Chef Joonwoo Choi previously worked at Jinjuu and Bib N Hops (Photo: Courtesy of OBP)
Just in time to round off 2020 is a new venture by the team behind Mexican restaurants 11 Westside and Westside Taqueria, headed by Korean-American beverage director Daniel Eun. OBP is a brand new Soho dining and drinking destination on Old Bailey Street inspired by the iconic alcohol houses (
sool-jip) found all over South Korea, with an extensive food menu by former Jinjuu chef Junwoo Choi matched with cocktails designed by Eun, whose well-known CV includes the original PDT in New York City.
Naturally, the drinks pay respect to South Korean spirits, from oft misunderstood soju to makgeolli, and lesser seen cheonggamju and baeksaeju (both glutinous rice-based), which find themselves in creations such as the Dokdo Gimlet, Dream Highball and Red Devil 02. You can also sample more esoteric Korean alcohols such as jaju (a spirit distilled with honey and black pepper), bokbunja-ju (a fruit wine made