Taxidermy dining, ice cube cocktails, live circus performances and underground caverns - quirky bars in London aren't hard to come by, at least not when you have us around. From the eye-popping and the down right awkward, to the dizzy yet dazzling, check out our guide to the most weird and wonderful bars in London for a dash of drinking in the city to remember. Creeps, freaks and regular peeps welcome.
Last updated on 29th May 2019
Where else can you gather your pals for some cavorting in a 1950s airstream caravan than Blues Kitchen Shoreditch? Revel in the vintage luxury of this truly unique destination, with room for up to 25 guests and a chilled drink never more than an arms stretch away.
Standing out in the crowd thanks to its iconic black exterior and with a reputation for serving some of London's most refreshing cocktails, the Bourne and Hollingsworth Buildings is a quirky bar based just a short stroll from Angel station. The team of chefs have been working hard, offering a menu of fresh flavours and vintage recipes. Sit back in the beautiful greenhouse and enjoy some delicious food at this weird and wonderful restaurant in London.
Cereal Killer made waves for their nostalgic cereal-serving cafes dotted around the city, now with the addition of a cereal-themed cocktail list, you and your mates can be immersed in 90's nostalgia on a night out. Sip on milky treats and enjoy some classic hits from your teen hood while playing arcade games, loser picks up the tab.
Book a lunch table for a group of 6 or more & we’ll treat you to a bottle of prosecco!*
When it comes to a unique night out in London, we highly doubt you've tried anything quite like Flight Club. Not only the perfect place to catch up on pizza, cocktails and brunch should the weekend take you, book an oche and get down to some serious darts action alongside drinks. The fun-time party has two venues; choose between Bloomsbury or Shoreditch.
Though the idea of drinking wine in a former toilet might not sound that appealing, you might make the exception for the wonderfully weird WC Wine & Charcuterie Bar. Based underneath Clapham Common tube station, the 24 different varieties of red and white wine work with the menu of sharing platters and cheese boards to offer an experience full of rich flavours and tastes.
Hidden away behind a striking mirror is the Looking Glass Room, a clandestine drinking hole where abstract photos line the walls and everything is not as it seems. Get up close and personal with the cocktail card as each libation is made with only the finest ingredients and prepared with a passionate flair.
One of the most unique places to drink in London, head on down to Four Quarters in Peckham not only for cocktails, but some of the best gaming in the business with retro arcade sets of Pacman, Time Crisis and more! Ease the night along with their impressive selection of craft beers and, once you've done beating your best mates at video games just like the old days, head downstairs for the speakeasy bar the Confession Box.
Ziggy's is an all-encompassing space perched on the side of Hoxton Square. Known for its kitsch vibes - you'd do well to find a more eclectic and quirky interior design than at the Underbelly - this is a hub for Shoreditch socialising that's equally at ease hosting you for cocktails, some homely comfort food or some late-night dancing.
Expert mixologists have been experimenting with an Edwardian cocktail recipe and have decided to lay their inventions out for you to taste… at the Gibson bar! Hoping to re-popularise the now mostly forgotten drink, they are using the highest-quality spirits mixed with their masterful knowledge to compose a list perfect for their weird and wonderful Clerkenwell bar.
With a focus on fantastic, bespoke cocktails and interesting design, Nightjar is one Shoreditch speakeasy well worth seeking out. Head downstairs and away from the bustle of City Road to encounter a archetypal 1920s scene, with guests enjoying tin cup cocktails at candlelit tables, as jazz and swing bands fill the room with their soothing tunes.
What's cooler than being cool? Throw on a huge quilted jacket and a pair of thermal gloves (both provided) and head down into the UK's only cocktail bar to be permanently frozen solid. No corners have been cut here, everything down to the glasses have been sculpted from ice.
Inspired by the decadence of the Victorian era, this period place to drink and dine in London boasts an exclusive door policy by booking only. Venture behind the velvet curtains and discover a luxurious wonderland of vintage throws, rich fabrics and old world style furnishings. The Victorian Bath House was made to be an indulgence.
Boasting signature illustrations and a lush neutral palate with flecks of colour, entering into The Doll House almost feels like stepping into one of the works of Roald Dahl. Whilst here, tantalise your taste buds - the marvellous menu here boasts dishes like '45-day aged Dexter Sirloin or the droolworthy duck fat chips'. Mmmmmm. Oh, and the cocktails they whip up are equally as delectable!
