NOVI

Re-banded Novi as little as two years ago, the cocktail bar and kitchen made its mark with Scandinavian, minimalist interiors offering something fresh to the usual traditional surroundings in Cambridge. Tucked between the rows of buildings on a busy Regent Street, the exterior stands out with its Tudor style paneling paired with modern sliding windows, opening it up into a light and spacious setting.

Only recently have Novi launched the opening of their new beautifully botanical living roof terrace where you can kick back and enjoy your drinks in the sun. Surrounded by natural marble tables, cushioned seats and vivid greenery, you feel transported into a green haven, clear from the parade of people and overcrowded bars in the centre of Cambridge.

Faye Knight, part owner and events manager at Novi, gives insight on why they decided to open up a roof terrace. “We thought it would be so lovely to have this outside space in the heart of Cambridge, we could utilize the space we have and include the botanical elements, I mean, who doesn’t love a roof terrace?” Truthfully enough, it’s not an objection you’d hear most people make.

In addition to the terrace you can enjoy a drink at their cocktail lounge located on the second floor, this is open on Friday and Saturday night when the atmosphere is most lively and people are ready to have some weekend fun. With many options from the ground floor eatery, botanical terrace to top floor cocktail lounge you can almost definitely find a setting which suits your taste.

When it comes to cocktails, Novi are the olive to your Martini. Known for being one of the best in the city for their extensive range of bespoke, original crafted cocktails they also offer all your grand classics. The exciting twist is their use of homemade ingredients, all the syrups are handmade by the bar themselves. Locally sourcing all their ingredients such as spices, herbs and fruits, the drinks are made with a totally organic process. Using a homemade syrup provides them with strong degree of flexibility with the depth of flavour used to create each drink, handing you the ‘one of a kind’ experience.

The house cocktails are split into four different sections; fruit, herb, spice and bean (coffee bean, not baked) presenting a broad scope of tastes to appeal to everyone. If you’re an adventurous drinker it’s definitely worth taking a pick from the spice or herb collection with the fruit based drinks an all-round crowd pleaser.

Don't Dis

Dozy Girl

Hot Dram!

Matt Saunders, General Manager and cocktail creator at Novi picks out some of the most exciting and exclusive cocktails they showcase on their inspiring menu. “‘Don’t Dis’ is a cocktail using a pear cider reduction, where we boil off the water to increase the intensity of the flavour.” Or if you’re daring you can try the ‘Slow Down’ which is made from a balsamic vinegar shrub. Using slow gin as the base, the flavours are changed seasonally from summer berry shrub to blackberry in the winter. “The ingredients are cooked off taking away the bitterness of the balsamic vinegar leaving a tangy taste” says Matt, which is music to the ears after the word vinegar is dropped. Faye adds that garnishing was equally important to them when creating their drinks. “With garnishing we tend to stick with natural dehydrated fruit and herb, it’s more fitting with the interiors. The way it looks is important to us, so we want our drinks to reflect that.”

As a family run business which began with the opening of The Fountain 12 years ago then re-branded as Novi, the usual crowd tends to differ from young professionals to people in their mid-20’s to early 40’s including couples. The refined space attracts a similar crowd, offering a setting where business professionals come for an after work drink, moving on to later in the night where you might find industry workers knocking a couple back after a late shift. A diverse and solid range of customers allows Novi to be a spot where pretty much anyone can come in and enjoy what’s on offer.

The music at Novi is fitting to the ambiance of the crowd, Matt comments; “We stay away from chart music, it’s more retro making it a little bit different to what you hear in other venues”. With the tunes changing throughout the night to fit the mood, it’s an easy listening sound where you can appreciate the music and your conversation.

Finally, if you’re a food lover do not despair. Novi offer nibbles and sharing boards to compliment your drinks, just in case the garnish doesn’t fill you up.

With a European feel, it’s the place you can pop in for anything from a pint to a coffee or a cocktail, even grabbing some food if you want..

Address: 12 Regent St, Cambridge CB2 1DB

Website: http://novicambridge.co.uk/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/novicambridge/