When was the last time you walked into a venue in Cayman and felt like you had been transported to another time and location?
Dual red cushioned doors beside Agua Restaurant in Camana Bay certainly stand out on an island where windows and entranceways fashioned from glass are very much the norm. At first glance, one could think they lead to a luxury spa, or mark the location of a private club. Would a secret password or special handshake be required in order to gain access? As the protagonist from ‘Alice in Wonderland’ once exclaimed, curiouser and curiouser.
Well, what the curious will discover, if they dare to enter, is the welcoming and intimate Next Door bar and lounge, with design showcasing a definite nod to the speakeasies of Prohibition times and Paris’s Moulin Rouge.
The main bar has its tipples in bottles of all shapes, sizes and colours clearly displayed on the back wall. Bartenders are shirted and tied, a la Chicago in the days of Al Capone, wielding their tools of the trade with expert hands, creating elixirs for the evening’s punters.
Past the bar, as one moves further into the room, is the lounge area. On the left, rich, wine-coloured velvet bench seats and matching cushioned stools surrounded gold-accented tables with individual lamps, adding to the glow from the rows of elevated lit crystal bottles that run the length of the walls on both sides. A single piece of artwork hangs at the back on velvet panelling, complementing the colours of the décor.
On the right side of the lounge are semi-private individual booths, each with their own archway entrance, again with that cosy velvet bench seating.
The menu for Next Door includes an extensive range of cocktails, with some attributed to Cayman’s most well-known mixologists.
There is also an excellent variety of wines and Champagnes on the list, for those who favour the goodness of the grape.
Beyond the beverages, there are sections devoted to gourmet nibbles, perfect for sharing with friends. A couple of charcuterie boards are all you need when you fancy a bite or three.
Clearly the proprietors of Next Door have made sure that the weekly entertainment is in keeping with the theme of the venue. On given evenings, one might find a funky DJ spinning the tunes, a jazz trio covering the hits, a smooth sax player elevating the atmosphere, or even a burlesque show to add a saucy element.
Should patrons wish to step outside for a while, they can take a seat on the patio and watch the water of Camana Bay Harbour sparkling under the light of the moon. It’s also a very popular spot for happy hour, where workers and friends gather for wind-down time and to share a toast to the sunset.
However, once the sun goes down, it’s hard to resist the call of those red doors, beckoning you inside. Just like Alice, you should walk through the looking glass, fall down the rabbit hole, and explore the room in what feels like a different world. Oh, and don’t forget to drink the potions – they’re delicious.
This article appears in the Spring/Summer 2023 issue of InsideOut magazine, now available at magazine stands and delivered to select homes.
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