The Cloak is Marben’s new cocktail bar
The city’s newest speakeasy just opened in Marben’s basement. To celebrate its ninth birthday, the King West restaurant ditched its Spanish menu for a British-inspired card, and now has a hidden cocktail bar to match. Accessed by a stairwell between Marben’s bar and kitchen (then through a heavy curtain, natch), the Cloak serves an extensive list of both original drinks—some named after famous Brits (Banksy, Churchill, Mr. Bean)—and classic ones with dashes of turmeric, cardamom, lapsang souchong tea and Chinese five spice (oh, the spoils of colonialism). For groups, there are large-format bottled cocktails and punch bowls. A snack menu of comfort food like sausage rolls, shepherd’s pie croquettes and fish and chips is available until 2 a.m.
House-made sausage roll served with Branston pickle. $8.
Shepherd’s pie croquettes topped with HP mayo. $8.
Cured trout tartare. $8.
Chocolate crémeux with pine nut brittle and lemon snow. $8.
Banksy: reposado tequila, Amaro Sibilla, maraschino, tonka, arbol chiles. $14.
Port Flip: tawny port, cognac, duck egg yolk, house-made foie gras bitters, sugar, nutmeg. $14.
A single serving of the 1800 Americas Punch, made with bourbon, cuban rum, blanco tequila, créme de pêche, pineapple, arbol chiles, tonka, citrus sherbet, tea, spices. $75 for bowl. Serves two to four people.
Pamplemousse: Tanqueray gin, grapefruit, honey, maldon salt. $10.
Freya Stark: gin, saffron, aleppo pepper, citrus, sugar, cream, egg white, soda. $14.
Old Smoke Joe: rye, black cardamom, coffee liqueur, fernet branca, demerara. $14.
Australian Outlaw: blended malt whisky, rum, coconut, kalamansi lime, sugar, eucalyptus syrup. $14.
488 Wellington St. W, 416-710-7697, marbenrestaurant.com
, the Cloak serves an extensive list of both original drinks—some named after famous Brits (Banksy, Churchill, Mr. Bean)—and classic ones with dashes of turmeric, cardamom, lapsang souchong tea and Chinese five spice (oh, the spoils of colonialism). For groups, there are large-format bottled cocktails and punch bowls. A snack menu of comfort food like sausage rolls, shepherd's pie croquettes and fish and chips is available until 2 a.m.
[caption id="attachment_369703" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] (Image: Renée Suen)[/caption]
House-made sausage roll served with Branston pickle. $8.
[caption id="attachment_369692" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] (Image: Renée Suen)[/caption]
Shepherd's pie croquettes topped with HP mayo. $8.
[caption id="attachment_369705" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] (Image: Renée Suen)[/caption]
Cured trout tartare. $8.
[caption id="attachment_369693" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] (Image: Renée Suen)[/caption]
Chocolate crémeux with pine nut brittle and lemon snow. $8.
[caption id="attachment_369688" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] (Image: Renée Suen)[/caption]
Banksy: reposado tequila, Amaro Sibilla, maraschino, tonka, arbol chiles. $14.
[caption id="attachment_369701" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] (Image: Renée Suen)[/caption]
Port Flip: tawny port, cognac, duck egg yolk, house-made foie gras bitters, sugar, nutmeg. $14.
[caption id="attachment_369702" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] (Image: Renée Suen)[/caption]
A single serving of the 1800 Americas Punch, made with bourbon, cuban rum, blanco tequila, créme de pêche, pineapple, arbol chiles, tonka, citrus sherbet, tea, spices. $75 for bowl. Serves two to four people.
[caption id="attachment_369700" align="aligncenter" width="1067"] (Image: Renée Suen)[/caption]
Pamplemousse: Tanqueray gin, grapefruit, honey, maldon salt. $10.
[caption id="attachment_369696" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] (Image: Renée Suen)[/caption]
Freya Stark: gin, saffron, aleppo pepper, citrus, sugar, cream, egg white, soda. $14.
[caption id="attachment_369698" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] (Image: Renée Suen)[/caption]
Old Smoke Joe: rye, black cardamom, coffee liqueur, fernet branca, demerara. $14.
[caption id="attachment_369699" align="aligncenter" width="1067"] (Image: Renée Suen)[/caption]
Australian Outlaw: blended malt whisky, rum, coconut, kalamansi lime, sugar, eucalyptus syrup. $14.
[caption id="attachment_369689" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] (Images: Renée Suen)[/caption]
488 Wellington St. W, 416-710-7697, marbenrestaurant.com){kind=link}