We Londoners sure do love it when a cocktail bar plays hard to get, don’t we? Having been all the rage for a while now, there’s certainly something to be said about a bar that’s notoriously difficult to find. Because once you’ve eventually managed to locate and make your way through the door; you can sip on your drink with an unbeatable sense of accomplishment, knowing that you look ever-so sophisticated and ‘in the know’ to your friends. So, if you’re on the lookout for some new secretive spots in the capital city to surreptitiously tuck up your sleeve, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s our roundup of the very best secret bars and speakeasies in London.
1. CellarDoor, Aldwych
Kicking off our roundup of the best secret bars in London is CellarDoor; an intimate and quirky spot, hidden below One Aldwych. As the entrance might suggest, this used to be a public toilet – but don’t let that put you off. Because it really is a lav-ley spot. They host regular cabarets, burlesque shows, and live music performances, and they even turn it into a cinema every so often, too.
Find out more and plan your visit here.
You’ll find CellarDoor at Zero Aldwych, Wellington Street, WC2E 7DN.
Nearest station is Temple.
2. Discount Suit Company, Aldgate
You’ll find this rundown suit shop pretty ill-fitting if you’re in the market for a three-piece; but if seeking out some delicious cocktails is the aim, then you’re in luck at the Discount Suit Company. They serve a range of classically-inspired cocktails (all for around a tenner) against a backdrop of Northern Soul and Vintage Rock’n’Roll. Oh and to get in, ignore the misleading facade which promises ‘alterations while u wait’, or you’ll be waiting a very long time. Head for the small black door at street level instead.
Find out more and plan your visit here.
You’ll find Discount Suit Company at 29 Wentworth Street, E1 7TB.
Nearest station is Aldgate East.
3. BYOC, Camden
Credit: @byoc.uk via IG
BYOC can be found in Camden. This hidden gem not only provides you with the thrill of entering a bar though an inconspicuous black door, but it also gives you the opportunity to indulge in delicious cocktails made with a spirit of your choice. Here, you bring along a bottle of your favourite spirit and pay a flat fee of £40, in exchange for a tailor-made cocktail experience. Once you’ve got yourself settled you’ll have a series of cocktails whipped up for you by one of their expert mixologists. All while enjoying their vintage blackjack, roulette and poker tables.
Find out more and plan your visit here.
You’ll find BYOC at 11-13 Camden High Street, London, NW1 7JE.
Nearest station is Mornington Crescent.
4. The Natural Philosopher, Hackney
Next up on this list of the best secret bars in London is The Natural Philosopher; an intimate bar in Hackney, which takes residence in the converted storeroom of a Mac repair shop known as ‘The MacSmiths’. After making your way down the stairs at the back of the shop, you’ll discover this charming antique and foliage-filled spot with a sunken bar, quirky artwork and one hell of a unique vibe.
Find out more and plan your visit here.
You’ll find The Natural Philosopher at 489 Hackney Road, Cambridge Heath, E2 9ED.
Nearest station is Cambridge Heath.
5. The Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town, Spitalfields
Next up on this roundup of the best secret bars in London is a real legend on London’s speakeasy scene. Make your way to The Breakfast Club on Artillery Lane, and inform a member of staff that you are ‘here to see the mayor’. They’ll then direct you to the seemingly-normal Smeg fridge, which you’ll the have to walk through to enter the dingy, candlelit speakeasy and underground bar. It’s filled to the brim with vintage furniture and bizarre wall art, and the cocktail menu is packed full of weird and wonderful drinks, too.
Find out more and plan your visit here.
You’ll find The Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town at 12-16 Artillery Lane, E1 7LS.
Nearest station is Liverpool Street.
6. Call Me Mr Lucky, London Bridge
Call Me Mr Lucky is a hidden bar tucked underneath yet another The Breakfast Club. This time, the one in London Bridge. Known for its tequila-fuelled cocktails, the only way to enter this fun spot is by using the phrase “I’m here to get lucky” – how very Daft Punk of them. You’re then led to the back of the restaurant, down some stairs, and into the quirky lantern-draped den below.
