Drink Lagos: Pat's Bar
For the Champions League Final, last weekend, my drink buddy and I went to Pat’s Bar - a pub in Victoria Island popular with the expat community in Lagos. It was madness, we all know what happens in pubs on a football weekend.
Public Service Announcement: If you’re a camera-wielding fiend, make sure you’re discreet in your picture taking and take pictures of just your table so you don’t piss off management. Pat's Bar is particular about the privacy of their customers.
The outdoor bar
Pat's does not have a comprehensive cocktail list like we’re used to so we settled for the Tequila Sunrise and Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri.
The Tequila Sunrise, made with tequila, orange juice, and grenadine, came unmixed. This gave it a hue of reds and yellows mimicking a ‘sunrise’ in a typical Collins glass. It’s a lot like the Mexicano at Bottles, but without the pineapples. This wasn’t exactly my favorite take on the cocktail because I’d have preferred the grenadine switched out for dark rum or blackberry brandy. You’re not only getting a sweetener but extra alcohol – fantastic!
Tequila Sunrise
The downside of Pat's Tequila Sunrise is the fact the tequila made it so predictable. I mean, I get that the tequila is essential but it wouldn’t have been a bad idea if a bit of rum or a brandy-based syrup made its way into the mix to make things interesting. I’d take the Mexicano at Bottles over this any day.
I cannot remember if their menu described the Strawberry Daiquiri as frozen because it was anything but that. I can write an entire book on how good ice makes life (especially in this struggle Nigeria) a better place.
Do Daiquiri’s come with salt-rimmed around the glass? I wouldn’t know cause I’m a margarita babe.
(Ed Note: No, Daiquiris do not.)
I found the salt thing quite frustrating because my drink, with its melted ice, kept mixing with the salt every time I tried to take a sip. I didn’t mind it initially when the ice was still existent. Asides the salt and poor ice, Daiquiri’s might be better than Margaritas for obvious reasons – rum. I was having the time of my life with this cocktail because it was just the right amount of everything; lime, rum, and strawberry syrup lol.
Lastly, I am not going to be contemptuous and say I prefer fresh strawberries because if I have learned anything in the past month, is that strawberry flavored anything is better than actual strawberries. I also love that I found an adult slushy.
TL:DR
Good for: Watching sports
Food: Full Kitchen
Happy Hour: Yes | Bottle Service: Yes | Wine: Yes | Beer: Yes
DAMAGE
Tequila Sunrise - N2500
Strawberry Daiquiri - N2200
Christina is a TV and Film junkie who also spends an incredible amount of time reviewing skincare products she can barely afford.