Best London Basement Bars

The Bourne and Hollingsworth Buildings might look like an idyllic bar, but it's got a bit of a secret. Have a wonder around the bar, look behind a few pieces of furniture and you might stumble upon Below & Hidden, a secret basement bar based underneath the venue. Serving a range of quirky cocktails and having hosted a variety of different events, this is the ideal spot if you're not ready to call it a night. 

If you can keep this one on the down-low then we can help you find the way. Mysterious by name, mysterious by nature, Found is one of Shoreditch's most secretive basement bars. Decked out with some classic decorations and old world antiques, it offers East London's revellers a chance to sample some of the most carefully crafted cocktails the city has to offer.  

Dear Darling oozes glamour and opulence from the moment you set foot down its chandelier-laden stairs and descend into a living room covered in velvet booths and eclectic prints. Desire and elegance are at the forefront of this venue, illustrated by its mirrored ceilings and dramatic, rich colour palette. What's more, through a secret wardrobe door there's a basement bar to be discovered, where a candle-lit room awaits. 

Hidden beneath Blues Kitchen Shoreditch is Moonshine Minnie's, a fun speakeasy serving the best in whiskey-based drinks. Alongside their cool speakeasy aesthetic, you can nibble on southern American bar snacks as you sip your wonderful cocktails.

Fronting New York loft-style interiors, an Andy Warhol-themed vault area and a basement for weekend DJ sets, The Little Scarlet Door is an uber cool and quirky bar. From the house party vibes to the unique cocktails, you're bound to have a great time here.

Bonds in Mayfair is a gorgeous pub that boasts true style, with a slinky basement bar that's ideal for private parties. Head on over to enjoy beautiful decor alongside scrumptious British grub, from pies to fish and chips, as well as a fantastic range of tasty tipples.

Featuring an unmissable mix of EP launches, new bands and established live acts, Old Street Records also features one of the best basement bars in Shoreditch. Stumble below street-level and experience intimate jazz nights and low-key DJ sessions, with authentic Italian pizzas washed down with bespoke cocktails, craft beers and a line-up of fine wines.

A basement bar on Rathbone Place, Lucy Wong is a real Central London gem. This pretty venue flaunts a memorable 1950s theme with Hong Kong-inspired decor, alongside a Chinese food and drinks menu to match. Our favourite drink? Has to be the vodka-laced Eastern sour.

Looking for basement bars in the city? Be sure to check out Supermax in King's Cross. Located beneath Happy Face Pizza, this intimate bar serves a lip-smacking vermouth led-cocktail list in a cool underground space. 

Looking for cool basement bars in East London? The Rabbit Hole has heard your calling. Not only are the interiors slick and the cocktails creative (think forgotten classics alongside innovative newbies), but the menus double as an interactive boardgame, providing you with hours of entertainment.

For something a little out of the ordinary, head to Hokus Pokus on the ground floor of The Megaro Hotel in King's Cross - complete with kooky artwork and vintage decor. Created by head mixologist Greg Chudzio, their menu features over 30 potion-style cocktails like the gin-infused matcha tea or a milkshake with coffee liqueur. 

Home to one of the best basement bars in London, Fidelio Café is a cosy retreat for drinking and dining in Farringdon. Expect to find stylish interiors made up of classic salon interiors, such as dark wooden features, romantic lighting and sublime European dishes. 

Warm, intimate and cosy; Be At One is your fail-safe choice for a feel-good night out in Covent Garden. Happy Hour discounts get you off to a flying start from 4.30, there's guilty pleasure party tracks on the speakers and bartenders are impossibly charming, as well as seriously talented. A licence until 3am means you can stay and party long into the early hours.

One of the best-kept secrets around Borough Market has to be Swift's basement bar, The Back Pocket. Unsuspecting yet seriously sexy, it sports gorgeous interiors and a mighty fine cocktail offering that pays tribute to the history and surroundings of the area. Look forward to sipping on a signature Irish Coffee, the nutty Rose Theatre, and Biscuit Town made with malted milk Monkey Shoulder scotch. 

Looking for a basement bar in the city? Tequila Mockingbird in Covent Garden has you covered. Head to this cool haunt for an epic range of spirits and 2 for 1 cocktail deals every day of the week in a top-notch underground space. Don't say we didn't tell you.

A cool-as-you-like homage to only the best of Scandinavian culture, Nordic is a unique basement bar boasting lodge-like decor, authentic grub and its very own ping pong table. Located just a stone's throw from Tottenham Court Road, expect a buzzing ambience and friendly crowd . For all the adventurous revellers out there, spin the 'shot wheel' behind the bar at your own peril and see just how lucky you really are.

