Let’s be real: sometimes London bars can be a bit fast and loose with the term ‘secret’, but every once in a while, a place genuinely delivers on the word. Enter: Archive & Myth, hidden below Leicester Square’s Hippodrome Casino.
Even though Archive & Myth opened in June 2024, they’ve already gathered a seriously strong list of accolades:
- Top 50 Cocktail Bars 2025 (number 18)
- Top 4 Best New Bars (Class Magazine 2025)
- Top 10 Best New International Cocktail Bar (Spirited Awards 2025)
- 12 of the best cocktail bars in London (British Vogue)
But there’s more… brought to you by legendary bartender Jack Sotti (who’s an expert on Channel 4's Sunday Brunch), alongside the team behind Magic Mike, Archive & Myth is all about giving classic cocktails a fresh twist. There’s a particular focus on refined, cold-freezer martinis and rare spirits you’ve unlikely sampled before – and I couldn’t wait to try them out for myself.
DesignMyNight’s Review Of Archive And Myth London
Explore Archive and Myth's curious corners and Instagrammable pours.
Need To Know:
- Address: Hippodrome Casino, Cranbourn Street, WC2H 7JH
- Area: Leicester Square
Ambience & We Think Perfect For
- Atmosphere: top tip: don’t head inside via the casino on Charing Cross Road. Instead, join the feather boa-wearing hen party brigade using the Magic Mike entrance, and follow the instructions sent to you in advance (i.e. you’ll need a passcode and valid photo ID). Once downstairs, I felt as though I was in a 1920s glam speakeasy. Think mustard-toned velvet cushions, navy blue curtains, moody lighting and exposed brickwork, plus a gorgeous black and granite bar area. The space was very intimate, with room for only 45 guests in total, comprising mainly of slinky dates alongside regulars who clearly appreciate good cocktails. As for the soundtrack? It was a millennial's dream, covering everything from Jamiroquai to fun 60s tunes.
- Perfect for: romantic evenings and special weekends.
Service & Price
- Service: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Value For Money: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Cost: £67.60 (excluding service).
My Archive and Myth photos show the high
standard of cocktails on offer (and the gold interiors were a sight
to behold too).
Menu Highlights
Drink: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
There were two types of cocktails to choose from: minor (mini) and major (full-size). Helpfully guided by passionate, knowledgeable, and, not to mention, award-winning head bartender Laurie Howells, we picked a selection of both.
- Sazerac de Nata (£9) – this was a boozy, quirky beginning to my cocktail adventure. Prepare for an intricately layered laminated pastry and fat-washed brandy (giving it a nice buttery-ness) and absinthe, plus a silky quail’s egg neatly presented at the bottom, which burst with richness. Poured through nitro for an ice-cold finish, this peach-hued drink was absolutely delicious.
- Ammazzacaffe (£9) – you’d have been forgiven for thinking you'd ordered a chic Italian coffee by accident. This playful sip brought together herbal liqueur, bitter espresso, aromatic brandy, tonka for vanilla notes, olive oil and vodka. Make sure to dip the biscuit accompaniment first to truly appreciate the lovely marzipan pairing.
- Daisy (£12) – this fruity little number was my favourite serve of the night. Think tequila, guava, black cardamom and lime, topped with a fluffy whipped coconut foam that I couldn’t believe was vegan - it was so creamy and light.
- Rapscallion (£12) – we were recommended this by Leighanne Bent beforehand, and it didn’t disappoint. Just imagine an elevated old fashioned, finished with rock salt and olives for that umami undertone.
- Pousse Café (£9) – now, this was an actual kaleidoscopic, colourful work of art. Tailored to our tastes with bespoke liqueurs, my drink layered everything from apricot brandy to coconut rum. I could detect strawberry and tequila too. It’ll knock you off your seat (metaphorically speaking, of course).
Food: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Dishes came courtesy of Chop Chop by Four Seasons, a Chinese restaurant and Golden Chopsticks Awards 2024 winner that can conveniently be found next door.
- Spring rolls (£8.80) – I really enjoyed the beautifully crisp, flaky pastry, revealing shreds of carrot and cabbage in the middle. They weren’t greasy in the slightest, and were chunky enough to easily dip in the sweet chilli sauce.
- Vegetarian Dumplings (£7.80) – we devoured four stuffed parcels in record time. These benefited from a flavourful, homemade chilli oil and were carefully placed on perfectly cooked pak choi.
Our Overall Experience At Archive & Myth London
DesignMyNight Review Out Of 5: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Could this be London’s best-kept secret? Archive & Myth have quickly garnered a reputation for not only crafting completely unique drinks but also making sure the stylish surrounds are equally as intriguing, and I can completely see why the reviews are so positive. Consider me officially obsessed: the cocktails were so visually stunning, it almost seemed a shame to drink them.
