Cocktail O’Clock: Tonight Josephine, London

This article was originally published in International

Wanna feel like you’re hanging out in a girl bands bedroom? Inspired by #TB feminists, join us as we explore the bad gal cocktail joint that’s shaking up the nightlife for London’s ladies.

A night out with the girls is always welcome (until it’s 3am and your feet are killing, you’ve drunk text your ex and eaten your weight in greasy kebab) — a good gossip, a sip on some cool cocktails and the opportunity to get some poppin’ pics for the ‘gram. But one London cocktail bar is taking the girls night experience to the next level (disclaimer: magic mike dancers not included) — Tonight Josephine in London’s Waterloo is the neon drenched pink paradise serving up some serious gal power (basically a Fifth Harmony hangout lounge), and a bunch of the best cocktails you can get your lips around.

“The definitive Instagrammable pink cocktail mecca with fabulous staff where you smile through your entire visit” said directors Tobias Jackson and Kieron Botting when we asked them how they’d describe their pastille haven. Together the duo own a string of edgy bars seeking to do something different with London nightlife under umbrella company, Adventure Bar — Tonight Josephine is the latest on their roster, and they’re soon to add Bar Elsa, a super swanky rooftop space in the same location.

The cocktail menu is Tonight Josephine’s crowning jewel, with a selection of dreamy delights that’ll leave you feeling fresh AF, ranging from the Alberto’s Magarita, which is a blend of Casco Viejo tequila, orange juice, fresh lime juice, agave nectar, fresh coriander, salt & pepper rim and the Lemongrass Collins which unites Lemongrass-infused Eristoff vodka, fresh lemon juice, Licor 43, ginger beer and vanilla with additional chilli available upon request. Kudos to the bar-tenders for memorising these and more!

“The stand out extraordinary cocktail is the Violet Femme,” Jackson and Botting tell us. “It tastes exactly like the old school sweets, Parma Violets, but is made with Gin. We serve the sweets as a garnish so you can decide for yourself! It's named after the 90s band, The Violet Femmes who sung Blister in the Sun.” Erm, Blister? In The Sun? Not the most appealing reference for a juicy cocktail.

The bar is based on Josephine De Beauharnais, the first wife of Nepoleon (Take it his Tinder game was strong!) whose carefree attitude and lack of love for the rules made her a feminist icon (a vintage Kim K?) — and it’s this mantra that the bar wants their lasses to follow. Let’s face it, we’ll follow wherever the cocktails take us.

Photography & Videography - Iolo Lewis Edwards