Find out more and plan your visit here.
You’ll find Call Me Mr Lucky at 11 Southwark Street, London, SE1 1RQ.
Nearest station is London Bridge.
7. The Blind Pig, Mayfair
Credit: @blindasapig via IG
Tucked away inside Mayfair burger bar, Mary’s, is the cosy and low-lit The Blind Pig. While it’s not technically secret, you’d be forgiven for not knowing it was there. Going for a relaxed, speakeasy vibe, it’s got a vintage interior which incorporates reclaimed wooden bar stools, a copper-topped bar and mirrored ceilings, and they serve up a whole host of creative cocktails, fine wines and beers – sign us up!
Find out more and plan your visit here.
You’ll find The Blind Pig at 8-10 Pollen Street, W1S 1NQ.
Nearest station is Bond Street.
8. Cahoots, Soho
This subterranean secret cocktail bar is hidden below the streets of Soho. Located in what was once an air raid shelter used during the Second World War, Cahoots pays homage to the Blitz spirit with regular sing-a-longs and liquor being handed around. There’s even a space designed to look like a Bakerloo line tube carriage. With three separate bar areas for scallywags and rabble-rousers to explore, there’s plenty of room for a jolly ol’ knees up here!
Find out more and plan your visit here.
You’ll find Cahoots at 13 Kingly Court, Carnaby, W1B 5PW.
Nearest stations are Oxford Circus and Piccadilly Circus.
9. Happiness Forgets, Shoreditch
Credit: @happiness_hoxton via IG
‘Great Cocktails, No Wallies’ is a mantra we could all do with living our lives by, to be honest. Happiness Forgets may look fairly unassuming from the outside, we all know that it’s what’s on the inside that counts. And inside. the quality of the cocktails here routinely earn this secret spot a place on the World’s 50 Best Cocktail Bars list. All of the drinks here are prepared by expert mixologists, and they’ve got a great selection of wines by the glass or bottle here too. Right on Hoxton Square, this snug little basement bar is fairly hard to find, but it’s well worth the effort once you’re in there.
Find out more and plan your visit here.
You’ll find Happiness Forgets at 8-9 Hoxton Square, N1 6NU.
Nearest station is Old Street.
10. Opium, Chinatown
Next up on this roundup of the best secret bars in London is Opium, a 1920’s Shanghai-inspired bar-come-dim-sum-parlour located smack-bang in the middle of Chinatown. It’s divided into three different sections, but the one we’re really here to talk about is the secret cocktail bar, ‘Peony’. Tucked away behind a very intriguing red curtain, it’s the venue’s smallest bar, but it sure is mighty.
Find out more and plan your visit here.
You’ll find Opium at 15-16 Gerrard Street, W1D 6JE.
Nearest station is Leicester Square.
11. As Above, So Below, Stoke Newington
Credit: @asabovesobelowldn via IG
The final entry on our list of the best secret bars in London is nestled beneath a rather unassuming barber shop in Stoke Newington. Make your way to the back of the shop, press the button, and a secret door will reveal a flight of stairs that will lead the way into a cosy hidden cocktail bar. Serving up creative riffs on classic cocktails and a cosy and intimate atmosphere; this fairly new addition to London’s speakeasy scene is well worth a visit.
Find out more and plan your visit here.
You’ll find As Above, So Below at 57 Stoke Newington High Street, N16 8EL.
Nearest station is Stoke Newington.
12. Muse Bar, The Strand
Blink and you’d miss it. Just off The Strand, head to weekday bar Muse at RSA House for sophisticated weekday drinks, with a focus on handcrafted cocktails and sustainability. Intimate and decadent, it’s the premium place for a post-work pick-me-up. With a menu designed from the ground-up with renewable sources for ingredients in mind, Muse is housed in a historic Georgian townhouse just off the Westminster thoroughfare, infusing a classy interior with a unique drinks menu.
You’ll find Muse at RSA House via a special entrance at 18 Adam St, London WC2N 6AA.
Nearest stations are Embankment and Charing Cross.