The Martinis And Fries Trend Has Made Its Way To London
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13 hours ago
Adult happy meals: what's behind the hype?
Shaken, stirred, dirty, on the rocks: there are a whole host of different ways to mix a martini. But the most glamorous way to serve it right now? With a side of fries. Dubbed the adult happy meal, the pairing took off in New York in 2024, garnering a reputation as the ultimate casual yet sophisticated combination. And now the trend has appeared in London, popping up on menus of some of the buzziest spots in town.
Martinis And Fries: Why Do They Pair Well Together?
The martinis and fries craze originated – like so many great food trends – in the Big Apple. Over the past couple of years, the combo has soared in popularity, appearing on the menus of cocktail bars and restaurants across the city. At The Dickens, a rooftop bar in Manhattan, for instance, you can build your own martini and enjoy bottomless frites alongside it. Stylish eatery Cecchi’s, meanwhile, serves the New York Happy Meal: a martini and fries for $25, everyday from 5 – 6pm.
TikTok and Instagram helped popularise the trend (in fact, there are entire accounts dedicated to it). And now the pairing is going global, gaining popularity everywhere from LA to Amsterdam and, most recently, London.
Covent Garden Hotel
So why do martinis and fries pair so well together? Well, it’s all in the contrast. A simple blend of gin or vodka and vermouth, a martini is an undeniably chic drink: crisp, strong and timeless, with long-standing links to James Bond, who helped give the potent cocktail its stylish reputation. Fries, on the other hand, are the ultimate comfort food – one of life’s simplest humble foodie pleasures.
This high-low culinary pairing just works: it feels decadent, yet approachable at the same time. But the beauty lies, too, in the conflicting flavours, textures and temperatures at play, with the ice-cold, smooth, sharp martini cutting through the richness and saltiness of the hot fries.
Where To Find Martinis And Fries In London
Covent Garden Hotel
Looking for somewhere for a drink and a bite to eat before catching a show at the theatre? Pop into the Covent Garden Hotel to enjoy a £14 martini – which comes complete with bottomless seasonal fries, at no extra cost. With jazzy interiors from Kit Kemp, it’s a feast for the eyes too.
10 Monmouth St, London WC2H 9HB, firmdalehotels.com
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The Emory
London’s first all-suite hotel, Belgravia’s The Emory oozes quiet luxury. No surprise, then, that the venue is jumping aboard the martinis and fries hype, which you can order to your room for an extra dose of luxury (served by your own personal butler, of course).
Old Barrack Yard, London SW1X 7NP, the-emory.co.uk
Oblix East
Level up this winning combo – literally – at Oblix East, the bar perched on the 32nd floor of the Shard, which offers a martini and fries happy hour for £16 from 4 – 7pm each day. Sipping and crunching away while soaking up unparalleled views of the city skyline, you’ll feel like a movie star.
The Shard, 31 St Thomas St, London SE1 9RY, oblixrestaurant.com
