Mala

When is a bar not just a bar? How about when it’s Mala. At Finest, we’ve seen some unique design ideas for eateries and drinkeries over the years, but few can match what began life as a lockdown project and has since become one of the most iconic hospitality destinations in the Northern Quarter. A slice of the outside, inside, or maybe vice-versa, before you even step foot through the entrance it’s easy to see what we mean. The all-wooden, pop-up style structure sits on a sliver of land outside a modernist concrete slab. Mala is an ideal spot for a place that’s all about open-air good times and a sense of surreal escapism. 

A secret garden-style setup, decor and features at Mala are a combination of rustic rural retreat and slightly-madcap tea party, fairy lights keeping things fantastical long after sundown and individual cabins bookable for semi-private parties. Alternatively, opt for a booth indoors and be greeted by pastel colours and retro lampshades, somewhere between Wes Anderson and DIY culture. The perfect setting for a get-together with friends, the bar service and offering are every bit as pleasing as the look and feel, with a mean line in cocktails being poured by the pros. Including frozen margaritas and daiquiris – exquisite stuff. 

The wine list is also strong, as is the beer selection on offer — from Swiss Alpine speciality 1936 Bière to Camden Hells. Then there’s the food, such as delicacies created by plant-based kebab shop, What the Pitta. Other visiting kitchens have included the incredible Eritrean-Ethiopian eatery House of Habesha. Proving that you could definitely spend a full day here, Mala also programmes a regular stream of local DJ talent adding to a vibe of being primed to party, pretty much any day of the week. Throw in a sunny day, then, and you can imagine how it goes.