London’s 18 Best Speakeasy Bars
Whether you’re looking for a new bar to discover, the perfect date night destination or want to scour to find London’s best speakeasy bars, we’ve rounded up the city’s best-kept secrets. From late-night drinking dens to Champagne bars, bars with flamboyant interiors to cocktail havens, read on to find out more.
Seed Library
A hidden gem in Shoreditch, The Seed Library is effortlessly cool with a retro, wood-panelled interior, warm lighting, and a killer vinyl soundtrack. Whether you’re settling in for a laid-back night or catching one of their rotating DJs, the space is equal parts cosy and lively.
If you’re up for something adventurous, the Orkney Breezer is a fruity whisky fizz with seaweed ferment, coastal herbs, tropical flavours, and an unexpected twist. For a bold take on a classic, the Breakfast Bellini blends Patrón tequila, champagne, and… haricot beans. Trust us, it works.
Alternatively, if you prefer your drinks a little more subtle but still packed with flavour, try the Asteroid Garden. A refined gin-based served with pink meteor wine and tundra tea.
One Hundred Shoreditch Hotel, 100 Shoreditch High Street, Shoreditch, E1 6JQ
www.seedlibraryshoreditch.com
Eve Bar
Hidden beneath Michelin-starred Frog by Adam Handling in the heart of Covent Garden, Eve Bar is Chef Adam Handling MBE’s luxury cocktail bar – an indulgent underground hideaway created as a place with no concept of time. Led by Bar Manager Mario Hernandez, the team takes inspiration from nature and nostalgia, developing flavour-led cocktails that are both innovative and evocative. Sustainability sits at the core of the bar’s ethos, with ingredients and by-products from the Michelin-starred kitchen upstairs transformed into inventive drinks – a reflection of Adam Handling’s commitment to minimising waste while maximising flavour.
where: 34 Southampton Street, London WC2E 7HF
website: www.evebar.co.uk
The Bloomsbury Club Bar
Centred around the Bloomsbury Set, the group who rejected Victorian ideologies of religion and explored new ways of spiritual meaning through art, writing, kinships and belief in an interconnected universe, this bar is one to visit for those who love Tarot. Their array of 14 cocktails all correspond to 14 states of mind or being, linked to a special deck of Tarot cards.
Sip into the night on cocktails such as the Flaming Venom, made with Absolut Elyx Vodka, wild berries, young artichoke leaves and Perrier-Joüet Grand Brut NV; Mirror Image, a mix of Mount Gay XO, beeswax infused Remy Mártin 1738, green chartreuse, absinthe and blackberry tincture; and Siren Call, a combination of buffalo trace, bols genever, ‘big green’ artichoke, red plum extract and cocoa nib tincture.
16 – 22 Great Russell Street, WC1B 3NN
www.thebloomsburyclub.com
Fitz’s Bar
idden inside the Grade II listed hotel, Kimpton Fitzroy London, the Fitz’s Bar has become renowned for its flamboyant interiors, iconic Jazz Age mirrorball and seriously delicious cocktails.
Head here to soak up the decadence, from the Ostrich feathers and crocodile-skin wallpaper to the dazzling mirrorball that cascades from the ceiling. The curated drinks list will make you want to sip late into the night, enjoy everything from spirits to sparkling wine.
Three decadent spaces with unique personalities comprise a sophisticated eatery, elegant parlour and glamorous drinking den.
Kimpton Fitzroy London, Russell Square, London WC1B 5BE
www.fitzs.co.uk
Barts
Stepping foot in Barts is like venturing back in time to the 1929 prohibition-era. The apartment-turned-speakeasy is the home of the prolific Chicago gangster ‘Uncle Barts’, and is rich with his mischievous antics and heady cocktails.
Brought to life by the Inception Group, the menu is packed with bootlegged favourites, from the Leading Lady, made up of star of Bombay gin, peach liqueur, lemon and aloe vera juice, to Not Quite Queensberry, a mix of milk and toffee-washed Mount Gay Black Barrel double Cask Blend rum, Cointreau Noir orange liqueur, English Breakfast tea, lemon and Brazilian bitters.
