Alex Macnutt's chilled mix of music best consumed with a cocktail, in a cool hotel bar in an exotic location. Your house, say. Proof that lockdown cannot stop a party with a rarified atmosphere. and stanley tucci!
Curated by Alex, concept by Keith, Nighthawk’s Bar by Mick
Everyone is welcome at Nighthawks...even Stanley Tucci, though Stan is strictly advised to stay in front of the bar, not behind it. Stanley your cooperation in this matter is much appreciated. Like millions of others we watched your wonderful lockdown Negroni mixing ‘masterclass’. Like millions of others we were absorbed by your charisma and attracted by your magnetism. And like many, we were left deeply disturbed by the uneven distribution of parts gin, vermouth and Campari. And hey Stan, what’s so wrong with Martini anyhow? It has a retro charm does it not (as do you we might say, a)? And Stan, come on man, shaking the Negroni? Some rules are rules for a reason. Even credible, arty and urbane Hollywood A listers of Italian origin that age gracefully and still look amazing in a black polo neck must abide by some rules. Well, all we can say, is at Nighthawks, your Negroni is served stirred. And let’s leave it there.
There is a rarefied atmosphere to be found at Nighthawks, welcoming and inclusive but somehow attracting the best people - open, friendly and naturally sophisticated. Nobody tries too hard here. They make the effort of course, but Nighthawks doesn’t judge. Sure, very occasionally someone is asked to leave. Sometimes the wrong person walks in and leaves of their own accord. You can walk right past Nighthawks and never notice the place. It isn’t ostentatious at all. Indeed, it’s more like one of those speakeasy type places from the 20s or 30s - sitting as it does on the corner of an otherwise residential block, sometimes the thick plum drapes closed behind its windows, as they are through the winter months. And as they are just now, for Nighthawks has been under lockdown, like other bars around the world.
In normal times however, as you enter, the weight of the door tests you a little, but give it a good push or gentle shoulder-barge, and it will give. It’s worth it as you enter. Alex is usually on hand to welcome you, front of house so to speak. You’ll leave your troubles immediately behind you’ll find, melted away by the waft of...paprika is it?, from the Nighthawks kitchen, and the comforting sounds of industriousness behind the impossibly lengthed, nautical-style mahogany bar.
And then of course, there is the music. Unintrusive, but just intriguing enough to draw some of your attention to it, the part of your attention indeed that triggers the good dopamine into the brain. You see, the music at Nighthawks sits between the background and the foreground. It blends in perfectly, but somehow stands out and sets itself apart. It is the corpus callosum of music if you catch our drift. Maybe it’s a little clubby here and there but never boring. Maybe it’s Balearic in a way that doesn’t try and force Ibiza upon you. If you come to Nighthawks early evening, the music can make you feel like the night stretches out in front of you, heaving with possibilities. But if you come in much later it will make you feel like the night is young and the energy is steady. Nighthawks is a marathon not a sprint.
Coming here will make you feel happy in all sorts of ways that will surprise you. And just very occasionally, you might catch Stanley Tucci at the bar. If you do, the Negronis are on Stan. And if you work on the frontlines then the Negronis are very much on the house.
God we miss going to a good bar. For now though, just a few more weeks...fire up Spotify or Apple Music, go to The Boutique Hotel Bar and press play. Your gaff is now a good bar. Welcome in.
Alex Macnutt curates the BHB and Cruise Control Yacht Rock. His excellent bar, The Common Rooms, is locked-up in lockdown. Visit soon. Meanwhile Alex gives cocktail masterclasses (real ones) on Instagram @thecommonrooms
Stanley Tucci is a fine Hollywood actor and is better in front of the bar.