The Cloak is Marben’s new cocktail bar

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.

(Image: Renée Suen)

House-made sausage roll served with Branston pickle. $8.

(Image: Renée Suen)

Shepherd’s pie croquettes topped with HP mayo. $8.

(Image: Renée Suen)

Cured trout tartare. $8.

(Image: Renée Suen)

Chocolate crémeux with pine nut brittle and lemon snow. $8.

(Image: Renée Suen)

Banksy: reposado tequila, Amaro Sibilla, maraschino, tonka, arbol chiles. $14.

(Image: Renée Suen)

Port Flip: tawny port, cognac, duck egg yolk, house-made foie gras bitters, sugar, nutmeg. $14.

(Image: Renée Suen)

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.

(Image: Renée Suen)

Pamplemousse: Tanqueray gin, grapefruit, honey, maldon salt. $10.

(Image: Renée Suen)

Freya Stark: gin, saffron, aleppo pepper, citrus, sugar, cream, egg white, soda. $14.

(Image: Renée Suen)

Old Smoke Joe: rye, black cardamom, coffee liqueur, fernet branca, demerara. $14.

(Image: Renée Suen)

Australian Outlaw: blended malt whisky, rum, coconut, kalamansi lime, sugar, eucalyptus syrup. $14.

(Images: Renée Suen)

488 Wellington St. W, 416-710-7697, marbenrestaurant.com