Savouring the balanced flavours of a perfectly poured concoction can be a true delight on its own, readily available in many bars around Edinburgh. However, what if we told you Edinburgh has a cocktail bar “like no other” right in the heart of the West End: Somewhere By Nico opened in the city in June 2024, offering a six-course cocktail experience. Plus, the spot is currently serving £5 cocktails as part of their very own cocktail festival.
The Six Company has announced opening two restaurants for 2024, with a two million-pound investment that includes a new Six by Nico in the West End and the cocktail experience Somewhere By Nico.
Opened in June, 2024 on Charlotte Lane, Somewhere By Nico has brought a brand new bar concept to Scotland, probably not available anywhere else. The spot is currently transforming into a cocktail festival, which will not include six courses, but it will offer cocktails for just £5 between May 2 and 11.
On top of indulging in their favourite concoctions, guests will also be able to enjoy special events at the bar. There will be exclusive guest collaborations throughout, with renowned drinks brands from across the UK, including Grey Goose, Secret Garden Gin, Patron Tequila, Bacardi Rum, Panther Milk, Pickering’s Gin and St Germain.
Pickering’s Gin is taking over Somewhere by Nico on May 8 with a cocktail masterclass between 7pm and 9pm made with their oat milk, while Bacardi is serving up some of their best rum cocktails on May 9. What is more, Secret Garden Gin is hosting on May 10, with a free gin cocktail with every meal. And finally, St-Germain is taking the spot over on May 11 to culminate the festival, with three cocktails and three plates for just £25 per person.
On the new bar, restaurateur Nico Simeone said: “For me, my childhood memories are the most influential in approaching creative menus and making connections. The development of new ideas, dishes and cocktails is often done when everyone is chatting about ‘what they remember’.
We will always draw inspiration from the philosophy of Six by Nico when creating new experiences – but this is something completely different. After 19 months of development, I am excited to see this innovative concept is finally taking shape and coming to life.
Our drinks create a new world of possibility where our mixologists, designers, marketing team and chefs collaborate closely as storytellers to create new worlds every six weeks. But Somewhere is about more than just cocktails; it’s about the entirety of the experience. Food and drink combine to take guests on an immersive journey.”
He added: “We really wanted to raise the bar for ourselves. People are looking for more than just a drink; they want an experience. We believed that to be true and that’s been vindicated; we’ve been blown away by how popular this has proved to be. The venue is exactly what we dreamt of. It has an exclusive members’ club feeling, something I think the city needed but is definitely more than ready for.
It’s drinks-led, but we’ve put as much attention on the alcohol-free menu – while it feels exclusive, this experience is designed for everyone.”