staff. If you’re a sensible person you will never use them.

We ordered 2 pots of mint tea, this cost £18, a huge sum for tea. We were charged for 3 despite having 2 pots of tea; why? Because 3 people shared 2 pots of tea! Where is the logic in that?

If you want to spend alot on tea, go to the Ritz. Furthermore, after this insult, we were charged a gratuity of 12.5%. I believe that a gratuity should be the prerogative of the customer, not a hidden charge to put on the bill after you have finished.

I will never reccomend this place, it isn’t that special, there are far nicer and more reasonable places in London, just avoid this place.

Salt Bar is one of those places that, I’m now embarrassed to say, I have walked past dozens of times without entering, always on my way to Somewhere Else. It took the lure of a Qype Burns Night Bash for Talisker Whisky to get me through the door and now that I’ve visited once, I can’t wait to go back to enjoy a leisurely tasting of fine whiskies.

The bar itself is a testament to a passion for fine single malts, boasting row upon row of every big name you’ve ever heard in relation to a good dram: from Glenfiddich and Glenmorangie to Talisker, Knockando, the wondrously peaty Laphroaig and golden Bowmore. At Salt Bar it’s possible to let your mind wander as you take a Whisky Tour – including drams of different whiskies from Scotland, Ireland, Japan and the States.

Then, as you do when visiting Edgware Road, you can pop outside to puff on one of Salt Bar’s hookah pipes.

I haven’t yet dined at Salt Bar, but the menu looks international, yet again, with samosas, tandoori dishes and moutabal sat next to salade nicoise and mushroom fettuccine or fish and chips.

I’m not quite sure how this would work in a regular location, but here on Edgware Road, such an eclectic mix-n-match of cuisines probably works better than it might elsewhere. Call it Edgware Road Fusion. In a nutshell, you’re guaranteed a globetrotting night at Salt Bar – with a dram from somewhere north of Hadrian’s Wall, a whisky cocktail with a Southern States tang, a bite or two of India, a taste of the Lebanon, some surf ‘n’ turf steak with prawns, and a puff or two of North Africa and the Middle East at the end of the night.

The conclusion? I love the bar and will definitely return. But the menu is a bit too Boys Night Out for me, i.e. wibbly wobbly with no sense of direction, so on the food I’ll pass. **Four out of five stars for the bar, loses one for lack of direction on the menu.

Don’t let the outside fool you. What at first seems a Middle Eastern-themed bar in the Edgeware Road area is in fact one of the top rated whiskey bars and a fantastic place to have your face numbed by a fine Talisker 10 year old whiskey.

I was lucky enough to be invited to a Talisker whiskey tasking at this venue which treated us to a fantastic evening started with a “skye manhattan” cocktail which was comprised of 10yr Talisker whisky, vermouth, bitters and orange peel squirted over it. This fantastic cocktail lead us in to our first tasting.

The Talisker’s 10 year old single malt whisky which we had for the first tasting was likely the first time I had my face melted off by a whiskey. How often really is getting your face melted off a good thing – in this case it was a FANTASTIC thing. Nothing better that that numb effect left from holding the whiskey in your mouth to really get the flavour.

The Talisker Distillers Edition was, I think, a little less face melting, a little more a laaayyyydeeee whiskey. Much easier for me to take, I really enjoyed it and whether holding it in my mouth or just taking delicate sips I really enjoyed the second whiskey but we had yet to have the haggis which we were all looking forward to and after adding some whiskey to the haggis I found a new taste sensation – really nice haggis and really nice whiskey.

Finally we had some CHOCOLATE with our Talisker 57˚North and finished off the evening in style. A further “Hebrideas old fashioned” which they say was made with Talisker 10 year old, ginger, bitters, honey and orange but hey… I was a bit numb at this point so I can’t vouch for it – and a delicious “cool walker” which had no Johnny Walker in it thankfully but Talisker 10 year old, drambuie, lime juice, and ginger ale making it a long tall and cool drink. Definitely one to order again for the likes of me!

This bar though… THIS BAR… my goodness I have never before seen so many bottles – enough that when I showed my husband what I saw when I was there – two long full walls of shelf upon shelf of whiskey goodness – even he oooed.

For the range of whiskey alone you really have no choice but to give this place 5 stars – at least I do since I have done no tours of anything quite as impressive as this place :-)

I'm slowly learning about whisky and trying to come to love the taste of it too, so attending Burns night at Salt Bar was a great way to continue my education.

It was hard for me to get a sense of what a regular night here would be like. I was thrown off by the hookah pipe smoking couples out front, so much so that I didnt connect the kilt wearing, bagpipe playing man out front was a symbol for the event happening inside.

