A whole new cocktail experience at The Permit Room

Amy Falconer discovers a whole new bar experience at The Permit Room...

Dishoom has gained quite the reputation for mouth wateringly good grub, service and surroundings since landing in Edinburgh last year but not many know about it’s (hidden) underground bar; The Permit Room.

Named so as a nod to the Bombay Prohibition Act of 1949, which required all drinkers to have a permit to consume alcohol, go downstairs in Dishoom and you’ll find a whole new bar experience – one with decadent surroundings, inventive cocktails and even a DJ who spins tunes until 3am.

Ushered to a beautiful booth with dim, sultry lighting, our attentive waiter explained the extensive drinks menu to us.

We opted for The Pila House Sling, £8, with pineapple, reserve bourbon and a tangy orange and lemon sharbat foam and The Kohinoor Fizz, £8, a Prosecco based tall drink with gooseberry syrup, lime juice and Portobello Road gin topped with some egg white. Super fruity and refreshing, we were off to a good start.
 

Next up we got right in to the Bombay spirit (literally) and ordered their Horniman’s Old-Fashioned, £9, and East India Gimlet, £7.50. They make the syrup used in the old-fashioned on site and use a smoked barrel to house the rum, pineapple syrup and bitters. It was as impressive as it sounds.

All gin and tonic fans will devour the East India Gimlet because it is just that (minus the tonic. Okay, okay – nearly); Portobello Road gin with Rose’s lime and a touch of celery bitter. As exquisite as it was short, it didn’t take us long to finish. 
 

We rounded off our cocktail extravaganza with the girliest of drinks and ordered 2 Bollybellinis, £7.50. Described as “a very pretty missy” it’s heady notes of raspberries and lychees with rose and cardamom Prosecco rounded off our trip to Bombay-in-Edinburgh.

The Permit Room was sophisticated, fun and oh-so flavourful. We even stayed out really late AND got a seat. Oh, now I’m showing my age…