Komatose is a new bar and lounge at Holiday Inn Express that’s slated to be formally launched on 20th February. I paid a visit to the bar on Saturday afternoon, while it was in soft-launch mood to check out some of their concoctions.
Komatose wants to set itself apart from most other bars and night clubs in town by fuelling conversations. In fact, they flew in a sound designer from Pondicherry to ensure that no matter how loud the music is, you will still be able to talk with your friends comfortable. I did get a taste of this during my stay, where even though the volume of the speakers was quite high, I didn’t have to shout to make myself heard. But, the real test will be when the venue is packed and the speakers are belting out EDM at night. If Komatose lives up to its promise, then I’ll be the happiest, as I hate it when music hinders conversation. I’ve walked out of Beer House, and avoid TGIF in the evenings, thanks to their overtly loud speakers. The bar has a cozy yet upbeat ambiance, but might get a bit cramped as the total area is not massive.
The drinks menu has been designed to emphasize on cocktails, and is a ton of fun to read through. The main highlight is called “Complete Koma”, which costs Rs. 2500, and consists of sixty millilitre shots of Vodka, White Rum, Tequila, Whisky, and Baileys. It’s not for the faint hearted, but if you succeed your name will go up on the wall of fame (called the “Emeritus Wall”). There’s a Semi Koma option available for Rs. 1500, which features shots of Vodka, Tequila, and Baileys.
Another highlight is the cocktails themed on the 7 deadly sins – Greed, Envy, Gluttony, Sloth, Pride, Wrath, and Lust. I tried the Sloth and the Lust. The Sloth is a mix of vodka, blueberry, and lime juice. While I love the blueberries, the acidity of the berries and the lime completely overpowered the alcohol. I was told that this drink will be reworked with either more alcohol or less blueberry. The lust is a fiery cocktail with chilly infused vodka and strawberry. Komatose mixes the chillies themselves, instead of using off the shelf chilly flavoured vodka, and the difference was discernible. I loved this cocktail, but this will probably resonate the most with the ladies.
If you prefer your cocktails to be sweet instead of acidic or hot, the Hobbit is an interesting option for you. It’s made from bourbon and Amarulah with lots of chocolate. To me this tasted like Bailey’s with a lot of chocolate mixed in.
My favourite concoctions at Komatose were the Red or Dead and the Mary Koma. Both these drinks packed a punch, but tasted fabulous. They are priced at around five hundred bucks. The Mary Koma is a play on the massively popular Bloody Mary. Along with Vodka and Tomato, Jalapenos and Olives are added to the drink, which gives it a distinctive heat and flavour that elevates the flavour profile. Red or Dead is a mixture of white rum, dark rum, orange juice, and pineapple juice.
The food menu is still being worked upon, but since it’s going to share kitchen with splendid Jonathan’s Kitchen, I’ve high hopes.
Komatose isn’t cheap, but is priced similarly to other upscale places in Hyderabad like Over the Moon. Both the ambiance and the drinks are lively and spirited, and if they can maintain their quality and consistency even when packed, Holiday Inn will have another winner in its hands.
