forget tiny tinis and classic cocktails — nostalgic 90s drinks are so back

Simple drinks are out,maximalism is in (Picture: Metro/Bunga90/Little Violet Door)

Just when we were getting used to sipping tiny martinis,and three-ingredient classic cocktails,the ‘less is more’ trend has come to an end.

These stripped-down drinks are so 2025,and we need to move on. They’re dead. Deal with it.

Why? Because 2026 is the year drinks are going to enter their maximalist era.

Over the next few months,expect to see plenty of in-your-face,over-engineered,bold,brash,brazen and nostalgic drinks,inspired by the beverages from our childhood.

More is definitely more,and so long as it comes garnished with sparklers,served in a mug that looks like a 90s pop icon and is mixed for us by a Cirque de Soleil clown,we’re on-trend.

@aleks.london.diary POV: You just found London bar where the 90s never ended 🕹️💿🍕⁣ ⁣ At its heart,Bunga 90 is an immersive,multi-sensory celebration of the 1990s. You don’t just stroll into a bar — you enter a time capsule built with playful attention to detail. ⁣ ⁣ • The façade is styled as a retro video rental store — complete with VHS tapes,SEGA consoles,posters,neon signage,and old school tech. ⁣ • Once inside,you’re guided through a “PEPSI Time Machine” into different rooms: a recreated Anglo-American family home,a teen bedroom decked out in fairy lights and posters,then the main bar area where 90s visuals play on a wall of vintage TVs. ⁣ • The vibe is chaotic in the best way — games,karaoke,surprises,and “easter eggs” across the venue. ⁣ • The toilets are a quirky highlight — every hour they “transform” into an M25-style warehouse rave,complete with UV lighting,smoke,and 90s dance anthems. ⁣ • You’ll spot vintage arcade cabinets,a Jurassic Park pinball machine,random posters,props,and hidden surprises around every corner. ⁣ ⁣ The menu leans into the comforting and shareable:⁣ • Oversized pizzas (12″ and 20″) with all kinds of toppings. ⁣ • Bar snacks such as deep-fried pizza dough strips,loaded baskets,chicken strips with garlic aioli,and other casual comforting fare. ⁣ • On Saturdays,there’s a bottomless 90s brunch (live music + drinks + food) for those who want nostalgia with their daytime vibes. ⁣ ⁣ 📌Bunga 90,167 Drury Lane,Covent Garden,London WC2B 5PG #londonlondongirll90snlondonbarnlondontiktokn#london

♬ original sound – London_Diary

What is a maximalist drink?

Essentially,if a drink doesn’t come accompanied by smoke,foam or a garnish in the form of a Sunday roast hanging off the side of the glass,it doesn’t count,and we’ll be sending it back.

We want more spectacle,multiple components,ramped up process and labour involved.

Give us Cacio e Pepe Martinis and drinks that are clarified,acid-adjusted,fat-washed,vacuum-infused,carbonated,and lacto-fermented. Any process that sounds like it’s come from a Swiss laboratory and we have no idea what it is,sign us up.

In terms of the glassware,it needs to be kitsch,themed,and excessive. Something that resembles an art installation,or a burlesque dancer.

Bonus points if the drink itself is a brightly-coloured liquid,resembling a Bake Off showstopper.

I think I’ve made my point.

View More »

‘Did I really drink out of a paella dish last night?!’

Do you have a story to share?