Chelsea Cloisters, Sloane Avenue, SW3 3DW
www.barts-london.com
Blind Spot
Blink and you’ll miss it… Blind Spot is hidden inside St Martin’s Lane and serves up some of the best cocktails across the city.
Taking inspiration from the British Empire and its ancient tea trade, the cocktails are hard to fault. Travel the world touching down in Santorini, Greece for a cocktail made with Bombay Sapphire, Ouzo, orange juice, honey syrup and greek yoghurt; jetting off to Lima, Peru for Pisco, homemade lavender syrup, sea salt, lemon juice and egg white; and circling round to Mumbai, India for butter and cinnamon-washed brutal 1888 rum, lime juice and kamasutra spicy syrup.
45 St Martin’s Lane, WC2N 4HX
www.sbe.com
The Champagne Bar at 116 Pall Mall
Hidden behind the extraordinary facade of the Grade-I listed building, The Champagne Bar is a hidden oasis destined to be explored.
Once the wine cellars of the Prince of Wales and the United Service Club, the space is now a stunning champagne bar. Enter through the original iron gate cellar doors to the converted cellar with vaulted ceilings, exposed brickwork, plush velvet seating, and long wood-topped bar, alongside a private dining room, seating up to 50.
Reinvented by Searcys, expect an array of fizz including one of the largest selections of magnums in London.
A stone’s throw from Haymarket’s two theatres and the flagship stores of Regent Street, the bar is the ideal destination for pre-theatre tipples and champers-infused evenings with friends and colleagues.
116 Pall Mall, SW1Y 5ED
www.116pallmall.com
Esmeralda’s Mayfair
Described as the late-night soul of Mayfair, Esmeralda’s is a fabulous place to settle in for the evening. Tucked away behind the main restaurant, this intimate cocktail bar pairs dim lighting and plush seating with expertly crafted drinks inspired by Latin American flavors.
Expect bold, inventive cocktails and a lively atmosphere that feels worlds away from the bustle above — the perfect spot to slip into for a discreet nightcap or an indulgent evening out.
22 Hanover Square, London, W1S 1JP
www.esmeraldasmayfair.com
Walking through the curtain at Esmeralda’s Mayfair, I didn’t know what to expect, but it turned out to be an incredible experience. The staff were so welcoming and couldn’t do enough for us. It is the perfect London escape—be sure to try the oysters and enjoy the live music all night long!
Beth, Social Media Assistant
Nightjar
When I think of London’s speakeasy-style cocktail bars, Nightjar always springs to mind. It’s become a London institute when it comes to innovative cocktails and the perfect intimate date night destination.
Now with two London locations, it’s the perfect place to soak up the best of the city’s cocktail scene. The menus honour three distinct historical eras of 20th century cocktail-making – pre-prohibition, prohibition and post-war.
Sip on cocktails such as the Toronto, a rich, smoky old-fashioned style cocktail of Woodford Reserve Bourbon whiskey, orange blossom smoke, coffee & roasted pecan maple syrup, Fernet Branca and candyfloss. Or go for a signature Nightjar creation with their London Mule or Name of the Samurai.
Shoreditch & Carnaby
www.barnightjar.com
The Hideaway Bar at Sloane Place
Hidden in the basement of Sloane Place is The Hideaway, an art deco basement venue, where there are plenty of corners to while away an evening with a group of friends or a lover. The Hideaway is exclusively open for private hire only, offering an intimate, fun space with great drinks, snacks, and atmosphere.
Asecluded and intimate bar perfect for an evening hidden away from the world.
60 Lower Sloane Street, Chelsea, SW1W 8BP
www.sloaneplace.com
Ricco Lounge
Helping to add a touch of theatrics to your night is the Ricco Lounge. Tucked away on Russell Gardens, the cocktail lounge can be found serving up a dedicated selection of classic and signature cocktails, full of flavour. Menu highlights include Smoked Ricco, a mix of smoked whiskey, fresh lemon juice, honey, pomegranate syrup and orange bitter; Hemingway Daiquiri, a mix of light rum, maraschino liqueur, fresh grapefruit juice, simple syrup and fresh lime juice; and Millionaire Cocktail, made with rum, fresh lime juice, apricot liqueur, and Slone gin.
