Side Hustle at The NoMad

The beauty of being a side hustle - in any capacity - is that expectations of being the main event are conveniently removed. With the removal of expectations we often find that there’s a sense of freedom you can’t replicate in headline acts. This freedom often leads to creativity and here at the NoMad Hotel's signature bar there’s definitely a spark of innovation.

The room picks you up and wraps you in its cosy buzz from the minute you step through the door. All polished dark wood and glowing globe lighting, the best seats in the house are up towards the back. Here, from your semi-circular banquette, you can watch a curious cross-section of Covent Garden’s nightlife take shape while you peruse the menu.

It’s a lively sort of billing, dreamt up by the bouncy young bar team who are keen to put their spin on this little piece of paradise. While there are classics front and centre, there are also the kind of drinks listed where you can only pronounce every other ingredient. Sticking to charted territory we go for a Start Me Up which combines bourbon with rum, ginger, lemon and honey in a twist on a Penicillin. The combination of strong, sweet, sharp and spicy notes created a buttery, syrupy serve that almost felt medicinal - in a good way.

With drinks so spiky there are a few things offered to soak up the alcohol. It’s a fun menu of Latin American favourites that start with generous serves of citrusy guacamole and crispy pork belly pieces that come with layers of soft meat under the crackling. Larger plates - toastadas and tacos - play it safe with fillings like a crowd pleasing Baja prawn that comes with crisp batter, pickled cabbage and a soothing morita mayo. While things are a touch too generously seasoned in places, the opportunity to try more of the drinks menu to quench your thirst can only be seen as a good thing.

With its upbeat personality and bright buzz, this side hustle might just become the main squeeze for those in search of a decent drink in tourist-drenched Covent Garden.

Set in the building’s former Police Station, Side Hustle is the hotel's take on the classic British pub seen through a NoMad lens with a few surprises. The menu at Side Hustle features a broad spectrum of lively Latin American flavours, to go along with acocktail program that is centred around a large selection of agave-based spirits and cocktails, showcasing the flavours and traditions of Central and South America.

The interiors feel clubby and cool, with mixed mediums used throughout – think leather, wood and polished brass. To the left, if you’re entering from the street, there’s a sleek, large bar and to the right you’ll find rows of cosy banquettes separated with glass partitions. This set-up makes the whole thing the perfect place to take a date or gather with a group of friends. You get all the buzz of a crowd while maintaining your own private little space for dinner and drinks.

Food is served up until around 10pm most evenings, and the menu is made up of dishes that are perfect to share. Kick things off with dips like familiar guacamole or a slightly more unusual concoction whizzed up with pistachios, mint, tomatillo, lemon and jalapenos. From there move onto snacks like Padron peppers or yellowtail ceviche before diving into larger plates of tacos and tostadas. Here you’ll find fillings and toppings that range from cauliflower with pineapple salsa through to tuna crudo with ancho chilli. The larger bone-in ribeye is perfect for a group and comes with corn tortillas, fresh lime and various salsas. If you’ve saved room for dessert, there are churros and ice cream sandwiches.

The drinks list is masterfully made and spans both classics and house serves. The latter includes the Pink Elephant which combines tequila with Aperol, lemon, cherry, passion fruit and chilli. There is also an accomplished list of mocktails for non-drinkers.