A new West African bar is coming to Shoreditch

On days when you’re in the mood for jollof or egusi, the Big Smoke has its fair share of West African restaurants to venture to. In fact, one of the city’s best restaurants has been serving Nigerian tapas to Tottenham locals since 2016 and, after a decade in the game, has now launched its own fast food counter by Liverpool Street. 

When it comes to finding the flavours of West Africa in liquid form, though, London often falls short – but luckily this won’t be the case for long. That’s because award-winning bartender Emanuele ‘Lele’ Mensah is launching a new bar dedicated to showcasing the ingredients, techniques and stories of Ghana.

Asase, set to debut in Shoreditch later this year, takes its name from the word for ‘land’ in the Ghanaian language Twi. Mensah, formerly of the Connaught Bar and Lyaness, has said that the inspo behind the new West African cocktail spot is ‘the belief that the Earth is what connects us’. 

Clay and other natural materials will be central to the interior decor, with neutral, earthy tones like terracotta and brown running throughout the intimate 20-25-cover space. Plus, the layout has been designed around a big sharing table in the centre of the room to bring groups of guests closer together.

Asase was originally scheduled to open its doors this summer, but its debut has been pushed back to the autumn, with construction currently underway. 

When it opens, Asase will be serving West African-inspired drinks like the Egusi Martini, inspired by egusi soup, made with melon seed oil, chilli oil and fresh melon.

Check out our guide to the best West African restaurants in the capital.

Did you see that this Dalston spot is London’s coolest bar in 2026?

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