Nestled in the heart of West Hampstead, this unique little basement bar is the only place to get your fill of whisky and Mediterranean eats. Head downstairs and find yourself in a cosy snug perfect for chilling out with mates, on sampling a few drams.

Connoisseurs in all things live music and fun, The Piano Works West End is a cool basement bar found in Covent Garden. The spot has a delectable menu and cracking cocktails, and will keep you up late with their raucous live band, who take requests.

Located below Blixen this Brushfield Street basement bar is one of the finest little cocktail spots in East London. Offering table service and cosy surroundings, its perfect for a cute date night or a couple of after-work drinks.

Located in the heart of Notting Hill, Franklin's Wine is a stunning haunt serving mouthwatering booze and nibbles. Head to their intimate basement space and enjoy catching up with friends, or partner over some cocktails.

Just beneath the streets of Fitzrovia, a unique bar paying homage to its namesake, Reverend J W Simpson, awaits you. Retaining many of its original features, from the walls to the floors, it's a fabulous spot to tip back a range of imaginative and fun cocktails.

While The Brewers Inn may be one of the most notable pubs in Wandsworth, they're harbouring a secret downstairs bar that's bursting full of vibrant colour and delicious drinks. Head on down to this vintage, intimate space for a colourful evening, signposted by the cosy basement drinking and framed by delicious gastro-pub cuisine. 

East London basement bars don't get much better than Elmo's, the Caribbean-inspired spot packed out with slick interiors, delish cocktails, and DJs on Fridays and Saturdays. Plus, this tucked away spot is available for private hire.

Exploring the depths of world in its upstairs display area, and concocting great cocktails and bar snacks in its basement bar - The Last Tuesday Society certainly plays amongst the shadows! Be astounded by the amazing relics, fossils, memorabilia and inexplicable objects upstairs, and rejoice in some healthy hedonism in the bar. 

Carved beneath Clerkenwell's L'angolo restaurant, Downstairs at 180 is the sort of basement bar that nails both mood and mixology.

Low lighting, vintage touches, and a soundtrack steeped in jazz give it an enveloping, after-dark charm. Live performances on Mondays and Fridays turn the space into a cosy mini-venue, while the rest of the week is all about laid-back drinks and unhurried conversation. 

With DJs mixing the hottest tracks until the early hours of the morning, it's no wonder Thirst is a super cool basement spot to check out when the afters get underway. Upstairs you'll find a bright, elegant space with large windows before making your way down the lit-up steps, past lava-coloured, marble walls to the underground area, decked out with leather booths. Dance under the disco ball and enjoy an array of tipples here, from cosmopolitans to beers. 

Parasol in Dalston is a hidden cocktail bar with a bold 1980s New York disco vibe, created by the team behind cult favourites like Discount Suit Company, The Sun Tavern, Ruby's and Corrochio's. Expect inventive drinks made with house infusions, a curated wine list from Provisions Wine & Cheese, and interiors inspired by Moroccan and Mexican influences using reclaimed materials.

With regular DJ sets, cosy booths and a laid-back party atmosphere, it's a must-visit for East London nightlife lovers looking for something stylish, intimate and full of character.

The sister venue to Patch St Paul's, this cute and quirky London basement bar offers flamboyant interiors, delicious food and eclectic cocktails. Get down for some of their sweet happy hour deals soundtracked by the best in electro, house and funk.

Partial to the odd rum-based tipple? It's time for you to get acquainted with Burlock. With over 200 different types of the spirit, this is the place for any afficianado; especially one who is drinking on a budget - there's continuous happy hour deals that run from opening 'til close. Away from the beautiful rum cocktails there's Cuban and Caribbean food to pair with your drinks and a Havana-styled barber shop that doubles as an extra quirky drinking space.

A hidden bar found in the vaults of the National Portrait Gallery, Larry's is an intimate venue that was originally opened as coal storage in 1896. These days, it's a sleek restaurant bar filled with dark furniture and over 100 portraits on the exposed brick walls, open seven days a week.

They've got a cracking selection of cocktails on offer, as well as an Australian-inspired all-day menu. Try smoked salmon royale or fancy bacon rolls for brunch, or head by a little later for the likes of fish pie and miso roasted aubergine.

Are you ready to join Josephine's posse? She's come all the way from Waterloo, bringing her plush interiors, creative cocktails and eclectic vibes with her. Whether you came for the insta-worthy shots or just to have a good time, you'll be staying for more than one tipple.

The Tokenhouse's cellar bar is a speakeasy style escape from the popular upstairs bar; it has intimate lighting, a great drink selection and a cool, relaxed vibe. For a special get together or private after work drinks the Cellar Bar is available for private hire.

A swish basement bar and restaurant in Central London, Allyu oozes luxurious date night vibes with its stylish interiors and menu of modern Nikkei cuisine. Tuck into sumptuous sharing plates of South American-meets-Asian flavours which are sure to take your breath away.

