The Dark Horse — Restaurant in Bath

The Dark Horse is phenomenal. We were greeted at the door by the... maître d'hôtel perhaps? Their cool authority made us feel secure and exclusive as we were shepherded to a table, asked about our visit and told that we were to enjoy the ambiance while we wait for our server to meet us.

This is without a doubt one of the most attractive places I have ever patronised. The lighting is low, the walls painted in a rich dark green and it is furnished with carved dark woods and fascinating prints. There are a variety of seating options. Low and high tables, booths and bar. I glimpsed a lounge full of chesterfields at one point. All of them are comfortable, clean and offer amazing views of the decor.

We were soon introduced to our amazing host, David and our few words with the original greeter had inspired the offer of a glass of sparkling to help us celebrate our anniversary. David was an incredible host. Always unobtrusively available and a deep well of bonhomie and softly spoken knowledge. At no point did our glasses of cucumber water sit empty for which I am extremely grateful as this morning's hangover is a slight, whispered reminder of last night's indulgence and gentle instruction to take it easy tonight, mainly because I won't be finding such delicious drinks delivered so conscientiously anywhere else.

And so we come to the drinks themselves. These are true, grown up cocktails. The menu - presented to us in a classy folder that had been decorated with a clever monogram - contained a moderate range of classics, some house favourites and some seasonal suggestions. Some of the components lists read like the description of a dish in a Michelin star restaurant. We tried a number of drinks and all of them were perfectly balanced and some of them were staggering. The Old Sultan took a whiskey and subtly edited it's features with sweetness and fruit. The main feature was the whiskey but the additions heightened the experience as a good photography editor would use cropping and colour balance. The evocative Selkie was a different kettle of fish altogether and told a narrative of flavour from fresh green vegetable to sweet brown chocolate. Each drink is garnished, glassed and iced sympathetically and with great craft. The highlight for myself came after a Negroni was requested and this request was itself garnished by David who suggested a mezcal variant. This reimagined classic is now my cocktail of choice.

The Dark Horse is reason enough alone for a return visit to Bath. Delicious, expertly constructed drinks served in a beautiful environment by friendly and knowledgeable hosts. The best cocktail...

The cocktails here are excellent! You can really taste every element and they're not super sweet which is perfect for me - and unusual for the UK. The prices are actually very reasonable relative to the usual cost of cocktails in the UK too. The atmosphere is great and the staff are friendly and efficient.

We did however have one issue that affected our evening. We had a 1 hr 15 min reservation for 4 people (the longest available when booking - which is fine). It took 30 minutes to receive our first round. I understand they were busy and the bartenders take real care over making each drink - but we were then encouraged to order a second round. By the time it arrived we had a strict 15 minutes to finish the drinks before being asked abruptly to leave. This didn't feel like the best treatment when downing a £45 round in 15 minutes so that they can make way for the next back-to-back reservation. I understand that we booked for a specific slot and the bar was busy, but when the first round takes 30 minutes to receive we felt there should be some sort of grace period to make up for that. They should consider adjusting their booking protocol to accommodate for any delay in service and to avoid customers having to mess with card machines and being rushed out when still trying to enjoy their drink.

Otherwise I do recommend The Dark Horse - book well in advance and enjoy the rarity that is a cocktail well worth...

This place is insane! As a female travelling alone it’s a huge deal for me to feel safe in a venue, especially when I’m drinking cocktails and they go down so easy! The vibes here are immaculate. I came for a birthday trip in November and I couldn’t be happier, every bartender/server that works here are sales men in their own way. The product knowledge of what they are serving/making is incredibly refreshing especially if you’re someone who loves a recommendation like me! From the moment I stepped in, my coat was taken off for me, chair pulled out for me, proper old school hospitality which I absolutely love. Even though at the time it seemed to be a whole male team, the manager did say that there was a female general manager that had recently started so nice to see there is a woman bossing it at the top! Equally when I came for my second visit on tuesday, I was pleased to see another female Bartender/Server on the floor who was equally as knowledgeable and friendly (plus I got to chat about her style/outfit.) Everyone who works here is an absolute credit to the team and Bath are lucky to have such a hospitable Venue in the area. Final thing (need I mention it) but the cocktails and spirit list are absolutely sensational, really well thought out cocktail list that has had a lot of love and care put it into. Keep it up dark...