A hideaway haven to enjoy artisanal cocktails and timeless jazz music
As its name suggests, Eskobar boasts of a sensory journey of South American flavours from its music to its menu. Their uniquely crafted Latin-inspired cocktails highlighting local produce and creating innovative cocktails are seen nowhere else in the Sri Lankan bar industry. Not only do they look picturesque but the meticulous attention to detail and the innovative techniques used in their preparation, coupled with distinctive pairings of flavour, take it to the next level.
The food aptly titled ‘comida’ perfectly compliments their cocktail menu providing tangy, crunchy and meaty South American dishes, elevating pub classics to restaurant worthy dishes. The breathtaking rooftop view of Colombo adds that cherry on top to the whole experience making Eskobar the place to spend your evenings at.
So here are some of the signature items we checked out!
DISHES
Duck Taco – LKR 3,000 (5/5)
The confit duck taco delivers on both flavour and texture. The duck is slow-cooked to tender, juicy perfection and wrapped in a soft taco shell. A layer of jalapeno mayonnaise adds a subtle heat, while pickles and fresh herbs bring tang and freshness. Each bite offers a well-balanced combination of richness, spice and acidity. Despite being generously filled, the taco holds together well, making it surprisingly easy to eat without the mess.
Venezuelan Camarones a la Parilla – LKR 5,500 (4.5/5)
This was a dish you could smell before you saw it, it was that fragrant. The two prawns were served in their entirety and were bigger than my hands. They were grilled to perfection providing a perfectly charred prawn coupled with a great smokiness flavour. The prawns were easy to cut into and the heaviness of the prawns was balanced by a fresh, tangy salsa and dollops of avocado which really accentuated the earthy grilled flavour the dish had. However, it is a bit messy to eat as it does come with the shell.
Colombian Chicharrón – LKR 3,000 (5/5)
This pork belly, believe it or not, is slow-cooked for 12 hours and it is so tender and soft it falls apart at the touch of your knife. While the skin on top is still crispy which is a hard combination to achieve. Just cutting into it made us salivate. The pork was seasoned well and the strong flavours of pork was balanced out by a fresh, tangy and vibrant chimichurri. Our only complaint was that we wanted more.
DRINKS
Tamarindo – LKR 3,000 (4.5/5)
Accompanied by a tamarind and white chocolate candy this tropical and vibrant yellow cocktail really drove the flavour of tamarind home. The in-house made tamarind syrup coupled with caramelised banana shrub, provided a floral and sweet taste while the crisp pisco provided a tart finish. However this is on the sweeter side so it is perfect if you have a sweet tooth otherwise it may be a tad bit too sweet.
Lord of the Skies – LKR 4,300 (5/5)
In comparison this was a smoother, classier cocktail and a tad bit more on the tangy, sour side. A novel take on an Old Fashioned, this dark orange concoction was bourbon based coupled with banana and infused with vanilla. It is served with a hint of bitters and an orange peel inside which not only adds to the look but ensures the zestiness of the orange is present throughout the whole drink.
Long Island Cartel Brew (A Rebel’s Take on a Classic) – LKR 4,990 (4.5/5)
Everyone loves a strong Long Island and this really hits the spot. Not only is it uniquely presented as it is topped with an in-house made smoked cola cream but it has a combination of tequila, vanilla vodka, rum, gin, triple sec. and a Colombian coffee syrup (which really comes through). While it may seem like a lot is going on it is well balanced and is a perfect drink for a night out. It is finished off with fresh lemon and that coupled with the smokiness of the cola cream provides a novel twist.
AMBIENCE
As you enter you are greeted with a burgundy interior adorned with comfortable plush dark yellow furniture. The drapes are a deep orange bringing out an overall lush dark hue that is the perfect environment to sit back and relax with a cocktail in hand. It is further accentuated by gold fixtures for a touch of class.
Overall it gives off an olden day jazz bar vibe and this is further brought out by the jazz and latin music softly pouring out of the speakers. The bar area boasts of a wall of premium bottles of liquor adding to the elegance of the interior. They also have a rooftop with a beautiful 360 degree view of Colombo and speakers attached upstairs so that the jazz theme is present there too.
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Author: Editor
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