The bar appears to be stocked with plenty of whiskies for sipping and savoring. I tried to think of other well stocked whisky-catering bars around London and couldnt think of any I'd heard of or visited. So Salt Bar really fills a niche -- and it's not just for members, though they have a members' bar upstairs.

I gave Salt 3 stars just because it was an extraordinary event and not an ordinary night. It's probably a good place to go if you're over toward Marble Arch, but I cant say for sure.

hi. myself and mel attended this qype event which was fab. the link to our blog posting is here
http://travelswithmyfork.blogspot.com/2010/01/wee-dram-at... also please check out my fotos here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/silamuta/sets/72157623254555...

I would never have found this amazing whisky bar without the Burns Night event put on by tikiChris. What a great night at a great bar.

If you're a whisky lover you should definitely take a look. Their whisky menu is extensive and one of the most comprehensive in London. The owner is such a fan of the golden liquid that he is more than happy to go through his collection and give a bit of a story about them all. And lets not forget about the regular tastings they have for members of the email list, adding your name is as simple as dropping your business card into a barman's hand.

Well worth it!

Burns Night Salt Bar <br />Pics The London Foodie
(http://www.thelondonfoodie.co.uk)

I was one of the lucky Qypers and food bloggers to have been invited to the Salt Bar on Edgware Road for a Pre-Burns Night with plenty of Talisker’s whisky, Scottish food and poetry readings.

Organized by TikiChris, the event included a tasting of three different Talisker whiskies run by Colin Dunn of Diageo, and a Burns poetry reading brilliantly executed by Clark McGinn of The Burns Supper Specialist.

After a delicious glass of “Skye Manhattan” cocktail (10yr Talisker whisky, vermouth, bitters and orange), we started our tasting with Talisker’s 10 year old single malt whisky. I enjoyed the sweet, smoky peatiness of this single malt which was the perfect accompaniment to the fatty smoked salmon it was served with.

This led to our second whisky, the Talisker Distillers Edition which was matured for 10 years in oak barrels and with an additional 2 years in muscatel barrels. This was, in my opinion, more approachable, and a little more refined, with a slight fruity finish from the years in muscatel. The Talisker Distillers Edition was partnered with haggis, neeps and tatties and went surprisingly well with the saltiness of the meat.

To accompany the third and final whisky, The Talisker 57˚North (named after the distiller’s latitude), we were served a scrumptious bitter chocolate mousse. It paired surprisingly well with the rather strong 57% whisky, helping to assuage some of the alcoholic burn.

As the evening came to a close, some of us stayed behind catching up and chatting. We were served a couple of other cocktails – “Hebrideas’ Old Fashioned” (Talisker 10 year old, ginger, bitters, honey and orange) and “Cool Walker” (Talisker 10 year old, Drambuie, lime juice, and ginger ale). These were both excellent and perfectly mixed by the very friendly bar staff.

I thoroughly enjoyed the evening at the elegant Salt Bar. This was my first experience of a “whisky bar” and was surprised by the friendly and casual atmosphere and the sleek contemporary decor. A big thanks goes to TikiChris for organising such a great event and for allowing me to take part in it.

Verdict – Salt Bar is an elegant, centrally located whisky bar, boasting some of the best whiskies on the market, with highly knowledgeable bar staff. Great cocktails. Recommended.

Wandering up Edgware Rd wondering had I passed the place; the sound of the bagpiper told me different.

The cocktails provided were got us right in the mood and suitable rocket fuel, good to get your nose glowin redder than that Rudolph fella! So suitable we had a heckler before we’d hardly started…somebody skipped lunch!

Clark McGinn did the ‘Address to a Haggis’, and proved to be a very approachable and knowledgeable source of all things Rabbie.

Nice touch with the personalised books from the calligrapher, and with a goodie bag including a bottle & glass; I reckon I’ll save it for a special occasion…

The bar is like an alcoholic sweet shop. Have a wee dram and some shisha, wile away the evening people watching on Edgware…

Good man Rabbie!

This is a good one to keep in your pocket. Comfortable and well situated at the southern end of Edgware Road, it seems at the very least to be the best option in the immediate area.

Yep, I was there for the epic Burns Night festivities mentioned in some of the other reviews of Salt Bar. I was blown away by the selection of whiskies and by the knowledge of the bar staff.

And - oh yeah - they've got shisa! And a very Edgware Road worthy looking menu (didn't try the food, just the booze).

I'd go back. Who's up for some whisky sipping?

The Salt Whisky Bar and Dining Room describes itself as aiming to preserve the traditions of a whisky bar in sleek contemporary surroundings, which may explain why it feels somewhat difficult to get exactly where this place is coming from on the first visit. Having said that, they certainly know how to celebrate Burns Night, which falls on Monday 25 January this year, as a number of us discovered at the Qype Burns Night event held here.

