Nightjar is a live swing and jazz speakeasy with inventive cocktails and a tasty food menu to boot. A unique haunt masked between a chicken shop and a newsagent in Shoreditch and perched in Soho too, there's nothing bog standard about this prohibition-inspired nook. Expect innovation and invention by the glassful.
Secret Bars In London
We've got some secrets to share with you. Sometimes the best bars aren't always the most well known... and London is filled with hidden gems. If you're looking to avoid the grind of the city's busiest venues then take a peek at our collection of the best hideaways. Taking you off the beaten track, delving into fridges and stepping behind mirrors, these clandestine hangouts are the best secret bars in London.
Last updated on 1st December 2022
Opium is a secret cocktail bar in the heart of Chinatown. They are London's leading purveyor of seasonal Oriental themed libations, using ingredients sourced locally in Chinatown. Concealed behind an ordinary little door; it's perfect for a cool and unique place to drink in London. Opium would certainly impress a date or be a good place to have a meal with friends. Private hire? Their Peony bar is a stunning, secret option to boot.
Tucked beneath The Breakfast Club in London Bridge, you'll need to search for this spot. A sassy looking space with neon-lit nooks in abundance, Call Me Mr Lucky is the city's patron saint of all things liquid as innovation and invention are the pinnacle of their entire, basement orientated, eclectic ethos.
Ruby's Bar is kept out of sight down a blackened doorway in Dalston. You'll be enchanted and charmed by the buzzing atmosphere, free-flowing cocktails served in 1940s Manchester milk bottles and the shabby chic decor. Sip on sumptuous drinks in this vintage space (should you be so lucky to find it).
Find the gold plaque on the wall and descend into somewhere that is 'not a brothel', we repeat is 'NOT a brothel'. This secret gem is the decadent place to hit for your palate pleasers and divine dishes. Top pastry chef Dorian Picard is at the helm to bring you the best in dessert plates while the bar tinkles with hand-crafted cocktails.
Following on from the stellar work of its multi-award winning sister venue, Oriole brings an oasis of warmth, mystery and magic to London. Leave the stressful streets of the capital behind and immerse yourself in a truly exotic experience. There's a vibrant live music programme, tasty plates and a cocktail list showing a penchant for the finest ingredients.
Nestled beneath the buzzing streets of Fitzrovia, you'll find a cool, collected cocktail bar; Reverend J W Simpson. A dimly lit drinking den with stripped-back wallpaper and the building's original tiles, it provides the ultimate backdrop for a night of imbibing, whether it's slinky dates or catch-ups with pals.
Step through the opulent looking glass mirror and enter a coveted world of decadent debauchery, expertly mixed drinks and lavish decor. Victorian furniture, gorgeous cocktails...and a secret room? This unique hidden bar is a completely original venue exuding charm, fantasy and an intriguing ambience. Best to keep this one hush hush.
@ Merchant House on Various dates from Wednesday 8th February 2023
When it comes to hidden bars, this secret one within Merchant House of Bow Lane has it all. Officially the smallest in the capital, there's a private bartender, your own music selection and even the chance to shake up your favourite concoctions.
The Breakfast Club has a secret... So if you're in town, you should really pay the Mayor a visit. Cool-as-you-like, this cocktail-heavy secret is perhaps the most discreet bar in this list. Ask to see 'The Mayor' after your delicious dinner, and you might just find what you're looking for in the fridge. Yes, the fridge.