Bar From Afar and SoHo Hotel have a lot in common: both have a presence in both Ottawa and Toronto, and both are increasing their presence in the Toronto area. And, of course, both are learning to adapt to a pandemic-affected season.
So, for Valentine’s Day, the pair of small businesses teamed up to create an experience perfect for any kind of romantic weekend getaway. Whether you choose to stay in all night, go out to a restaurant, or enjoy some other evening out, SoHo Hotel and Bar From Afar invite you to take their package with you.
Inside SoHo Hotel’s newly renovated rooms, Greg O’Brien and the Bar From Afar team offer a finely-crafted package of cocktails to be crafted at your desired time. Inspired by romance on Valentine’s Day, the cocktails are all hues of red and infused with rich flavours. The kit allows guests to make three speakeasy-style cocktails and enjoy them with perfectly paired truffles.
“I’ve worked in hospitality for a long, long time,” O’Brien says. “As well as being a bartender, I am passionate about food and wine.” He explains that the pandemic took away one of the things he loved best about the hospitality industry: watching people’s faces as they tried food and drink pairings. So, he thought, if he couldn’t see it happen, he may as well give people the opportunity as best as he could. “I really thought about pairing cocktails with a sweet treat that could elevate both the food and the drink.”
Equipped with a team member with a pastry background, the Bar From Afar group spent a few days perfectly pairing the three cocktail options–the If You’re A Bird, I’m A Bird, the Of Love And Longing and the Nobody Puts Baby In The Corner–with boldly flavoured truffles. Each also comes with a unique glass specifically picked for the drink.
“We had to think of something we can offer people that they may not be able to have in restaurants,” says SoHo Hotel’s general manager David Kelley, keeping the spirit of Valentine’s Day alive. “It’s a great package because people are still going to spend time in their rooms, people can enjoy them before they go out or save them as a nightcap. There’s still that intimate time to enjoy your drink.”
The package is available from February 11th to 13th, and includes a late, 2 p.m. checkout. Book it online at the SoHo Hotel’s website using the code SWEETPKG.
