Cocktails Go Digital

Cocktails meet augmented reality in London.
Three years ago, renowned chef and restaurateur, Jason Atherton’s City Social set up shop on the twenty-fourth floor of Tower 42 – a forty-seven storey building scraping the skies in the City of London. Awarded a Michelin star in 2015, the Art Deco-inspired space overlooks the London skyline and will be taking your cocktail experience to new heights.

MIRAGE, designed by group bar executive of The Social Company, Jamie Jones, and City Social bar manager, Tim Laferla, is the world’s first augmented reality cocktail menu brought to life via an app built by Mustard Designs.

We’re big fans of art at Candid, and a good drink, so we’re definitely looking forward to an after-work, AR cocktail session.

The Dogstone Brew. Photograph by Addie Chinn

Taking centre stage, art is what gives these drinks their tech lift: the Dogstone Brew will be a blend Hendrick’s Gin, port, bergamot, black tea split milk and orchid root, resulting in punch-style cocktail with floral notes and a long finish. Floating (and digital) Victoriana balloons will be served with it.

The Sashay. Photograph by Addie Chinn

The Sashay will be City Social’s Art Nouveau cocktail mixing Perrier Jouët Belle Époque Champagne, Japanese plum wine, jasmine and liquorice; while the Wheatfields will pay homage to Vincent Van Gogh mingling Ketel One Vodka, elderflower, bee pollen, lager and egg white.

The Wheatfields. Photograph by Addie Chinn

Nine more cocktails will are expected on the menu and upon being served, guests can point their smart device (with the MIRAGE app installed) at the cocktail and it will recognise it and superimpose a vibrant art scene. No doubt you’ll want to try them all to see what each and every cocktail brings to your screen – very clever, City Social.
Once you’ve had your fun with the MIRAGE menu, grab a bite to eat, courtesy of executive chef, Paul Walsh.
The MIRAGE menu at City Social will officially launch in May: 25 Old Broad Street, London EC2N 1HQ