Firstly I wanted to thank you all for the lovely birthday wishes :) I had a nice relaxing birthday. Lunch with Joe in Amigos and then on to sunbathe with his parents, brother, wife and kids and it was chilled out and lovely. But as I’m a bit of a spoiled princess I wanted the birthday celebrations to continue so last night I organised a bit of a posh night out with a few friends at a new bar, Soho Lounge, in Paceville opposite Plush and next to the Royal Oak.

I’m not a great fan of Paceville as it’s generally full of drunk, annoying and sometimes aggressive youngsters. But I feel this lounge is aimed at a slightly older crowd- I’m talking 20s and up not OAP! So the vibe is much more relaxed and a lot more enjoyable. You don’t have to worry about filthy toilets and people throwing up on your feet! Speaking of which, the toilets were immaculate. All atmospheric lighting, wooden look floors and walls, plenty of paper, soap and the cutest square basin that I’d quite like in my own place!

Soho Lounge is what I would call a cocktail and tapas bar. The cocktails are incredible and with Happy Hour (buy one get one free) running from 12pm – 9pm it’s the perfect place to go for a lunchtime treat, pre-dinner drink or to get your night started with a bit of glamour. The food is not Spanish but comes in a tapas style- perfect sharing portions.

1. Asparagus, mozzarella and crispy ham with couscous // 2. Honey glazed ribs // 3. Chicken Satay // 4. Look at the presentation!

I’m a real sucker for presentation and everything looked stunning, especially the meat skewers and octopus tentacles hung up on the metal frames! We were all given plates and cutlery and tucked in to a bit of everything. All the dishes were lovely, the only one that didn’t go down so well was a mixture of mushrooms and chorizo. It was a bit overcooked and spicy for my liking, but that’s not to say someone else wouldn’t love it. We ordered much more than this and ended up taking up about three tables! My favourites were the roasted duck, chicken satay and asparagus. They also brought out some green rice and lemony/herby mash later on for nibbles and the mash especially, was wonderful.

And of course- the cocktails. My friends and I are serious cocktail lovers. We go for drinks once a week, every week, to a local cocktail bar and it’s the highlight of my week to be honest! We have very high standards and as soon as the standard of the cocktails begins to slip we ruthlessly move on. At Soho lounge they were delish. They were all very sweet which I think was a bit much for some of the boys but really, that’s cocktails for you! They were all very fruity and didn’t taste strongly of alcohol which is a plus for me as it means I can enjoy them without cringing.

The rainbow shooters are amazing by the way- 8 shots that gradually get darker in colour. If you order them make sure you ask the waiter/waitress to pour them at your table. They’re shaken up in the usual cocktail shaker but as they pour out they get darker! You can see a video I filmed of it here as it’s too hard to explain and was pretty impressive to a simple mind like mine.

The decor is incredible. They really play on the London/Soho theme and even with the sequin cushions it manages to look plush instead of trashy. The wall art, statement pieces of furniture, chandeliers and even a big red phone box filled with champagne make it look really special.

I feel like there should have been something hidden in these drawers- maybe some posh little chocolate treats for whoever thought to open it, or a notepad and pen for secret little messages. Something to add a bit of fun and mystery. If you go there for a cocktail, maybe you should write a note on a napkin and get a tradition started- I’ll be checking!

God Save the Queen

The bar itself is huge so you shouldn’t really have trouble finding a table. There is an outside seating area which is great as the temperature is starting to drop slightly. A VIP sofa area that can be reserved (€350 minimum spend), lots of high tables and chairs and also an upstairs area with more sofas and low tables, great for larger groups.

All in all it’s a really cute Soho/London themed cocktail lounge. The staff are incredibly friendly and attentive. They were very gracious when we had a bit of a spillage disaster, cleared plates and glasses as soon as they were empty and really looked after us. They were even happy to oblige when we asked for a custom made drink that would be ‘fruity but still knock our socks off’! Although Malta, and St Julians in particular, is well equipped with bars and places to go, with their superior service, delicious food, yummy cocktails and incredible decor, Soho Lounge really stands out and is a must visit whether you live here or are enjoying your holidays in the Maltese sun!

Do let me know if you’ve been here before or if you’re planning to pay a visit and be sure to let them know you read about them on your favourite Malta based blog ;) and be sure to like them here on Facebook!