Man, so Pisco Week in London, right? I heard about it buzzing around a few months back, just a stray comment from a mate, and it kinda stuck with me. Figured, why not? Always up for trying something new, especially when it involves good drinks and a bit of a buzz in the city. I’m not usually one for super detailed planning, more of a “see what happens” kinda guy, but for this, I wanted to make sure it was a good one. You know, a solid night out, something to actually talk about later.
So, the first thing I did, naturally, was to start digging around online. I didn’t even know where to begin, really. Just typed “London Pisco Week” into the search bar, simple as that. Pages popped up, mostly event listings and some articles hyping it up. I wasn’t looking for fancy reviews or anything, just straight-up events. I scrolled through a bunch, eyes kinda glazing over after a bit, because there was just so much happening. Every bar and their dog seemed to be doing something special. My head started spinning trying to figure out what was what.
I realized pretty quick that just looking at random listings wasn’t gonna cut it. I needed a plan, a focus. I started to filter things down a bit. First, I thought about the dates. I had a couple of evenings free, so I circled those on my mental calendar. Then, location. I didn’t want to be trekking across London all night. East London? West? Central? I usually hang out around Shoreditch, so I thought, “Let’s stick to that area first.” It just makes things easier, right? No long tube rides at the end of the night.
With those two things in mind, I went back to the lists. This time, I was actually reading the event descriptions instead of just skimming. I kept an eye out for places I’d heard of, or ones that mentioned something specific that sounded fun. Some were just “Pisco sours all week!” which, fine, but not exactly exciting. Others talked about special tasting menus, masterclasses, or guest bartenders. That’s the stuff that caught my eye. I was looking for an experience, not just a drink.
One place, this little spot I’d walked past a million times but never actually been into, caught my attention. They were advertising a “Peruvian Street Food & Pisco Pairing Night.” That sounded proper good. Food and drinks, all sorted in one go. Plus, I like the idea of trying a place that’s been on my radar but I’ve never quite made it to. It felt like a low-risk way to finally check it out. I kinda paused there, thinking, “This might be the one.”
Choosing the Spot and Getting Ready
Once I had that spot in mind, I decided to lock it in. No more faffing about looking at other options. I checked their website, found the Pisco Week specific event page, and saw they had a few different time slots. Easy. I picked one that worked, a Friday night, not too early, not too late. Just right for a relaxed evening. They had a booking system right there, so I just went for it. Punched in my details, picked a time, and boom, got the confirmation email. Felt good to have it sorted, you know? One less thing to worry about.
After that, it was just a case of getting the crew together. I shot a message to a couple of mates who I knew were into trying new stuff. “Hey, Pisco Week. Found this place doing a food and drink pairing. You guys in?” They were, thankfully. Always better with a bit of company. We quickly figured out how we were getting there – probably just a short bus ride or a walk, depending on who was coming from where. No big transport plans needed, which was a relief. The main thing was just to make sure everyone knew the time and place.
The day rolled around pretty quickly. I didn’t do anything super special to prepare, just made sure I wasn’t starving before heading out – didn’t want to be hitting those Pisco sours on an empty stomach! I got myself together, felt pretty chilled about it all since everything was booked and confirmed. Just had to show up and enjoy it.
The Night Itself
We all met up right outside the place, right on time. Stepped in, and the vibe was instantly cool. Dim lighting, a bit of low-key music, and the smell of spices from the kitchen. The staff were friendly, showed us to our table right away. Our booking was definitely there, no issues. The menu for the Pisco Week event was laid out, and it looked even better in person than it did online. We started with the first pisco cocktail, a classic sour, naturally, and it was spot on. Fresh, tangy, strong. Just what you want.
Then the food started coming out – small plates, each one explained by the waiter, and paired with a different pisco concoction. We were trying things I’d never even thought to put together, flavours I couldn’t quite name but were absolutely delicious. We just sat there, chatting, laughing, trying each new dish and drink. It wasn’t rushed, wasn’t over the top, just a really solid, enjoyable evening. We ended up staying for quite a while, probably longer than we planned, just soaking it all in.
By the time we walked out, a bit wobbly but definitely happy, I felt like I’d really nailed that “perfect night out” thing. It wasn’t just about the drinks, it was the whole experience. From stumbling across the idea, to actually digging in and making a choice, getting my mates involved, and then just kicking back and enjoying it. It was a good reminder that a little bit of planning, but not too much, can really make a difference. Saved us from just wandering around aimlessly and ending up in the same old pub. This was something different, something memorable. Definitely glad I put in the effort.
