The internet is replete with examples of unusual – and some very unfortunate – restaurant names. Besides the unforgivable puns, there is the slightly unappetising Brawn in London; Skin & Bones in Oregon; and Virus in Ghent. Locally, we’ve been eagerly awaiting the opening of a tapas and cocktail bar with the curious name of The Orphanage. Situated on the corner of Bree and Orphan Street, this beautifully refurbished space opened up just last week.

“Our name comes from St Francis Church across the road,” explains partner Raymond Endean. The church began an orphanage in 1919 to take on the huge number of children orphaned by the Spanish Flu. The cocktail bar is dedicating a portion of their profits from one of the drinks on the menu to their namesake, which remains an orphanage today. 

“We’re based on the concept of a speakeasy,” says Raymond. Running in the USA during the prohibition years in the twenties and thirties, speakeasies were secret bars that sold banned alcohol. Expect unusual combinations like the More Tea, Vicar? (a rooibos cocktail served in a rose-patterned teacup, with a square of jelly in a teaspoon), or the Orphanage Martini (a cucumber, elderflower, mint and pressed apple martini served with a cucumber sandwich).

An odd concept perhaps: a bar named for those too young to drink, but there’s no denying that the Victorian-sounding phrase fits the beautiful dark wood interior. Rows of amber alcohol glow behind the bar, and a specially made DJ box is fitted with drawers with beautiful old-fashioned keys, so that regular customers can keep their bottle of Hendrick’s Gin, Finlandia or Glenfiddich 12-year-old for next time.

There’s also tapas on offer. Dishes include the Cauli-fritter (cauliflower heads with a coconut, chilli and lime dip), the Crayfish Signature (a toasted bun with scallion mayonnaise, truffle chips and Asian coleslaw) and the Octopus Crunch (crumbs, garlic, chilli spring onions and sweet chilli mayo.) We also like the sound of the Pineapple Thins with mint, chilli and rose syrup, and the Molten Coco Loaf with ‘vanilla creamed ice’.

By Katharine Jacobs

Have you been to The Orphanage? Write us a review.