RESTAURATEUR Nico Simeone has told Glaswegians to expect ‘a bar like no other’ when he opens his first-ever bar and cocktail venue on March 19.
‘Somewhere by Nico’ – a concept almost two years in the making – will open above Simeone’s popular Six by Nico venue at 358 Byres Road, the building that was long occupied by the Fopp record shop.
The chef’s plan for the concept bar is to offer a creative six-course cocktail experience served alongside a new themed food pairing, both of which will rotate every six weeks.
“Somewhere by Nico is an immersive experience where reality and imagination merge to bring you a new idea of what a bar can be,” said Simeone. “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,” he primised.
“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.”
The interior design of the venue has involved a six-figure investment, plus a lot of care and attention, as it will play a crucial role in the venue, which is intended to be fully inclusive, with alcohol-free versions of every cocktail on the menu.
“I have learned a lot of lessons along the way from Six by Nico, particularly in terms of uniqueness and inclusivity when it comes to offering vegetarian and vegan tasting experiences,” he added.
“From the outset with Somewhere we aimed to address how we could create an amazing zero-alcohol experience without compromising on taste by sourcing the best products and allowing our mixologists to deliver the same imaginative experience to everyone who visits.”
Somewhere – which will open late at weekends – will be the latest arrival at the Great Western Road end of Byres Road, where Six by Nico, Crabshakk Botanics, and Ka Pao have recently combined to enliven the area.
“It’s really cool that three of the same independent operators who helped Finnieston become a recognised destination are now doing the same at the top of Byres Road,” said Simeone.
“It is important businesses feed off each other; this has always been a key part of our success. Now, with Somewhere, we can offer a venue that restaurant guests across the whole of Byres Road and beyond can enjoy after an amazing meal, whether it’s at Six by Nico or one of the other brilliant neighbouring venues.
“I don’t think there’s anything else like this in the city, or perhaps anywhere. We can’t wait to see how the people of Glasgow respond.”
