Tini, not Tiny: review of Tini Bar, 87 Walton Street , London

So I checked out the newest bar in Chelsea a couple of weeks ago, an aperitivo experience modelled on the early evening bars of Milan, serving up an array of pre dinner aperitifs and post-work cocktails. We were told that Donatella Versace had thrown a rather swish soiree there the previous month, that didn’t put us off, although my date swore she could see splashes of spray tan top up on  the walls of the ladies toilets and I hope it was peroxide teeth whitening gel on the basins of the Gents.
We were welcomed by a a team of jockeys, I mean vertically challenged mixologists, dressed like they’d just finished a stint at The Grand Hotel et de Palm Palermo. Very stylish, very clean and shiny. That’s what you want really isn’t it – shiny glasses and shiny dudes filling them up. This made for a good start to the evening and as soon as we were handed the drinks menu we knew we would struggle to drag ourselves away after ‘two’. We were served by Fabrizio who revelled in discussing with us the merits of the Negroni which happens to be my favourite cocktail of all time. Usually made with equal measures of: gin, sweet vermouth and Campari, he recommended using the Italian digestif Punt e Mes – one of my favourites too. I was wondering if someone had briefed this guy.  We agreed, and it worked! Another two then please. “No!” he said, suggesting we tried them with the  Giuseppe C. Carpano antica formula sweet vermouth instead. He gave us a shot to try and I would have grabbed the bottle off him and legged it … if it hadn’t have been what seemed like a magnum. He mixed us another with the Giuseppe and as he handed it to me I swore I heard him say the famous line from Breakfast at Tiffany’s: “That’ll set you free”. After a generous swig – it did.
Drinks are accompanied by nibbles: Prosciutto, fine olives, mozzarella balls drizzled in pesto and honey and pepper glazed mountain cheese, I think, I was getting mildly toasted by now. After listening to the barmen entertain two gorgeous Italian girls next to us, still shiny never slimy, we left for home with big smiles and heads full of Audrey and George…. set free by Tini.