The venue hosts regular events and live entertainment, including their weekly ChicEasy Cabaret night that’s well worth the visit if you fancy being thrown back to the roaring 20s.
11 Russell Gardens, W14 8EZ
www.riccolounge.com
Oriole
Open until late Tuesday through to Saturday, Oriole is the place to head for beguiling decor, expertly mixed tipples and great hospitality. You’ll find the bar serving up some of the best cocktails in the capital, from classics to signature serves, all of which are paired beautifully against the live music. Cosy in for the night and you won’t be disappointed.
East Poultry Avenue, Smithfield Markets, EC1A 9LH
www.oriolebar.com
69 Colebrooke Row
The Bar With No Name, more commonly known as 69 Colebrooke Row, is the cocktail bar everyone talks about. Perfect for first dates, catch-ups with friends or even after work drinks, expect a mix of aperitifs, digestifs, cocktails and more hidden inside.
Grab a selection of small bite plates, alongside one of their seasonal cocktails. We love the Blackberry pie Bellini, made up of Blackberry Puree, Pie Tincture, and Prosecco, but you can’t go wrong with a house martini either.
69 Colebrooke Row, N1 8AA
www.69colebrookerow.com
Cahoots
The speakeasy every Londoner knows about, Cahoots is inspired by the 1940s. Located in Soho, its interiors replicate an abandoned train station and is made up of three parts: Underground, Ticket Hall and Postal Office.
The Underground will see your step inside a vintage tube carriage, complete with underground signs and booth seating, while The Ticket Hall is now home to the black market for liquor and cocktails for all your scoundrels. The Postal Office, set in an old post office building is now the hottest cocktail hideout near the bustling Borough Market. Oh and plenty of cocktails and shindigs too.
Where spirits are high and drinks never run dry – a playground for London’s scoundrels!
5 Kingly Street, Carnaby, W1B 5PF
www.cahoots-london.com
Discount Suit Company
For a bar that’s unapologetically dark and dingy, look to Discount Suit Company. It might not look like much from the outside – although it definitely fits into the East London hip vibe – but the Discount Suit Company serves up some of the best cocktails this side of London.
Tuck away in a former suit tailor’s store room, sip late into the night on the likes of the Purple Noise, a mix of Teeling Small Batch Whiskey, Fig, Amaro Montenegro, Blackberry and Bay, and Leaf Squash, Club Soda; and the Meladori Meagpie, made of Bombay Sapphire Gin, Cocchi Rosa Americano, Fig Leaf, Pepita Syrup, and Citrus.
29A Wentworth Street, E1 7TB
www.discountsuitcompany.co.uk
Callooh Callay
This one might not be much of a secret, but it’s definitely up there as one of London’s best speakeasy-inspired bars. Since opening in 2008, Callooh Callay has been named Top 50 Cocktails Bars multiple times, including in 2022.
Head down and immerse yourself in the lively atmosphere, sip on cocktails late into the night or simply catch-up with friends in a cool setting.
65 Rivington Street, EC2A 3AY
www.calloohcallaybar.com
Opium
Located in the heart of China Town, Opium will transport you to the “Opium Den” era in China. The space is split into three areas: the Apothecary Bar, the Peony Bar, and the Attic and Academy Bar.
Split into two areas, the Apothecary Bar has a backdrop of Cantonese medicinal bottles as well as Oriental-inspired interiors. Tucked away on the second floor is the Peony Bar, which sits as an intimate, luxurious drinking space. Finally, on the third floor is the Attic and Academy Bar, which has more of a community, family-esque feel.
This self-contained, clandestine drinking spot hosts the perfect intimate space for a truly memorable cocktail experience in London.
15-16 Gerrard Street, London, W1D 6JE
www.opiumchinatown.com
The Bootlegger
Located in the financial heart of London, The Bootlegger is a live music bar decorated as if you were living in the Prohibition era. The drinking den is the perfect place to go to dance, playing tunes from Beyoncé to Bob Dylan.
Flapper attire is more than welcome and dancing shoes are encouraged!
25-26 Lime St, City of London, London EC3M 7HR
www.bootlegger.co.uk
