Best Speakeasy Bars London
London is seeing a wave of speakeasy bars popping up across the city. It is a throwback to the Prohibition days of the 1920's in the United States where illicit drinking dens were rife as they were forced to go underground during this period. These bars across London are authentic and magical places to have a drink so transport yourself to another world with inventive cocktails sound-tracked by the smooth sounds of jazz and swing. We have put together our favourite London speakeasies that are a great place for a night out in London.
Last updated on 4th July 2016
Modelling itself on a 1920s speakeasy, Proud Cabaret City presents an alternative dining destination with its beautiful burlesque performers, firebreathers and live jazz music. Step into the velvet-clad, red glow of the smoky venue to be transported to a glamorous and illicit bygone era. Book a ticket soon for this top London speakeasy bar.
Radiant with intimacy and tiki flair, it almost seems a shame to lift the lid on this secretive basement bar on Portobello Road. Head inside to uncover a world of exotic drinks, kooky interiors and delightful Dim Sum bites. It’s an ideal spot for a date or a catch up with your mate, and cocktails like the Banzai ’45, Mr Yellow Belly and Dia De Los Muertos will have you back time and again.
Amidst the hustle and bustle of the city’s financial district, Demon, Wise & Partners offers a relaxed and refined atmosphere to help you recharge those batteries. Tucked away beneath The Arbitrager, in amongst the city’s towering skyscrapers, find this haven for quality drinks and while away the hours while you clutch an exceptional cocktail.
Soho's swankiest of speakeasies is right beneath your feet in London's most luxurious of basement bars. Settle into a plush leather armchair with tipple in hand and get intimate with a date, catch up with an old friend or take a gaggle of your favourite mates for a sophisticated sojourn into a secret soiree.
The Piano Bar is a secret cocktail bar, tucked away on a Soho side-street, whisking you back to savour the faded glamour of the roaring twenties - it’s really hard to imagine a more romantic setting than this. Join them for hand-crafted cocktails and live music at their popular Speakeasy sessions, where some of the leading performers on the European jazz club circuit serenade the crowds into the night.
Visit Purl and take yourself straight to the 1920's to explore your way through a delightful cocktail list at this top London speakeasy bar. An intimate and unique London bar, make sure you book online as this is a very popular London speakeasy.
Dabble in the artistry and sass of the prohibition at one of the best speakeasy themed bars in East London. Heralded for its vintage interiors and retro cocktail charm, head on down for something truly unique in the city.
Secretive, quirky and filled with forgotten classic cocktails; Hawksmoor Spitalfields' Bar is one of the best subterranean drinking dens in East London. Complete with a cutting-edge decor that cannot fail to impress, the bar serves discerning drinkers unique cocktails, fine wines and locally sourced beers, with delicious bar snacks on hand if hunger should strike.
The team behind the multi-award winning Nightjar introduce Oriole, another jewel of a drinking joint wowing the crowds in Smithfield Market. Head inside and discover a much more vast space filled with exotic mystery and magic, you’ll find influences from the New World, Old World and the Orient sprinkled throughout both the decor and cocktail list. Sip on mixed drinks made up of flavours from all corners of the globe, nibble on equally tasty plates and enjoy a playlist of jazz, swing and blues.
Ruby's bar in Dalston is a new speakeasy bar on the scene and is something a little different for a night out in London. Have your cocktails served up in tin cups and Manchester milk bottles and take in the magical atmosphere with candle lights and a feeling that you are drinking somewhere rather special in London. It is table service only with no standing so booking is highly recommended.
Opium is a great London speakeasy style cocktail bar. They deliver seasonal Oriental themed cocktails, in a discrete and decadent setting. Widely considered one of London's best speakeasy bars (and arguably London's best Oriental cocktail bar), Opium is the perfect hidden away place for unique cocktails in a beautiful setting.
Descend down the narrow staircase and stumble upon what it would be like to star in Boardwalk Empire. The Nightjar is a stunning speakeasy bar in London and well worth a visit thanks to their global awards, stunning cocktails and dashing live music.
Nothing speaks of romance better than a true, vintage speakeasy. Luckily, the Arts Theatre Club doubles as one of the best speakeasy bars in London, as well as a prime date spot. Whisk your honey away to this members-only escape for libations and lovely tunes enjoyed in pure, Prohibition-era sophistication.
Shaker and Company is a New Orleans inspired cocktail bar with a truly unique atmosphere and decor. Soul food from the deep south and delicious cocktails crafted by the Shaker Bar school team will keep you coming back for more. Live jazz and acoustic music provide the soundtrack and the secret downstairs bar changes monthly with themed decor.=
Offering an unmistakably chic Parisian vibe, The Reading Room is a secluded hideaway in Islington. It’s the perfect antidote to your typically rowdy, boisterious boozer, offering stylish cocktails and a dedicated absinthe menu to a friendly and familiar crowd. Make sure to put in an appearance on Saturday, when the venue hosts charming live music nights.
Rise46, just a short walk from Clapham Rail, is an an authentic 1920's London basement bar, with brilliant live music and entertainment throughout the week. The drinks menu has been created to ensure the best quality tipple, with fresh ingredients at happily affordable prices. The speakeasy vibe is accentuated by live jazz, as background music - combined with its 1920's decor.
A cutesy nook just shy of Spitalfields, head upstairs at The Ten Bells for a top notch level of speakeasy inspired supping. A broody plot brimming with hand-made cocktails from master mixologists, chesterfield sofas and rich woodwork, Upstairs at The Ten Bells echoes the darling charm of some of the best cocktail bars in vintage history.