Turn up the volume on quirky cocktails and '70s chic as Bobby Fitzpatrick brings North London a whole heap of fun. The cocktail bar specialises in all things retro with vintage wallpaper, signed photographs and a cocktail list that's inspired by lost loves. Add board games and deep dish pizza and you're on to a winner.
@ ABQ London on Various dates from Thursday 27th June 2019
Head to Hackney where ABQ brings you a fully-immersive cocktail experience that will have you shaking, mixing and cooking up some seriously stunning molecular cocktails, and living out your mad chemist dreams.
Free Live Music from 9pm & Reduced Price Cocktails and 1 other offer
Sister bar to Nightjar and home to some of the most infamous cocktails in the world, Oriole's purpose is to supply creative drinks. A menagerie of vintage inspired spaces, live swing bands and cocktail artistry, Oriole is one of the most unique bars in London with good reason.
Based on the HQ of the secret society that ran Victorian London, The Escapologist is part modern-day Victorian men's club, part Masonic Lodge. It's a beautifully designed venue that pays homage to the illicit activity of the infamous Baron, where guests can enjoy a fun yet refined cocktail list, cheese-drenched pizzas and bottle service with their own secret lockers. Perfect for after work drinks or late-night parties in Covent Garden's always-lively Earlham Street.
Boasting a taxidermy and Wiccan theme throughout, the Hand of Glory is one of London's most weird and wonderful pubs. More than just it's decor, this pub is renowned for serving a fantastic selection of the best ciders available in the UK. And beyond that, they're also known to rustle up a cracking cheeseburger and exhibit some awesome local artwork.
@ Merchant House on Various dates from Thursday 27th June 2019
For something a little different, head to this hidden bar within Merchant House and have the whole place to yourself. With a personal bartender and your own music selection, you can soak up cocktails in unique surroundings.
Step into this Polynesian hideaway and take a trip into paradise. Here, you'll find exotic decor with Polynesian patterns and tiki-carvings decorating the venue throughout. Serving up the original and (arguably) the best Mai Tais in London alongside some phenomenal French-Polynesian cuisine, Trader Vic's isn't one you should miss out on.
You can meet only by appointment at this London basement bar, and even then you are unlikely to find it's entrance. Your escort will greet you, before you're eventually invited through the American style Smeg fridge and admitted to a captivating underground drinking space whipping up delicious cocktails and beers with the outside world oblivious to your presence.
Cheap Date - 2 Pizzas and 2 Drinks for £19 and 1 other offer
Something of a powerhouse when it comes to playing out in Shoreditch, not only is Old Street Records the place to head for those all important cocktails and delicious pizza bites, there's a roster of live music events and DJ nights that fit perfectly with the cool, neon-lit backdrop.
This emporium of oddity - be it human, animal, vegetable or mineral - is a glorious insight into the dark side of the world. The Next Tuesday club stake their claim here, showcasing their love of collecting. A bar has been established downstairs, offering cocktails that will put some hairs on your chest. Weird doesn't begin to describe it, and this is certainly a land of wonder.
A throwback to the 1920s Havana heydays, Burlock is one of the UK's most impressive rum houses. There's more than 200 different types of the spirit to wrap your lips around, and a selection of authentic Cuban and Caribbean food to complement the tastes on show. Keen to try something new? The Grasshopper Challenge involves polishing off a grasshopper, a shot of rum and a Barbadian 10 Saints beer in quick succession, while the unique happy hour continues from open until close!
If you were to look up the meaning of the word quirky in the dictionary, Drink Shop & Do's picture would surely feature. Head to their workshop to enjoy anything from their 'Play With Clay 80s Style' to 'Learn To Twerk Dance Classes', with late night dancing to follow in the former porn shop downstairs.
By day, step out into Aeronaut's circus-style beer garden and snuggle up into one of the many themed booths with a hoppy pint in hand (all brewed onsite!). By night, Aeronaut becomes something else entirely. Step inside where the disco ball descends, the spotlights beam down and the stage comes out for the ariel acrobats and glamorous gymnasts.
