27 Secret Underground Drinking Spots

The Libertine

Set in the immense vaults beneath The Royal Exchange, The Libertine is the newest hidden secret bar in the heart of the city. Sitting on the same site where the very first royal alcohol licence in Britain was granted, this space is steeped in hedonism – where merchants and rogues from across the city took part in boisterous ‘tippling’.

A modern revival of those mischievous times, the brand new venue is made up of a large destination bar, lively drinking and dining corners, main restaurant and two private dining rooms with a secret whiskey vault. The menu focuses on wholesome seasonal fare served from lunch till late – think seafood dishes, dry-aged steaks and snacks for sharing. And we can’t forget about the drinks menu, created in partnership with some of the city’s best distilleries, breweries and wine merchants.

Disrepute

If you’re after a special location for an impressive first date, after-work drinks or group evening-out, Disrepute is sure to promise a memorable secret bar experience. Tucked away between the hustle and bustle of Carnaby Street and Kingly Court, the entrance is so discreet that if you blink, you just might miss it.

The cocktail list is stunning, the décor is glamorous, and being a members’ club, the atmosphere is exclusive – making you feel like you’ve stumbled across one of London’s best kept secrets.

Discount Suit Company

Look for clothing at the Discount Suit Company and you’ll be suitably disappointed. It won’t last long though, because with cheap cocktails, exposed brickwork, and beamed ceilings, you’ll have found yourself your new favourite underground bar.

As a nod to the former tailor shop which it transformed from, look under the vintage ‘Discount Suit Company’ sign for the light marking its discreet entrance, descend the steep dark stairs, and enter via the black curtain. 

The Vaults at Home House

The Vaults is a glamorous late-night bar and lounge located in the basement of private members club Home House’s most hedonistic haunt, House 21. With its own private entrance and two adjoining karaoke rooms with state-of-the-art sound systems, the 3am curfew means you can party privately into the early hours.

The exclusive and luxurious space even boasts its own bar and DJ booth for your private event – perfect for long-awaited reunions with friends and indulgent parties for up to 50 guests. Daring, decadent and newly refurbished, this is the perfect place to indulge in champagne by the bucketful.

116 Pall Mall

If you thought the stunning façade of 116 Pall Mall was impressive above ground, then you need to head below street level to check out the cellars. Here you’ll discover London’s hidden underground bar, 116 Pall Mall Champagne Bar by Searcys.

The champagne bar offers an array of fizz, including one of the largest selections of magnums in London, alongside creative cocktails, British bar bites and a roster of events. Experts in champagne and sparkling wine, the drinks menu nods to Searcys heritage, offering a selection of Brut, Demi-Sec and Rosé, alongside a list of magnums from the likes of Moët et Chandon, Drappier, and Dom Pérignon.

The Cinnamon Club

Nuzzled below Vivek Singh’s notorious restaurant, The Cinnamon Club, you’ll find the hidden underground cocktail bar of dreams and Westminster’s best kept secret. This seductive and intimate cocktail bar takes cues from both British and Indian culture, drawing inspiration from the rich colours of the spices found across India. It’s the perfect spot to while away your evening with friends, family or colleagues.

Expect luxe interiors, tropical plant-filled corners and flavour packed cocktails that put a contemporary twist on well-known classics. Make sure to try the signature Club Bellini – an infusion of Belvedere ginger vodka with apricot purée, spiced rose and topped with prosecco spumante; or the Red Lady – with Havana club 3yo, watermelon cordial, curaçao, orange and lime.

Manetta’s Bar at Flemings Mayfair

Manetta’s bar nuzzled inside Fleming Mayfair is soaring with history. Back in the 1930’s, it was the place to hangout for the cognoscenti of the worlds of literature and the arts who mingled with celebrated rakes and aristos. Flash forward to now and this lively atmosphere lives on through the plush velvet, supple black upholstery and polished rose gold.

The cocktail menu is inspired by writers Agatha Christie and Gertrude Stein who are depicted on the walls alongside portraits of James Joyce and Alice B. Toklas. For negroni aficionados, explore the impressive menu of seven libations including the chocolate Negroni, made with Portobello Road No. 171 Gin, Campari, Crème de Cacao white and Dolin Rouge.

Blame Gloria

Taking over the basement that once housed Adventure Bar, Blame Gloria is a retro-inspired drinking den from the award-winning team behind Tonight Josephine, The Escapologist and Bar Elba. The Gloria in question is a former girl about town, she partied with Hendrix, spent her life in hotels, taught Bowie how to do his make up and can make a mean whiskey sour. Now that she no longer has the best legs in Soho, she has moved into the basement and is throwing the best parties.

The Vault Soho

You know how things aren’t always quite what they seem? That’s the deal with Milroy’s whisky shop in Soho. That bookshelf in the shop, it’s not a bookshelf. It’s a hidden door and if you go through it you will come across The Vault.  A cosy little basement bar, it’s all exposed stone and wood panelling, the perfect place to hide away from Soho with a cocktail or two.

ESQ Bar at 100 Queen’s Gate

You’ll want to be rocking over to 100 Queen’s Gate’s chic hidden venue, ESQ Bar. Adorned with plush seating, here you can sit bac, unwind and disconnect from the outside world. ESQ’s wonderful mixologists specialise in making unique Victorian inspired drinks out of homemade infused spirits.

London Shuffle Club

London Shuffle Club’s basement speakeasy bar, Crazy Eight, is the home of table shuffle – a fast-paced game that’ll liven up your evening. Pop down for cocktails and a game of table shuffle and you’ll discover a menu that’s sure to delight even the most discerning of drinkers. Their freshly made sourdough pizzas can also be ordered to your table for a little late evening snack. With more intimate vibes than their main venue upstairs, you can sip and shuffle away in style.

Basement Sate

Things you don’t tend to find in a cellar: cocktails and pudding. You do however in Soho’s Basement Sate. Which means when you’re out drinking and suddenly get a craving for peanut butter and Oreo cake (who doesn’t?), you’re craving can be satiated with a quick trip to Basement Sate where puddings come first and cocktails come second. Genius.