Getting a mocktail right isn’t as easy as you might think. Drinks can quickly turn into a glass of neon-coloured liquid sugar an eight-year-old would delightedly slurp. (We’ve had a few glowing, saccharine mocktails in our time.) And having just a few decent signature soft drinks is rare, so imagine a trendy place that is devoted to them.
Situated on the second level of The Galleria Al Maryah Island, next to the recently opened Grand Beirut, TVM is the first of its kind in the Middle East. An unlicensed bar specialising in mocktail mixology.
With an OG spot in Ireland, the bar only serves soft drinks, and its unofficial motto is there is nothing artificial about them.
TVM is conveniently located for pre- and post-shopping (or both). We are initially surprised to find the place in a mall, but it’s a great way for carrier-bag-laden shoppers to stumble on the concept and try it out.
The new spot is open from 10am to 10pm so we can see TVM attracting all sorts, depending on the time of day it is, and what food is being served up. With a food menu being rolled out with everything from breakfast to desserts, it feels like the lounge will adapt with whose coming in the gates – it’s just a matter of visitors being intrigued enough to come in and find out just what it’s about. The elegant exterior doesn’t reveal all that’s inside – perhaps a sign explaining the concept and what’s offered would help.
We head to TVM to rest after a few laps of the mall, and are all too happy to sit down in one of the comfortable chairs and (proverbially) put our feet up. This is a swanky modern spot, with pops of colour as opposed to a riff on an ancient Irish pub.
We wrongly initially thought you might get a sense of being in a birdcage when looking from the outside into TVM bar, especially with the swirling wrought iron design, but inside is much more spacious than it appears.
There are tables and plump patterned chairs dotted throughout, with large windows that look onto the road. Seating is arranged around the unlicensed bar, which is smack in the middle of the place and faces the mall proper so curious shoppers can see just what is being mixed up.
Those inside seem keen to make a night (or day and night) of it, with people on laptops, younger couples and groups of friends all settled around the tables enjoying their unlicensed drinks.
The extensive menu is surprising, even more so when you’re used to having two mocktails to pick from, but the sharply dressed staff know their stuff, and are happy to offer suggestions. There are soft grapes and soft mixed drinks, but the mocktails are the signatures.
TVM will be busy introducing itself to the mall and beyond, but we now fully understand The Galleria location. Aren’t the best bars often the ones found in the most surprising places?
What is it
A hip bar tucked away in The Galleria Al Maryah Island serving up ace mocktails and soft drinks
Why go
For the variety of well-crafted soft drinks in a spot you can settle in