Talisker, who provided an excellent selection of their whiskey and explained how it should be best appreciated, also arranged a highly authentic rendition of Robert Burns' poetry which can be somewhat inaccessible without a good guide. Talisker and the Salt Bar are certainly able to provide as much Scottish expertise as you want if that is what you are looking for.

The Salt Bar is definitely worth a visit if you are a serious whisky drinker and are in the area looking to try something different. For those seeking an introduction, and wishing learn more about whisky, their tasting events would certainly be a good start - or just ask their knowledgeable bar staff when you order from their range of over 100 whiskys.

This is the place to go if you fancy having a huge selection of whiskey to choose from; small wonder that the Salt Bar invited a busload of Qypers to a ....whiskey tasting event.

The Salt Bar is a mix of hookah pipes, lots and lots of whiskey, and a cosy private upstairs bar. And somehow it works. The members of staff are very friendly and, as mentioned in previous reviews, you will encounter some very knowledgeable barkeepers who will probably be able to answer any question you've ever had about whisky.

The event itself was great; we tasted three very different whiskeys and, since Burns Night is only a few days away, we were served smoked salmon, haggis neeps and tatties, and chocolate mousse. This was accompanied by a very passionate rendition of 'To a Haggis' (careful with that knife!), which was appropriately announced with bagpipes.

The Salt Bar is a place to recommend, I would be happy to go back.

I came for my first event at the Salt Bar. I wasn't dissapponted. We tried kinds of whisky and all are very nice. Concerning the place, the decor is very nice and the personnel is very nice. They take care of you. Besides. their food is great.
I recommend so this place.

We came together to celebrate Scotland's favourite Son on a Qype event night http://www.qype.co.uk/groups/2931-Qypers-Love-Events this week and i have to say this as close as I'll get to being a whisky convert.
Lets make it clear here this is a venue that has so much whisky old Robbie Burn's himself woudl ahve penned a wee poem about it!
What a great evening, a bagpiper piping, whisky flowing like water and plenty of properly paired food options, Scottish smoked salmon, haggis (blessed with poetry and rather liberal knife thrusting by guttural Scotsman Clark McGinn compete in tartan trousers!) and a lovely champers glass full of rich chocolate moose.
The owner of the bar was very good about chatting about the whisky's and inviting people back for his free tasting sessions. Still confused as to why the outside is all about sheesha, the top level looks like a harem and the ground floor is pure Scottish... colourful family history perhaps?
I now know whisky can burn like chili if you don't swig it, and I have a bottle from my goodie bag to experiment with... watch out!

I wandered along for the Talisker tasting like many of the other reviewers, and very nice it was too.

The bar itself has a nice selection of whisky - a combination of all of the nicer whiskies that you sometimes see in pubs and bars as well as a bunch of interesting extras, including a shelf of very expensive whiskies that may require planning before purchase.

The staff seem knowledgeable and they run whisky tasting events (I'm not sure if this a new thing - ask at the bar to get on their mailing list) which makes it a nice place to go if you want to talk whisky as well as drink it. They have a big book describing their range of drinks (with whisky from all over the world joined by a good selection of other non-whisky booze) and prices seem reasonable.

However, despite all that it does seem a little bit confused, with a shisha patio and a incongruous menu (a mixture of indian and italian food) not necessarily pairing up with the whisky focus of the bar.

I need to go back to see how it all works together when I'm not being fed whisky at an event, and the place is definitely intriguing enough to make me want to.

I know absolutely nothing about whiskey. Nothing at all. Zip.

So this past Wednesday's Qype event at Whiskey specialists Salt was the perfect blend of intoxicating and informative.

Salt is at the south end of the Edgware Road (which to me is the border to the no-fly-zone of west London). So it's a whiskey bar with a mind boggling array of every kind of whiskey, with and without the 'e', from all over the world.

We were there to sample three of Talisker's range. Their 10 year aged, Distiller's edition and 57 Degrees North. The latter being a clever play on Skye's northerly-ness and the alcohol percentage.

All three were excellent, but my frame of reference is little more than Seagram's 7, so it was satisfying to learn how to drink whiskey properly. And there's no better time of year for warming booze than this.

For connoisseurs however, Salt Bar is an excellent venue. Their range is second-to-none and the location, although not ideal, is central enough to make it worth the trip.

They have a pretty good line in smoked salmon and haggis too, so it's well worth a Burn's night blowout.

It's not often I find myself stepping on to Edgware Road to the sound of bagpipes. But then, that's because it's not often Burns Night (or near enough) or more specifically, an incredible evening hosted by Talisker.

