An Italian cocktail bar in Edinburgh nationally recognised for its excellent drinks, food and service is to takeover one of Liverpool’s best drinking haunts for a special evening this September.
For one night only, Hey Palu, recently included in the prestigious top UK 50 cocktail bars list, will be showcasing their mixology magic at Abditory on Queen Avenue, which itself knows a thing or two about blending flavours.
Offering an authentic Italian cocktail experience and the spirit of ‘aperitivo’ style of drinking with Vermouths, amari, and bitters, Hey Palu has gained a cult following in the Scottish capital as a brilliant place to spend an hour or two.
Co-founded by Alex Palumbo and his wife Rachel, Hey Palu opened in July 2019 as a neighbourhood bar on Bread Street in the Tollcross area of Edinburgh quickly gaining a loyal clientele which supported them during the repeated lockdowns of 2020 and 2021.
Hey Palu continues to draw the crowds with their carefully selected drinks menu, perfect Italian small plates and a “killer playlist”.
Alex said: “Being named in the top 50 UK cocktail bars list was a beautiful surprise, but I think we have created a nice place for our guests to enjoy themselves and of course we serve them really good drinks. We focused from the beginning in what we wanted to achieve and worked very hard to get there.
“Hey Palu is what we call a modern Italian bar, a relaxed and informal environment but with the spirit of Italy found in the drinks. Our 47 different regional variations of amari, our Vermouths and our signature Negronis have made use very popular in Edinburgh.”
Alex’s stand out cocktails include the Pink Pigeon Club made with Roku Gin, preserved raspberry, strawberry, cranberry, lemon and aquafaba; the Smoked Banana Old Fashioned, made with Myers Rum, Jamaican rum, banana, tonka bean and Fernet Branca Smoke; and the Tiramisu! made using Buffalo Trace Bourbon, marsala, Averna Amaro Siciliano, espresso and mascarpone.
He added: “We are very much looking forward to this bar takeover, because it’s interesting to see different styles and different bars in different cities. I hear Abditory is a great place with great drinks and of course the main thing is about making new friends.
“This is also about working together because the bar industry has suffered a lot in the last couple of years so it’s nice to see it bouncing back now and things like this can only help. I am really looking forward to coming to Liverpool for my first visit and probably a big hangover the day after!”
Since it opened, Abditory, which means ‘hiding place’, has become known as a friendly neighbourhood and comfortable hideaway focused on standards of service and old school cool with an ace 80s soundtrack, wacky design touches in both the bar and the restrooms, serving exceptional cocktails and weird and wonderful snacks. It’s owned and operated by leading Liverpool hospitality consultants, Lucky Penny Group.
Abditory’s General Manager Tom Norris said:
“To bring a bar with such a reputation to Liverpool is something of a coup for us because we have been following what they have been doing for some time and love what the Palumbo family and their team have created. I urge anyone visiting Edinburgh to sample it.
“In many ways Hey Palu and Abditory are kindred spirits, tucked away bars that mix the modern and the classical and consistently delivering great experiences for customers. It’s going to be an exciting night with new cocktails being served and a few surprises planned. To my mind, it’s unmissable.”
The Hey Palu takeover event at Abditory, Queen Avenue takes place on Wednesday September 7th, from 6pm.
