With a Nordic theme inspired by Thor’s mystical hammer, Mjølner pulls off that rare trick of committing to its shtick while providing great food, better drink and pitch-perfect atmosphere.
The commitment is real. Your server might have their hair braided and make-up done as though they’re straight from the set of Vikings. That sparkling mead you ordered will come out in an ornately carved drinking horn mounted on a custom stand. And as you cast your eye towards the chefs carving hunks of slow-roasted meats, you’ll likely spy an axe, rusted sword or wooden shield mounted on the wall by your table. It’s easy to get swept up in the spectacle, especially when epic tracks like ‘The Path to Valhalla’ or ‘Ragnarök’ are on rotation.
The main reason the crowds keep coming, though, is that its operators, the Speakeasy Group, behind such storied bars as Eau-De-Vie and Nick and Nora’s, not only know their product but back it up by making sure the drinks are just as sharp as the setting. Rest easy knowing you’re in good hands, and stick around for another round worthy of a Norse warrior – the gods have your back. As the line on the menu says, “May Odin give you knowledge on your path. May Thor grant you strength and courage on your way. And may Loki give you laughter as you go.”
It’s cocktails here above all, the menu ranging from refreshing apéritifs (in a section aptly named Sharpening the Axe) through to Berserkers – dark, herbaceous concoctions designed to help you digest and recalibrate. Start, though, with a Northern Lights, and taste how the bartenders add a sweet hit of iced riesling to a gin base, then spin the whole thing in a refreshing direction with the addition of sorrel and malic acid, and add a hint of elderflower for floral scent.
If mixed drinks aren’t so much your thing, pick the Son of Odin sparkling mead, made by Stone Dog Meadery. Not only does the fermented-honey drink pack sweet fragrance, it’s served in one of Mjølner’s polished drinking horns. Picture yourself in a wintry mead hall, charge your horn, and knock one back in honour of Odin. Then, of course, there’s the 400 whiskies that Mjølner stocks. Download the app, and scroll through for guidance on everything from weight to smoke to peatiness.
