Last week, we visited Albert’s Schloss’ Après Work event, which runs every Tuesday-Friday afternoon throughout the summer. The ultimate bohemian Pleasure Palace mixes post-work drinks with evening showtime sessions, as some of the second city’s finest singers, musicians and performers take to the Schloss Stage to soundtrack your evening.
The fun doesn’t stop there – during Après Work hours, you can sample six-pound Spritz and Seasonal Cocktails from the new summer drinks menu, titled ‘Lustgarten’. Some of the more fanciful creations include the Cherry and Yuzu Spritz, with Moose sour cherry, Absolut Rasberry, Ginjo Yuzu-shu, cherry gomme, lemon juice and Three Cents cherry soda.
The Pink Grapefruit Punch is another super summertime favourite, with Sphere grapefruit vodka, Moose pink grapefruit, cranberry, lime, and Two Keys pink grapefruit soda. If a spritz isn’t your drink of choice, fear not – there are also five-pound pints of Pilsner, and bottles of Prosecco for £25. These fantastic drinks offers runs Monday – Friday, from 4pm – 7pm.
If a long day at the office has built up your appetite, further indulgence in the Cook Haus is sure to make your day. The best of Alpine-inspired dishes and Bavarian feasts are laid out across an expansive menu, all inspired by the team’s travels across Alpine Europe.
Not sold yet? Check out our review below, from when we paid Albert Schloss a visit.
Our Visit:
We headed to the Chamberlain Square venue on Thursday evening, arriving at around 5pm to find the place in full swing. While there is no age restriction during the week, Albert’s Schloss operates a 21+ age policy on Friday and Saturday nights, and consequently, has cemented itself as a fan-favourite amongst a slightly older crowd (think millennial-plus!)
We were seated in a booth right next to the stage, where the live music was well underway. Smooth and relaxing, but not overpowering, it was the perfect entertainment to begin an evening of food and drinks. At our table in the Cook Haus, we were served by the wonderful Ines, who was friendly and attentive throughout our entire visit. We ordered our first cocktails, selecting the Pina Colada Spritz. Refreshingly fruity, it was a delicious way to start the evening – I didn’t realise how well the classic Pina Colada would work with a fun spritz twist, but work it most certainly did!
Throughout the rest of the night, we tried a range of unique and delicious Albert’s Schloss-exclusive cocktails, including the Black Cherry Kaiser, a Flat White Martini, and the Queen Victoria’s Coconut and Raspberry Martini.
The Cocktails:
Pina Colada Spritz:
Kalani Coconut, Take Maka coconut rum, Agnes Arbor pineapple, coconut gomme, lime juice, Franklin and Sons pineapple and almond soda.
Black Cherry Kaiser
Monkey 47 gin, Luxardo Sangue morlacco, Cocchi vermouth, cherry gomme, cherry puree, lemon juice, apple juice and bitters.
Flat White Martini
Sphere coffee vodka, Kahlua, Strambecco tiramisu, Mozart white, Haus salted caramel schnapps and espresso.
Queen Victoria’s Coconut & Rasberry Martini
Slipsmith very berry gin, Kalani coconut, framboise, raspberry gomme, cranberry juice, rasberries, bitters.
We also tried an equally delicious traditional Amaretto Sours, as an old favourite. Determined to sample as much of the visually stunning menu as we could, we worked our way through a tray of schnapps shots of different flavours, with the ultimate favourites being salted caramel and strawberry (but with lemon, raspberry, and coconut all worth repeat orders)!
Needing some food to pair with the extensive drinks menu, we opted for the Superfood Salat with Sweet Potato Falafel. We chose the vegetarian (and vegan-friendly) option, but the salat can also be paired with Herb chicken. The falafel came on a bed of quinoa, wild rice, yellow split peas, cumin roasted pumpkin, pickled rainbow carrots, pomegranate seeds, tenderstem broccoli, herbs, lime and sumac dressing, and tahini sauce.
It was certainly unconventional – the pickled rainbow carrots, split peaks and pumpkin were wonderful, and we’d never seen them in salads before! We weren’t so sure about the lettuce and cilantro it came with, which added a bitterness to the dish that I didn’t care for as much, but the falafel was excellent, and was very quickly polished off.
Dessert was absolutely on the table (both figuratively, and literally) after looking at the menu, and we opted for the Black Forest Brownie, served with cherries, vanilla ice cream, and chocolate sauce in a serving pan. This dessert was next level. The sauce was delightful, and the brownie was so rich, with the cherries adding a wonderful freshness.
I will be back at Albert’s Schloss very soon to try it again, and to sample the rest of the Pudding Klub menu – I have my eye firmly on the Alpine Semifreddo and the Baked Alaska!
We vacated our table in the Cook Haus and sat in the bar area while drinking our final beverage of the evening and had more of a chance to look around at the gorgeous interiors at Albert’s Schloss. The venue is warmly lit, with wooden benches and panelling creating a cozy feel, despite the impressively large site.
High ceilings eliminate excessive noise, and we felt very at ease during our stay, which was undoubtedly also due to the kindness and attentiveness of the staff, who were all very friendly and accommodating.
Thursday evenings are Cabaret nights, and while we had to head home shortly before the performances began (around 9pm) we spoke to others who had previously attended Albert’s Schloss, and who vouched for their wow-factor!
Throughout the rest of the week, during the Seven Nights of Showtime, ‘Back to Mein’ Mondays welcome guest DJs playing their personal record collections, with the understanding that anything goes, and Tuesdays are ‘Back to Bertie’s’, involving a musical exploration of artisanal beats and vibes. On Wednesdays, ‘Grand Slam Baby’ sees two pianists take on endless requests on one stage, and Thursdays are of course Kunst Kabaret nights, involving extreme and flamboyant live performances curated for Albert’s Schloss.
‘Friday Frolich’ kicks off the weekend, with interactive artists and the Haus band, before Saturday’s ‘Pleasure Palace’, which promises splendour, decadence, and delight. The week ends with the ‘Sunday Service’ of the Haus band, rotating DJs and a menu of Cook Haus Roasts. As the venue best puts it, ‘Grooves, gravy and good times’!
We certainly had a good time at Après Work with Albert’s Schloss. Whether you’re looking to celebrate the beginning of your summer holiday in style, or simply need a mid-week drinks venue, the event is a must-do for colleagues and pals alike. I hope we’ll see you there over the coming weeks – I’ll be the one devouring the Black Forest Brownie, Augustus Gloop style.
To book a table, or for more information, click here.
