I’ll admit I expected big things from Scarfes Bar ahead of my visit. Named after legendary British artist Gerald Scarfe, who’s known for his offbeat caricatures and satirical illustrations (even creating the surreal animations for the 1982 film Pink Floyd – The Wall), this Holborn gem has been on my wishlist for some time.
Why? Well, Scarfes Bar's accolades speak for themselves:
- Top 50 Cocktail Bars 2026 (number 35)
- The World’s 50 Best Bars 2025 (31)
- Top 500 Bars 2025 (21)
- First place - Best International Hotel Bar (Tales of the Cocktails, 2024)
Phew, that’s pretty impressive.
But it doesn’t end there, Scarfes Bar is also tucked inside the Grade II-listed Rosewood London hotel. It’s so grand, one of the suites even has its own postcode.
DesignMyNight’s Review Of Scarfes Bar London
The new menu was playful, just like Scarfe's work, plus you can even buy prints to take home with you.
Need To Know:
- Address: 252 High Holborn, WC1V 7EN
- Area: Holborn, not far from Covent Garden
Ambience & We Think Perfect For
- Atmosphere: past the one-of-a-kind antique revolving door, Scarfes Bar’s interiors were seriously showstopping. Think marble columns, a roaring fireplace, statement hexagonal mirrors, gold leaf lighting paired with Tiffany lamps, dark wood furnishings, rows upon rows of books and plush sofas in tones of navy blue and burnt orange. Scarfe himself even said this place is like a "private art gallery", with sketches adorning each wall. In summary, expect 1920s gentleman’s bar meets the drawing rooms of yesteryear; giving off ‘old money’ kind of feels. Make sure to let the team show you the towering display of over 300 whiskeys too, which were a design feature in itself. As for our fellow guests? You’re talking cosy, refined date nights and chilled tourists with an appreciation for the finer things in life.
- Perfect for: romantic evenings, where you'll not stop chatting about the unusual cocktails and fantastic live jazz music.
Service & Price
- Service: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Value For Money: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Cost: £122 (excluding service).
Scarfes Bar's rectangular space was dimly
lit and oozed old school glamour.
Menu Highlights
Drink: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
My visit coincided with the launch of a new Scarfes Bar menu, titled ‘Heroes & Villains’, which not only pays homage to Scarfe’s famous book but cunningly something deeper. It is inspired by the curious contrasts for ten British figures (like Agatha Christie and Shakespeare), alongside the paradox between contemporary cocktail techniques with classic sips bartenders love to hate. The menu itself is interactive, promising brilliant artwork and hidden details that you can actually pull out.
- Ninety 3rd (£24) – imagine a pornstar martini, but so much more elegant. We’re talking Champagne, gin, passion fruit and clarified vanilla in a curvaceous glass. This was a nod to David Beckham’s 2001 World Cup goal, and turned out to be my favourite drink of the night.
- Strawberry Fields Forever (£24) – Paul McCartney was referenced with a refreshing Paloma-inspired serve that feels perfect for a summer’s day. Prepare for a blend of tequila, lemon verbena and perhaps unsurprisingly, fortified strawberries.
- Evilution (£22) – here, Charles Darwin has been honoured with a mix of whisky, creamy pistachio orgeat and sour pineapple. It was boozy for sure, but gave me all the tropical holiday vibes, especially with a customised pink paper umbrella decoration on top.
- Never Wrong (£22) – a different side to English chemist Rosalind Franklin has been interpreted with this cocktail, bringing together tequila, elderflower liqueur, sherry, basil and the vanilla-like pandan (commonly found in South East Asian cuisine). This was quite a complex, multi-layered tipple; I loved the candy-like notes with a herby, botanical edge.
Food: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Pilpelchuma hummus (£15) – this absolutely delicious spicy dip benefitted from whole chickpeas, strings of Persian lime zest and radish slices, finished with a drizzle of fiery oil. I would have personally liked the pitta bread to be more fluffy and soft rather than crisp, but that's me being picky though.
Our Overall Experience At Scarfes Bar
DesignMyNight Review Out Of 5: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Scarfes Bar made me want to put on a vintage smoking jacket, sink into a leather sofa near a fireplace and savour life’s joys (in cocktail form, of course). I could not recommend this place more, because not only did I try innovative, completely unique drinks crafted by a very talented team (hats off to our host Umberto too) but the surrounds made you feel like you were entering a completely different era. What’s even more amazing is that Scarfes Bar create their own syrups in-house and distillates within a dedicated lab, and we were genuinely welcomed like family - overall making this a really special experience.