I felt very lucky to be there. Talisker chose well, this bar has an impressive selection of whiskey, perfect for a malt lover like me. On the night it was compared to a perfumery, with gorgeous golden bottles on display. I'll definitely be back to enjoy a tipple and shisha.

Now, let's move on to Talisker just for a moment. This peaty, warm, spicy liquid can now be properly enjoyed thanks to the people over at Talisker who taught me to sip it gently and hold it in a tingling mouth before swallowing. Deeeelish.

Went here for my first Burns Night celebration. I also had my first Haggis here. I have seen this venue many times and passed by thinking "that spots looks really cool, we should try it" but this was my first time actually going in and I was not disappointed. I had the opportunity to chat with the manager for a few and he was delightful and proud of his bar's status as London's premier whiskey bar. They also have cocktails for ladies like me who aren't yet keen on drinking their whiskey straight.

I also discovered this place through the Qype event. I imagine the bagpiper that formed part of the Burns Night celebration isn't a permanent fixture... I wanted to go specifically because I wouldn't consider myself a whiskey fan, but of course the subject comes alive when you've got someone talking you through a tasting. You also learn why it's called firewater.

Despite momentarily losing my sense of taste, I was impressed with the place and the array of oddly-named drinks - anyone for a dram of Monkey Shoulder? It's all very slick and the staff do seem well informed, though it's a bit more difficult to judge a place during a qype event when you know you're getting everyone's full attention. If you know anyone who actually knows about whiskey, this could be great for a few quiet afternoon drinks, when you have time to linger. Very much strikes me as a guys' place, from the other customers who came in and were redirected to the upstairs bar.

Worth a look in if you're in the area already, or a detour for uisce beatha aficionados.

"Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face,
Great chieftain o the puddin'-race!
Aboon them a' ye tak your place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm:
Weel are ye wordy of a grace
As lang's my arm. "

So went the address to the haggis, delivered impeccably by Burns expert Clark McGinn, as our group of Qypers were being immersed in all things Scottish in the unlikely surroundings of Edgware Road.

The Talisker tasting that took place last night was eye opening for me. While I like whisky I had never swirled it around in my mouth for ten seconds before swallowing, a closely monitored requirement in these parts.

The flavour of the 10 year Talisker hits after 5.9 seconds according to our second expert, Colin Dunn, so anything less really isn't doing it justice.

Now I'm no expert on whisky but there was a real chilli burn from this first selection, and it left our group slightly reeling but with huge grins and we swiftly devoured the smoked salmon on offer.

Then the piper paraded the haggis and our second dram, the more textured Distillers edition with to my mind a more luxurious fruity flavour was served (to be swirled for no less than 15 seconds!)

I could have eaten double the amount of haggis but then the delicious chocolate mousse and third taster of the 57 degrees north were served. Its alcohol vol matches the latitude of the Isle of Skye where Talisker is produced and this was strong but extremely tasty, particularly when mixed with the mousse.

Add to that a couple of Talisker based cocktails and an extremely generous goodie bag and it was an excellent evening.

As for the Salt Bar itself, it is hard to judge on the basis of this night. It had a comprehensive selection of whiskys to my eye, although I'd associate whiskey sipping to open fires and large leather armchairs which didn't seem to be available.
It would be interesting to see what the place is like on a "normal" night but I guess the drinks selection and charming staff would remain so its difficult to be too harsh.

I was lucky enough to attend the Burns Night Whisky tasting last night at the Salt Bar and i must say, the evening was superb. The guys from Talisker were extremely friendly and entertaining. We mingled, ate haggis and listened "Rabbie Burns" poetry delivered by true Scots. A cracking night.

The venue itself is great, if not a little bit weird. The selection of whisky is top notch (at least 100 different varieties) and it's almost like being in a parfumerie as you stand at the bar and select your next dram. The bar staff are very knowledgable and weren't afraid to talk us through the whisky cocktails as they were being made (this is actually pretty rare in London bars these days in my experience).

Where the Salt Bar begins to get a bit confusing is when you see the hookah pipes outside. I suppose they're going for the whole "Scotland meets Edgware road" theme, so that's cool (if not a little unexpected). It's the decor that's gets me. Outside of the bar area, this place lacks soul. As Guernican put it, the Salt Bar has become a generic "identikit Corona and Breezer den". That might be a bit strong, but i think he's got a point. This place lacks rustic charm. If you stood with your back to the bar you could easily be in a Vodka Revolution bar.

At the end of the day though i can definitely forgive the decor. The Salt Bar ticks almost all of the boxes - great staff, loads of whisky, convenient location and much, much more. I'll be back very soon!