Savouring the balanced flavours of a perfectly poured concoction can be a true delight on its own, readily available in many bars around Glasgow. However, what if we told you Glasgow is getting a cocktail bar “like no other” right in the heart of the West End: Somewhere By Nico is coming to the city in March, offering a six-course cocktail experience.
The Six Company has announced opening three restaurants for 2024, with a three million pound investment that includes a new Six by Nico in Merchant City, a speakeasy fish restaurant Sole Club and the cocktail experience Somewhere By Nico.
Opening on March 20 on Byres Road, Somewhere By Nico is set to bring a brand new bar concept to Scotland, probably not available anywhere else. The new spot is transforming into the magical Land of Oz, becoming the first in a series of immersive cocktail experiences from the people behind Six by Nico.
Chef Nico Simeone said: “Somewhere by Nico is an immersive experience where reality and imagination merge to bring you a new idea of what a bar can be. We take a playful and creative approach to bring fictional worlds to life through these experiences.”
“We will always draw inspiration from the philosophy of Six by Nico when creating new experiences – but this is something completely different. After 19 months of development, I am excited to see this innovative concept is finally taking shape and coming to life.”
“Our drinks create a new world of possibility where our mixologists, designers, marketing team and chefs collaborate closely as storytellers to create new worlds every six weeks. But Somewhere is about more than just cocktails; it’s about the entirety of the experience. Food and drink combine to take guests on an immersive journey.”
He added: “We really wanted to raise the bar for ourselves. People are looking for more than just a drink; they want an experience. We believed that to be true and that’s been vindicated; we’ve been blown away by how popular this has proved to be. The venue is exactly what we dreamt of. It has an exclusive members’ club feeling, something I think Glasgow needed but is definitely more than ready for.
“It’s drinks-led, but we’ve put as much attention on the alcohol-free menu – while it feels exclusive, this experience is designed for everyone.”
Speaking further of the concept, Brand Director Morgan Pope said: “This is unlike anything else, anywhere else — any bar that is ‘immersive’ creates that feeling through digital experiences rather than through fabric and light, which is what we’ve done.
“At the entrance, distorted glazing adds an element of intrigue, beginning the hazy, dreamscape experience. When you walk through the doors, it’s trippy; the artwork draws you in, before being welcomed to the seating area filled with large oversized upholstery, soft fabrics, and soft light fittings – this is where full relaxation begins.
“Then comes the dream stage, when each guest is immersed in the cocktail experience, with the bar taking centre stage and adding an element of theatre to proceedings. The low lights allow people to get lost in the experience.
“Artwork is a key feature, the brief to them was ‘tell me your wildest dreams’. Everything from lighting to art is completely out of the box, creating the perfect environment for the cocktails to come to life.”