East London has always been a melting pot of different peoples, so it’s only right that the Hawaiian culture is suitably represented in the capital. Step forward Pond Dalston, an exotic new bar that is hoping to entice you in with a alluring swish of its grass-skirted hips.
Having said that, aside from a few well-placed palm fronds, all the standard Tiki malarkey has been given the bum’s rush by local bar magnate Byron Knight; Pond is a very modern kind of Polynesian paradise with New Hawaiian Cuisine on the menu and a re-invented cocktail list from Megs DeMeulenaere. The Victorian warehouse blends an urban post-industrial look with recognisable Pacific island design elements – wood is dark and glossy like the black sand beaches of Tahiti, fabrics are naively colourful. Spam pops up quite a bit at Pond – introduced to Hawaii and other Pacific islands by US military occupiers after World War Two, it became a bit of a dietary staple and you can sample it a number of different ways here, with bar snacks including dried shrimp crusted pork spam fritters and spam nigiri. But unless you are one of the actual Pythons, do the staff a favour and spare them your hilarious impersonation. Chances are they’ve heard it before…