Looking for something a little different? For a positively Bavarian affair, head down to the Munich Cricket Club's modern bierkeller-themed basement space, for live bands, delicious imported beers and some of the best German-inspired eats in London. 

The Temple Brew House has developed a bit of a reputation for itself when it comes to offering the finest craft beer that London's brewers have to offer. The venue sits below street level in Holborn and couples the great line-up of craft beer with an equally great menu of traditional British dishes. Think hearty roast dinners, topping-heavy burgers and fresh fish dishes.

This secret sojourn, draped in Parisian chic in a Soho basement on Broadwick Street, is a sweet retreat from the raucous rabble outside. Nestle into a plush leather arm chair, luscious libations in hand, and have an intimate drink with a date, a cosy catch up with an old friend or a sophisticated soiree with your favourite mates. 

A cool, late-night listening bar in Soho, Under The Counter is located below popular restaurant The Counter. It's run by mixologist João Silva and chef Kemal Demirasal, providing great quality food and drink to an immersive soundscape.

Choose from a variety of wines and spirits, taking influences from all over the world. The small plates menu is Turkish-inspired, featuring everything from pistachio and feta cigars to white crab orzo.

In 1848, the infamous Baron fled to London shrouded in scandal - his every move met with controversy and outrage on the streets. He ended up landing a date with the gallows, only to escape after requesting one final drink at one of Covent Garden's brew houses. Popularly known as The Escapologist thereafter, there's now a bar named in his honour, operating as a Victorian men's club/Masonic Lodge hybrid at the HQ of the secret society that ran Victorian London. 

Featuring some of the best Texan BBQ and bourbon cocktails, Blues Kitchen in Shoreditch also offers a fun ambience, complete with a speakeasy bar in the basement. Dance the evening away to live music from top-notch DJs and bands.

Hidden in the basement of Japanese restaurant Yatay is this cool, speakeasy-style bar that's styled around a recording studio. Zoku Soho is found in the heart of Chinatown, fronting sake-laced cocktails and a live DJ.

It was only a matter of time before the famous London Cocktail Club pitched up in Shoreditch. Here to nail it with classic and contemporary cocktails like the 'Confessions of a Cucumber Salesman', 'Brixton Riot' and the 'Smoking Barrel', you'll enjoy such lush libations in biker themed surrounds complete with black leather couches.

On Rathbone Place, you'll uncover this hidden basement haunt down the stairs of a beautifully painted mural, featuring a couple of aristocrats enjoying a life of leisure, which is what Bourne & Hollingsworth Bar promises with its spirit of excess ethos. Secure a spot among intimately lit tables and peruse a bespoke cocktail menu including tipples like Pie Face, made with egg white and rhubarb liqueur, plus Campfire Coup, served with toasted marshmallows.

Nestled beneath the unassuming streets of Bishopsgate, WM Barker & Co makes it onto the scene as one of London's coolest basement bars. Decked out with old, leather armchairs and traditional furnishing, this subterranean drinking den doffs its cap to a simpler time. With a crack team of mixologists and an arsenal of spirits, fruits and spices, expect to find some wonderfully creative concoctions at this bar that's well versed in the art of the unusual and the wonderfully unique.

Though it's a luxurious restaurant upstairs, filled with pretty foliage and trendy decor, BÓHA is also home to a secret speakeasy bar downstairs - The Shibeen. This stylish spot is located on King's Road in Chelsea, promising a lively atmosphere and DJ sets in their basement space. There are tasty Irish-inspired small plates up for grabs too, alongside a selection of elegant, hand-crafted cocktails.

One of the most unique speakeasies in the city, this cocktail spot and members bar offers no membership fees, and some very crafty cocktails that will make your pre-theatre drinks much more interesting.

The Humble Grape is an utterly charming basement bar in Battersea. Head down to this split-level, industrial-inspired hangout and you'll find yourself greeted by a charismatic decor - think rugged wooden tables and cork-laced walls. Take a seat on a pew and sip on a few glasses of some of the very best organic wines. And to soak it all up, the team of chefs have plenty of tasty nibbles for you to tuck into!

Beneath Covent Garden lies an Eden of temptation and indulgence. Eve is all about delivering delicious cocktails with a theatrical touch to lose submitting to temptation, all while you hang out in refined, cool surroundings.

You'll find Bar Lina underneath the iconic Italian restaurant Lina Stores in Soho, promising an aperitivo vibe in sultry surrounds. Expect plush red velvet booths, a stylish black marble bar and mirrored walls, with low lighting.

Get stuck into their selection of creative cocktails, including a wide range of negronis and spritzes. Feeling peckish? They also offer tasty bar snacks, from olives to focaccia.